Amos 2:6-16

6 Thus says the LORD, "For three transgressions of 1Israel and for four I will not revoke its punishment, Because they 2sell the righteous for money And the needy for a pair of sandals.
7 "These who [a]pant after the very dust of the earth on the head of the 3helpless Also 4turn aside the way of the humble; And a 5man and his father resort to the same girl In order to profane My holy name.
8 "On garments 6taken as pledges they stretch out beside 7every altar, And in the house of their God they 8drink the wine of those who have been fined.
9 "Yet it was I who destroyed the 9Amorite before * them, Though his 10height was like the height of cedars And he was strong as the oaks; I even destroyed his 11fruit above * and his root below *.
10 "It was I who 12brought you up from the land of Egypt, And I led you in the wilderness 13forty years That you might take possession of the land of the 14Amorite.
11 "Then I 15raised up some of your sons to be prophets And some of your young men to be 16Nazirites. 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 17shall not prophesy!'
13 "Behold, I am 18weighted down beneath you As a wagon is weighted down when filled with sheaves.
14 "19Flight will perish from the swift, And the stalwart will not strengthen his power, Nor the 20mighty man save his life.
15 "He who 21grasps the bow will not stand his ground, The swift of foot will not escape, Nor will he who rides the 22horse save his life.
16 "Even the bravest * among the warriors will 23flee naked in 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 23

  • 1. 2 Kings 18:11, 12
  • 2. Joel 3:3; Amos 5:11, 12; Amos 8:6
  • 3. Amos 8:4; Micah 2:2, 9
  • 4. Amos 5:12
  • 5. Hosea 4:14
  • 6. Exodus 22:26
  • 7. Amos 3:14
  • 8. Amos 4:1; Amos 6:6
  • 9. Numbers 21:23-25; Joshua 10:12
  • 10. Numbers 13:32
  • 11. Ezekiel 17:9; Malachi 4:1
  • 12. Exodus 12:51; Exodus 20:2; Amos 3:1; Amos 9:7
  • 13. Deuteronomy 2:7
  • 14. Exodus 3:8
  • 15. Deuteronomy 18:18; Jeremiah 7:25
  • 16. Numbers 6:2, 3; Judges 13:5
  • 17. Isaiah 30:10; Jeremiah 11:21; Amos 7:13, 16; Micah 2:6
  • 18. Isaiah 1:14
  • 19. Isaiah 30:16, 17
  • 20. Psalms 33:16; Jeremiah 9:23
  • 21. Jeremiah 51:56; Ezekiel 39:3
  • 22. Isaiah 31:3
  • 23. Judges 4:17

Footnotes 11

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