Amos 4:1

4:1 Listen to this message, you cows of Bashan ¹  who live on Mount Samaria!

You ²  oppress the poor;

you crush the needy.

You say to your ³  husbands,

“Bring us more to drink!” ⁴ 

Amos 8:6

8:6 We’re eager to trade silver for the poor, ⁵ 

a pair of sandals ⁶  for the needy!

We want to mix in some chaff with the grain!” ⁷ 

[4:1]  ¹ sn The expression cows of Bashan is used by the prophet to address the wealthy women of Samaria, who demand that their husbands satisfy their cravings. The derogatory language perhaps suggests that they, like the livestock of Bashan, were well fed, ironically in preparation for the coming slaughter. This phrase is sometimes cited to critique the book’s view of women.

[4:1]  ² tn Heb “the ones who” (three times in this verse).

[4:1]  ³ tn Heb “their.”

[4:1]  ⁴ sn Some commentators relate this scene to the description of the marzeah feast of 6:3-6, in which drinking played a prominent part (see the note at 6:6).

[8:6]  ⁵ tn Heb “to buy the poor for silver.”

[8:6]  ⁶ tn See the note on the word “sandals” in 2:6.

[8:6]  ⁷ tn Heb “The chaff of the grain we will sell.”