Question 1

What is the meaning of the basket of summer fruit in this passage?

Accepted Answer

The basket of summer fruit is a picture God uses to show Amos that Israel is ripe for judgment. Summer fruit is picked at the end of the season, and it spoils quickly. In the same way, Israel’s sins have reached their full measure. Their time of ease and outward prosperity is ending, and now comes the “end” that God speaks about. It is God’s way of saying that his patience with their hard hearts and continued injustice has run out, and his judgment will not be delayed.

Question 2

Why does God say he will not again pass by Israel any more?

Accepted Answer

When God says he will not “again pass by them any more,” he is saying he will no longer overlook their sin or hold back judgment. Before, he had shown patience and given warnings. Now their violence, greed, and false worship have gone on so long that he will no longer treat them gently. This does not mean God has changed in character, but that the season of mercy they were abusing has ended. Justice will now fall on a people who refused to repent.

Question 3

How were the people in this passage oppressing the poor?

Accepted Answer

The passage shows several clear ways they wronged the poor. They “swallow up the needy” by controlling food and goods so the poor run out and become dependent. They complain about holy days because they want to get back to selling. They make the ephah small and the shekel great, meaning they give less product and charge more money. They use false scales and even buy the poor for silver or a pair of shoes. Their greed twists business into a tool to crush the weak instead of serve them.

Question 4

What does the famine of hearing the words of the Lord mean?

Accepted Answer

The famine here is not about food or water, but about God’s word. God warns that a time is coming when people will want to hear his word but will not find it. They will wander from place to place looking for a true message from God, and it will be withheld. This is part of the judgment. They had despised God’s word when it was freely given, so now it will be taken away. It shows that losing God’s guidance and truth is even more serious than losing bread or water.

Question 5

Why are the new moon and sabbath mentioned in this passage?

Accepted Answer

The new moon and sabbath were days set apart for rest and worship. In this passage, greedy merchants are shown grumbling, asking when those days will be over so they can get back to selling grain. That reveals their hearts. They keep the outward form of religion, but their minds are on profit, not God. They see God’s appointed times as a nuisance that blocks their business. This shows how empty their worship has become and why God’s judgment is coming.

Question 6

What does it mean that the sun will go down at noon and the earth be darkened?

Accepted Answer

The picture of the sun going down at noon and the earth darkening in a clear day shows how sudden and shocking the judgment will be. Noon is the brightest part of the day, a picture of their prosperity and security. God says he will turn that bright moment into darkness, bringing grief and trouble when they least expect it. Their feasts will turn into mourning, songs into cries, and the sadness will be as deep as losing an only son. It is a sign of complete reversal and sorrow.

Question 7

Who are those that swear by the sin of Samaria, and what happens to them?

Accepted Answer

Those who swear by the sin of Samaria are people who tie themselves to the idols and false worship set up there. They say things like, “Thy god, O Dan, liveth,” and speak of the way of Beer-sheba as if it is true religion. Swearing by these things shows their loyalty to them. God says these people “shall fall, and never rise up again.” In other words, those who cling to false gods and trust in them will be swept away in the coming judgment and will not be restored.

Question 8

How does this passage speak to how we treat the poor and conduct business today?

Accepted Answer

This passage warns against using power, money, or business to take advantage of people who have less. God sees false measures, hidden fees, and any form of cheating. He also sees hearts that care more about profit than about him or other people. While the setting is different today, the warning still fits: if we gain by hurting others, ignoring what is right, or pushing God aside, we are acting like those in this chapter. God calls his people to honesty, mercy, and fair dealing.

Question 9

What does this passage teach about God’s character and justice?

Accepted Answer

The passage shows that God is patient, but his patience has a purpose, not a limit to his holiness. He cares deeply about truth, worship, and how the poor are treated. He listens to the cries of the oppressed and does not forget acts of injustice. When people harden themselves and refuse to turn, he will act. At the same time, even his warnings are a kindness, giving time to repent. God’s justice is not random; it responds to real sin that refuses his mercy.

Amos 8:1

Thus hath the Lord God shewed unto me: and behold a basket of summer fruit.

The Basket of Summer Fruit

The Basket of Summer Fruit

Cross References

Amos 8:1

Thus hath the Lord God shewed unto me: and behold a basket of summer fruit.

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The Basket of Summer Fruit

The Basket of Summer Fruit

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