Bible Commentaries
Amos 4

Verses 1-5

Amo 4:1-5

Unauthorized Acts of Worship (Amos 4:1-5)

“Hear this word, ye kine of Bashan, that are in the mountain of Samaria, that oppress the poor, that crush the needy, that say unto their lords, Bring, and let us drink. The Lord Jehovah hath sworn by his holiness, that, lo, the days shall come upon you, that they shall take you away with hooks, and your residue with fish-hooks. And ye shall go out at the breaches, every one straight before her; and ye shall cast yourselves into Harmon, saith Jehovah” (Amos 4:1-3).

The “kine of Bashan” may be a reference to the nobles’ wives of Israel. The judgment for their iniquities is sure. They have oppressed the poor, crushed the needy, and drank the wines of luxury all along the way. A state of disregard for other’s needs governed the selfish minds of the Israelites.

“Come to Bethel, and transgress; to Gilgal, and multiply transgression; and bring your sacrifices every morning, and your tithes every three days; and offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving of that which is leavened, and proclaim freewill-offerings and publish them: for this pleases you, O ye children of Israel, saith the Lord Jehovah” (Amos 4:4-5).

Amos, with a sense of sarcasm, calls upon the wicked of Israel to continue their unauthorized acts of worship. A people who have no respect, gratitude, or regard for God’s laws could care less about worship the way God prescribed.

These self-centered people are called to the centers of idolatrous worship; i.e., Bethel and Gilgal, to continue their illegal and self-prescribed worship. They brought sacrifices every morning, tithes three times twice a week, leavened offerings of thanksgiving, and proclaimed free-will offerings. The purpose of their worship was not to please God but their own selves.

Jesus quoted from Isaiah 29:13 at Matthew 15:8-9 saying, “This people honors me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain do they worship me, teaching as their doctrines the precepts of men.” Unauthorized acts of worship never please God and are always designed to meet man’s expectations.

Verses 6-11

Amo 4:6-11

God calls to their remembrance His blessings and

curses in times of obedience and disobedience

(Amos 4:6-11)

“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 Jehovah” (Amos 4:6).

The idea of clean teeth and want of bread indicates times of famine. Though God withheld the physical bread of life from Israel they rejected God’s request of their repentance.

“And I also 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. So two or three cities wandered unto one city to drink water, and were not satisfied: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith Jehovah” (Amos 4:7-8).

The omnipotent God caused it to rain in designated areas at times for the designated purpose of the people’s repentance. The dry areas and cities went to the watered cities for drink yet their thirst was not satisfied. The drought would have diminished and destroyed much of the crops yet the people rejected God’s pleas of their repentance.

“I have smitten you with blasting and mildew: the multitude of your gardens and your vineyards and your fig-trees and your olive-trees hath the palmer-worm devoured: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith Jehovah” (Amos 4:9).

A blasting wind and mildew fungus destroyed the people’s gardens, vineyards, and fruit trees due to their transgressions. Though the Lord sent these irritants among the fields of the people they continued to reject God’s request for their repentance. The texts in each of these instances indicate that the people were told, likely by a prophet, that God had caused the event due to their sinful lives.

“I have sent among you the pestilence after the manner of Egypt: your young men have I slain with the sword, and have carried away your horses; and I have made the stench of your camp to come up even into your nostrils: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith Jehovah” (Amos 4:10).

Due to Israel’s sin the Lord sent upon the people pestilence in the form of disease and sickness likened unto the days of Egypt. The plagues were generally followed by war and God caused so many Israelites to die by the sword that the smell of the rotting bodies corrupted the air that Israel breathed. Again, Israel refused to repent of her wickedness.

“I have overthrown cities among you, as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorah, and ye were as a brand plucked out of the burning: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith Jehovah” (Amos 4:11).

The Lord withheld the blessings of food and water from Israel. God brought upon their gardens strong blasting winds and mildew. Israel experienced pestilence that brought them low and week that was followed by sword of war and death. Through all these hardships that were designed to move them to repentance they rejected God’s desires as they were made known through the prophets. The last judgment against the disobedient people was war that resulted in cities being overthrown and the inhabitants killed yet they rejected God’s pleas to turn unto Him with hearts of repentance.

Verses 12-13

Amo 4:12-13

The God of Creation Shall Exact

Punishment Upon Israel (Amos 4:12-13)

“Therefore thus will I do unto thee, O Israel; and because I will do this unto thee, prepare to meet thy God, O Israel. For, lo, he that forms the mountains, and creates the wind, and declares unto man what is his thought; that makes the morning darkness, and treads upon the high places of the earth – Jehovah, the God of hosts, is his name” (Amos 4:12-13).

The above five mentioned chastisements for Israel’s sin did nothing to move them to repent. Finally, the Lord proclaims that there will be an un-named judgment that comes upon them that will be worse that the above mentioned ones.

Israel is to prepare to meet the God of war in judgment. Jehovah is omnipotent (i.e., He formed the mountains and creates wind). The Omnipotent God). Jehovah is omniscient in that He, “declares unto man what is his thought.” The judgments; i.e., morning darkness, are sure because He has so proclaimed.