Amos 2:1 “…For three transgressions of Moab, and for four…”
Against Moab. Moab was the son born to Lot by his oldest daughter. So sad that those mistakes should have such lasting bad consequences.
1 “…he burned the bones of the king of Edom to lime”
Exact reference here is unknown. Some relate it to an incident recorded in 2 Kings 3 where the king of Moab tried to get to the king of Edom during a battle. When he could not, it says he took his eldest son who would have succeeded him on the throne and offered him as a burnt sacrifice on the wall. Because of the way it is stated, it is unknown if the his refers to the king of Moab or the king of Edom, so we don’t know if he captured the son of the king of Edom and sacrificed him or if he sacrificed his own son. Some hold that at some future time, the king of Moab took the buried bones of the king of Edom and burned them, a desecration of the dead. At any rate, it was of enough significance that Amos mentioned it as part of the reason for the judgment.
4 “…For three transgressions of Judah, and for four…”
The southern kingdom. Now we’re getting closer to home. But the people are still probably listening closely as it’s always easier to hear of the sins of others than your own.
6 “…For three transgressions of Israel, and for four…”
Finally lowered the boom. Made it to all the surrounding nations, now bringing it home.
7 “…A man and his father go in to the same girl…”
Probably a reference to temple prostitutes, part of the worship of a lot of false gods.
8 “…lie down by every altar on clothes taken in pledge…”
If you took the outer garment of someone as a pledge of money owed to you, you were supposed to return it by the time the sun went down. These people were not only not returning the garments, but they were using them as part of their bedding when they lay down next to altars to their false gods. Thumbing their noses at God while committing harlotry with false gods.
9-10 “Yet it was I who destroyed the Amorite…Also it was I who brought you up from the land of Egypt…”
It was God who did these things, not the false gods they are worshipping.
16 “The most courageous men of might Shall flee naked in that day…”
Will want to get away so fast, they don’t even take their clothes.
I hope you enjoy reading and studying His word. May it accomplish what He desires. Please feel free to comment or post questions. Thanks for reading!
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Black & White with Shades of Gray 
I’m enjoying the study notes. I read Amos a couple of weeks ago. Was led to it and found it interesting and glean a few insights from the book. Your study notes help understand Amos even more.
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Thanks! I don’t claim to have any great insight, nor do I intend to write a commentary. But I think this is the way we’re supposed to relate to God’s word. It’s not a book with a simple story line which never changes each time you read it. It is the word of God. It is living and active. Each time you read it, He can show you more, even from the same passages. That’s why we must read it over and over. You may have noticed that I put a date reference at the end of the titles. What I write this time may be totally different than what He shows me the next time I read through that section. My hope is that folks will see that you don’t have to be some scholar to read and understand God’s word, you just have to read it and see what He says to you through it. Of course you want to be sure you don’t misinterpret what is being said, but that’s why you check with commentaries and such. Just read it and trust God to tell you what He wants you to see and know.
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