Amos 5:3-13

3 For thus says the Lord GOD, "The city which goes forth a thousand strong Will have a ¹hundred left, And the one which goes forth a hundred strong Will have ²ten left to the house of Israel."

4 For thus says the LORD to the house of Israel, "³Seek Me ⁴that you may live.

5 "But do not resort to ⁵Bethel And do not come to ⁶Gilgal, Nor cross over to ⁷Beersheba; For Gilgal will certainly go into captivity And Bethel will come to trouble.

6 "⁸Seek the LORD that you may live, Or He will break forth like a ⁹fire, O house of Joseph, And it will consume with none to quench it for Bethel,

7 For those who turn ¹⁰justice into wormwood And cast righteousness down to the earth."

8 He who made the ¹¹Pleiades and Orion And ¹²changes deep darkness into morning, Who also ¹³darkens day into night, Who ¹⁴calls for the waters of the sea And pours them out on the surface of the earth, The ¹⁵LORD is His name.

9 It is He who ¹⁶flashes forth with destruction upon the strong, So that ¹⁷destruction comes upon the fortress.

10 They hate him who ¹⁸reproves in the gate, And they ¹⁹abhor 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 ²⁰houses of well-hewn stone, Yet you will not live in them; You have planted pleasant vineyards, yet you will ²¹not drink their wine.

12 For I know your transgressions are many and your sins are great, You who ²²distress the righteous and accept bribes And turn aside the poor in the gate.

13 Therefore at such a time the prudent person ²³keeps silent, for it is an evil time.

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Amos 5:3-13 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 23

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

Footnotes 11

[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
[k]. Lit "that time"

Amos 5:3-13

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Amos 5:3-13 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO AMOS 5

Cross References 23

Footnotes 11