Lesson7-AmosChapters3and4
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THEBOOKOFAMOS
Lesson7,Chapters3and4
WeconcludedourAmosstudylasttimeatchapter3verse13.There,usingthe
typicalbiblicalmetaphorofGodbehavingasafiercelion,Amosexplainedhow
thewealthyandeliteofSamaria…thecapitalcityoftheNorthernKingdomof
Ephraim/Israel…wouldbejudgedfortheirarrogance,andfortheirmaltreatment
ofthepoorandthecommonfolkamongtheirnation.
AlthoughitmayseemstrangeforChristianstohear,itbearsnoticethattheway
thisactofGodisframedisasalegalargument.SinceAmoswasasheepbreeder,
thenheexplainsthelegalityofGoddoingwhathe’sabouttodofromthe
standpointofthedutiesandresponsibilitiesofashepherd.Itisimportanttokeep
inmindthatallthroughoutAmos,asitwasinHosea,thatthejusticeYehovehis
administeringtovariouspeopleandnationsisaccordingthatwhichissetdown
intheCovenantofMoses.JustasIsraelisexpectedtofollowthetermsofthat
covenant,soGodobligatesHimselftodothesame.TheFatherisnotahypocrite.
ThelegalbasiscomesfromtheTorahinstructionthatashepherdislegally
responsibleforthewell-beingofthesheepputunderhiscare.Shepherdsonly
sometimesownedthesheeptheytended;moreoften,theywerehirelingsthat
workedforthesheepowner.Shouldhecarelesslyloseasheep,heisresponsible
topaythesheepownerfortheloss.However,ifawildanimalkillsasheep,heis
not.Evenso,evidencethatawildanimalwastheculpritinthelossisnecessary
intheformofpresentingtheremainsofthesheep,howevermeager,tothe
owner.
CJB
Exodus22:9-12
9
"Ifapersontrustsaneighbortolookafteradonkey,ox,
sheeporanyanimal,anditdies,isinjuredorisdrivenawayunseen,
10
thenthe
neighbor'soathbeforeADONAIthathehasnottakenthegoodswillsettlethe
matterbetweenthem-theowneristoacceptitwithouttheneighbor'smaking
restitution.
11
Butifitwasstolenfromtheneighbor,hemustmakerestitutionto
theowner.
12
Ifitwastorntopiecesbyananimal,theneighbormustbringitas
evidence,andthenhedoesn'tneedtomakegoodtheloss.
Thisiswhythosespecificdetailsofabitofboneandanearbeingallthatisleft
areprovidedinthispassageofAmos;thisistherequiredevidencethatitisnot
Lesson7-AmosChapters3and4
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thefaultoftheshepherd(who,inthismetaphor,isalsoGod)thatthesheepwas
lost.So,tobeclear,Godispicturedasswitchingrolesfrombeingthe
shepherd/protectoroverIsrael,tobeingthelionthathuntsthemdown,tears
themapart,anddevoursthem.GodisabsolvingHimselffortheresponsibilityof
thedestructionofthewealthyofEphraim/Israel,especiallysinceHeistheone
whoisdoingthedestroying.AlllegalrequirementsassetdownintheTorahare
beingmet.
Sothatwemaintainpropercontext,let’sbackuptoverse12andreadfrom
therethroughtheendofchapter3.
RE-READAMOSCHAPTER3:12–end
Towardstheendofverse13weread:“Hearandtestifyagainstthehouseof
JacobsaysAdonaiYehoveh,Elohimofthehosts”.I’vemixedtheoriginalHebrew
withtheEnglishsothatyoubettergetthesenseofwhatisliterallystated.
YehovehcontinuestoidentifyHimself,byname,asIsrael’sGodandalsoasthe
GodoverthehostsofHeaven(meaningGod’sangelicarmy).
Who,exactly,isGodcallingupontohearandtotestifyagainstthehouseof
Jacob?First,itisnotentirelyclearwhetherinthiscase“houseofJacob”means
all12tribesasitusuallydoes,orifitisonlyaimedatthe10tribesof
Ephraim/Israel.IbelieveinthisrarecasethecontextdemandsthatGodis
meaningthose10tribesanditdoesn’talsoincludethe2tribesofJudah.Asfor
whothelistenersofthisoraclearetobe,thephraseismorejustaliterary
formulaorfigureofspeechofaforcefuldemandthatallwhohearthismessage
aretopaycloseattention.Andwhatfollowsinverses14and15,aswellthefirst
versesofchapter4,iswhatthewealthyandtheeliteofIsraelneedto
understandishappeningtothem,andwhy.
