Historians of religion have often compared the prophets with reformers and even with revolutionaries. Sometimes, when reading passages like today's, it can indeed appear that before us is not the preaching of a man of God, but that of a true rebelling accuser. And yet...
Historians of religion have often compared the prophets with reformers and even with revolutionaries. Sometimes, when reading passages like today's, it can indeed appear that before us is not the preaching of a man of God, but that of a true rebelling accuser. And yet this is not so. Every social reform and every revolution always begins with the desire to change the old, established order of life: economic, political, or social. And this desire is born from the conviction that a person really is capable of replacing the old, imperfect order with a new one that seems perfect to him, or at least better than the previous one.
But the prophet does not think that the goal of social activity should be some reform or the creation of a better society. He speaks of only one thing - violation of the Torah, the Law, given by God (v. 4). In fact, returning to the norms of life that correspond to the Torah is the only point of his prophetic 'reform program.'
At first glance, such an approach narrows both the reformer's freedom of action and the range of tasks before him. But no prophet ever set as his goal the establishment of social harmony in society. For Amos, following the commandments matters first of all because violating them destroys a person's relationship with God, and this is far from only the private affair of individual people. For if there are many such violators, they begin to hinder those who want and are ready to live a normal, full spiritual life (vv. 11-12) - and then the time of reckoning comes (vv. 13-16).
And the point is not that God takes revenge on someone for something. What matters to Him is not an abstract society or people, but a concrete person, with whom He forms concrete and always entirely unique relationships. Society can either help this or, on the contrary, hinder it. And if it begins to hinder it, then in God's eyes it loses all value, and then catastrophe becomes inevitable.
2 God's controversy with Moab, Amo 2:1-3.
With Judah, Amo 2:4-5.
And with Israel, Amo 2:6-8.
The aggravations of their sins, Amo 2:9-12.
God complains of them, and threatens their ruin, Amo 2:13-16.
2:1 The bones - Or ashes, reduced them by fire into fine dust, and used these ashes instead of lime to plaister the walls and roofs of his palace, and this in hatred and contempt of the king of Edom.
2:2 Kirioth - A principal city of this country. Moab - The Moabites. Shall die - Be destroyed. With tumult - Such as soldiers in fight or assaults make, when they carry all by force.
2:3 The judge - The governor that is, every one of them.
2:4 Lies - Idols. To err - Their idolatry blinded them, partly from the natural tendency of this sin, and partly from the just judgment of God. After which - Idols. Walked - Successively, one generation after another.
2:6 Shoes - The smallest bribe, exprest here proverbially.
2:7 The people - That make a prey even of the poor afflicted ones, who walk with dust on their heads. Turn aside - Maliciously interpret the actions, words, and designs of the humble and meek. Will go in - These corrupt judges commit also that lewdness which the Heathens abhor.
2:8 Lay down - The Jews of old did not sit upright at their meals, but leaned on one side. Upon clothes - Of which the law had expressly said, none should detain them all night, Deu 24:12-13. Every altar - Of their idols. Drink the wine - They offer their drink - offerings in wine, which they bought with the fines laid on the innocent.
2:9 The Ammorite - The mightiest nation of all the Canaanites.As the oaks - Another proverbial speech denoting their great strength.His fruit - Their children. His roots - The old standards; that present generation.
2:11 Nazarites - Persons who bound themselves to a very sober and holy life; either for some certain time, or for their whole life.
2:12 Ye gave - Importuned them to drink wine, to violate their vow, and contemn God's law.
2:13 Under you - Under the load of your sins.
2:14 The swift - For their enemies shall be swifter than they.The strong - Natural strength of body shall not deliver.The mighty - The valiant man, the man of the greatest courage.