Amos 2:6-16--Judgment on Israel

Amos 2:6-16
English Standard Version

Judgment on Israel
6 Thus says the LORD:

“For three transgressions of Israel,
    and for four, I will not revoke the punishment,
because they sell the righteous for silver,
    and the needy for a pair of sandals--
7 those who trample the head of the poor into the dust of the earth
    and turn aside the way of the afflicted;
a man and his father go in to the same girl,
    so that my holy name is profaned;
8 they lay themselves down beside every altar
    on garments taken in pledge,
and in the house of their God they drink
    the wine of those who have been fined.

9 “Yet it was I who destroyed the Amorite before them,
    whose height was like the height of the cedars
    and who was as strong as the oaks;
I destroyed his fruit above
    and his roots beneath.
10 Also it was I who brought you up out of the land of Egypt
    and led you forty years in the wilderness,
    to possess the land of the Amorite.
11 And I raised up some of your sons for prophets,
    and some of your young men for Nazirites.
    Is it not indeed so, O people of Israel?”
declares the LORD.

12 “But you made the Nazirites drink wine,
    and commanded the prophets,
    saying, ‘You shall not prophesy.’

13 “Behold, I will press you down in your place,
    as a cart full of sheaves presses down.
14 Flight shall perish from the swift,
    and the strong shall not retain his strength,
    nor shall the mighty save his life;
15 he who handles the bow shall not stand,
    and he who is swift of foot shall not save himself,
    nor shall he who rides the horse save his life;
16 and he who is stout of heart among the mighty
    shall flee away naked in that day,”
declares the LORD.

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The LORD just finished saying how He will not revoke His punishment against Judah, but neither will He reject His punishment against Israel (in fact, He will punish them first).  Their charges are that they are engaged in human trafficking (the selling of humans, specifically those the LORD calls "the righteous,"  for money),   They abuse and mistreat the needy, poor, and afflicted, usually so that they can get richer.  Parents pimp out their children to strange men--young men and old men alike (sex trafficking of children and minors).  They even prostitutes themselves before the LORD's altar so that they defile it.  They get drunk off of the wine that the people brought in payment for the sins they have committed.

They have taken credit for the things the LORD has done in their midst.  The LORD is the one that destroyed the Amorites before them so that they could live in the Trans-Jorden region.  It was the LORD that brought them up out of the Land of Egypt with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm.  It was the LORD that led them through the wilderness, and it was the LORD that led them to The Land Flowing with Milk and Honey and gave them victory over all their enemies.  Is was the LORD that poured out His spirit in a special way on the prophets and the Nazarites to bring about both repentance and salvation when the people fell into sin and idolatry.  The LORD has done all this to save, defend, and preserve His people.  Should they not worship Him and bring Him much glory?  But they do not!

They caused the Nazarites to drink wine and break their vows to the LORD.  They have commanded the true prophets of the LORD not to prophesy because they are not interested in hearing the LORD true revelation.  Instead they pay false prophets to tell them what they want to hear--that the LORD will continue to bless them and punish their enemies no matter what (specially if they give enough money and food and clothes to the false prophets).  They perverted view of the Spirit and the Word in the minds of the people.

The LORD will judge them in the very place where they imagine they are safe and secure.  Those who try to run will be hunted down.  They will not be able to outrun the judgment of the LORD.  The strong will learn to restrain themselves because those who try to fight will also perish.  Event those with ranged combat will be overwhelmed by the number of advancing forces and will not be able to save themselves or the people they are trying to protect.  The only option will be unconditional surrender.  Not even the fastest-moving thing on the battlefield at the time (a horse) would outrun the judgment the LORD was bringing.  It would not be an issue of youth, physical strength, or courageous spirit.  None of those things alone or combined would be enough to save any one of them.  Those who are allowed to flee on that day will do so naked and ashamed.