Atthispoint,thefocusofsocialinjusticeschangestotheseverefaultsintheir
worshippracticesandrituals.GodsaysHewill“punish”thealtarsofBethel,
whichwillincludecuttingoffthehornsofthealtar.Altars,inGod’sTorah,served
twofunctions:1)asaplaceofritualsacrificetoYehoveh,and2)asaplaceof
asylum.
Lesson7-AmosChapters3and4
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CJB
Exodus21:12-14
12
"Whoeverattacksapersonandcauseshisdeathmustbe
puttodeath.
13
IfitwasnotpremeditatedbutanactofGod,thenIwilldesignate
foryouaplacetowhichhecanflee.
14
Butifsomeonewillfullykillsanotherafter
deliberateplanning,youaretotakehimevenfrommyaltarandputhimto
death.
So,inadditiontothe6plannedCitiesofRefugeintheLandthatapersonmight
fleetoforprotectionfromanaggrievednextofkin,apersonindangerofbeing
killedforaccidentallyorunintentionallykillinganothermayalsoruntothealtar
andgrabholdofit.Therewasaspecificwayapersonwastograbholdofthe
altarsoasnottodefileit.
CJB
1Kings1:49-51
49
AtthisallAdoniyah'sguestsgrewfrightened;theygotup,
everyonegoinghisownway.
50
AdoniyahtoowasafraidbecauseofShlomo;he
gotup,wentandtookholdofthehornsofthealtar.
51
Shlomowastold,"Here,
AdoniyahisterrifiedofKingShlomo;hehasgrabbedholdofthehornsofthe
altarandissaying,'FirstletKingShlomosweartomethathewillnothavehis
servantexecuted.'"
So,altarshadprotrusionsoneachofits4cornerscalledhorns,andthosehorns
ofthealtarwerewhatapersonfearfulforhislifewastograbholdof.Thus,in
Amos3:14,GodissayingthatthealtarinBethelwillnolongerbeaplaceof
asylum.Thustheendofthealtarmeansthatthepeoplewillhavenoplaceto
expiatetheirsins,norwilltheyhaveaplacetoruntoforimmunityfrom
prosecution.Intruth,whileapparentlyinEphraim/Israelthattraditionofthe
altarasaplaceofasylumandsacrificewasinpractice,Yehovehdidn’trecognize
itasvalidtoHim.Why?Becauseofitslocation.Heretheplaceofthealtarissaid
tobeBethel;BethelisnotalegitimatelocationforanaltartoYehoveh.The
punishmentforviolatingthisTorahlawisfoundinLeviticus26:
CJB
Leviticus26:30-31
30
Iwilldestroyyourhighplaces,cutdownyourpillarsfor
sun-worship,andthrowyourcarcassesonthecarcassesofyouridols;andIwill
detestyou.
31
Iwilllaywastetoyourcitiesandmakeyoursanctuariesdesolate,
soasnottosmellyourfragrantaromas.
Lesson7-AmosChapters3and4
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Hopefully,bynow,itisstartingtoreallyresonatewithyouhowGodprecisely
followsthelawHegavetoMosesfordeterminingbothcrimeandthepunishment
foreachcrime.Rememberthisbecauseaswewatchtheworldaroundus,today,
rapidlydecayintorampantimmoralityandsin,justrefertotheLawofMosesto
seewhatGodisgoingtodoasHispunishment;Hedoesn’tdeviatefromit.It’s
thereforalltoseebutbecausetheChurchlongagodecidedtoignoretheLawof
Moses…evendeclaringitfaultyandbad…thenthisresourceisnotusedor
believed.Myadvice:startbelievingitandstartpayingattentiontoit!
