Also I brought you up from the land of Egypt, and led you forty years through the wilderness, to possess the land of the Amorite.
Also I brought you up {H5927} from the land {H776} of Egypt {H4714}, and led {H3212} you forty {H705} years {H8141} through the wilderness {H4057}, to possess {H3423} the land {H776} of the Amorite {H567}.
More than that, I brought you up from Egypt, led you forty years in the desert, so that you could have the Emori's land.
And I brought you up from the land of Egypt and led you forty years in the wilderness, that you might take possession of the land of the Amorite.
Also I brought you up out of the land of Egypt, and led you forty years in the wilderness, to possess the land of the Amorite.
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Deuteronomy 2:7
For the LORD thy God hath blessed thee in all the works of thy hand: he knoweth thy walking through this great wilderness: these forty years the LORD thy God [hath been] with thee; thou hast lacked nothing. -
Exodus 12:51
And it came to pass the selfsame day, [that] the LORD did bring the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt by their armies. -
Amos 3:1
¶ Hear this word that the LORD hath spoken against you, O children of Israel, against the whole family which I brought up from the land of Egypt, saying, -
Micah 6:4
For I brought thee up out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed thee out of the house of servants; and I sent before thee Moses, Aaron, and Miriam. -
Acts 13:18
And about the time of forty years suffered he their manners in the wilderness. -
Exodus 3:8
And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey; unto the place of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites. -
Acts 7:42
¶ Then God turned, and gave them up to worship the host of heaven; as it is written in the book of the prophets, O ye house of Israel, have ye offered to me slain beasts and sacrifices [by the space of] forty years in the wilderness?
Amos 2:10 is a powerful verse from the prophet Amos, serving as a divine reminder to Israel of God's unwavering faithfulness and mighty acts on their behalf, contrasting it sharply with their current spiritual decline and disobedience. This verse is part of a larger indictment against Israel and Judah, where God recounts His past mercies before detailing their present transgressions and the impending judgment.
Context
The book of Amos, written around the 8th century BC, delivers a message of judgment primarily to the northern kingdom of Israel for their social injustice, religious hypocrisy, and moral corruption. Before pronouncing specific judgments, God, through Amos, reminds the people of His foundational acts of grace and deliverance. Verse 10 specifically harks back to the formative events of Israel's national identity: their liberation from Egyptian bondage and their journey to the Promised Land. This serves to underscore the magnitude of Israel's ingratitude and rebellion, as they have forgotten or disregarded the very God who brought them into existence as a nation.
Key Themes
Linguistic Insights
The Hebrew verbs used here are significant. "Brought you up" (הֶעֱלֵיתִי, he'elêti) emphasizes God's active, powerful, and decisive action in the Exodus from Egypt. It signifies a lifting out of oppression. "Led you" (וָאוֹלֵךְ, va'olek) implies careful guidance and provision, highlighting God's constant care even in the harsh wilderness. The mention of "Amorite" (הָאֱמֹרִי, ha'emori) specifically, rather than simply "Canaanites," might point to them as a particularly strong or representative group among the inhabitants whom God dispossessed for Israel's sake.
Practical Application
Amos 2:10 serves as a timeless reminder for believers today. Just as God faithfully delivered and guided Israel, He continues to act in the lives of His people. This verse encourages us to: