Amos – for three

transgressions and for four

4) “Woe unto you”

“Ye kine of Bashan” (1)

(Amos 4:1-3)

They oppress the poor.

“Oppress”: Heb. ashaq – ‘to press upon, i.e.,

oppress, defraud, violate, overflow’ – as in

Lev. 19:13: “Thou shalt not defraud thy

neighbour”; Hos. 12:7: “He is a merchant, the

balances of deceit are in his hand: he loveth

to oppress.”

“The poor”: Heb. dal – those of low estate.

“Ye kine of Bashan” (2)

(Amos 4:1-3)

They crush (Heb. ratsats – ‘to crack in pieces,

literally or figuratively)’ the needy / the poor.

They say to their lords (husbands), Bring and

let us drink – they gave way to drunken revelry.

Hos. 5:11: “Ephraim is oppressed and broken

(crushed) in judgment.”

Deut. 28:33: “Thou shalt be only oppressed

and crushed alway.”

God is holy (Amos 4:2)

See Amos 2:7; 4:2.

“For thus saith the high and lofty One that

inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy”

(Isa. 57:15).

“The LORD of hosts shall be exalted in

judgment, and God that is holy shall be

sanctified in righteousness” (Isa. 5:16).

Holy places or objects

“Holy ground” (Exod. 3:5).

“The holy place and the most holy” in the

tabernacle (Exod. 26:33,34).

Aaron wore “holy garments” (Exod. 31:10).

Jerusalem is the “holy city” (Isa. 52:1) and

God’s “holy mountain” (Isa. 66:20). “Every

pot in Jerusalem and in Judah shall be

holiness unto the LORD of hosts” (Zech

14:21).

“God hath sworn”

“The Lord GOD hath sworn by his

holiness” (Amos 4:2); The Lord GOD hath

sworn by himself” (Amos 6:8).

The LORD hath sworn by the excellency

of Jacob” (Amos 8:7) – irony! “Yahweh

used the constancy of Israel’s horrible

arrogance (cf. 6:8) as the measure of his

own constancy in keeping his promises to

judge.” (Joel and Amos, D.A. Hubbard, p. 221)

Signs of God’s displeasure

(Amos 4:6-11)

V6 – Famine

Vs. 7,8 – Drought

V9 – A scorching wind and blight

V10 – Pestilence and sword

V11 – Devastation

Signs of God’s displeasure

(Amos 4:6-11)

V6 – Famine (Deut. 11:16,17).

Vs. 7,8 – Drought (Deut. 11:16,17).

V9 – A scorching wind and blight (Deut 28:22; 1

Kings 8:37).

V10 – Pestilence and sword (Lev. 26:25 – also

“pestilence” in Deut. 28:21,27,60).

V11 – Devastation – as Sodom (Deut. 32:32).

Note Solomon’s prayer: 1 Kings 8:33,35,37.

Beersheba (Amos 5:5)

Situated at the extreme

south of Judah.

Associated with the

patriarchs (Gen. 21:31-

33; 22:19; 26:23-25,31-

33; 28:10; 46:1).

Now associated with

Bethel & Gilgal as a

place of idol worship –

Amos 8:14.

“Woe unto you”

(Amos 5:18, 6:1)

“Woe unto you that desire the day of the

LORD!” (Amos 5:18).

“Woe to them that are at ease in Zion (cf.

2:4,5), and trust in the mountain of

Samaria” (Amos 6:1).