FocusAccountability for wrongdoing
Connection to the wholeThe sequence of oracles moves through surrounding peoples and arrives at Judah and Israel, exposing Israel's own guilt.
interpretation Amos 2:11
KJVAnd I raised up of your sons for prophets, and of your young men for Nazarites. Is it not even thus, O ye children of Israel? saith the LORD.
Read it in context
Judgment on Moab, Judah, and Israel
Start reading at Amos 2:1 (Amos 2:1 to Amos 2:16).
An editorial reading unit, not a claim that the surrounding context stops here. Book background below applies to the shared passage; individual verses may need more specific explanation.
The sequence of oracles moves through surrounding peoples and arrives at Judah and Israel, exposing Israel's own guilt.
- 2:1 Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Moab, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because he burned the bones of the king of Edom into lime:
- 2:2 But I will send a fire upon Moab, and it shall devour the palaces of Kirioth: and Moab shall die with tumult, with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet:
- 2:3 And I will cut off the judge from the midst thereof, and will slay all the princes thereof with him, saith the LORD.
- 2:4 Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Judah, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they have despised the law of the LORD, and have not kept his commandments, and their lies caused them to err, after the which their fathers have walked:
- 2:5 But I will send a fire upon Judah, and it shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem.
- 2:6 Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Israel, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they sold the righteous for silver, and the poor for a pair of shoes;
- 2:7 That pant after the dust of the earth on the head of the poor, and turn aside the way of the meek: and a man and his father will go in unto the same maid, to profane my holy name:
- 2:8 And they lay themselves down upon clothes laid to pledge by every altar, and they drink the wine of the condemned in the house of their god.
- 2:9 Yet destroyed I the Amorite before them, whose height was like the height of the cedars, and he was strong as the oaks; yet I destroyed his fruit from above, and his roots from beneath.
- 2:10 Also I brought you up from the land of Egypt, and led you forty years through the wilderness, to possess the land of the Amorite.
- 2:11 And I raised up of your sons for prophets, and of your young men for Nazarites. Is it not even thus, O ye children of Israel? saith the LORD.
- 2:12 But ye gave the Nazarites wine to drink; and commanded the prophets, saying, Prophesy not.
- 2:13 Behold, I am pressed under you, as a cart is pressed that is full of sheaves.
- 2:14 Therefore the flight shall perish from the swift, and the strong shall not strengthen his force, neither shall the mighty deliver himself:
- 2:15 Neither shall he stand that handleth the bow; and he that is swift of foot shall not deliver himself: neither shall he that rideth the horse deliver himself.
- 2:16 And he that is courageous among the mighty shall flee away naked in that day, saith the LORD.
Who
- Who wrote the book? Amos, a herdsman from Tekoa, is the named prophet and traditional author. Biblical references: Amos 1:1; Amos 7:14. stated in the text
- Who was present or being addressed in this passage? In the surrounding chapter context (Amos 1:1–2:16): Amos announces judgments against the neighboring nations and then Judah and Israel. The nations named are the subjects of the oracles, not necessarily people standing before Amos. stated in the text
- Who was the book written to? Principally the northern kingdom of Israel, while the opening judgments also concern neighboring nations and Judah. Biblical references: Amos 1:1; Amos 2:4; Amos 3:1. stated in the text
What
- What is the topic of this reading unit? Judgment on Moab, Judah, and Israel. Read Amos 2:1 through Amos 2:16 as a connected unit. interpretation
- How does it contribute to the book? The sequence of oracles moves through surrounding peoples and arrives at Judah and Israel, exposing Israel's own guilt. interpretation
When
- When are the events or message set? Amos dates his words by the reigns of Uzziah and Jeroboam and by the earthquake. The announced day and later restoration are subjects of prophecy, not simple dates of composition. book background
Where
- What is the book’s geographic setting? Amos is identified with Tekoa, while the messages focus on Israel and also address Judah and surrounding peoples. book background
- Where does the context start? This passage sits in Judgment on Moab, Judah, and Israel (Amos 2:1 to Amos 2:16). Start reading at Amos 2:1. An editorial reading unit, not a claim that the surrounding context stops here. Book background below applies to the shared passage; individual verses may need more specific explanation.
How
- How does this book connect with Jesus Christ? James cites the promise concerning David's fallen tabernacle in the discussion of Gentiles in Acts 15. This is an explicit apostolic use of Amos, not a warrant to ignore the book's rebukes of injustice. See Amos 9:11, Acts 15:15, Acts 15:16, Acts 15:17. interpretation
- How should this book guide our response? Reject worship that coexists with exploitation and complacency. Listen to the accusations as well as the closing promise of restoration. interpretation
Cited: Amos 2:1, Amos 2:16, Amos 9:11, Acts 15:15, Acts 15:16, Acts 15:17
Who wrote it, and how we know
Amos
Named in Scripture
What Scripture saysThe book names Amos of Tekoa and dates him by the reigning kings.
Amos 1:1
Early traditionTradition names Amos.
Related passages
- I raised 1 Sam 3:20 1 Sam 19:20 1 Kgs 17:1 1 Kgs 18:4 1 Kgs 19:16 1 Kgs 20:13,35,41 1 Kgs 22:8 2 Kgs 2:2-5
- Nazarites Num 6:2 Judg 13:4-7 Lam 4:7 Luke 1:3-17
- Is it Isa 5:3-4 Jer 2:5,31 Mic 6:3-4
- and Amos 7:12-13 Isa 30:10-11 Jer 11:21 Jer 26:11 Mic 2:6 Matt 21:34-38 Acts 4:18 Acts 5:28
Cross references from CrossReferences-org (CC BY 4.0).
Macro-Structure
See how this passage fits the chapter and the book.
Macro-Structure of Amos 2
Amos identifies his background and locates his words in the reigns of Uzziah and Jeroboam. The book addresses Israel's injustice and false religious security while also announcing judgment on neighboring peoples. Local headings and stanza divisions are editorial reading aids adapted from public-domain BSB headings; verse boundaries and Scripture links use the KJV. Connections describe the surrounding book movement.
Suggested literary divisions. Headings summarize the passage; they are not part of the biblical text.
Macro-Structure of Amos
Amos identifies his background and locates his words in the reigns of Uzziah and Jeroboam. The book addresses Israel's injustice and false religious security while also announcing judgment on neighboring peoples.
FocusAccountability for wrongdoing
Connection to the wholeThe sequence of oracles moves through surrounding peoples and arrives at Judah and Israel, exposing Israel's own guilt.
interpretation Israel's security challenged
Amos 3:1–6:14FocusJustice, worship, and coming judgment
Connection to the wholeAddresses against injustice and complacency reject the notion that religious activity can substitute for righteousness.
interpretation Visions and prophetic conflict
Amos 7:1–9:10FocusJudgment pressed upon the people
Connection to the wholeThe visions and confrontation with Amaziah bring the announced judgment into sharp focus while distinguishing the LORD's command from the prophet's own status.
interpretation The fallen booth restored
Amos 9:11–15FocusRestoration after judgment
Connection to the wholeThe closing promise turns from the sifting judgment toward restoration and fruitful settlement.
interpretation Suggested literary divisions. Headings summarize the passage; they are not part of the biblical text.