Then Amos answered Amaziah, "I was no prophet, neither was I a prophet's son; but I was a herdsman, and a farmer of sycamore trees;
"Dresser of sycamore trees ..." "The phrase [~boles] [~shiqmim] may mean either one who plucks mulberry-figs for his own sustenance, or one who cultivates them for others."[41]  Dean thought it was the latter in the case of Amos, and Keil believed it was the other.  We do not know.  In any event, it was a humble calling.