Amos 4:5

5 offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving of ¹that which is leavened, and proclaim ²freewill offerings, publish them; ³for so you love to do, O people of Israel! ”declares 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 through the breaches, each one straight ahead; and you shall be cast out into Harmon, ”declares the Lord.

4 “Come to Bethel, and transgress; to Gilgal, and multiply transgression; bring your sacrifices every morning, your tithes every three days;

5 offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving of that which is leavened, and proclaim freewill offerings, publish them; for so you love to do, O people of Israel! ”declares the Lord God.

6 “I gave you cleanness of teeth in all your cities, and lack of bread in all your places, yet you did not return to me, ”declares the Lord.

7 “I also withheld the rain from you when there were yet three months to the harvest; I would send rain on one city, and send no rain on another city; one field would have rain, and the field on which it did not rain would wither;

Cross References

• 1. 4:5 Lev. 7:13
• 2. 4:5 Ex. 35:29; Lev. 22:18, 21; Deut. 12:6
• 3. 4:5 [Ps. 81:11, 12]