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Amos2

World English Bible · Public Domain

1Yahweh says: “For three transgressions of Moab, yes, for four, I will not turn away its punishment, because he burned the bones of the king of Edom into lime;

2but I will send a fire on Moab, and it will devour the palaces of Kerioth; and Moab will die with tumult, with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet;

3and I will cut off the judge from among them, and will kill all its princes with him,” says Yahweh.

4Yahweh says: “For three transgressions of Judah, yes, for four, I will not turn away its punishment, because they have rejected Yahweh’s law, and have not kept his statutes, and their lies have led them astray, after which their fathers walked;

5but I will send a fire on Judah, and it will devour the palaces of Jerusalem.”

6Yahweh says: “For three transgressions of Israel, yes, for four, I will not turn away its punishment, because they have sold the righteous for silver, and the needy for a pair of sandals;

7They trample the heads of the poor into the dust of the earth and deny justice to the oppressed. A man and his father use the same maiden, to profane my holy name.

8They lay themselves down beside every altar on clothes taken in pledge. In the house of their God they drink the wine of those who have been fined.

9Yet I destroyed the Amorite before them, whose height was like the height of the cedars, and he was strong as the oaks; yet I destroyed his fruit from above, and his roots from beneath.

10Also I brought you up out of the land of Egypt and led you forty years in the wilderness, to possess the land of the Amorite.

11I raised up some of your sons for prophets, and some of your young men for Nazirites. Isn’t this true, you children of Israel?” says Yahweh.

12“But you gave the Nazirites wine to drink, and commanded the prophets, saying, ‘Don’t prophesy!’

13Behold, I will crush you in your place, as a cart crushes that is full of grain.

14Flight will perish from the swift. The strong won’t strengthen his force. The mighty won’t deliver himself.

15He who handles the bow won’t stand. He who is swift of foot won’t escape. He who rides the horse won’t deliver himself.

16He who is courageous among the mighty will flee away naked on that day,” says Yahweh.

Study Guide

Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Amos 2.

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Chapter Summary

In this chapter: Judgments against Moab and Judah. (1–8). The ingratitude and ruin of Israel. (9–16).

vv1-8

The evil passions of the heart break out in various forms; but the Lord looks to our motives, as well as our conduct. Those that deal cruelly, shall be cruelly dealt with. Other nations were reckoned with for injuries done to men; Judah is reckoned with for dishonour done to God. Judah despised the law of the Lord; and he justly gave them up to strong delusion; nor was it any excuse for their sin, that they were the lies, the idols, after which their fathers walked. The worst abominations and most grievous oppressions have been committed by some of the professed worshippers of the Lord. Such conduct leads many to unbelief and vile idolatry.

vv9-16

We need often to be reminded of the mercies we have received; which add much to the evil of the sins we have committed. They had helps for their souls, which taught them how to make good use of their earthly enjoyments, and were therefore more valuable. Faithful ministers are great blessings to any people; but it is God that raises them up to be so. Sinners' own consciences will witness that he has not been wanting to them in the means of grace. They did what they could to lead believers aside. Satan and his agents are busy to corrupt the minds of young people who look heavenward; they overcome many by drawing them to the love of mirth and pleasure, and into drinking company. Multitudes of young men who bade fair as professors of religion, have erred through strong drink, and have been undone for ever. The Lord complains of sin, especially the sins of his professing people, as a burden to him. And though his long-suffering be tired, his power is not, and so the sinner will find to his cost. When men reject God's word, adding obstinacy to sin, and this becomes the general character of a people, they will be given up to misery, notwithstanding all their boasted power and resources. May we then humble ourselves before the Lord, for all our ingratitude and unfaithfulness.

Cross References

Amos 2
v8Exodus 22:26thematic

Directly correlates with laying on clothes laid to pledge, violating the Exodus law to return them.

Supported by JFB

v11Numbers 6:2thematic

Establishes the divine institution and vows of the Nazarites raised up among their young men.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v4Jeremiah 16:19thematic

Parallels 'their lies' as the false, inherited idols after which their fathers walked.

Supported by JFB

v6Amos 8:6thematic

Repeats the unique indictment of selling the needy for a pair of shoes/sandals.

Supported by JFB

Highlights the extreme depravity of a man and his father going in to the same maid.

Supported by JFB

v12Numbers 6:3thematic

Exposes the sin of giving Nazarites wine, directly violating their strict vow of abstinence.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v12 Kings 3:27thematic

Provides historical background to the conflict between Moab, Judah, and Edom.

Supported by JFB

v9Numbers 13:33thematic

Echoes the great stature and height of the Amorites whom God destroyed before Israel.

Supported by Matthew Poole

Details God leading them forty years in the wilderness, contrasting His grace with their rebellion.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v12Isaiah 30:10thematic

Parallels the rebellious command to the prophets to 'prophesy not'.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v13Malachi 2:17thematic

Parallels God being 'pressed' or 'wearied' under the burden of His people's sins.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v9Job 18:16thematic

Employs the same metaphor of total destruction: dried up from roots below to branches/fruit above.

Supported by John Calvin

Echoes the warning that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v15Psalms 33:16thematic

Confirms that no king or mighty man is saved by physical strength or military host.

Supported by Matthew Poole