Amos 4:1-8

1 Listen to this word, you cows of Bashan, who are on the mountain of Shomron, who oppress the poor, who crush the needy, who tell their lords, "Bring, and let us drink."

2 The Lord GOD has sworn by his holiness that behold, "The days shall come on you that they will take you away with hooks, And the last of you with fish hooks.

3 You will go out at the breaks in the wall, Everyone straight before her; And you will cast yourselves into Harmon," says the LORD.

4 "Go to Beit-El, and sin; To Gilgal, and sin more. Bring your sacrifices every morning, Your tithes every three days,

5 Offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving of that which is leavened, And proclaim free will offerings and brag about them: For this pleases you, you children of Yisra'el," says the Lord GOD.

6 "I also have given you cleanness of teeth in all your cities, And lack of bread in every town; Yet you haven't returned to me," says the LORD.

7 "I also have withheld the rain from you, When there were yet three months to the harvest; And I caused it to rain on one city, And caused it not to rain on another city. One place was rained on, And the piece where it didn't rain withered.

8 So two or three cities staggered to one city to drink water, And were not satisfied: Yet you haven't returned to me," says the LORD.

Amos 4:1-8 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO AMOS 4

In this chapter, the great ones, or the people of Israel, are threatened with calamities for their oppression of the poor, Am 4:1-3; and in an ironic manner are reproved for their idolatry, Am 4:4,5; then follows an enumeration of several judgments that had been upon them, yet had had no effect on them, to bring them to repentance, nor even mercies, Am 4:6-11; and notwithstanding all this, in a wonderful gracious manner, they are called upon to prepare to meet their God, who is described by his power, greatness, and goodness, Am 4:12,13.