Amos 2, Israel (continued)

9. The people of Israel are worshiping some other God, even though it was the LORD who brought them into the promised land, destroying the previous inhabitants before them: "It was I who destroyed the Amorite before them, though his height was like the height of cedars and he was strong as the oaks."

The last part of that makes it clear that the people of Israel would not have won the battle for this land without the LORD's help. The imhabitants were stronger than they were.

The conquest over the Amorites was complete; the Amorites were totally destroyed: "I even destroyed his fruit above and his root below."

(The Amorites are not mentioned in the Bible again after the conquest, as Smith points out.)

10. The LORD brought Israel up out of slavery in Egypt, led them in the wilderness, with a view to bring them into the promised land, with the purpose of givng them the land of the Amorites.

It is ungrateful of the Israel to turn away from God after all that He had done for them.

11. The LORD chose some of the people of Israel to be in an especially close relationship to Him: the prophets and the Nazirites.

12. But the people of Israel corrupted the Nazirites and prevented them from continuing in a close relationship to God: "You made the Nazirites drink wine."

The prophets of Israel were calling them back into a relationship with the LORD, to worship Him only, but the people of Israel refused to listen: "You commanded the prophets saying, 'You shall not prophesy!'"

13. The rebellion of Israel is painful and distressing to the LORD and, I suppose, He is angry with them: "I am weighted down beneath you as a wagn is wei ghted down when filled with sheaves."

14. God will bring judgment and destruction upon Israel and no one will escape: "Flight will perish from the swift, and the stalwart will not strengthen his power, nor the mighty man save his life."

15. As in the previous verse, Israel will face an enemy in battle and will be defeated: "He who grasps the bow will not stand his ground, the swift of foot will not escape, nor will he who rides the horse save his life."

16. There will be a day of judgment upon Israel and even the bravest of their soldiers will lose heart: "'Even the bravest among the warriors will flee naked in that day,' declares the LORD."