8. God hates the arrogance of Israel and the citadels of Israel, but perhaps not Israel itself (?)
So Israel will be destroyed: God will hand the city over to the enemies of Israel and they will possess it. (Is that the city of Samaria?)
9. Many in Israel will die, all 10 in a house.
10. The survivors will carry the dead bodies out from the houses, in which entire families will be destroyed.
I am not sure what the response of the survivor means: "The name of the LORD is not to be mentioned." Maybe they are angry at the LORD for the destruction He has brought upon them.
11. The destruction will be complete: the great house will be "smashed to pieces and the small house to fragments"
Monday, June 30, 2008
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Amos 6, 4-7
4. Here Amos begins a description of people living in comfort and luxury.
They are wealthy enough to recline on beds of ivory. They must have a lot of leisure, because they "sprawl on their couches."
They are wealthy enought to eat lots of meat, "lambs from the flock and calves from the midst of the stall."
5. They also have the leisure to play and compose music.
6. They drink wine and anoint themselves with expensive oils. (They drink their wine from sacrificial bowls. Is that sacrilegious?)
They are so busy with their pleasures, and so unconcerned about the things of God, that they do not realize that Israel is under God's wrath and condemnation, "they have bit grieved over the ruin of Joseph."
7. These very people will go into exile when Israel falls and all of of this feasting and banqueting will come to an end.
(Am I mistaken, or does Amos speak of exile more than before? At first, I got the impression that everyone would be killed, but now it sounds as if they will go into exile.)
They are wealthy enough to recline on beds of ivory. They must have a lot of leisure, because they "sprawl on their couches."
They are wealthy enought to eat lots of meat, "lambs from the flock and calves from the midst of the stall."
5. They also have the leisure to play and compose music.
6. They drink wine and anoint themselves with expensive oils. (They drink their wine from sacrificial bowls. Is that sacrilegious?)
They are so busy with their pleasures, and so unconcerned about the things of God, that they do not realize that Israel is under God's wrath and condemnation, "they have bit grieved over the ruin of Joseph."
7. These very people will go into exile when Israel falls and all of of this feasting and banqueting will come to an end.
(Am I mistaken, or does Amos speak of exile more than before? At first, I got the impression that everyone would be killed, but now it sounds as if they will go into exile.)
Friday, June 27, 2008
Amos 6, 1-3
1. Amos prophecies the doom of the "distinguished men" of Israel and Judah, which he describes as "the foremost of nations."
He describes these men as being at ease and feeling secure. They are the men "to whom the house of Israel comes." But in spite of their comfort and their riches and their positions of authority, they are not pleasing to God and God will judge them.
2. Amos tells the distinguished men (or Israel and Judah as a whole) to consider the cities of Calneh, Hamath, and Gath.
It sounds as if he wants to get them to see that those cities are no better than Jerusalem and Samaria and their territory is no greater than theirs. I'm not sure why.
3. It sounds like Amos is saying that the people of Israel (and Judah?) are bringing the "day of calamity" and the "seat of violence" upon themselves by their bad behavior.
But it's hard to understand, because he says: "Do you put off the day of calamity?" and "Would you bring near the seat of violence?"
He describes these men as being at ease and feeling secure. They are the men "to whom the house of Israel comes." But in spite of their comfort and their riches and their positions of authority, they are not pleasing to God and God will judge them.
2. Amos tells the distinguished men (or Israel and Judah as a whole) to consider the cities of Calneh, Hamath, and Gath.
It sounds as if he wants to get them to see that those cities are no better than Jerusalem and Samaria and their territory is no greater than theirs. I'm not sure why.
3. It sounds like Amos is saying that the people of Israel (and Judah?) are bringing the "day of calamity" and the "seat of violence" upon themselves by their bad behavior.
But it's hard to understand, because he says: "Do you put off the day of calamity?" and "Would you bring near the seat of violence?"
Amos 5, 25-27
25. Perhaps this verse is a reference to the false worship that takes place in Israel, outside of Jerusalem.
Amos asks Israel if, when they offered sacrifices and grain offerings in the wilderness, they offered those sacrifices to the LORD. Probably they assumed that they did.
