Amos 2:8-16

8 "On garments 1taken as pledges they stretch out beside 2every altar, And in the house of their God they 3drink the wine of those who have been fined.
9 "Yet it was I who destroyed the 4Amorite before * them, Though his 5height was like the height of cedars And he was strong as the oaks; I even destroyed his 6fruit above * and his root below *.
10 "It was I who 7brought you up from the land of Egypt, And I led you in the wilderness 8forty years That you might take possession of the land of the 9Amorite.
11 "Then I 10raised up some of your sons to be prophets And some of your young men to be 11Nazirites. 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 12shall not prophesy!'
13 "Behold, I am 13weighted down beneath you As a wagon is weighted down when filled with sheaves.
14 "14Flight will perish from the swift, And the stalwart will not strengthen his power, Nor the 15mighty man save his life.
15 "He who 16grasps the bow will not stand his ground, The swift of foot will not escape, Nor will he who rides the 17horse save his life.
16 "Even the bravest * among the warriors will 18flee naked in that day," declares the LORD.

Amos 2:8-16 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 18

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

Footnotes 8

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