Amos 5:2  “…She will rise no more…”
Once the Assyrians came and took Israel away, she was never a nation again.  There were some left, a remnant, as there always is, but the nation of Israel became only what was left in the southern kingdom, Judah.  The tribes of the north didn’t disappear completely.  There were some from those tribes living in Judah at the time, and some were left as a remnant, so to say that there are missing tribes of Israel is incorrect.  As proof, you need only look to the birth of Christ.  When his parents took Him to the temple, the woman Anna was there and saw Him.  She was of the tribe of Asher, so obviously there were still descendants of those northern tribes around.  Don’t know if they are able to trace everyone’s lineage back today.  Perhaps the descendants of Aaron can, in order to find priests.  Would be interesting to find out.

5  “…Bethel…Gilgal…Beersheba…”
Places of idol worship.

8  “He made the Pleiades and Orion…”
Constellations known to shepherds.  God made all of them.  He is the one who has power, not lifeless idols.

10  “They hate the one who rebukes in the gate…”
Business was conducted at the gates of cities as well as judgments.  The people are so corrupt, they despise any judge who calls out their sins and abhor any prophet who speaks God’s truth.  Probably why Amos introduced his prophecy the way he did, by getting them to listen to judgments of other nations, then bringing it to them.  Like baiting a fish.

12  “…Afflicting the just and taking bribes…”
I think the reason God hates the idea of taking bribes to pervert justice is because those in authority are representing Him.  Those who need justice cannot find it and are made to feel that there is no hope for them.  If their judges won’t listen to them, perhaps God won’t either.

15  “…the remnant of Joseph”
Reference to Ephraim, son of Joseph.  The northern kingdom was referred to as Ephraim.

16  “…They shall call the farmer to mourning…”
Commentary suggests the disaster will be so great, there won’t be enough professional mourners to go around.  They’ll have to enlist farmers as mourners.

18  “Woe to you who desire the day of the LORD!  For what good is the day of the LORD to you?…”
Some were apparently jumping on the bandwagon of calling for the day of the LORD, whether sarcastically or out of fake piety.  Amos calls their bluff.  They don’t know what they’re saying.  They have no reason to call for the day of the LORD as it will mean only destruction for them.

19  “…a man fled from a lion, And a bear met him…Leaned his hand on the wall, And a serpent bit him”
Out of the frying pan, into the fire.  From one calamity to another.  There will be no escape from the destruction.

22  “Though you offer Me burnt offerings and your grain offerings, I will not accept them, Nor will I regard your fattened peace offerings.”
God is not some beast that can be appeased by insincere gifts.  He is a person and desires a true relationship with us, a real desire for communion from the heart.  Any offering made to Him must reflect that.

25-26  “Did you offer Me sacrifices and offerings…You also carried Sikkuth your king And Chiun, your idols…”
The forefathers in the wilderness had the same problem.  They were offering sacrifices to God at the tabernacle, but were also carrying idols.  Commentary makes the statement that Moses apparently didn’t know the extent of their deceitfulness as he would have confronted it directly.  Duplicity seems to be an inherited trait.

27  “…I will send you into captivity beyond Damascus…”
The nation would eventually be destroyed by the Assyrians.  They would come in, kill many of the inhabitants, take many away captive, and leave only the weak and infirmed behind.

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.