Amos 4

King James Version

Full text for Amos Chapter 4

1¶ Hear this word, ye kine of Bashan, that [are] in the mountain of Samaria, which oppress the poor, which crush the needy, which say to their masters, Bring, and let us drink.

2The Lord GOD hath sworn by his holiness, that, lo, the days shall come upon you, that he will take you away with hooks, and your posterity with fishhooks.

3And ye shall go out at the breaches, every [cow at that which is] before her; and ye shall cast [them] into the palace, saith the LORD.

4Come to Bethel, and transgress; at Gilgal multiply transgression; and bring your sacrifices every morning, [and] your tithes after three years:

5And offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving with leaven, and proclaim [and] publish the free offerings: for this liketh you, O ye children of Israel, saith the Lord GOD.

6¶ And I also have given you cleanness of teeth in all your cities, and want of bread in all your places: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD.

7And also I have withholden the rain from you, when [there were] yet three months to the harvest: and I caused it to rain upon one city, and caused it not to rain upon another city: one piece was rained upon, and the piece whereupon it rained not withered.

8So two [or] three cities wandered unto one city, to drink water; but they were not satisfied: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD.

9I have smitten you with blasting and mildew: when your gardens and your vineyards and your fig trees and your olive trees increased, the palmerworm devoured [them]: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD.

10I have sent among you the pestilence after the manner of Egypt: your young men have I slain with the sword, and have taken away your horses; and I have made the stink of your camps to come up unto your nostrils: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD.

11I have overthrown [some] of you, as God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah, and ye were as a firebrand plucked out of the burning: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD.

12Therefore thus will I do unto thee, O Israel: [and] because I will do this unto thee, prepare to meet thy God, O Israel.

13For, lo, he that formeth the mountains, and createth the wind, and declareth unto man what [is] his thought, that maketh the morning darkness, and treadeth upon the high places of the earth, The LORD, The God of hosts, [is] his name.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Amos condemns the oppressive women of Samaria, metaphorically called "kine of Bashan," for their luxurious living at the expense of the poor, prophesying their captivity. The Lord recounts a series of judgments—famine, drought, blight, pestilence, and war—each met with Israel's failure to repent. Despite these chastisements, Israel did not return to God. Therefore, the nation is warned to prepare to meet their powerful and sovereign God.

Medium Summary

The chapter opens with a stern rebuke to the affluent women of Samaria, likened to the "kine of Bashan," who exploit the poor and indulge in luxury, for which the Lord God declares their coming captivity. Amos then sarcastically invites Israel to continue their false worship at Bethel and Gilgal, highlighting their persistent transgression. God recounts various forms of judgment He sent to provoke repentance: widespread famine, localized drought, agricultural blights, and a devastating pestilence akin to Egypt's, along with war. Each judgment is followed by the lament, "yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD." Finally, having exhausted His corrective measures, God warns Israel to "prepare to meet thy God," emphasizing His omnipotent nature as the creator of mountains and wind.

Long Summary

Amos chapter four commences with a severe indictment against the wealthy and oppressive women of Samaria, metaphorically termed "kine of Bashan." These women are condemned for their luxurious lifestyle, which is sustained by the oppression and crushing of the poor and needy. The Lord God, swearing by His holiness, pronounces a coming judgment where they will be forcibly led into captivity, likened to being taken with hooks and fishhooks through the breaches of their city. The prophet then sarcastically challenges Israel to persist in their idolatrous worship at Bethel and Gilgal, multiplying their transgressions by offering sacrifices and tithes according to their corrupt practices, for such actions pleased them. Following this, the Lord recounts a series of escalating divine judgments intended to bring Israel to repentance. First, He sent widespread famine, causing "cleanness of teeth" and "want of bread" in their cities. Next, He withheld rain, causing localized drought where some areas withered while others received moisture. Then, He afflicted their crops with blasting, mildew, and palmerworms, destroying their gardens, vineyards, fig trees, and olive trees. Further, God sent pestilence similar to that in Egypt, slaying their young men with the sword and causing the stench of their camps to rise. Finally, He overthrew some among them as He did Sodom and Gomorrah, leaving them as "a firebrand plucked out of the burning." Despite each of these severe chastisements, the recurring refrain is, "yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD." Because of their unrepentant hearts, God declares that He will now act decisively against Israel, urging them to "prepare to meet thy God." The chapter concludes by affirming the immense power and sovereignty of this God, who forms the mountains, creates the wind, reveals His thoughts, makes the morning darkness, and treads upon the high places of the earth, whose name is The LORD, The God of hosts.

Core Concepts

  • Oppression of the PoorThe chapter begins by condemning the wealthy women of Samaria, referred to as "kine of Bashan," for their luxurious living at the expense of the poor and needy. They are depicted as demanding more from their masters, fueled by their exploitation.
  • False WorshipIsrael is sarcastically invited to continue their idolatrous practices at Bethel and Gilgal, multiplying their transgressions through ritualistic sacrifices and tithes that are not genuinely offered to the Lord. This highlights their devotion to corrupted religious forms.
  • Divine JudgmentsGod recounts a series of escalating punishments sent to Israel, including famine, drought, agricultural blights, pestilence, and military defeat. These judgments were intended as corrective measures to prompt repentance.
  • Lack of RepentanceA central theme is Israel's persistent refusal to return to the Lord despite the numerous and severe chastisements. The phrase "yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD" is repeated five times, emphasizing their stubbornness.
  • Call to Meet GodDue to their unrepentant state, God issues a final, solemn warning to Israel: "prepare to meet thy God." This serves as a stark admonition of impending judgment.
  • God's Sovereignty and PowerThe chapter concludes with a powerful description of the Lord as the creator of mountains and wind, who declares His thoughts to man, makes morning darkness, and treads upon the earth's high places, affirming His absolute authority and might.