

6.18 Amos -- The Sins of Israel
Throughout this book, Amos describes at length the specific deeds that enraged God against Israel:
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a. rejecting God's laws (Amos 2:4)
b. oppressing the poor and righteous (Amos 2:6-7, Amos 5:11, Amos 8:4-6)
c. pride (Amos 6:8)
d. sexual sin (Amos 2:7)
e. paganism, false worship (Amos 2:4, Amos 3:14, Amos 4:4-5, Amos 5:26, Amos 8:14)
But more than just a litany of sins, the tone of God's accusations are mocking and sarcastic, and filled with violent imagery:
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"Hear this word, you cows of Bashan on Mount Samaria,
you women who oppress the poor and crush the needy
and say to your husbands, 'Bring us some drinks!'....
I overthrew some of you as I overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah.
You were like a burning stick snatched from the fire,
yet you have not returned to me," declares the Lord.
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"Therefore this is what I will do to you, Israel,
and because I will do this to you,
prepare to meet your God, O Israel" (Amos 4:1, Amos 4:11-12).