Amos 5:18-27

18 Hoy unto you that desire the Yom Hashem! Why do ye seek it? The Yom Hashem is choshech, and not ohr.

19 As if a man did flee from an ari, and a dov met him; or went into the bais, and leaned his hand on the kir (wall), and a nachash bit him.

20 Shall not the Yom Hashem be choshech, and not ohr? Even very dark, and no brightness in it?

21 I hate, I despise your chagim (religious festivals), and I will not stand in your atzerot (solemn assemblies).

22 Though ye offer Me olot and your minchot, I will not accept them; neither will I regard your choice shelamim (peace offerings).

23 Take thou away from Me the noise of thy shirim (songs); for I will not hear the melody of thy nevalim (harps).

24 But let mishpat run down as mayim, and tzedakah as a never failing stream.

25 Did ye offer unto Me zevakhim and minchah in the midbar arba’im shanah, O Bais Yisroel?

26 But ye have borne the shrine of your Moloch and the pedestal of your tzelamim, your star g-d, which ye made for yourselves.

27 Therefore will I cause you to go into golus beyond Damascus, saith Hashem Elohei Tzva’os Shmo.

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.