This is the final post in my series, Reader’s Guide to Amos. It works(or at least, I’d like it to) as something between a commentary and a Bible Study. Go read the text. Keep that window open. Read through it once to get a broad view of what is happening. Then come back and read through my notes. I’d suggest going back to the text one more time, read through it and when you get to a word or idea you are unsure of, come back and see if there is something in my Reader’s Guide that helps. You can read my original series introduction and the original posts that cover the text up to this point.

Chapter 9

1-4 This is the fifth and final vision of judgement. This vision is different in that there is no symbolism, just destruction, and no spoken words from Amos. These verses show the extent of the Wrath of Yahweh and the inability to escape destruction. There will be no hiding place, not at heaven or in hell, not at the top of the world (Carmel) or the bottom of the sea.

5-6 The third hymn of divine sovereignty. The ‘inescable judgment were reinforced with the celebration of Yahweh’s cosmic power” – Tyndale

7-10 The final woe oracle. Israel is no different than the other nations and will not escape judgment. Yahweh then declares judgment on the ‘sinful kingdom’, which is Israel. However, the destruction will not be total. As He sakes the house of Israel, so shall it be like shaking a sieve, the pebbles will not fall with the grain. The sinners are the pebbles and will die by the sword. Continue reading →

This is another post in my series, Reader’s Guide to Amos. It works(or at least, I’d like it to) as something between a commentary and a Bible Study. Go read the text. Keep that window open. Read through it once to get a broad view of what is happening. Then come back and read through my notes. I’d suggest going back to the text one more time, read through it and when you get to a word or idea you are unsure of, come back and see if there is something in my Reader’s Guide that helps. You can read my original series introduction and the original posts that cover the text up to this point.

Chapter 8

1-3 – The fourth judgement vision. The for summer fruit sounds like the word for end. We have a play on words that can either mean that Israel is ripe for judgement (summer fruit being fruit that would ripen in the summer) or that it was during the end of the season for the fruit, as is the coming end of Israel. The joyful singing will turn to wailing and mourning. There will be so many dead bodies, the scene so disturbing that the only response is to yell for silence.

4-14 – An oracle of woe for those whom oppress the poor. They are so obsessed with money that they cry out “when will this religious day or feast be over, so that we can get back to work” The observed the law, not engaging in business, but their man focus was still greed. They longed for the worship days to be over, that they can go back to their dishonest gain.

Ephah was the contained used to measure the grain (by volume)

Shekel was the standard weight – 2/5s an ounce

So they want to make the grain smaller than it appears and the weighing mechanism to appear heavier than it is.

Likely not referring to an earthquake, but instead the trembling is in fear. Fear that Yahweh will not forget their deeds and will bring punishment.

Yahweh will bring floods and darkness.

Everyone will be involved in lamentation. All happiness and goodness will be turned into wailing.

Sackcloth and shaving of the head were signs of mourning.

The coming day will be like that of mourning over the death of an only son.

The lord will then send hunger and thirst throughout the land.

Guilt of Samaria is in contrast to the ‘pride of Jacob’ from v.7. Israel swore to false gods, this is their shame and guilt. The word for guilt here refers to their idolatry. References to Dan and Beersheba may represent how wide spread the idolatry was, as they stand at opposite ends of the land from each other. The formula used in verse 14 sounds like those of swearing allegiance to those gods.

Commentary Sources:
Amos, Obadiah, Jonah: An Exegetical and Theological Exposition of Holy Scripture (The New American Commentary)
Joel and Amos (Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries)
Hosea-Jonah, Volume 31 (Word Biblical Commentary)

This is another post in my series, Reader’s Guide to Amos. It works(or at least, I’d like it to) as something between a commentary and a Bible Study. Go read the text. Keep that window open. Read through it once to get a broad view of what is happening. Then come back and read through my notes. I’d suggest going back to the text one more time, read through it and when you get to a word or idea you are unsure of, come back and see if there is something in my Reader’s Guide that helps. You can read my original series introduction and the original posts that cover the text up to this point.

