Israel's Judgment Amos 2:6

As “the LORD” continued to pronounce His judgment through Amos the “herdsman” prophet upon the surrounding enemies of Israel and Judah, He included His own people “Judah” in His declarations. In chapter two and verse six of his prophesy, Amos share how “the LORD” would bring “punishment” upon “Israel” as well where we read:

Thus says the LORD; For three transgressions of Israel, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they sold the righteous for silver, and the poor for a pair of shoes;

The verse begins, “Thus says the LORD; For three transgressions of Israel, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; Amos began with the words, “Thus says” or “utters, declares and proclaims” “the LORD” which refers to “Yehovah or Jehovah who is the existing One and the proper name for the one true God”; “For three transgressions” or “the three or a triad of rebellions and willful sins” “of Israel” which means “God prevails” and was “the name used and given to the northern kingdom consisting of the ten tribes under Jeroboam”, “and for four” or “four transgressions”, “I will not turn away” or “the LORD will not return, turn back, refresh, restore or repair” “the punishment thereof” which means “the treading out, trampling on or being broken and torn”. “The LORD” was to bring judgment upon his own people of “Israel” because of their “four transgressions” against Him.

The verse continues, “because they sold the righteous for silver, and the poor for a pair of shoes;” Amos continued, “because” or “since and on account of” “they sold” or “merchandised” “the righteous” which refers to “the just, righteous, correct and lawful” “for silver” or “money, price or silverlings”, “and the poor” which means “those in want, needy, oppressed and abused” “for a pair of shoes” which means “sandals or slippers”. The people of Israel “merchandised” their lawful and needy people for the inexpensive price of a pair of “sandals”.

When we meditate upon these words of Amos, we see how demeaning the people of “Israel” had become. They “sold” “lawful, just and righteous, and poor” people within their own tribe for a mere pair of “shoes”. No wonder the LORD brought “punishment” on them for the manner in which they treated their weaker fellowman. Jesus Christ came into the world to“seek and to save that which was lost”, and the scriptures tell us, “And the common people heard him gladly” (Mark 12:37). Jesus also instructed us “Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as you have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, you have done it unto me.” (Matthew 25:40) Unlike the oppressive people of “Israel” who demeaned their brothers, we should “esteem others better than themselves” lest we face the fate of the tyrannical ones who were among the people of Israel.

Next time we see more of the transgressions of “Israel”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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