Amos 7:4

Fire. As with the locusts (see on v. 3), there is difference of opinion as to whether the fire represented a searing drought or an enemy invasion. In favor of the first view might be cited the parallel between the judgments here described and those mentioned in ch. 4:6-9. On the other hand the incursions of the enemy preliminary to the final catastrophic overthrow of the nation could also be fittingly represented by these symbols. The present vision shows that God had been willing to mitigate the judgments He had earlier threatened or visited upon them. However, the people had now reached the limit of God’s forbearance. The plumb line would be set (v. 8) and the people would go into captivity (v. 9).

Great deep. A possible reference to subterranean fountains and springs (see Gen. 7:11; 49:25) which would be dried up in a drought.

Eat up a part. If the fire represents invasion it is possible that there is here a prediction of the invasion of the Assyrian king when he conquered the eastern and northern parts of Israel, and carried captive some of the people to Assyria (see 2 Kings 15:29).