Amos 5:1-6

Seek the Lord and Live

1 Hear this word that I ¹take up over you in lamentation, O house of Israel:

2 “Fallen, no more to rise, is ²the virgin Israel; forsaken on her land, with none to raise her up. ”

3 For thus says the Lord God: “The city that went out a thousand shall have a hundred left, and that which went out a hundred shall have ten left to the house of Israel. ”

4 For thus says the Lord to the house of Israel: ³“Seek me and live;

5 but do not seek ⁴Bethel, and do not enter into ⁵Gilgal or cross over to ⁶Beersheba; for ⁷Gilgal shall surely go into exile, and ⁸Bethel shall come to nothing. ”

6 ⁹Seek the Lord and live, ¹⁰lest he break out like fire in the house of Joseph, and it devour, with none to quench it for ¹¹Bethel,

Amos 5:1-6 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.

Cross References

• 1. 5:1 Ezek. 19:1
• 2. 5:2 Lam. 2:1; [Isa. 47:1]
• 3. 5:4 2 Chr. 15:2; Isa. 55:6; Zeph. 2:3
• 4. 5:5 See ch. 4:4
• 5. 5:5 See ch. 4:4
• 6. 5:5 ch. 8:14
• 7. 5:5 See ch. 4:4
• 8. 5:5 See ch. 4:4
• 9. 5:6 [See ver. 4 above]
• 10. 5:6 [Isa. 9:18, 19]
• 11. 5:6 [See ver. 5 above]