Amos 8:1  “…a basket of summer fruit”
Apparently the term summer fruit would refer to that which is finally ripe at the end of the season, and thus ready to be harvested.  Implication is that now Israel has come to the end of her sin and is ripe for judgment.

2  “…I will not pass by them anymore”
God’s patience is ended.  He will no longer show mercy by tolerating their sin.  Judgment has come.  I’m afraid America’s time has come as well.  Seems we’ve been given small reprieves lately due to more people finally waking up and praying, but it may not be enough for a complete turnaround.

5  “…New Moon be past…And the Sabbath…”
So greedy that they couldn’t wait for the religious days to be over so they could get back to buying and selling.  As if they gave those days any of the respect they deserved.

5  “…Making the ephah small and the shekel large…”
Cheating people in commerce.  Selling an ephah of grain, but decreasing its size so you can charge more for less.  Buying commodities by weight, but increasing the weight of the shekel so you gain more materiel for your money than is due.  Unjust weights and measures.

6  “That we may buy the poor for silver, And the needy for a pair of sandals…”
Cheating the poor out of what little money they have to the point where they have to sell themselves into bond servanthood to pay off the debt.  This is one of the primary issues God had against the people which brought down His judgment.

7  “…Surely I will never forget any of their works”
Lest we think that God doesn’t see, doesn’t care, and doesn’t remember what we’ve done.  It will all come out in the wash.

9  “…I will make the sun go down at noon…”
From the context, apocalyptic language, not literal.  Referring to the darkness of great calamity which is coming on the nation.  Things are always worse at night when there is no light.  So terrible is what is coming that it’s like all the light going out.

10  “…baldness on every head…”
Shaving the head was a sign of mourning like wearing sackcloth and sitting in ashes.

11  “…I will send a famine on the land…of hearing the words of the LORD”
As bad as the calamity will be, it will be nothing compared to the hopelessness of not having anyone to call upon for help.  They will cry out to God, but no answer from Him will come.

13  “…fair virgins And strong young men…”
Should be young and full of energy.  But if they are weak and fainting, how much more the old and sick.

14  “…who swear by the sin of Samaria…”
The false gods and religion of the leadership of Israel, primarily the two calves which Jeroboam set up as the new gods of Israel.  Will be referred to over and over as the sin of Jeroboam.

I hope you enjoy reading and studying His word.  May it accomplish what He desires.  Please feel free to comment or post questions.  Thanks for reading!

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.