Amos – Chapter 2

Old Testament • 16 Verses

Chapter Summary

Chapter 2 of Amos begins: "Thus saith the Lord: For three crimes of Moab, and for four I will not convert him: because he hath burnt the bones of the king of Edom…" Across its 16 verses, two threads run through the text: family and covenant relationships and justice and care for the poor. Taken as a whole, the chapter forms one movement in the account, preparing what follows and completing what came before.

1Thus saith the Lord: For three crimes of Moab, and for four I will not convert him: because he hath burnt the bones of the king of Edom even to ashes.

2And I will send a fire into Moab, and it shall devour the houses of Carioth: and Moab shall die with a noise, with the sound of the trumpet:

3And I will cut off the judge from the midst thereof, and will slay all his princes with him, saith the Lord.

4Thus saith the Lord: For three crimes of Juda, and for four I will not convert him: because he hath cast away the law of the Lord, and hath not kept his commandments: for their idols have caused them to err, after which their fathers have walked.

5And I will send a fire into Juda, and it shall devour the houses of Jerusalem.

6Thus saith the Lord: For three crimes of Israel, and for four I will not convert him: because he hath sold the just man for silver, and the poor man for a pair of shoes.

7They bruise the heads of the poor upon the dust of the earth, and turn aside the way of the humble: and the son and his father have gone to the same young woman, to profane my holy name.

8And they sat down upon garments laid to pledge by every altar: and drank the wine of the condemned in the house of their God.

9Yet I cast out the Amorrhite before their face: whose height was like the height of cedars, and who was strong as an oak: and I destroyed his fruit from above, and his roots beneath.

10It is I that brought you up out of the land of Egypt, and I led you forty years through the wilderness, that you might possess the land of the Amorrhite.

11And I raised up of your sons for prophets, and of your young men for Nazarites. Is it not so, O ye children of Israel, saith the Lord?

12And you will present wine to the Nazarites: and command the prophets, saying: Prophesy not.

13Behold, I will screak under you as a wain screaketh that is laden with hay.

14And flight shall perish from the swift, and the valiant shall not possess his strength, neither shall the strong save his life.

15And he that holdeth the bow shall not stand, and the swift of foot shall not escape, neither shall the rider of the horse save his life.

16And the stout of heart among the valiant shall flee away naked in that day, saith the Lord.

Important Verses in Amos 2

“Thus saith the Lord: For three crimes of Moab, and for four I will not convert him: because he hath burnt the bones of the king of Edom even to ashes.”

Amos 2:1

“Thus saith the Lord: For three crimes of Israel, and for four I will not convert him: because he hath sold the just man for silver, and the poor man for a pair of shoes.”

Amos 2:6

“And I raised up of your sons for prophets, and of your young men for Nazarites. Is it not so, O ye children of Israel, saith the Lord?”

Amos 2:11

“And the stout of heart among the valiant shall flee away naked in that day, saith the Lord. ”

Amos 2:16

Historical Context

Amos belongs to the Old Testament and was composed for the wealthy northern kingdom, warned that worship without justice is worthless. Chapter 2 of 9 belongs to the early movement of the book, where the narrative or argument is still unfolding. It is a prophetic oracle addressed to Israel in a moment of covenant crisis or renewal with 16 verses in the Douay-Rheims translation. The passage starts with these words: "Thus saith the Lord: For three crimes of Moab, and for four I will not convert him: because he hath burnt the bones of…" It concludes: "And the stout of heart among the valiant shall flee away naked in that day, saith the Lord. " In terms of historical background, Amos, a layman from Judah, was sent north to prosperous Israel, where luxury coexisted with oppression of the poor and hollow worship. Scholarly and ecclesial tradition places the composition of Amos around About 760-750 BC.

Who Wrote It

Amos, a shepherd and dresser of sycamore trees from Tekoa

When It Was Written

About 760-750 BC

Catholic Commentary

At the literal level, this oracle names the sins, judgments, or promises relevant to its original hearers. A pivotal line is verse 1: "Thus saith the Lord: For three crimes of Moab, and for four I will not convert him: because he hath burnt the bones of the king of Edom even to ashes." The passage repeatedly touches on family and covenant relationships.

Catholic exegesis reads Amos 2 within the unity of Scripture and Tradition. Catholic social teaching echoes Amos's call for justice (CIC 2419-2425). St. Basil the Great and other Fathers of the Church saw in texts like this a preparation for or reflection of Christ, the center of revelation (CIC 1502).

Applied to the life of faith, the passage supports the Church's conviction that Let justice roll down like waters. Whether read privately or heard in the liturgy, Amos 2 calls for a response of faith, repentance, and charity.

Main Teachings

  • ✓The family is the first school of faith, where love, obedience, and forgiveness are learned.
  • ✓God defends the poor and the oppressed, and calls His people to act with justice.
  • ✓God's presence casts out fear; His command 'Be not afraid' echoes throughout salvation history.

Reflection for Today

Sacred Scripture presents Amos Chapter 2 as a unique stage in salvation history, not merely as background to other books.

St. Gregory the Great and other Fathers of the Church meditated on texts like this one, seeing in them instruction for the spiritual life. Catholic social teaching echoes Amos's call for justice (CIC 2419-2425). The passage calls believers to grasp that Let justice roll down like waters.

Let Amos Chapter 2 deepen your love for the Eucharist, where the Word made flesh continues to feed His people. The same Christ who speaks in Scripture offers Himself sacramentally on the altar.

💡Catholic Reflection • Church Teachings

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Amos Chapter 2 about?

Amos 2 contains 16 verses. It opens with "Thus saith the Lord: For three crimes of Moab, and for four I will not convert him: because he hath burnt the bones of…" and closes with "And the stout of heart among the valiant shall flee away naked in that day, saith the Lord. ". The book as a whole is prophetic oracles of judgment.

What is a key verse in Amos 2?

One of the most significant verses is verse 1: "Thus saith the Lord: For three crimes of Moab, and for four I will not convert him: because he hath burnt the bones of the king of Edom even to ashes." It is often cited in Catholic teaching and preaching.

Who wrote Amos and when?

Amos, a shepherd and dresser of sycamore trees from Tekoa. About 760-750 BC.

Related Chapters

Zechariah 9Shares people and themes with this chapterGenesis 46Shares people and themes with this chapterDeuteronomy 27Shares people and themes with this chapter

Prayers Related to This Chapter

🙏Prayer for the Family🙏Novena to the Holy Family🙏Prayer for the Poor🙏Prayer for the World

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