Amos 2:11-16

11 "Then I 1raised up some of your sons to be prophets And some of your young men to be 2Nazirites. Is this not so, O sons of Israel?" declares the LORD.
12 "But you made the Nazirites drink wine, And you commanded the prophets saying, 'You 3shall not prophesy!'
13 "Behold, I am 4weighted down beneath you As a wagon is weighted down when filled with sheaves.
14 "5Flight will perish from the swift, And the stalwart will not strengthen his power, Nor the 6mighty man save his life.
15 "He who 7grasps the bow will not stand his ground, The swift of foot will not escape, Nor will he who rides the 8horse save his life.
16 "Even the bravest * among the warriors will 9flee naked in that day," declares the LORD.

Amos 2:11-16 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 9

  • 1. Deuteronomy 18:18; Jeremiah 7:25
  • 2. Numbers 6:2, 3; Judges 13:5
  • 3. Isaiah 30:10; Jeremiah 11:21; Amos 7:13, 16; Micah 2:6
  • 4. Isaiah 1:14
  • 5. Isaiah 30:16, 17
  • 6. Psalms 33:16; Jeremiah 9:23
  • 7. Jeremiah 51:56; Ezekiel 39:3
  • 8. Isaiah 31:3
  • 9. Judges 4:17

Footnotes 6

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