Also Amaziah said unto Amos, O thou seer, go, flee thee away into the land of Judah, and there eat bread, and prophesy there:
Ver. 12. Also Amaziah said unto Amos] After he had maliciously misinformed the king, but prevailed not; so God would have it, in whose heart is the king's hand, and who rebuketh even kings for their sakes, saying, Do my prophets no harm.
O thou seer] Fair words; the better to insinuate.
“ Mel in ore, verba lactis:
Fel in corde, fraus in factis. ”
Some think he calleth the prophet thus by way of jeer, quasi fatidicum aut fanaticum, as a fortune teller or distracted. Others, that he giveth the prophet good words, and seemeth to give him good counsel, as fearing the people, with whom Amos was in some credit; and therefore the king was told of a conspiracy against him "in the midst of the house of Israel," Amos 7:10 .
Flee thee away into the land of Judah] Age, fuge: as a friend wrote to Brentius, when he was in danger to be surprised by the emperor's agent, Fuge, fuge, Brenti cito, citius, citissime, Fly for thy life, haste, haste, haste. So the Pharisees (for no great love, be sure, but only to be fairly rid of him) came and said to Christ, "Get thee out and depart hence; for Herod will kill thee," Luke 13:31 .
Into the land of Judah] This he speaketh scornfully, q.d. we are not good enough for you; you are so strict, &c.
And there eat bread, and prophesy there] Invidiose omnia et contemptim dicit: If you stay here you may hap to starve for it. Away, therefore, into your own country; and there make thee a living by prophesying. He seems to measure Amos by himself; as if he were of those that prophesied for a handful of barley and a morsel of bread, Eze 13:19 Micah 3:11; and as a certain Popish priest confessed concerning himself and his symmists, We preach the gospel, said he, tantum ut nos pascat et vestiat, only to pick a living out of it.