NoticehowGodsays“ForWHENIpunishIsrael’scrimes….”Thismeansthe
punishmentisnotimmediatebutratherisanunspecifiedfuturetime.Whathas
beengoingonisthatfordecadesanddecadesEphraim/Israel’ssinsand
apostacieshavebeenpilingup(therehasn’tbeenasingleeventortwothathas
causedGod’sjudgmenttofall).And,practicallyspeaking,italsomeansthatthe
peoplewhoarealiveandwillbeaffectedbythesepunishmentsandcursesmay
notbetheoneswhocommittedsomeoftheoffenses,formanyofthesinswill
haveoccurredinthepastandthussomeofthesinnerswillbelongdeadand
gone.ThispatternofGoddelayingpunishmentofageneration,andthen
punishingacurrentgenerationnotonlyfortheirownssinsbutalsoforthoseof
apreviousgeneration(whenthosesinsofthatpreviousgenerationwerenot
punished)iscalledVerticalRetribution.Itisarathercommonunderstandingin
manyreligionsoftheancientNearEastandcanbereadaboutinExodus,
Leviticus,Samuel,Kings,Isaiahandmoresoitisactuallyquiteastandard
biblicaltopicandprinciple.
Verse15includesaspartofthefuturepunishmentstheopulenthomesofthe
wealthyaristocratsofSamaria.Allthedecadentpleasurestherichenjoywith
theirmultipleresidences,parties,sexorgies,drunkennessandmorearegoingto
cometoanend.Thementionofivoryhousesdoesn’tmeanthehousewasmade
ofivory.Rather,itspeaksofdecorationsandfurnishingsofenormously
expensiveandornateitemsmadeofivory.Avaluablelessontobelearnedto
thosewhoareinpowerandthosewhohaveamassedenormouswealthisthat
soonerorlateritwillallbebroughttonothing.Thecorruptionthathasgoneon
inthehighestgovernmentechelonswillbedealtwithbytheFather,andasimple
“meaculpa”andapologywon’tdo.Let’smovetochapter4.
Lesson7-AmosChapters3and4
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READAMOSCHAPTER4all
Yehoveh’sdiatribeagainsttheunconscionablebehaviorofthewealthycontinues
withHisdisdainofhighsocietywomen.Beginningwiththephase“Hearthis
word”Godreturnstoissuesofsocialinjustices.ThecowsofBashanisarather
sarcastictitlethatreferstotherichsocietywomenoftheNorthernKingdom.
Thesewomenaredisrespectfultotheirhusbands(demandingthattheir
husbandsservethem“somethingtodrink”),andconstantlydemandtheir
spousestogivethemeverythingtheydesire.Oftentheseselfishdesiresleadto
drivingpoorpeopleevenfurtherintopoverty.ThesecowsofBashanarenamed
asthenumberoneculpritbehindtheexploitationofthepooranddefenseless.So,
inessence,thesewomenwereentitledandcompletelyself-concerned,andthey
madelifehardonthosetheylordedover(houseservantsandthelike)andthose
whoshouldhavelordedoverthem(theiroverly-indulgenthusbands).
BashanwasanamazinglyfertileplacelocatedonthewestsideoftheJordan
River.Itwasfamousforitsabundantpasturelandsand(asaresultofthe
availabilityofalargefoodsupply)thebeautyandsizeoftheircattle…thusthe
“cowsofBashan”epithetGodbestowsuponthesearrogantanddomineering
womenofSamaria.
InswearingbyHisownholiness,Yehoveh,inverse2,vowstodotothesewomen
exactlywhatHesaysHe’sgoingtodo.Itwillnotberetracted,anditisas
inevitableasthesuncomingupinthemorning.Theywilleventuallycometoruin
andreaptheirjustrewardfortheirirresponsibilityandhaughtiness.Ihavespent
muchtimespeakingtomenaboutourresponsibilitiestoourfamiliesandtoour
God;responsibilitiesthatmuchtoooftenweeitherignoreorgivetoourwives(or
attimesallowourwillingwives)tobear.Here,then,IsupposeIoughttopause
andspeakforafewminutestothewomenaboutyourresponsibilitiestoyour
familiesandtoGod;butI’mnotgoingtodothatrightnow.Thatsaid,Idowant
tocautionthattheself-indulgencesanddemandsplacedonhusbandstoprovide
thematerialpleasuresandprivilegesthatyoumayseek,orforyoutodemandto
controlsomeresponsibilitiesthatinGod’seconomyfallwithintherolesofmales,
arewhatAmosistalkingaboutrightnowandGodiscondemning.Justasnotall
thewomenofSamariabehavedinthatway,manydidasithadclearlybecome
butaculturalnormforIsrael’supperclasssoitneveroccurredtomanyofthese
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womenthattheyweredoinganythingwrong.And,probablymany…likelymost…
ofthewomenlisteningtothisarenotoftheilkofthesecowsofBashan.Butfor
thoseofyouwhomightbe,orevensuspectthatyouare,takenoticeofhowour
Godlooksuponyou.Thisisnottrivialanditwon’tbeforgotten.Divinejusticewill
inevitablycomeuponyou(eventhoughourWesternsocietymaywellapplaud
youforyourbehavior),andtheconsequencesareprobablygoingtobe
unimaginablyawful.Sodothesimple,butnotnecessarilyeasy,thingthatthese
Samarianwomendidnot:humbleyourselves.Nomatterhowableyouare,
humbleyourselvesbeforeGod.Nomatterhowbeautifulyouare,humble
yourselvesbeforeyourhusbands.Nomatterhowwellofforinchargeyouare,
humbleyourselvestothosewhomayserveyou.Justasthosehaughtyangels
rebelledandlefttheirsphereinHeaven,crossingoveraboundarythatwasnot
tobecrossed,andcaved-intothetemptationsofwomenonearth…producing
quasi-humanscalledNephilim…soitisforyoutorebelliouslyleaveyoursphere
andtheaccompanyingrolesasgodlywives,andtoinjectyourselfintoadifferent
sphereandtakeonaccompanyingrolesthatGodhassetapartforhusbands.
