Amos
Chapter 4
Listen to this word, you cows of Bashan, you women who live on the hills of Samaria, who oppress the weak and abuse the needy, who order your husbands:“Bring us something to drink quickly!”
The Lord has sworn by his holiness: “The time is coming when you will be dragged away with hooks, even the last of you with fishhooks.
Through the breaks in the wall, you will go out, straight ahead, driven all the way to Hermon,”It is the Lord who speaks.
“Come, sinners, to the Sanctuary in Bethel; go down to Gilgal and sin even more! Every morning, bring your sacrifices, and on the third day, offer your tithes. Burn leavened food as an act of thanksgiving.
Proclaim in public your freewill offering, for this is what makes you happy, people of Israel,” says the Lord.
Vain Warnings
“Though I have cleaned your teeth of food in every city, and made your bread scarce in all your dwellings, yet you did not return to me,” says the Lord.
“Though I withheld rain from you when the harvest was still three months away, though I sent rain upon one town and withheld it from another,
though people staggered from town to town, desperately searching for water to quench their thirst,yet you never returned to me,” says the Lord.
“Though I have struck your garden and vineyard with blight and calamities, and though the locusts have devoured your fig and olive trees,you still have not returned to me,” says the Lord.
“Though, as in Egypt, I sent you a plague, though I slew your young men with the sword along with your captured horses, and nauseated you with the stench from your own dead, yet you never returned to me,” says the Lord.
“I overthrew you as a divine punishment, just like what happened to Sodom and Gomorrah; you were like a brand snatchedfrom the fire, yet you have never returned to me,” says the Lord.
“Therefore, I will handle you in my own way, Israel. And since I will do this to you, prepare yourself, Israel, to meet your God!”
For it is he who creates he thunder and winds, reveals his mind to humankind, turns dawn into twilight, and strides upon the heights of the earth;the Lord, God of hosts, is his name.
Commentaries
Title.
This section explains why the northern kingdom will be judged. The first three oracles start with the phrase “Hear this word” (3:1; 4:1; 5:1). These are followed by three “woes” as warnings (5:7; 5:18; 6:1) to those who refuse to listen.
I Will Hold You Accountable.
The primary reason for divine judgment is that, despite Israel being God’s chosen people, violence, oppression, injustice, and idolatry prevail among them (3:1-15). The history of Israel is preceded by the announcements and revelations of the prophets (3:7-8). As the people of the covenant, to whom God reveals his identity and power (Ex 19:3-6), Israel bears greater responsibility than other peoples, which is why they are called to listen to the voice of the prophets (3:9-10).
Another reason for judgment is represented by the women of Samaria who live in luxury and opulence at the expense of the poor, displaying hypocrisy and stubbornness. The prophet sarcastically calls them “cows of Bashan,” referring to a region with rich pasture where cattle were fattened (4:1-3). Ironically, the prophet urges the Israelites to go up to the shrines of Bethel and Gilgal to sin, because their worship is false and hypocritical: it was corrupted by abuse and oppression of the poor (4:4-5; cf. Col 3:5).
Vain Warnings.
Disobedience to the Sinai covenant results in God’s punishment. Famine, drought, and plagues are God’s ways of trying to bring his people back to him. Still, Israel ignores this persistent call to turn around. This section ends with a praise hymn or doxology to God the Creator (13).