26. But the LORD tells them that the people of Israel at that time were not offering sacrifices to the LORD at all, but to other gods: Sikkuth and Kiyyun. Even back then, the people of Israel turned away from the one true God and worshiped other gods.
27. For this false worship, the LORD will send Israel into exile, beyond Damascus. Many will die and many will be scattered.
Amos asks Israel if, when they offered sacrifices and grain offerings in the wilderness, they offered those sacrifices to the LORD. Probably they assumed that they did.
26. But the LORD tells them that the people of Israel at that time were not offering sacrifices to the LORD at all, but to other gods: Sikkuth and Kiyyun. Even back then, the people of Israel turned away from the one true God and worshiped other gods.
27. For this false worship, the LORD will send Israel into exile, beyond Damascus. Many will die and many will be scattered.
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Amos 5, 21-24
21. The people think that they are worshipping the LORD, but they are not. They celebrate festivals and hold solemn assemblies, but God is not impressed. The defy God in the way they live and also defy Him by refusing to worship Him in Jerusalem.
22. Again, they offer sacrifices, but they are not to the LORD. God does not accept their burnt offerings and grain offerings.
23. They worship with music, with songs and harps, but the LORD does not want to hear it.
24. There is actually no mention of failing to worship the LORD in Jerusalem here and there may not be anywhere in Amos. That might not be their primary sin, in this prophecy.
The primary sin is the lack of justice and righteousness that the LORD finds in Israel. They do not treat each other justly; the judges and rulers do not punish wrongdoers who violate the rights of the poor; and they do not obey God in their own personal lives.
Amos calls on them to "let justice roll down like waters and righteousness like an everflowing stream."
22. Again, they offer sacrifices, but they are not to the LORD. God does not accept their burnt offerings and grain offerings.
23. They worship with music, with songs and harps, but the LORD does not want to hear it.
24. There is actually no mention of failing to worship the LORD in Jerusalem here and there may not be anywhere in Amos. That might not be their primary sin, in this prophecy.
The primary sin is the lack of justice and righteousness that the LORD finds in Israel. They do not treat each other justly; the judges and rulers do not punish wrongdoers who violate the rights of the poor; and they do not obey God in their own personal lives.
Amos calls on them to "let justice roll down like waters and righteousness like an everflowing stream."
Amos 5, 18-20
18. Some in Israel appear to be looking forward to "the day of the LORD." Perhaps they think that God will rescue them or reward them.
But Amos tells them that the day of the LORD will be a day of judgment and doom for Israel, a day of "darkness and not light."
19. There will be no escape for Israel: if they escape from a lion, they will be mauled by a bear. If they make it back to the safety of their home, a snake will bite them. No matter what happens, no matter what they do, they will be destroyed.
20. Amos repeats that when the LORD makes His presence felt in Israel, it will be do to them harm and not to do them good. (What the LORD says to Judah by Jeremiah, he does not say to Israel. There will be no hope or future for Israel.)
But Amos tells them that the day of the LORD will be a day of judgment and doom for Israel, a day of "darkness and not light."
19. There will be no escape for Israel: if they escape from a lion, they will be mauled by a bear. If they make it back to the safety of their home, a snake will bite them. No matter what happens, no matter what they do, they will be destroyed.
20. Amos repeats that when the LORD makes His presence felt in Israel, it will be do to them harm and not to do them good. (What the LORD says to Judah by Jeremiah, he does not say to Israel. There will be no hope or future for Israel.)
Friday, June 20, 2008
Amos 5, 16-17
16-17. A great calamity awaits Israel and all of the inhabitants will suffer grief.
Those in the plazas and the streets; the farmers and the professional mourners; in all the vineyards.
The LORD will judge Israel, will bring calamity upon it, "shall pass throught the midst" of it.
Those in the plazas and the streets; the farmers and the professional mourners; in all the vineyards.
The LORD will judge Israel, will bring calamity upon it, "shall pass throught the midst" of it.
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