Amos 5:2-12

2 She has fallen, she will ¹not rise again - The ²virgin Israel. She lies neglected on her land; There is ³none to raise her up.

3 For thus says the Lord GOD, "The city which goes forth a thousand strong Will have a ⁴hundred left, And the one which goes forth a hundred strong Will have ⁵ten left to the house of Israel."

4 For thus says the LORD to the house of Israel, "⁶Seek Me ⁷that you may live.

5 "But do not resort to ⁸Bethel And do not come to ⁹Gilgal, Nor cross over to ¹⁰Beersheba; For Gilgal will certainly go into captivity And Bethel will come to trouble.

6 "¹¹Seek the LORD that you may live, Or He will break forth like a ¹²fire, O house of Joseph, And it will consume with none to quench it for Bethel,

7 For those who turn ¹³justice into wormwood And cast righteousness down to the earth."

8 He who made the ¹⁴Pleiades and Orion And ¹⁵changes deep darkness into morning, Who also ¹⁶darkens day into night, Who ¹⁷calls for the waters of the sea And pours them out on the surface of the earth, The ¹⁸LORD is His name.

9 It is He who ¹⁹flashes forth with destruction upon the strong, So that ²⁰destruction comes upon the fortress.

10 They hate him who ²¹reproves in the gate, And they ²²abhor him who speaks with integrity.

11 Therefore because you impose heavy rent on the poor And exact a tribute of grain from them, Though you have built ²³houses of well-hewn stone, Yet you will not live in them; You have planted pleasant vineyards, yet you will ²⁴not drink their wine.

12 For I know your transgressions are many and your sins are great, You who ²⁵distress the righteous and accept bribes And turn aside the poor in the gate.

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Amos 5:2-12 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO AMOS 5

In this chapter the prophet exhorts Israel to hear his lamentation over them for their impending ruin, Am 5:1-3; nevertheless to seek the Lord, and all that is good; to forsake their idols, and repent of their sins, in hopes of finding mercy, and living comfortably; or otherwise they must expect the wrath of God for their iniquities, especially their oppression of the poor, Am 5:4-15; otherwise it would be a time of weeping and wailing, of darkness and distress, however they might harden or flatter themselves, or make a jest of it, Am 5:16-20; for all their sacrifices and ceremonial worship would signify nothing, so long as they continued their idolatry with them Am 5:21-26; and therefore should surely go into captivity, Am 5:27.

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible

Cross References 25

1. Amos 8:14
2. Jeremiah 14:17
3. Isaiah 51:18; Jeremiah 50:32
4. Isaiah 6:13
5. Amos 6:9
6. Deuteronomy 4:29; Deuteronomy 32:46, 47; Jeremiah 29:13
7. Isaiah 55:3
8. 1 Kings 12:28, 29; Amos 3:14; Amos 4:4; Amos 7:10, 13
9. 1 Samuel 7:16; 1 Samuel 11:14
10. Genesis 21:31-33; Amos 8:14
11. Is 55:3, 6, 7; Amos 5:14
12. Deuteronomy 4:24
13. Amos 2:3; Amos 5:12; Amos 6:12
14. Job 9:9; Job 38:31
15. Job 12:22; Job 38:12; Isaiah 42:16
16. Psalms 104:20
17. Psalms 104:6-9; Amos 9:6
18. Amos 4:13
19. Isaiah 29:5; Amos 2:14
20. Micah 5:11
21. Isaiah 29:21; Amos 5:15
22. 1 Kings 22:8; Isaiah 59:15; Jeremiah 17:16-18
23. Amos 3:15; Amos 6:11
24. Micah 6:15
25. Isaiah 1:23; Isaiah 5:23; Amos 2:6

Footnotes 10

[a]. Heb "YHWH," usually rendered LORD, and so throughout the ch
[b]. Lit "seek"
[c]. Or "become iniquity"
[d]. Or in "the house"
[e]. Lit "they have put down"
[f]. Lit "And He darkened"
[g]. I.e. the place where court was held
[h]. Another reading is "trample upon"
[i]. Lit "they turn"
[j]. I.e. the place where court was held

Amos 5:2-12

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Amos 5:2-12 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO AMOS 5

Cross References 25

Footnotes 10