7:10 Amaziah the priest of Bethel 1 sent this message 2 to King Jeroboam of Israel: “Amos is conspiring against you in the very heart of the kingdom of Israel! 3 The land cannot endure all his prophecies. 4
1 map For location see Map4-G4; Map5-C1; Map6-E3; Map7-D1; Map8-G3.
2 tn The direct object of the verb translated “sent” is elided in the Hebrew text. The words “this message” are supplied in the translation for clarity and for stylistic reasons.
3 tn Heb “in the middle of the house of Israel.”
4 tn Heb “words.”
5 tn Grk “I say to you.”
6 tc A few late witnesses (579 1424 pc) read κάμιλον (kamilon, “rope”) for κάμηλον (kamhlon, “camel”), either through accidental misreading of the text or intentionally so as to soften Jesus’ words.
7 sn The eye of a needle refers to a sewing needle. (The gate in Jerusalem known as “The Needle’s Eye” was built during the middle ages and was not in existence in Jesus’ day.) Jesus was saying rhetorically that it is impossible for a rich person to enter God’s kingdom, unless God (v. 26) intervenes.