Chapter 7

In these sections we have five judgment visions against Israel, as well as Amos’ conflict with Amaziah and Amaziah’s subsequent report to Jeroboam, and a woe oracle of future destruction of Israel and finally the actual destruction mixed in. The book finishes on a positive note of the future restoration of Israel.

1-6 – We have the first two judgements, they follow the same outline: Vision, Amos’ intercession, and Yahweh’s response. Amos sees a coming agent of destruction, cries out that they will not survive, Yahweh relents.

7-9 Most translation use plumb line. A plumb line is used to measure, meaning they cannot meet Yahweh’s standard. The word translated here can mean either lead or tin, which would be used to anchor the plum line. However, WBC and others take the (minority) position of translating just to ‘tin’ and not inferring the plumb-line.

“I will not pass by” I will not spare them (as in Exodus).

7:10-17 gives us a break from the judgment visions. Amaziah, which is the head priest in the center of worship for the kingdom sends word to the king about Amos and his prophecies. Amaziah then accuses Amos of basically being in it for the money. ‘Eat your bread’ meaning make money or get money for food.

Amos response, saying he was not a professional prophet and worked as a cattle breeder and an attendant to trees before God called him. Then he responds with a prophecy of what will happen is Amaziah in the coming judgment. It is mostly tied to separation and loss of land in the exile. His wife will be forced to support herself in the city, his children will die, his land will be given to others, we will be sent off and die in a foreign land.

Commentary Sources:
Amos, Obadiah, Jonah: An Exegetical and Theological Exposition of Holy Scripture (The New American Commentary)
Joel and Amos (Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries)
Hosea-Jonah, Volume 31 (Word Biblical Commentary)

This is another post in my series, Reader’s Guide to Amos. It works(or at least, I’d like it to) as something between a commentary and a Bible Study. Go read the text. Keep that window open. Read through it once to get a broad view of what is happening. Then come back and read through my notes. I’d suggest going back to the text one more time, read through it and when you get to a word or idea you are unsure of, come back and see if there is something in my Reader’s Guide that helps. You can read my original series introduction and the original posts that cover the text up to this point.

Chapter 6
This chapter is very similar to the prior section. It is another woe oracle split into two parts. First, those whom are complacent, secure, at ease and comfortable. Second, a ‘divine oath’ of judgment to a doomed nation.

1-7 – “passage is entirely poetic” WBC
Zion is Jerusalem
Trusting in the Mount is literal. “Samaria’s topography made it a natural fortress” – NAC.
Calneh and Hamath were Syrian city-states under the influence of Israel. Gath was a Philistine city-state under Judean influence. This is a rhetorical question to point out that the leaders of Israel were wrong to think they were bigger or better than surrounding areas.
Tyndale notes that Amos is sarcastic here, pointing out that the leaders who deny a coming day of disaster are inviting a sooner than expected ‘reign of terror.
Those whom are first in luxury, will be first to be exiled. Eating meat was rare, possibly only three times a year for the average Israelite, only on feast days (WBC). Bowls are used instead of cups, which would be smaller; additionally the word connotes the bowls used in ritual temple practices. So, those living in extreme and excess luxury will be the first to be taken capture. This likely ended up happening when taken by Assyria, as the kings, nobility, etc. would have been taken and sent out first.

