Amos 2:9-16

9 “But as my people watched, I destroyed the Amorites, though they were as tall as cedars and as strong as oaks. I destroyed the fruit on their branches and dug out their roots.

10 It was I who rescued you from Egypt and led you through the desert for forty years, so you could possess the land of the Amorites.

11 I chose some of your sons to be prophets and others to be Nazirites. Can you deny this, my people of Israel?” asks the LORD .

12 “But you caused the Nazirites to sin by making them drink wine, and you commanded the prophets, ‘Shut up!’

13 “So I will make you groan like a wagon loaded down with sheaves of grain.

14 Your fastest runners will not get away. The strongest among you will become weak. Even mighty warriors will be unable to save themselves.

15 The archers will not stand their ground. The swiftest runners won’t be fast enough to escape. Even those riding horses won’t be able to save themselves.

16 On that day the most courageous of your fighting men will drop their weapons and run for their lives,” says the LORD .

Amos 2:9-16 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.