Another matter, “if you sell a sale item…[you shall not wrong [tonu] one another]” – that is what is written: “Behold, the Lord standing beside a level [anakh] wall” (Amos 7:7), beside a wall of exploitation [deunita].4This wall represented the great separation between God and Israel due to the sins of people exploiting one another (Maharzu). “With a plumb line in His hand” (Amos 7:7), like a creditor standing with a promissory note in his hand.5The term plumb line [anakh] is interpreted here to mean “your promissory note [onakh]” (Maharzu).
Similarly, “a new king arose” (Exodus 1:8), like a creditor standing with a promissory note in his hand.6Demanding payment of what God said to Abram: “Know, that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, and they shall be enslaved to them and they shall oppress them” (Genesis 15:13). Similarly: “The Lord said to me: What do you see, Amos? I said: A plumb line [anakh]” (Amos 7:8).
This is the Great Sanhedrin, whose number is anakh.7Alef – 1, nun – 50, kaf – 20 = 71, the number of judges in the Sanhedrin. “The Lord said: Behold, I am placing a plumb line” (Amos 7:8). Rabbi Yehuda ben Rabbi Simon said: This pot is sustained only by means of its tin coating [anakha]. So, the Holy One blessed be He said: ‘I will give you a protective coating of suffering in this world,8The suffering imposed on the Jewish people causes them to repent, and also removes liability for their sins so they can benefit from the World to Come. but in the World to Come, “I will not continue to be enraged by them any longer”’ (Amos 7:8).
Rabbi Yitzḥak ben Elazar and Rabbi Tavyomei in the name of Rabbi Yirmeya: Regarding all [other] iniquities it is written: “[Who is a God like You,] who pardons iniquity?” (Micah 7:18), but here it is written: “I will not continue to forbear them any longer” (Amos 7:8).