Amos 2:1-9

1 This is what the LORD says: “For three sins of Moab, even for four, I will not relent. Because he burned to ashes the bones of Edom’s king,
2 I will send fire on Moab that will consume the fortresses of Kerioth.[a]Moab will go down in great tumult amid war cries and the blast of the trumpet.
3 I will destroy her ruler and kill all her officials with him,” says the LORD.
4 This is what the LORD says: “For three sins of Judah, even for four, I will not relent. Because they have rejected the law of the LORDand have not kept his decrees, because they have been led astray by false gods,[b]the gods[c] their ancestors followed,
5 I will send fire on Judah that will consume the fortresses of Jerusalem.”

Judgment on Israel

6 This is what the LORD says: “For three sins of Israel, even for four, I will not relent. They sell the innocent for silver, and the needy for a pair of sandals.
7 They trample on the heads of the poor as on the dust of the ground and deny justice to the oppressed. Father and son use the same girl and so profane my holy name.
8 They lie down beside every altar on garments taken in pledge. In the house of their god they drink wine taken as fines.
9 “Yet I destroyed the Amorites before them, though they were tall as the cedars and strong as the oaks. I destroyed their fruit above and their roots below.

Amos 2:1-9 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.

Cross References 27

  • 1. S Isaiah 16:6
  • 2. Isaiah 33:12
  • 3. Jeremiah 48:24
  • 4. S Job 39:25
  • 5. S Joshua 6:20
  • 6. S Psalms 2:10
  • 7. S Isaiah 40:23
  • 8. Isaiah 15:1-9; Isaiah 16:1-14; S Isaiah 25:10; Jeremiah 48:1; S Ezekiel 25:8-11; Zephaniah 2:8-9
  • 9. 2 Kings 17:19; Hosea 12:2
  • 10. S Jeremiah 6:19
  • 11. S Ezekiel 20:24
  • 12. Isaiah 9:16
  • 13. S Exodus 34:15; S Deuteronomy 31:20; S Psalms 4:2; Isaiah 28:15
  • 14. S 2 Kings 22:13; S Jeremiah 9:14; S Jeremiah 16:12
  • 15. S 2 Kings 25:9; S 2 Chronicles 36:19
  • 16. Amos 3:11
  • 17. S Jeremiah 17:27; S Hosea 8:14
  • 18. S Amos 1:3
  • 19. S Joel 3:3; Amos 8:6
  • 20. S Leviticus 18:21; Amos 5:11-12; Amos 8:4
  • 21. S Exodus 22:26; Deuteronomy 24:12-13
  • 22. Hosea 7:14; Amos 4:1; Amos 6:6
  • 23. Habakkuk 2:6
  • 24. Numbers 21:23-26; Joshua 10:12
  • 25. S Isaiah 10:33
  • 26. S Psalms 29:9
  • 27. S 2 Kings 19:30; S Job 18:16; S Ezekiel 17:9; Malachi 4:1

Footnotes 3

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