Whatisthisinverse2aboutthesewomenbeing“draggedawaywithhooks,the
lastofyouwithfishhooks”?Thetruthisthatthesewordshavealwayscaused
Bibletranslatorsproblemsandsovarioussolutionshavebeenoffered.Wewon’t
gothroughthelistofpossibilities;buthereiswhatIthinkisthebestattemptto
translateinawaythatwecanactuallyextracttheintendedmeaning.ShalomM.
Paulwritesitthisway:“…whenyoushallbetransportedinbasketsandthevery
lastoneofyou,infishermen’spots”.
VerylikelytheimagethatAmoswastryingtocapture(which,Isuspect,his
ancientreaderswouldhavereadilyunderstood)isthewayfishweretypically
caught,packed,andthenshippedinsuchvesselsasbasketsandpots.Various
ancientsourcesspeakofrecentlycaughtfishbeingpacked,layerbylayer,into
basketsandpots.Thereissomeevidencethatwhenitwasfreshwaterfishthat
werebeingshipped,itwasdoneinwovenbasketswhileforsaltwaterfish
transportationwasaccomplishedinclaypots.And,itwasalsoacommon
metaphorintheancientNearandMiddleEasttospeakofcaptivesintermsoffish
beingcaughtinnets.So,theoverallideawasthatthesegrandwomenof
Samaria,withtheirglorioushomesandalltheirprivilegeandwealth,wouldbe
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reducedtobeingcapturedandthentransportedelsewhereinthesamemanner
asdeadfishwere;theultimatehumiliationforthem.
Verse3propheciesthatthecitywallsofSamariawillhavebeenbreachedbythe
invadingenemyinsomanyplaces,thatonecouldquiteliterallywalkintoorout
ofthecitybutsimplywalkingstraightaheadfromwherevertheymighthave
beenstandingatthetime.WeseethissamescenarioinplaywhenJoshualedthe
IsraelitestoattackJerichoanditswallsweresothoroughlydestroyed.
CJB
Joshua6:5
5
Thentheyaretoblowalongblastontheshofar.Onhearingthe
soundoftheshofar,allthepeoplearetoshoutasloudlyastheycan;andthe
wallofthecitywillfalldownflat.Thenthepeoplearetogoupintothecity,each
onestraightfromwherehestands."
Verses2and3worktogethertoexplainthattheinvadersofSamariawillhaveno
troublewinningtheirbattleagainstIsrael,accessingandransackingthecity,or
incapturingitsresidents.However,thestatementthatthewomenwillbesent
offtoHarmonahispuzzling;noonehasagoodviableguessastowherethis
placewaslocated.ItispossiblethatthewordisHermon(Mt.Hermon),butthat
isonlyspeculation;oneofseveralotherspeculations.
Intheend,thelastfewversesofchapter3,alongwiththefirst3versesof
chapter4,aredepictinganabruptandpolaroppositechangeofcircumstancefor
thewomenoftheeliteclassofSamaria.Overnight,theygofromwealthyand
privilegedtoutterlyruinedandpenniless.Manywillbekilled;manycaptured;
manyunceremoniouslytransportedtofarawayplaces.Allwillbereducedtothe
samestatusastheservantsandthepoortheyoppressedforallthoseyears.