8-14 – Deliver up – selling into captivity or giving up prisoners. The idea being, every single person, who feels comforted in the fortress of Mount Samaria, will be delivered over to those who God will use for judgement. Verses 9-11 point of the totality of the destruction to come.
Rhetorical questions, horses do not fun on rocks and you cannot plow rocks with oxen (alternative understanding of the Hebrew may ask the question, do you use Oxen to plow the sea. I tend to favor the rock, “there”, interpretation over saying the sea, but the point remains either way).
Lo Debar means ‘not a thing’ – this was a deliberate misspelling of an actual city conquered by Jeroboam II
Karnaim means ‘a pair of horns’ – horns were a symbol of power or authority in OT. The name evokes power, but it was an insignificant and small city.
So, what we have in 13 is a pun with sarcasm, as Israel boast in taking nothing (not a thing) and powerfully named but ultimate unimportant city.
Lebo Hamath was Israel’s northern most board
Valley, brook, or wadi of Arabah was the southernmost boundary.
So a nation will be brought up and will conquer/oppress/subjugate Israel in its entirety, from northern board to the southern border.

Commentary Sources:
Amos, Obadiah, Jonah: An Exegetical and Theological Exposition of Holy Scripture (The New American Commentary)
Joel and Amos (Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries)
Hosea-Jonah, Volume 31 (Word Biblical Commentary)

This is another post in my series, Reader’s Guide to Amos. It works(or at least, I’d like it to) as something between a commentary and a Bible Study. Go read the text. Keep that window open. Read through it once to get a broad view of what is happening. Then come back and read through my notes. I’d suggest going back to the text one more time, read through it and when you get to a word or idea you are unsure of, come back and see if there is something in my Reader’s Guide that helps. You can read my original series introduction and the original posts that cover the text up to this point.

5:1-17
There is a distinct pattern here in the structure and arrangement of these verses (WBC.)
5:1-3 – Lamentation
5:4-6 – Exhortation
5:7 – Accusation
5:8-9 – Hymn
5:10-13 – Accusation & Judgment
5:14-15 – Exhortation
5:16-17 – Lamentation

1 – Lament is a funeral song, sung over the dead
2 – Fallen, as in on the field of battle and no one is there to help (WBC). Virgin here connotes youth and purity (NAC).
3 – ‘went out’ as in marching out, as in sent out an army. Few will return. Those sent out, are marching to their deaths.
4-6 – Bethal (mentioned thrice), Gilgal (mentioned twice) and Beersheba (once) are all centers of false worship. Only Jerusalem is the center for worship. The frequency of mention, is connected/related/corralled with their familiarity/importance to the audience (NAC)
7 – Wormwood – a bitter tasting plant used proverbially as poison
Thrown down – thrown away, thrown out
You have the two pillars of the covenant requirement here with Justice and Righteousness. The sweet words and deeds of justice are being turned to bitterness (Tyndale). Righteousness is being tossed out with the trash.
8-9 Another hymn, similar to 4:13. Pleiades and Orion are well known constellations in the ANE.
10-13 ‘Him who reproves’ is either the Judge or the Elder on the Jury whom renders the verdict.
‘At the gate – where court was held/lawsuits were handled
As punishment, those who exploit the poor to become rich will not enjoy their material wealth.
Prudent – has the meaning of insight or understanding (NAC), so it is likely the judges/elders at the court who oppress the poor.
‘In such a time’ in the future exile, which is the ‘evil time’.
Verse 13, despite starting with ‘therefore’, which usually indicated judgment is likely a proverb, can be understood as – in time, those who silenced the poor, will themselves be silenced.
14-15 – Seeking is more than looking for, but actively working so that good prevails over evil (NAC)
Establish is to set up justice (contrasted with casting down righteousness in v7 (Tyndale)) in the court
Do these things and Yahweh may save a few, the remnant of Israel
16-17 – ‘skilled in lamentation’ – Israel had professional mourners, so the mourning, wailing (the woe) will be so great that even the famers and those in the vineyards will lament and wail and mourn.
‘I will pass through’ recalls Exodus. The lord will pass through, he is there for judgement and as with Egypt, he will also be the cause of the mourning (due to the judgement).

