Amos 4:5

5 And offer a sacrifice of praise with leaven: and call free offerings, and proclaim it: for so you would do, O children of Israel, saith the Lord God.

Amos 4:5 Meaning and Commentary

Amos 4:5

And offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving with leaven
Which some observe was contrary to the law, which forbids all leaven in a meat offering; or "burning" it in any offering, ( Leviticus 2:11 ) ; which the word F20 here used suggests was done by these idolaters, as well as eaten by them, their priests not liking to eat unleavened bread; but; though it was forbidden in the meat offering, was allowed, yea, ordered, with the sacrifice of thanksgiving, ( Leviticus 7:13 ) . So Abarbinel understands it here, as what was according, to law, but ironically commanded to be offered to idols: and proclaim [and] publish the free offerings;
let all know of them when you make your freewill offerings, and invite them to partake of them: for this liketh you, O ye children of Israel, saith the Lord God;
or ye love to offer such sacrifices to your idols, rather than to the Lord God; preferring these to him, and delighting more in the worship of them than of him.


FOOTNOTES:

F20 (rjq) "incendendo", Munster, Tigurine version; "incendito incensum", Vatablus.

Amos 4:5 In-Context

3 And you shall go out at the breaches one over against the other, and you shall be cast forth into Armon, saith the Lord.
4 Come ye to Bethel, and do wickedly: to Galgal, and multiply transgressions: and bring in the morning your victims, your tithes in three days.
5 And offer a sacrifice of praise with leaven: and call free offerings, and proclaim it: for so you would do, O children of Israel, saith the Lord God.
6 Whereupon I also have given you dulness of teeth in all your cities, and want of bread in all your places: yet you have not returned to me, saith the Lord.
7 I also have withholden the rain from you, when there were yet three months to the harvest: and I caused it to rain upon on city, and caused it not to rain upon another city: one piece was rained upon: and the piece whereupon I rained not, withered.
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