May 14, 2008

 

Chapter 3, verse 11-“an adversary shall be all around the land”- While

Amos prophesies during the reign of Uzziah & Jeroboam 2^nd (1:1) near 760 BC,

This “adversary” is likely the Assyrian king, Tiglath-Pileser- II Kings 15:29.  The actions of this adversary is due to divine appointment of judgment upon Israel

due to Israel’s oppressions- see vs.10.  “sap your strength” =loss of national

vigor   “palaces plundered”= loss of wealth

 

Chapter 3, verses 12-The figure of the shepherd removing portions of a

destroyed lamb from the mouth of a lion may suggest either:

  1) Severity of divine judgment- Israel is thoroughly crushed

  2) Evidence of limited mercy- Israel is partially preserved (due to covenant)

“who dwell in Samaria” points to judgment upon Israelites in Samaria and “in the corner of a bed” suggests no place to be hidden from this judgment.

“and on the edge of a couch”—some translations have “in Damascus” due to

use of same word for the city and the material of the couch (damask).  If “edge of a couch” is correct, it is used for wealth (parallel to palaces in vs.11)- no protection for the wealthy.

 

Chapter 3, verses 13-15- “house of Jacob”- use of Jacob for Israel-

Two names are used for the Lord =

1) LORD God- (Jehovah Elohim)- covenant/redemptive name of deity

2) God of hosts—(Elohim Sabaoth)- expressive of deity as Maker and Controller of all agencies; more frequently as Jehovah Sabaoth or LORD of hosts.  It indicates the power & providence of deity to appoint and direct other agencies to do His bidden in relationship to His covenant people, Israel.  This term is particularly appropriate here as God directs the enemies of Israel to assault

them as part of His judgment.

   “punish Israel for their transgressions”- see vs.2.   This punitive aspect of the covenant with the LORD is expressed in Deut. 28:15-67.

   “altars of Bethel” -refers to illicit worship at Bethel- I Kings 12:32 and II Kings 23:15.

   “I will destroy the winter house and the summer house”- this duplicate

housing is indicative of the wealth that Israel possessed.  It is also shown with the “houses of ivory”- showing the expensive detail work done to beautify

these mansions of the affluent-I Kings 22:39.  The wealthy are specified as a target of God’s displeasure due to the abuse of the poor by the wealthy.

   Observe the frequent use of “says the LORD”- 1:3, 5, 6, 8, etc.  This

repetition is to authenticate Amos as a valid prophet with a message from

the LORD God.

 

 

 

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Chapter 4, verse 1- by use of the feminine for “cows”, it is thought that Amos

is directing his remarks toward the affluent, indulgent and abusive wives of

the wealthy.  These pleasure-obsessed women spend their time drinking wine to

achieve drunkenness, calling for their husbands to bring more.  This language

may indicate a perversion of leadership with dominant wives and passive husbands.

   These same women “oppress the poor…crush the needy”- their cruelty and harshness toward the needy &  poor reveal a deliberate wickedness and indifference to justice.  They are attempting to build their happiness on the misery of others.  Isaiah addressed such women in 3:16-24.  The old sin nature

in women perverts their otherwise attractive feminine traits into aggressiveness (I Kings 19:2), loss of a sensitive conscience (Prov. 30:20), increase in subjectivity (Ruth 1:20, Eccl.7:26) and  violence (Esther 5:14, Mark 6:24).