Amos 4:10

10 "I sent a ¹plague among you after the manner of Egypt; I ²slew your young men by the sword along with your ³captured horses, And I made the ⁴stench of your camp rise up in your nostrils; Yet you have ⁵not returned to Me," declares the LORD.

Amos 4:10 Meaning and Commentary

Amos 4:10

I have sent among you the pestilence, after the manner of
Egypt
Like that which was sent among the firstborn of Egypt, and cut them off in one night; or when in the way of Egypt, as the Targum; either as in the wilderness, when they came out of Egypt, so Jarchi interprets it; see ( Numbers 16:46-49 ) ; or the Lord sent the pestilence as they went in the way to Egypt for help and assistence, or for shelter, for food in time of famine; for they went thither, as Kimchi says, because of the famine, to fetch food, from thence; and this was displeasing to the Lord, and he sent the plague among them, which cut them off in the way: your young men have I slain with the sword;
of the enemy in battle; or as they were in the way to Egypt, being sent there to fetch food, but were intercepted by the enemy: and have taken away your horses;
on which they rode to Egypt on the above errand; or rather which they brought up from thence, contrary to the command of God: and have made the stink of your camps to come up unto your nostrils;
such numbers of their armies being slain, and these lying unburied, the smell of them was very noisome: yet have ye not returned unto me saith the Lord;
still they continued obstinate and impenitent; (See Gill on Amos 4:6).

Amos 4:10 In-Context

8 "So two or three cities would stagger to another city to drink water, But would not be satisfied; Yet you have not returned to Me," declares the LORD .

9 "I smote you with scorching wind and mildew; And the caterpillar was devouring Your many gardens and vineyards, fig trees and olive trees; Yet you have not returned to Me," declares the LORD .

10 "I sent a plague among you after the manner of Egypt; I slew your young men by the sword along with your captured horses, And I made the stench of your camp rise up in your nostrils; Yet you have not returned to Me," declares the LORD .

11 "I overthrew you, as God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah, And you were like a firebrand snatched from a blaze; Yet you have not returned to Me," declares the LORD .

12 "Therefore thus I will do to you, O Israel; Because I will do this to you, Prepare to meet your God, O Israel."

Cross References

• 1. Exodus 9:3; Leviticus 26:25; Deuteronomy 28:27, 60; Psalms 78:50
• 2. Jeremiah 11:22; Jeremiah 18:21; Jeremiah 48:15
• 3. 2 Kings 13:3, 7
• 4. Joel 2:20
• 5. Isaiah 9:13