Amos 4:4-9

4 “Go to Bethel and sin; go to Gilgal and sin yet more. Bring your sacrifices every morning, your tithes every three years.^[a]

5 Burn leavened bread as a thank offering and brag about your freewill offerings— boast about them, you Israelites, for this is what you love to do,” declares the Sovereign LORD.

6 “I gave you empty stomachs in every city and lack of bread in every town, yet you have not returned to me,” declares the LORD.

7 “I also withheld rain from you when the harvest was still three months away. I sent rain on one town, but withheld it from another. One field had rain; another had none and dried up.

8 People staggered from town to town for water but did not get enough to drink, yet you have not returned to me,” declares the LORD.

9 “Many times I struck your gardens and vineyards, destroying them with blight and mildew. Locusts devoured your fig and olive trees, yet you have not returned to me,” declares the LORD.

Amos 4:4-9 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO AMOS 4

In this chapter, the great ones, or the people of Israel, are threatened with calamities for their oppression of the poor, Am 4:1-3; and in an ironic manner are reproved for their idolatry, Am 4:4,5; then follows an enumeration of several judgments that had been upon them, yet had had no effect on them, to bring them to repentance, nor even mercies, Am 4:6-11; and notwithstanding all this, in a wonderful gracious manner, they are called upon to prepare to meet their God, who is described by his power, greatness, and goodness, Am 4:12,13.

Cross References

• 1. S Joshua 7:2
• 2. S Hosea 4:15
• 3. S Numbers 28:3
• 4. Deuteronomy 14:28
• 5. S Ezekiel 20:39; Amos 5:21-22
• 6. S Leviticus 7:13
• 7. S Leviticus 22:18-21
• 8. S Isaiah 3:1; S Isaiah 9:13; S Jeremiah 5:3; Haggai 2:17
• 9. S Jeremiah 3:3; Zechariah 14:17
• 10. Exodus 9:4,26; Deuteronomy 11:17; S 2 Chronicles 7:13; S Isaiah 5:6
• 11. S Ezekiel 4:16-17
• 12. Haggai 1:6
• 13. S Jeremiah 3:7
• 14. S Job 36:31; S Jeremiah 14:4
• 15. S Deuteronomy 28:22
• 16. S Exodus 10:13; S Joel 2:25
• 17. Joel 1:7
• 18. S Isaiah 9:13; S Jeremiah 3:10; Haggai 2:17

Footnotes

• [a]. Or "days"