Amos 8:11

“Behold, the days come, saith the Lord God, etc.] Which Kimchi interprets of all the days of the second house or temple after Malachi, when prophecy ceased; but it rather has respect to the time of Shalmaneser’s carrying captive the ten tribes, when they had no more prophets nor prophecy among them, or any to tell how long their captivity should last, or when it would be better times with them, (<197409>Psalm 74:9); that I will send a famine in the land; which, in a literal sense, is one of God’s arrows he has in his quiver, and sends out when he pleases; or one of his sore judgments, which he sometimes orders to come upon a people for their sins: but here is meant, not a famine of bread; or…”

“famine of . . . hearing the words of the Lord--a just retribution on those who now will not hear the Lord's prophets, nay even try to drive them away, as Amaziah did (Amo 7:12); they shall look in vain, in their distress, for divine counsel, such as the prophets now offer (Eze 7:26; Mic 3:7). Compare as to the Jews' rejection of Messiah, and their consequent rejection by Him (Mat 21:43); and their desire for Messiah too late (Luk 17:22; Joh 7:34; Joh 8:21). So, the prodigal when he had sojourned awhile in the "far-off country, began to be in want" in the "mighty famine" which arose (Luk 15:14; compare Sa1 3:1; Sa1 7:2). It is remarkable that the Jews' religion is almost the only one that…”

“Not a famine for bread - He does not deny that there should be bodily famine too; but this, grievous as it is, would be less grievous than the famine of which he speaks, “the famine of the word of the Lord.” In distress we all go to God. Rib.: “They who now cast out and despise the prophets, when they shall see themselves besieged by the enemy, shall be tormented with a great hunger of hearing the word of the Lord from the mouths of the prophets, and shall find no one to lighten their distresses. This was most sad to the people of God; ‘we see not our tokens; there is not one prophet more; there is not one with us who understandeth, how long!’ Psalms 74:9.” Even the profane, when they see no…”

“8:11-14 famine . . . of hearing the words of the Lord: God sent prophets to Israel to speak his words directly to them, but Israel commanded the prophets not to prophesy (2:11-12). Now they had what they wanted, but it was a silence more terrible than his roar and thunder: God became distant (see Ezek 7:26; 20:3; Mic 3:4, 7). The time for speaking was over; the time of judgment had come.”

“but: Sa1 3:1, Sa1 28:6, Sa1 28:15; Psa 74:9; Isa 5:6, Isa 30:20, Isa 30:21; Eze 7:26; Mic 3:6; Mat 9:36 Amos 8:12”

“And at that time the light and comfort of the word of God will also fail them. Amo 8:11. "Behold, days come, is the saying of the Lord Jehovah, that I send a hungering into the land, not a hungering for bread nor a thirst for water, but to hear the words of Jehovah. Amo 8:12. And they will reel from sea to sea; and from the north, and even to the east, they sweep round to seek the word of Jehovah, and will not find it." The bitterness of the time of punishment is increased by the fact that the Lord will then withdrawn His word from them, i.e., the light of His revelation. They who will not now hear His word, as proclaimed by the prophets, will then cherish the greatest longing for it. Such…”