Amos Accused; Gives an Answer

10 Then Amaziah, the (A)priest of Bethel, sent word to (B)Jeroboam king of Israel, saying, “Amos has (C)conspired against you in the midst of the house of Israel; the land is unable to endure all his words. 11 For this is what Amos says: ‘Jeroboam will die by the sword, and Israel will certainly go from its land into exile.’” 12 Then Amaziah said to Amos, “(D)Go, you seer, flee to the land of Judah; and eat bread there and do your prophesying there! 13 But (E)do not prophesy at Bethel any longer, for it is a (F)sanctuary of the king and a royal [a]residence.”

14 Then Amos replied to Amaziah, “I am not a prophet, nor am I the (G)son of a prophet; for I am a herdsman and a [b]grower of sycamore figs. 15 But the Lord took me from [c]following the flock, and the Lord said to me, ‘Go (H)prophesy to My people Israel.’ 16 So now hear the word of the Lord: you are saying, ‘You (I)shall not prophesy against Israel (J)nor shall you [d]prophesy against the house of Isaac.’ 17 Therefore, this is what the Lord says: ‘Your (K)wife will become a prostitute in the city, your (L)sons and your daughters will fall by the sword, your land will be parceled up by a measuring line, and you yourself will die [e]upon (M)unclean soil. Furthermore Israel will certainly go from its land into exile.’”

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Amos 7:13 Lit house
  2. Amos 7:14 Or picker
  3. Amos 7:15 Lit behind
  4. Amos 7:16 Lit drivel
  5. Amos 7:17 Or in an unclean land

Amaziah’s Opposition

10 Amaziah the priest(A) of Bethel sent word to Jeroboam king of Israel, saying, “Amos has conspired against you(B) right here in the house of Israel. The land cannot endure all his words, 11 for Amos has said this: ‘Jeroboam will die by the sword, and Israel will certainly go into exile from its homeland.’”(C)

12 Then Amaziah said to Amos, “Go away, you seer!(D) Flee to the land of Judah. Earn your living[a] and give your prophecies there, 13 but don’t ever prophesy(E) at Bethel again, for it is the king’s sanctuary(F) and a royal temple.”

14 So Amos answered Amaziah, “I was[b] not a prophet or the son of a prophet;[c](G) rather, I was[d] a herdsman,(H) and I took care of sycamore figs. 15 But the Lord took me from following the flock(I) and said to me, ‘Go, prophesy to My people Israel.’”(J)

16 Now hear the word of the Lord. You say:

Do not prophesy(K) against Israel;
do not preach(L) against the house of Isaac.

17 Therefore, this is what the Lord says:

Your wife will be a prostitute in the city,(M)
your sons and daughters will fall by the sword,(N)
and your land will be divided up
with a measuring line.
You yourself will die on pagan[e] soil,(O)
and Israel will certainly go into exile(P)
from its homeland.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Amos 7:12 Lit Eat bread
  2. Amos 7:14 Or am
  3. Amos 7:14 = a prophet’s disciple or a member of a prophetic guild
  4. Amos 7:14 Or am
  5. Amos 7:17 Lit unclean

Amos and Amaziah

10 Then Amaziah the priest of Bethel(A) sent a message to Jeroboam(B) king of Israel: “Amos is raising a conspiracy(C) against you in the very heart of Israel. The land cannot bear all his words.(D) 11 For this is what Amos is saying:

“‘Jeroboam will die by the sword,
    and Israel will surely go into exile,(E)
    away from their native land.’”(F)

12 Then Amaziah said to Amos, “Get out, you seer!(G) Go back to the land of Judah. Earn your bread there and do your prophesying there.(H) 13 Don’t prophesy anymore at Bethel,(I) because this is the king’s sanctuary and the temple(J) of the kingdom.(K)

14 Amos answered Amaziah, “I was neither a prophet(L) nor the son of a prophet, but I was a shepherd, and I also took care of sycamore-fig trees.(M) 15 But the Lord took me from tending the flock(N) and said to me, ‘Go,(O) prophesy(P) to my people Israel.’(Q) 16 Now then, hear(R) the word of the Lord. You say,

“‘Do not prophesy against(S) Israel,
    and stop preaching against the descendants of Isaac.’

17 “Therefore this is what the Lord says:

“‘Your wife will become a prostitute(T) in the city,
    and your sons and daughters will fall by the sword.
Your land will be measured and divided up,
    and you yourself will die in a pagan[a] country.
And Israel will surely go into exile,(U)
    away from their native land.(V)’”

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Amos 7:17 Hebrew an unclean