5:18-27
This is a woe oracle with two parts. First, the misunderstanding of the day of the Lord, and second, the rejection of Israel’s worship. See here for notes on Day of the Lord
18 – They are expected the Day of Lord to be a victory for them, but as God brings his judgment for their breaking of the covenant, the Day, will be a victory against them.
19 – There will be no escaping the destruction (NAC). It would be like fleeing from a lion, only to run into a bear, which ever direction you turn, you will die. Or, entering your house, expecting you are safe, but to be bitten and die.
20 – The Day will bring darkness, not light. Only darkness, not even a hint of light. “The Northern Kingdom was awaiting devastation, no deliverance” – WBC
21-24 – The site of this oracle is likely Bethel, where there were cultic festivals. They practiced much religiousty, following the practice of religion, but they did not have justice or righteousness. So, they had actions, but not right hearts and minds. This is why they are judged. You really need to take time and ponder the strength in which this woe comes. The amount of rejection and admonition should be crushing.
25- Rhetorical question. The time in the wilderness was also considered the apex of Israelites devotion and worship of Yahweh (WBC). There weren’t many sacrifices then, there wasn’t religiosusity and false devotion
26 – Assyrian deities. In contrast to the wilderness era of devotion, they take up other gods and idolatry.
27 – Punishment for the idolatry. You will be sent out past Damascus. Damascus was north, northeast of Israel. Following this path, leads to the roads of Assyria. Decades later, the Assyrians would conquer Israel and exile them.

Commentary Sources:
Amos, Obadiah, Jonah: An Exegetical and Theological Exposition of Holy Scripture (The New American Commentary)
Joel and Amos (Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries)
Hosea-Jonah, Volume 31 (Word Biblical Commentary)

We continue on from the previous few weeks with the readers guide to the Minor Prophets. When we left off, Amos had just announced the oracles against other nations. He now starts in on Israel. Go read the passage, then come back for the notes below and then read it again. Hopefully, this helps in understanding the text.

Israel 2:6-16
Now Amos focus on the Israelite themselves. He starts with the same pattern (for three…four, shall not turn), but here seems much worse. Instead of the ‘fourth’ we have a list of sins.
The sins are (WBC)
Sale of the poor into Slavery
Oppression of the poor
Sexual abuse
Exploitation of needy debtors
These are not specific sins, but daily occurrences in Israel

Selling into slavery, silver was a high price, for a pair of sandals (likely hyperbole) was obviously low. Basically saying, you’ll sell anyone for anything you can get.
Treated the poor like dirt.
So, we don’t know who the woman is. EBC says mother-in-law or stepmother, Tyndale says daughter-in-law by corruption of concubinage, others say just a girl. This could be a prostitute or someone at the temple. Either way, if not the both of them are engaging in general sexual sin, one of them is breaking codes of incest and adultery.
It was a common practice t the time to take an item of clothing as a pledge (such as on a debt), but you were required to give it back at night, as the poor would have nothing else to keep warm.
The wine was paid as a fine, possible unjustly imposed, that the priest then drank the wine. Fines are supposed to be for making restitution, not for getting drunk.

9-12
This is God’s indignation at Israel. He reminds them that it was He who did all these things and now they profane his name and oppress the poor. Read it as, “After all I’ve done this (the aforementioned crimes) is how you repay me.
12 – Nazerites were ‘consecrated agents of God among his people’(WBC) and among other special rules, did not drink.

13-16
I will crush you as if a full cart ran over you, driving you into the ground.

My Translation of 14-16:
You have no chance. The fast will not move, the strong will be weak, and even the might warriors will die. The archers will not even be able to stand, the quick will still die, even if they are on a horse, they cannot outrun me. Even the bravest among you will run away, naked and afraid when my wrath comes.

3:1-8
‘Only you have I known’ means you are the one I’ve made a covenant with, therefore, punishment must come.
This is followed by seven rhetorical questions. E.G. People who are traveling together, have obviously met before.  The most important of which is the final question. Basically saying, if I have commanded someone to speak, they must speak (this is over and against what we read earlier, that the prophets were told not to speak).