Amos 2:4-14

4 This is what the Lord says: "For the many crimes of Judah, I will punish them. and did not keep his commands; they followed the same gods as their ancestors had followed.
5 So I will send fire on Judah, and it will destroy the strong buildings of Jerusalem."
6 This is what the Lord says: "For the many crimes of Israel, I will punish them. For silver, they sell people who have done nothing wrong; they sell the poor to buy a pair of sandals.
7 They walk on poor people as if they were dirt, and they refuse to be fair to those who are suffering. Fathers and sons have sexual relations with the same woman, and so they ruin my holy name.
8 As they worship at their altars, they lie down on clothes taken from the poor. They fine people, and with that money they buy wine to drink in the house of their god.
9 "But it was I who destroyed the Amorites before them, who were tall like cedar trees and as strong as oaks -- I destroyed them completely.
10 It was I who brought you from the land of Egypt and led you for forty years through the desert so I could give you the land of the Amorites.
11 I made some of your children to be prophets and some of your young people to be Nazirites. People of Israel, isn't this true?" says the Lord.
12 "But you made the Nazirites drink wine and told the prophets not to prophesy.
13 Now I will make you get stuck, as a wagon loaded with grain gets stuck.
14 No one will escape, not even the fastest runner. Strong people will not be strong enough; warriors will not be able to save themselves.

Amos 2:4-14 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO AMOS 2

In this chapter the prophet foretells the calamities that should come upon the Moabites for their transgressions, Am 2:1-3; and the destruction of Judah and Jerusalem for their iniquities, Am 2:4,5; also the judgments of God that should come upon Israel the ten tribes for their sins, which sins are enumerated; their oppression of the poor, their lewdness and idolatry, Am 2:6-8; and which are aggravated by the blessings of goodness bestowed upon them, both temporal and spiritual, Am 2:9-12; wherefore they are threatened with ruin, which would be inevitable, notwithstanding their swiftness, strength, and courage, and their skill in shooting arrows, and riding horses, Am 2:13-16.

Scripture taken from the New Century Version. Copyright © 1987, 1988, 1991 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.