Verse4beginsanewsectionofAmos.Itseemstobedirectedtowardsthepeople
ofEphraim/Israelingeneral,anditbeginswithsomeobvioussarcasm.The
peopleofEphraim/IsraelareinvitedtocometoBethelandtoGilgalinorderto
continueintheirritualtransgressionsbyillegallyworshippingandsacrificingat
thatunauthorizedplace.Thereseemstohavebeen3majorworshipsitesin
Ephraim/Israel:Bethel,Gilgal,andDan,allfoundedbyKingJeroboam.WhyDan
isn’tmentionedIdon’tknow.Interestingly,therewasatimeinIsrael’spast
whenBethelandGilgalhadbeenlegitimatelyusedtoworshipGod;allatatime
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beforetheTemplehadbeenbuiltbyKingsDavidandSolomon.Theproblemis
thatafterunitedIsraelsplitinto2separatekingdoms,KingJeroboamhad,for
politicalreasons,ledhisPrieststocreatetemplesforhispeopleintheNorthern
KingdomtoworshipatinordertodirectlycompeteagainsttheTemplein
JerusalemoftheSouthernKingdomofJudah.
ItisprobablymeantalmostcomicallywhenthepeopleofIsraelareinvitedto
“…cometoBethelandcommitcrimes,cometoGilgalandcommitmore!”Inother
words,fromYehoveh’sperspectivetoevengotoBethelandGilgalcountsassin
againstHim…nomatterhowsincereinintentionsthepeopledoingthismight
havebeen.SinceAmos,aresidentofJudah,isspeakingagainstthereligionand
thereligiousorganizationthattheresidentsofEphraim/Israelwerepracticing,
onehastoaskjustwhattherelationshipbetweenProphetsandPriestswasat
thattime?Thatis,wereGod’sProphetsandthePriestsenemiesofoneanother?
Let’sstepbackforamomentandexaminethisimportantmatterthatflavorsall
ofwhatAmoswrote.
Interestingly,upuntilnotterriblylongago,mostBiblehistoriansandtranslators
believedthattheProphetsandthePriestswereunfriendlyrivals,andsothere
wascontinuinganimosityifnotoutrightdislikebetweenthe2groups,sinceit
seemstheProphetsregularlyattackedwhattheysawaswrongactionsofthe
Priesthood;naturallythePriestsdidn’tliketheseattacks.Ontheotherhand,
morerecentBiblescholarshiphaspointedout(correctly,Ibelieve)thatjustas
laterintime(perhaps500ormoreyears)whentheSynagoguewasbornasa
separateorganizationfromthePriesthood,theredidn’tseemtobemuchopen
antagonismbetweenProphetsandPriestseveniftheirrelationshipwasn’t
entirelycomfortable.Eachgroup,providedtheystayedwithintheiragreed
sphereofresponsibility,hadtheirrolestoplayinthepracticeoftheHebrewfaith.
Evenso,italsoappearsthat,onbalance,theProphetscouldbecharacterizedas
thetheologicalinnovatorsoftheBibleerawhilethePriestsweretheguardiansof
thereligiousstatusquo.So,therehadtobesomefrictioneruptattimesbetween
PriestandProphet,althoughthedegreeofitoughtnottobeblownoutof
proportion.
Further,whilethePriestsstressedthedoingofritualproceduresproperly,the
Prophetstendedtofocusonthegeneralmoralandethicalnatureofpeople’slives
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andactions.Perhapswecouldoverlysimplifyitabitandcallitstrict
rules-followingversustheconditionoftheheartastheemphasis.Thatis,from
theviewoftheProphets,obediencetoGodbeginswiththerightheart-attitude
andinnerconditionandnottheotherwayaround.Ontheotherhand,thePriests
tendedtostressproperrighteousnessintermsoffollowingthewrittencodeof
theTorahasperfectlyaspossible.Biblicallyspeaking,theywerebothcorrect.
WhiletheProphetsemphasizedbeingcompletelydevotedtoYehoveh,the
Priestsemphasizeddoingthescripturallyrequiredritualdevotionscorrectly.In
theend,itwasnotanissueofeitheror,butratheranissueofdifferencein
priority.Godexpectsourdevotion,butatthesametimeHeexpectsour
obediencetoHimthroughthedevotionsofourTorah-basedworship
requirementsandrestrictions.It’sabalancethatistobeachievedinGod’s
worshippersandonethatChristiansandJewshavehadthehardesttimefinding
andmaintaining.
