F2 K 1-. Call to Hear.
L -1. Judgments deserved.
M 2,3. Threatening.
K 4,5. Call to come.
L 6-11. Judgments inflicted.
M 12,13. Threatening.
689-687 B.C.
Amos 4)
1 Hear this word, you heifers (the women. See Ps. 22:12 [masc.]. Ezek. 39:18 [masc.]) of Bashan, that are in the hill country of Samaria, which oppress exhausted ones, (ref. Lev. 19:13. Deut. 24:14. Cp. 1 Sam. 12:3,4.)
which crush the needy ones (see Prov. 6:11), which say to their masters, 'Bring, and let us drink.'
2 The Lord GOD has sworn by His holiness (see Gen. 22;16), that, lo, the days shall come upon you, that He will take you away with hooks (in the Assyrian monuments we see the captives with literal "hooks" in their noses. Cp. 2 Chron. 33:11. Job 40:24; 41:2. Isa. 37:29. Esek. 29:4), and the remnant of you with fishhooks.
3 And you shall go out at the breaches, every cow (i.e. woman) each woman through the breach [in the wall of Samaria] (with out turning to the left or the right. Cp. Josh. 6:5,20); and you shall be cast toward Ha-Harmon (i.e. into exile), says the LORD.
4 Come to Beth-el (here we have Divine irony, as though it meant "Fill up the measure of you iniquity". Cp. Matt. 23:32), and transgress; at Gilgal (cp. 3:14; 5:5. Hos. 4:15; 9:15; 12:11) multiply transgression; and bring your sacrifices every morning, and your tithes after three years: (Ref. Num. 28:3. Deut. 14:28.)
5 And offer an incense (see Lev. 7:13; 23:17. Cp. Ps. 56:12. Jer. 17:26; 33:1. Heb. 13:15) of thanksgiving with leaven, and proclaim and publish the free offerings (Lev. 22:18,21. Deut. 12:6): for so you have loved [to have it], O you sons of Israel, says the Lord GOD.
L r1 6-. Judgment. [Famine.]
s1 -6. Impenitence.
r2 7,8-. Judgment. [Drought.]
s2 -8. Impenitence.
r3 9-. Judgment. [Blasting.]
s3 -9. Impenitence.
r4 10-. Judgment. [Pestilence.]
s4 -10. Impenitence.
r5 11-. Judgment. [Overthrow.]
s5 11-. Impenitence.
6 And I also have given you cleanness of teeth (put for famine) in all your cities, and want of bread in all your places:
yet have you not returned to Me (Cp. Isa. 26:11. Jer. 5:3. Hag. 2:17), says the LORD.
7 And also I have withheld the rain from you (cp. Deut. 28:22-24), when there were yet three months to the harvest: and I caused it to rain upon one city, and caused it not to rain upon another city: one portion of land was rained upon, and the piece whereupon it rained not withered.
8 So two or three cities wandered to one city, to drink water; but they were not satisfied:
yet have you not returned to me, saith the LORD.
9 I have smitten you with blasting and mildew (cp. Deut. 28:22. Cp. Hag. 2:17): when your gardens and your vineyards and your fig trees and your olive trees increased, the gnawer (see Joel 1:4) devoured them:
yet have you not returned to Me, says the LORD.
10 I have sent among you (cp. Lev. 26:25. Deut. 28:21,27,60) a pestilence (put for the death resulting from it. See 6:10)after the manner of Egypt (see Ex. 9:3,6; 12:29. Deut. 28:27. Cp. Ps. 78:50. Isa. 10:24,26): your young men have I slain with the sword, and have taken away your horses (cp. 2 Kings 13:7); and I have made the stink of your camps to come up to your nostrils: (cp. Joel 2:20.)
yet have you not returned to Me, says the LORD.
11 I have overthrown some of you, as God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah (Gen. 19:24,25. Deut. 29:23), and you were as a firebrand plucked out of the burning: (Cp. Zech. 3:2. Jude 23.)
yet have you not returned to me, says the LORD.
12 Therefore thus will I do to you, O Israel: and because I will do this to you, prepare to meet your God (i.e. in judgment. Cp. Ezek. 13:5; 22:30), O Israel.
13 For, lo, he that forms the mountains, and creates the wind, and declares to man what is his thought (cp. Ps. 139:2. Dan. 2:28), That makes the morning darkness (cp. 5:8; 8:9), and treads upon the high places of the earth (Deut. 32:13; 33:29. Cp. Mic. 1:3), The LORD, The God of hosts, is His name. (Ex. 15:3. Cp. 5:8; 9:6. Isa. 47:4. Jer. 10:16.)