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Amos 4 Commentary

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Amos 4:1-3

Amos addresses the wives of the wealthy oppressors in Samaria and says that they will be pulled from the city either to captivity or to death.

Amos 4:4-5

Amos sarcastically invites the Israelites to enter Bethel and Gilgal to continue their devout worship practices, which are transgressions against God.

Amos spells out several calamities that the LORD sent to Israel to catch their attention so that they might return to Him. But all this was done to no avail. The Israelites refuse to return to the LORD their God.

Amos 4:12-13

Amos explains how God challenges the Israelites to prepare to meet Him in a terrifying confrontation of judgment because they refuse to repent. God would enforce the terms of the covenant upon His covenant people, as He had promised, and as they had agreed.

Additional Resources

Book Theme

The Bible Says Commentary on the Book of Amos

Chapter Context

As the prophet continues his pronouncement of judgement upon Israel, he now turns his attention to the wives of the wealthy men of Samaria (vv. 1–3). Then he sarcastically invites the entire congregation of Israel to enter Bethel and Gilgal to continue their transgression, which has all the appearance of religious worship. This invitation allows Israel the opportunity to realize that their religious observance is hypocrisy (vv. 4–5).
Amos then spelled out several calamities that God sent to Israel to catch their attention so that they might return to Him. But all this was done to no avail as the Israelites refuse to return to the LORD their God (vv. 6–11). Consequently, Amos challenges the Israelites to prepare to meet God in a terrifying confrontation of judgment. God will enforce the agreement He made with His covenant people, since He is the Lord, the God of hosts, the Suzerain Ruler over His vassals (vv. 12–13).