Amos 7:4 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

The Lord God called to contend by fire— In many places of Scripture war is denoted by fire. We observed, that after the death of Jeroboam the kingdom of Israel was laid waste by civil, and perhaps by foreign wars; for we are not well acquainted with the history of that time. The fire here spoken of was to have dried up the sea, and consumed a great part of the earth, figuratively speaking, had it not been for the prophet, who interposes, and arrests the effect, Amos 7:5-6. The wars here mentioned were to destroy every thing so far as they were kindled and spread; but the Lord set bounds to his anger. Houbigant reads, The Lord God called the fire to avenge his cause.