Amos 5:11

11 You trample on the poor and take their wheat from them for taxes. That is why you build houses from hand-cut stones, but you will not live in them. You plant beautiful vineyards, but you will not drink their wine.

Amos 5:11 Meaning and Commentary

Amos 5:11

Forasmuch therefore as your treading [is] upon the poor
This seems to be spoken to the princes, judges, and civil magistrates, as Kimchi observes; who oppressed the poor and needy, and crushed them to the ground, trampled upon them, stripped them of the little substance they had, and left them destitute; exercising a cruel and tyrannical power over them, they having none to stand by them, and deliver them: and ye take from him burdens of wheat;
which perhaps he had been gleaning in the field, and was carrying home for the support of his family; or which he had gotten with great labour, and was all he had in the world: this they took away from him, for the payment of pretended debts, or lawsuits; or as not in right belonging to him, but taken out of fields where he should not have entered: ye have built houses of hewn stones;
in a very grand and pompous manner for themselves and their children, with money they had extorted from the poor, and got by oppression and injustice: but ye shall not dwell in them;
at least but a very short time; for quickly and suddenly the enemy will come and turn you out of them, and destroy them, which would be a just retaliation for their spoiling the houses of the poor: ye have planted pleasant vineyards:
well situated, and filled with the choicest vines, which promise a large produce of the best wine: but ye shall not drink wine of them;
for before the grapes are fully ripe they should be either taken away by death, or be carried captive, and others should dwell in their houses, and drink the wine of their vineyards.

Amos 5:11 In-Context

9 He destroys strongholds and ruins fortresses.
10 Israel, you hate anyone who speaks out against injustice. You are disgusted by anyone who speaks the truth.
11 You trample on the poor and take their wheat from them for taxes. That is why you build houses from hand-cut stones, but you will not live in them. You plant beautiful vineyards, but you will not drink their wine.
12 I know that your crimes are numerous and your sins are many. You oppress the righteous by taking bribes. You deny the needy access to the courts.
13 That is why a wise person remains silent at such times, because those times are so evil.
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