I’mtellingyouthisbecausewhatwedon’twanttodoistocharacterizeAmosas
areligiousreformerwhosegoalwastoreactnegativelyandworkagainstthe
conceptofTempleandPriesthood.Thereareanumberofmodern-dayBible
scholarswhoarecurrentlyattemptingtoconstructanewanddifferentpictureof
AmosasaProphetthatrailedonGod’sbehalfagainsttheentireconceptofIsrael
evenhavingaTemple,aPriesthood,andritualworshippractices,andIwantto
makeitclearthatthisisinnowaythecase.TherealityforAmoswasthatthere
were2separateIsraelitePriesthoodsexistinginhistime;thelegitimateonein
Judah,practicingattheTempleinJerusalem.Andtheillegitimateonein
Ephraim/Israel,practicingattheseveraltemplesatsuchplacesasBetheland
Gilgal.TheissueofwhatwasgoingonwiththelegitimatePriesthoodin
JerusalemisnotparticularlypertinenttothebulkoftheBookofAmos.Rather,
theissueprimarilyconcernedEphraim/Israel’sillegitimatePriesthoodthathad
seriouslygoneofftrackbythinkingimmorallyandunethically,whichledthemto
doingimproperritualbeginningwitherectingbogusaltarswhereverthey
pleased,establishingillegitimatetemplesaccordingtotheirownthoughtsand
pleasures,andthencompromisingtheLawofMosesbymeansofadoptingand
blendingsomeoftheworshippracticesofthelocalpaganreligionswithwhatwas
instructedintheLawofMoses.BothPriesthoodsclaimedallalongtobe
worshippingYehoveh,GodofIsrael,buttheworshipoftheEphraim/Israel
Priesthoodclearlywasn’tcompatiblewithwhatGoddemandedintheTorah.
Lesson7-AmosChapters3and4
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Therefore,foraPriestoracommonpersontoperformevenalegitimate,
Torah-basedritualact,butwhoseheartwascorrupted,wasdeemedbyAmosas
NOTacceptabletoYehoveh.So,indeedwewillsoonfindAmosclashingwiththe
illegitimatePriestsofEphraim/Israel,butnotsomuchwiththePriestsofJudah.
Verse4continueswith:
CJB
Amos4:4-5...bringyoursacrificesinthemorningandyourtithesafterthree
days;
5
burnleavenedbreadasathankoffering;braginpublicaboutyour
voluntaryofferings;becausethat'swhatyoulovetodo,Isra'el!"saysAdonai
ELOHIM.
SoherewehaveGodmockingIsraelandsarcasticallytellingIsraeltogoright
aheadandcontinuetodotheirritualsthattheyfeltsoverygoodabout.Bring
theirsacrificestothealtarsinthemorning;bringtithestotemples;burnup
breadwithleavenaspartofthethankoffering.Butthen,gooffandbragto
everyoneaboutyourgreatpiousnessingivingmoreofferingsthanarerequired,
because(fromYehoveh’sperspective)theyaredoingthisallinvain.Ironically,
asintenselyreligiousasthesepeoplewere,theywereonlyintenselyincreasing
theirsin.Theyweresincere;buttheyweresincerelywrong.I’llsaythisanother
way.AmosrevealsIsrael’struelove,butitisn’taboutlovingGodwithalltheir
strength,orlovingneighborasthemselves.Rather,theyareshowinglove
(allegiance)toamanmadesystemofreligionthatactuallygoesagainstthe
systemthatGodgavetothemonMt.Sinai.FromAmos’sProphet-viewpoint,no
amountofritualcaneverreplacecorrectmoralandethicalthoughtandbehavior,
andillegitimateritualmakestheattempttodosoevenmoreludicrousandsinful.
Startinginverse6isaseriesofpunishmentsthatGodinflictedonIsrael,in
hopesthatthepeoplewouldrecognizethatwhattheyweredoingwaswrong,
andsotheywouldrepentandreturntothelovelywaysofYehoveh,asexpressed
intheTorah.Israel,becauseoftheirclosetiesandfriendshipswithpagans,had
cometoexpecttheGodofIsraeltobehavethesamewayasBa’algods.In
exchangefortheirdevotiontotheirreligiousritualstheyexpectedGodto
provideblessingsoffertility,protection,andabundance.AsIhavementioneda
fewtimes,itwastheirversionofthemodernChristiannotionofaProsperity
Doctrinewherebythemorefaithfulweseemtobe,themorematerialwealthGod
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isobligatedtogivetous.Therefore,ourlevelofwealthisanoutwardindicatorof
ourfaithfulnesstoGod.So,theIsraeliteswereshockedwhen,despitetheir
passionatedevotiontotheirreligiousrituals,theirlivesandtheirnationwere
fallingapart.
