Discovery BoxAmos 5:7
Context5:7 The Israelites 1 turn justice into bitterness; 2
they throw what is fair and right 3 to the ground. 4
Amos 3:14
Context3:14 “Certainly when 5 I punish Israel for their 6 covenant transgressions, 7
I will destroy 8 Bethel’s 9 altars.
The horns 10 of the altar will be cut off and fall to the ground.
Amos 8:9
Context8:9 In that day,” says the sovereign Lord, “I will make the sun set at noon,
and make the earth dark in the middle of the day. 11
[5:7] 1 tn Heb “Those who”; the referent (the Israelites) has been specified in the translation for clarity. In light of vv. 11-13, it is also possible that the words are directed at a more limited group within the nation – those with social and economic power.
[5:7] 2 tn There is an interesting wordplay here with the verb הָפַךְ (hafakh, “overturn, turn”). Israel “turns” justice into wormwood (cf. 6:12), while the Lord “turns” darkness into morning (v. 8; cf. 4:11; 8:10). Israel’s turning is for evil, whereas the Lord’s is to demonstrate his absolute power and sovereignty.
[5:7] 3 tn Heb “they throw righteousness.”
[5:7] 4 sn In v. 7 the prophet begins to describe the guilty Israelites, but then interrupts his word picture with a parenthetical, but powerful, description of the judge they must face (vv. 8-9). He resumes his description of the sinners in v. 10.
[3:14] 6 tn Heb “his.” With the referent “Israel” here, this amounts to a collective singular.
[3:14] 7 tn Traditionally, “transgressions, sins,” but see the note on the word “crimes” in 1:3.
[3:14] 8 tn Heb “punish” (so NASB, NRSV).
[3:14] 9 map For location see Map4 G4; Map5 C1; Map6 E3; Map7 D1; Map8 G3.
[3:14] 10 sn The horns of an ancient altar projected upwards from the four corners and resembled an animal’s horns in appearance. Fugitives could seek asylum by grabbing hold of these corners (see Exod 21:14; 1 Kgs 1:50; 2:28). When the altar’s horns were cut off, there would be no place of asylum left for the
