Amos 2:6-16

Judgment on Israel

6 The Lord says: I will not relent from punishing Israel for three crimes, even four, because they sell a righteous person for silver and a needy person for a pair of sandals.^[a]

7 They trample the heads of the poor on the dust of the ground and block the path of the needy.^[b] A man and his father have sexual relations with the same girl, profaning My holy name.

8 They stretch out beside every altar on garments taken as collateral, and they drink in the house of their God wine obtained through fines.

9 Yet I destroyed the Amorite as Israel advanced; his height^[c] was like the cedars, and he was as sturdy as the oaks; I destroyed his fruit above and his roots beneath.

10 And I brought you from the land of Egypt and led you 40 years in the wilderness in order to possess the land of the Amorite.^[d]

11 I raised up some of your sons as prophets^[e] and some of your young men as Nazirites.^[f] Is this not the case, Israelites? [This is]*The bracketed text has been added for clarity. the Lord's declaration.

12 But you made the Nazirites drink wine and commanded the prophets: Do not prophesy.

13 Look, I am about to crush^[g] [you] in your place as a wagon full of sheaves crushes [grain].

14 Escape will fail the swift, the strong one will not prevail by his strength, and the brave will not save his life.

15 The archer will not stand [his ground], the [one who is] swift of foot will not save himself, and the one riding a horse will not save his life.

16 Even the most courageous of the warriors will flee naked on that day- the Lord's declaration.

Amos 2:6-16 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.

Footnotes

• [a] Am 8:6
• [b] Jb 24:4
• [c] Nm 13:28-33
• [d] Nm 21:25
• [e] Am 7:14-15; Dt 18:18-19; Jr 1:4-5
• [f] Nm 6:1-21; Jdg 13:2-5; 1 Sm 1:11
• [g] Or hinder; Hb obscure