Inverse6GodsaysthatHemade“theirteethcleanoffood”.Thiswasanancient
idiomthatmeanttheyhadnofood.One’steethwerecleanbecausetheyhadnot
chewedfood.ThisisspeakingofseverefoodshortagesinIsrael’scitiesand
villagesthatGodsaysHecausedtohappen.Thisandalltheotherpunishments
Godisspeakingoftocloseoutchapter4,arethingsthathappenedinIsrael’s
past.Butratherthanthepeoplewhoexperiencedtheseeventsseeingthemfor
whattheywere…heavenlydisciplinetogetthemtopayattentionandreturnto
God…theyignoreditandblameditonotherthingslikeweatherorenemies.Five
timeswewillseethewords“yetyoudidnotreturntoMe”.Israelhasnotlearned
theirlessonnordidtheychangetheirways.
ThenextcurseGodinflicteduponIsraelwasdrought.Inverse7,Godsaysthat
for3monthsleadinguptotheharvestHewithheldrain.Theharvestseason
beginswithbarley,andthenafewweekslaterwheat.Becausethecriticaltime
forsufficientwateringofthefieldswastheweeksleadinguptoharvest,thendue
tolackofrainthecropyieldsweresmallcausinggreathardshiponthepublic.
Butevenmore,Godinflictedfrustrationonthepeoplebecauseitseemedthat
onefieldwouldgetrain,butonenearbywouldn’t.Onecitywouldgetrain,but
anotherwouldn’t.Itmadenosense.Again,thepeoplejustcursedtheirbadluck
andignoredYehoveh’spurposetogetthemtoseetheirwrongbehaviorsand
returntoHim.
Verse8explainsthatthelackofraindidn’tjustimpactthegrainharvest,italso
causedcisternsandwellstorundryofdrinkingwater.Thementionofthecity
peoplestaggeringaroundisabouttheeffectsofdehydration(likeweseein
Hollywoodmoviesofthirstypeoplestrandedinthedesertwalkingerraticallyand
abouttocollapse).And,takenoticeoftheuseofthenumbers2and3.The
versesays“from2or3citiestheywouldstagger”.Thisisanothercaseofwhat
iscalledstaircasenumericalparallelism.RecallinapreviouslessonthatI
explainedtheuseofthenumbers3and4togetherweremeanttosymbolize
everything,everywhere.Allinclusive.But,2and3togetherareawayof
Lesson7-AmosChapters3and4
12/13
symbolizingafew…several…perhapsevenarandomness.So,wearenotto
understandthisliterallyasiftherewereonly2or3citiesinallofEphraim/Israel
thatexperiencedthisseverelackofdrinkingwater.Ratheratvariousplaces
aroundtheirkingdomthisoccurred.
Verse9isyetanotherattemptbyGodtogetIsraeltorepent.Hesentdiseases
andpestilenceupontheirfoodcrops.Thisisonceagainadirectconsequencefor
theirsinaslistedintheTorah.
CJB
Deuteronomy28:22
22
ADONAIwillstrikeyoudownwithwastingdiseases,
fever,inflammation,fieryheat,drought,blastingwindsandmildew;andthey
willpursueyouuntilyouperish.
Hotwindsarenothingnewtoaridregions.Theygobyvariousnames.Inthe
MiddleEasttheywereknownassirocco.Anothernamewaschamsin.Becauseof
theirextremedryness,windspeedandhightemperature,thesewindscould
quicklysuckallthemoisturefromplantsandtrees,leavingthemeitherbaronof
leavesandfruitordamagedtothepointtheydied.Insectswerealsosentto
devourIsrael’sorchardsandtheirvegetablegardens.MostEnglishBibleversions
usewordslikecutter-worm,palmerworm,evencaterpillartodescribetheinsect.
TheHebrewwordisgazamandthebettertranslationissimplylocusts.
Inverse10,amemoryoftheplaguesofEgyptisevoked,anditislinkedtowar.
These,ofcourse,areamongthemanycursesfordisobedienceasstatedinthe
LawofMoses.Israel’sbesttroopswerekilledbythesword,andeventhebest
militaryweaponoftheera…horseandchariot…werecapturedbytheenemy.
Althoughitisabitvagueastothemeaningofthestenchofthearmy’scamps,
thismostlikelyreferstotherottingcorpsesofsoldiers.
Inverse11,muchasGodistryingtobringtomindthehorridconditionsofEgypt
andwhatHedidtotheEgyptianpeopleinordertoredeemIsraelfromthem,now
HeremindsthemofthehorrorsofwhathappenedtoSodomandGomorrah.
ProbablyfortheHebrewsthemostradicalandsevereofallthehistorical
destructionsthatGodvisiteduponearthwastothecitiesofplains(aswereadin
Genesis19).AnddespiteGod’swrathonIsrael,wheremanyperished,stilllike
rescuingaburningstickfromafireinorderthatitwouldnotbeentirely
Lesson7-AmosChapters3and4
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consumed,Godhadmercyanddidn’tentirelydestroyIsraeldespitetheir
deservingit.AndstillstubbornIsraelwouldn’tgivegloryandcredittoGodand
returntoHim.
TheselistingsofpunishmentsthatGodhasinflictedinthepast…buildingin
intensityandferocitytoacrescendo…arenowusedinverse12asexamplesof
whatHeisabouttorevisituponEphraim/Israel,soon.NothingGodhadtried
producedanymeaningfulrepentance.Certainlythepeoplewouldhaveprayed
more,theywouldhavesacrificedmore,theywouldhavegivenmoretothe
PriestsandtheTemple…butalwaystheiractionswereillegitimateandtherefore
worthlesstoYehoveh.Whatisproposedisterrifying,partlybecausetheevent
itselfisn’tfullydisclosed.BecausenothingthatGodhasusedtotryandproduce
repentance…thingsofnature…nowHeisgoingtotakemattersintoHisown
handsanddealdirectlywithIsrael.Whereasuptonowalltheseafflictionswere
meanttoresultinrepentance,theactionscomingaremeanttoproducenothing
butdestruction.ThetimeandopportunityforIsraeltorepenthaspassed.The
doortodeliveranceisclosed,tight.Allthatremainsisjudgment.Godwillnot
stayHishand;theentirerangeofhorrorsthatHeisabletoinflictwillcomeupon
allIsrael,everywhere,allatonce.Letthosewithears,hear.
Verse13iscalledbymostChristianBiblecommentatorsadoxology.
CJB
Amos4:13
13
himwhoformsmountainsandcreateswind,whodeclaresto
humankindhisthoughts,whoturnsthemorningtodarknessandstridesonthe
heightsoftheearth-AdonaiELOHEI-Tzva'otishisname."
Naturally,amongscholarsthereisadebateastowhetherthisisoriginalorwas
addedlater.Andequallynaturally,thereisutterlynowaytoprovethiscase
eitherway.Rather,alldependsontheopinionsofthesescholarsandnothing
else.Thebottomlineisthatthereisnobasiswhatsoevertoclaimthiswasn’t
writtenoriginallybyAmos.NoversionofAmoseverfoundexcludesthis
doxology.
Inanutshell,thesefinalwordstellIsrael(andus)somethingwemustalways
remember:Godisincontrolofeverything.Heisableto,Hehas,andHewill
destroytheunfaithfulatwill.TheentireCreation,everywhere,atalltimes,
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reportstoHim.AndjustsoEphraim/Israel(whoincludestheworshipofother
godsintheirreligiouspractices)understandswhoitisthatiswarningthem
aboutwhatiscoming,thewords“Yehoveh,Godofthe(heavenly)armies”are
usedtomakeitabundantlyclear.InsayingthatHedeclarestohumankindHis
“thoughts”,itmeansthatHasgivenusvariouswaystoknowHiswillandHis
ways.FromtheNaturalLawthatHehasinfusedinourveryDNA,totheLawof
MosesinwhichHewrotedowninanunderstandableandorderlyway,His
immutabledefinitionsofmoralityandhowwearetoproperlyrelatetoHimand
toourfellowman,wehavenoexcusetobehavewrongly…tosinagainstHim.But
more,therewillcomeareckoningwhetherwebelieveitwillornot,anditwill
includeeveryone,everywhere,fromeveryeraandgeneration.
We’lltakeupchapter5nexttime.