Hebrew-English Text
I. Summary
Yahweh promises to exile the people and Amos urges them to repent.
II. Photo
Amos praises God: “[He is the one] who made the Pleiades and Orion, who turns deep darkness into dawn and darkens day into night!” (v. 8a)
III. Important Verses
2: Fallen, not to rise again, Is Maiden Israel; Abandoned on her soil With none to lift her up.
3: For thus said my Lord GOD About the House of Israel: The town that marches out a thousand strong Shall have a hundred left, And the one that marches out a hundred strong Shall have but ten left.
15: Hate evil and love good, And establish justice in the gate; Perhaps the LORD, the God of Hosts, Will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph.
18-20: Ah, you who wish For the day of the LORD! Why should you want The day of the LORD? It shall be darkness, not light! — As if a man should run from a lion And be attacked by a bear; Or if he got indoors, Should lean his hand on the wall And be bitten by a snake! Surely the day of the LORD shall be Not light, but darkness, Blackest night without a glimmer.
21-24: Ah, you who wish For the day of the LORD! Why should you want The day of the LORD? It shall be darkness, not light! — As if a man should run from a lion And be attacked by a bear; Or if he got indoors, Should lean his hand on the wall And be bitten by a snake! Surely the day of the LORD shall be Not light, but darkness, Blackest night without a glimmer.
27: As I drive you into exile beyond Damascus — Said the LORD, whose name is God of Hosts.
IV. Outline
1. Introduction
2-3. Northern Israel will be decimated
4-9. God warns Northern Israel to return to him
10-13. Punishment for sins
14-17. Call to repent
18-20. Disabusing the people about “the day of the Lord”
21-24. God wants justice, not sacrifice
25-26. Israel’s hypocircy
27. God will exile the Northern Israelites
V. Comment
No comment today. Stay tuned.
VI. Works Used
(see “Commentaries” page)
Collins, John J. “Introduction to the Hebrew Bible,” (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2004).
Photo taken from http://matmantra.files.wordpress.com/2009/10/jw_pleiades_12sc.jpg
