Amos4

Amos condemns the oppressive women of Samaria, metaphorically called "kine of Bashan," for their luxurious living at the expense of the poor, prophesying their captivity. The Lord recounts a series of judgments—famine, drought, blight, pestilence, and war—each met with Israel's failure to repent. Despite these chastisements, Israel did not return to God. Therefore, the nation is warned to prepare to meet their powerful and sovereign God.
Listen to this chapter
0:00 0:00

Judgment on the Oppressive Women

1
Hear this word, ye kine of Bashan, that are in the mountain of Samaria, which oppress the poor, which crush the needy, which say to their masters, Bring, and let us drink. ​
2
The Lord GOD hath sworn by his holiness, that, lo, the days shall come upon you, that he will take you away with hooks, and your posterity with fishhooks. ​
3
And ye shall go out at the breaches, every cow at that which is before her; and ye shall cast them into the palace, saith the LORD. ​

Satire of Formalistic Worship

4
Come to Bethel, and transgress; at Gilgal multiply transgression; and bring your sacrifices every morning, and your tithes after three years: ​
5
And offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving with leaven, and proclaim and publish the free offerings: for this liketh you, O ye children of Israel, saith the Lord GOD. ​

Five Warnings Rejected by Israel

6
And I also have given you cleanness of teeth in all your cities, and want of bread in all your places: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD. ​
7
And also I have withholden the rain from you, 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 piece was rained upon, and the piece whereupon it rained not withered. ​
8
So two or three cities wandered unto one city, to drink water; but they were not satisfied: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD.
9
I have smitten you with blasting and mildew: when your gardens and your vineyards and your fig trees and your olive trees increased, the palmerworm devoured them: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD. ​
10
I have sent among you the pestilence after the manner of Egypt: your young men have I slain with the sword, and have taken away your horses; and I have made the stink of your camps to come up unto your nostrils: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD. ​
11
I have overthrown some of you, as God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah, and ye were as a firebrand plucked out of the burning: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD. ​

Prepare to Meet Your God

12
Therefore thus will I do unto thee, O Israel: and because I will do this unto thee, prepare to meet thy God, O Israel. ​
13
For, lo, he that formeth the mountains, and createth the wind, and declareth unto man what is his thought, that maketh the morning darkness, and treadeth upon the high places of the earth, The LORD, The God of hosts, is his name. ​

Study Notes for Amos 4

Verse 1

"Kine of Bashan" is a biting metaphor for the wealthy, luxurious women of Samaria. Bashan was known for its rich pastures and fat cattle, highlighting their self-indulgence and oppressive treatment of the poor and needy.

Verse 2

God swears by his 'holiness,' emphasizing the certainty and moral necessity of the coming judgment. The imagery of being taken away with 'hooks' and 'fishhooks' refers to the brutal Assyrian practice of leading captives away by ropes attached to hooks through their noses or lips.

Verse 3

The 'breaches' refer to the walls of Samaria broken by the invading army. The humiliating expulsion, possibly toward the 'palace' or a specific place of banishment (Harman), signifies that they will be stripped of their former status and security.

Verse 4

This is heavy irony and sarcasm. Amos mocks their misplaced religious zeal by inviting them to continue their rituals at Bethel and Gilgal, sites associated with syncretistic calf worship, ensuring they only 'multiply transgression' rather than achieve holiness.

Verse 5

The offering of a 'sacrifice of thanksgiving with leaven' violates the Mosaic Law (Leviticus 2:11), which forbade leaven in most offerings. This detail underscores that Israel's religious practices were not only numerous but also fundamentally corrupt and disobedient.

Verse 6

'Cleanness of teeth' is a euphemism for extreme famine, where there is nothing to eat that would soil the teeth. This is the first of five escalating judgments God used to prompt repentance (the series runs from vv. 6-11).

Verse 7

This specific, localized drought demonstrates God's sovereign control over nature (the second judgment). By raining upon one city and not another, God made it clear that the affliction was a targeted divine act, demanding a response.

Verse 9

Blasting, mildew, and the palmerworm (a type of locust) represent the third judgment, targeting agricultural abundance. Despite the destruction of their staple crops, the people remained hardened against repentance.

Verse 10

The 'pestilence after the manner of Egypt' (the fourth judgment) refers to the severe plagues during the Exodus narrative. God is using the same powerful intervention against His own rebellious people, often accompanied by military defeat (sword).

Verse 11

The fifth and final judgment references the catastrophic overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah. Even those who survived ('firebrand plucked out') failed to heed the near-total destruction and return to God.

Verse 12

Since Israel refused to return after five escalating warnings, the final, decisive judgment is imminent. The command 'prepare to meet thy God' is a terrifying summons to face divine accountability, not a gentle call to spiritual readiness.

Verse 13

This powerful doxology concludes the chapter, emphasizing God's absolute sovereignty over creation and history. The title 'The LORD, The God of hosts' stresses His omnipotence and control over all earthly and heavenly powers, confirming His ability to execute the promised judgment.

Use ← → arrow keys to navigate
Settings

Reading Style

Typeface

Font Size 19px

Options