Amos 5:1-3

``Seek Me that You May Live"

1 Hear this word which I take up for you as a ¹dirge, O house of Israel:

2 She has fallen, she will ²not rise again - The ³virgin Israel. She lies neglected on her land; There is ⁴none to raise her up.

3 For thus says the Lord GOD, "The city which goes forth a thousand strong Will have a ⁵hundred left, And the one which goes forth a hundred strong Will have ⁶ten left to the house of Israel."

Amos 5:1-3 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. Jeremiah 7:29; Jeremiah 9:10, 17; Ezekiel 19:1
• 2. Amos 8:14
• 3. Jeremiah 14:17
• 4. Isaiah 51:18; Jeremiah 50:32
• 5. Isaiah 6:13
• 6. Amos 6:9

Footnotes

• [a] Heb "YHWH," usually rendered LORD, and so throughout the ch