You Kine of Bashan Amos 4:1

As Amos concluded the previous section of prophesy against Israel, he told how the LORD would “destroy their winter, summer, ivory and great houses”, and in chapter four and verse one of his foreboding, Amos refers to these people as the “ kine of Bashan” or “fat cows” where we read:

Hear this word, you 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.

The verse begins, “Hear this word, you kine of Bashan, that are in the mountain of Samaria, which oppress the poor,...” Amos began with the word, “Hear” or “listen to and obey” “this word” which means “speech, utterance, advise, answer and decree”, “you kine” or “fat and wanton cows or heifers” “of Bashan” which means “fruitful” and was “a district east of the Jordan known for its fertility which was given to the half-tribe of Manasseh”, “that are in the mountains” which means “hills or hill country” “of Samaria” which means “watch mountain” and was “the region of northern Palestine associated with the northern kingdom of the ten tribes of Israel which split from the kingdom after the death of Solomon during the reign of his son Rehoboam which were ruled by Jeroboam”, “which oppress” or “violate, defraud, do violence to, deceive, wrong and extort” “the poor” which refers to “the lowly, weak, thin and needy persons”. Amos called attention to these “defrauders and deceivers of the weak and needy” as he called them “fat cows” according to their luxurious living.

The verse goes on to say, “...which crush the needy, which say to their masters, Bring, and let us drink.” Amos continued, “which crush” or “oppress, break in pieces, bruise, discourage and struggle against” “the needy” which refers to “those in want, needing help, in trouble and beggars”, “which say” or “utter, proclaim and declare” “to their masters” which means “lords, superintendents of household affairs and proprietors and kings”, “Bring” or “come, carry down and out”, “and let us drink” which means “to imbibe with banqueting potations and drunkenness”. These whom Amos addresses are those who “oppress” people who are in “want and needing help” and desire to drink “banqueting tipples” instead.

When we meditate upon these words of Amos, we can sense the LORD's disgust for these people who lived in luxury at the expense of the poor. They made their livings and lifestyles by “oppressing” the “needy” and “crushing” the “poor”. This was not living after the commandments and direction of God. Jesus Christ came to give aid to the “needy” and to help “the poor”, and those who are wise will take heed and align themselves with Him. Those who are not wise shall contend with the LORD of hosts who looks after those who are “weak and in trouble” in this world.

Next time we see Amos share how the LORD will “take” the kine of Bashan “away with hooks, and” their “posterity with fishhooks”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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