Amos 5:18-27

The Day of Yahweh

18 Alas, those who desire the day of Yahweh, why [is] this for you the day of Yahweh? It [will be] darkness and not light!

19 [It will be] as [if] a man fled from a lion and a bear met him; or he went [into] the house and leaned his hand against the wall and a snake bit him.

20 [Is] not the day of Yahweh darkness and not light, and pitch dark with no brightness in it?

21 "I hate, I despise your festivals, and I take no delight in your assemblies.

22 Yes, [even] if you offer me your burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept [them], and I will not look at the fellowship offerings of your fattened animals.

23 Remove from me the noise of your songs, and I do not want to hear the melody of your harps!

24 But let justice roll on like the water, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.

25 Did you bring to me sacrifices and offering[s] those forty years in the desert, O house of Israel?

26 And you will take up Sikkuth, your king, and Kaiwan, your images, the star of your gods which you made for yourselves.

27 And I will deport you beyond Damascus," says Yahweh--the God of hosts [is] his name.

Amos 5:18-27 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.