Amos 2:6-16

Judgment on Israel

6 This is what the LORD says: “For three sins of Israel, even for four, I will not relent. They sell the innocent for silver, and the needy for a pair of sandals.

7 They trample on the heads of the poor as on the dust of the ground and deny justice to the oppressed. Father and son use the same girl and so profane my holy name.

8 They lie down beside every altar on garments taken in pledge. In the house of their god they drink wine taken as fines.

9 “Yet I destroyed the Amorites before them, though they were tall as the cedars and strong as the oaks. I destroyed their fruit above and their roots below.

10 I brought you up out of Egypt and led you forty years in the wilderness to give you the land of the Amorites.

11 “I also raised up prophets from among your children and Nazirites from among your youths. Is this not true, people of Israel?” declares the LORD.

12 “But you made the Nazirites drink wine and commanded the prophets not to prophesy.

13 “Now then, I will crush you as a cart crushes when loaded with grain.

14 The swift will not escape, the strong will not muster their strength, and the warrior will not save his life.

15 The archer will not stand his ground, the fleet-footed soldier will not get away, and the horseman will not save his life.

16 Even the bravest warriors will flee naked on that day,” declares the LORD.

Amos 2:6-16 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO AMOS 2

In this chapter the prophet foretells the calamities that should come upon the Moabites for their transgressions, Am 2:1-3; and the destruction of Judah and Jerusalem for their iniquities, Am 2:4,5; also the judgments of God that should come upon Israel the ten tribes for their sins, which sins are enumerated; their oppression of the poor, their lewdness and idolatry, Am 2:6-8; and which are aggravated by the blessings of goodness bestowed upon them, both temporal and spiritual, Am 2:9-12; wherefore they are threatened with ruin, which would be inevitable, notwithstanding their swiftness, strength, and courage, and their skill in shooting arrows, and riding horses, Am 2:13-16.

Cross References

• 1. S Amos 1:3
• 2. S Joel 3:3; Amos 8:6
• 3. S Leviticus 18:21; Amos 5:11-12; Amos 8:4
• 4. S Exodus 22:26; Deuteronomy 24:12-13
• 5. Hosea 7:14; Amos 4:1; Amos 6:6
• 6. Habakkuk 2:6
• 7. Numbers 21:23-26; Joshua 10:12
• 8. S Isaiah 10:33
• 9. S Psalms 29:9
• 10. S 2 Kings 19:30; S Job 18:16; S Ezekiel 17:9; Malachi 4:1
• 11. S Exodus 6:6; Exodus 20:2; Amos 3:1
• 12. S Deuteronomy 8:2
• 13. S Deuteronomy 2:7
• 14. S Exodus 3:8; S Numbers 21:25; S Joshua 13:4; Amos 9:7
• 15. Deuteronomy 18:18; Jeremiah 7:25
• 16. Numbers 6:2-3; S Judges 13:5
• 17. Isaiah 30:10; Jeremiah 11:21; Amos 7:12-13; Micah 2:6
• 18. Amos 7:16-17
• 19. S Job 11:20
• 20. S 1 Kings 20:11; Jeremiah 9:23
• 21. Psalms 33:16; Isaiah 30:16-17
• 22. S Ezekiel 39:3
• 23. S Exodus 15:21; Zechariah 10:5
• 24. Ecclesiastes 9:11
• 25. Jeremiah 48:41