Amos 2

Amos 2 details the LORD's judgments against Moab, Judah, and Israel for their specific transgressions. Moab is condemned for desecrating Edom's king, and Judah for rejecting God's law and commandments. Israel faces severe judgment for social injustice, sexual immorality, and silencing prophets, despite God's past deliverance and provision of spiritual leaders. Consequently, no human strength will avail against the coming divine punishment.

The chapter opens with the LORD's declaration of judgment against Moab for burning the bones of the king of Edom into lime, promising fire and the cutting off of its leaders. Next, Judah is condemned for despising the law of the LORD, not keeping His commandments, and following lies, for which Jerusalem's palaces will be devoured by fire. The most extensive judgment is pronounced against Israel for multiple transgressions, including selling the righteous for silver, oppressing the poor, engaging in sexual immorality that profanes God's holy name, and misusing items taken in pledge for idolatrous practices. The LORD reminds Israel of His past acts of deliverance, such as destroying the mighty Amorites and leading them from Egypt, and raising up prophets and Nazarites among them. However, Israel rejected these provisions by giving Nazarites wine and commanding prophets not to prophesy. Therefore, the LORD declares that He is pressed by their iniquity, and no human strength—neither swiftness, might, nor courage—will enable them to escape the impending judgment.

Amos chapter two commences with a series of divine pronouncements of judgment, beginning with Moab. The LORD declares that for Moab's transgressions, specifically burning the bones of the king of Edom into lime, punishment will not be averted. Fire will be sent upon Moab, consuming the palaces of Kerioth, and its people and princes will perish amidst tumult and the sound of the trumpet. Following this, Judah receives a similar declaration of impending judgment. Their transgressions are identified as despising the law of the LORD, failing to keep His commandments, and being led astray by lies, mirroring the path of their ancestors. For these sins, fire will be sent upon Judah, devouring the palaces of Jerusalem. The most detailed and severe indictment is then leveled against Israel. Their numerous transgressions include selling the righteous for silver and the poor for trivial sums, oppressing the vulnerable, and engaging in profound moral corruption, such as a man and his father going in unto the same maid, thereby profaning God's holy name. Furthermore, they profane sacred pledges by lying down upon them by every altar and drink the wine of the condemned in their houses of worship. The LORD then recounts His past benevolence towards Israel, reminding them how He destroyed the formidable Amorites before them, whose stature was like cedars and strength like oaks, and how He brought them out of Egypt and led them through the wilderness for forty years to possess the land. He also raised up prophets from among their sons and Nazarites from their young men as spiritual guides. Yet, Israel rejected these divine provisions, compelling Nazarites to drink wine and commanding the prophets to cease their prophesying. Consequently, the LORD declares Himself burdened by their iniquity, like a cart pressed full of sheaves. Therefore, a day of inescapable judgment is foretold, where neither the swift, the strong, the mighty, the archer, the horseman, nor the courageous will be able to deliver themselves, but will flee naked in that day, signifying utter defeat and humiliation.