64 Heb “Did you bring me …?” This rhetorical question expects a negative answer. The point seems to be this: Since sacrifices did not characterize God’s relationship with Israel during the nation’s formative years, the people should not consider them to be so fundamental. The Lord places a higher priority on justice than he does on empty ritual. Like Jer 7:22–23, this passage seems to contradict the Pentateuchal accounts that indicate Israel did offer sacrifices during the wilderness period. It is likely that both Amos and Jeremiah overstate the case to emphasize the relative insignificance of sacrifices in comparison to weightier matters of the covenant. See R. de Vaux, Ancient Israel, 428.
65 Heb “house.”
66 This word appears in an awkward position in the Hebrew, following “Kiyyun.” It is placed here for better sense.
67 The Hebrew term סִכּוּת (sikkut) apparently refers to Sakkuth, a Mesopotamian star god identified with Ninurta in an Ugaritic god list. The name is vocalized in the Hebrew text after the pattern of שִׁקוּץ (shiqquts, “detestable thing”). See S. M. Paul, Amos (Hermeneia), . Some English versions, following the , translate as “tent” or “shrine” (, ), pointing the term as סֻכַּת (sukkat; cf. 9:11).
68 , , and Acts 7:43 read “Moloch” (cf. ). The Hebrew consonants are the same for both “king” and “Moloch” (מֹלֶךְ; molekh).
69 The Hebrew term כִּיּוּן (kiyyun) apparently refers to the Mesopotamian god Kayamanu, or Saturn. The name, like “Sikkuth” in the previous line, is vocalized in the Hebrew text after the pattern of שִׁקוּץ (shiqquts, “detestable thing”). See S. M. Paul, Amos (Hermeneia), . Some versions translate as “pedestal” (, ), relating the term to the root כּוּן (kun).

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

“Did you bring to me sacrifices and offerings during the forty years in the wilderness, O house of Israel? You shall take up Sikkuth your king, and Kiyyun your star-god—your images that you made for yourselves, and I will send you into exile beyond Damascus,” says the Lord, whose name is the God of hosts.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

“Did you bring me sacrifices and offerings

forty years in the wilderness, people of Israel?

You have lifted up the shrine of your king,

the pedestal of your idols,

the star of your god—

which you made for yourselves.

Therefore I will send you into exile beyond Damascus,”

says the Lord, whose name is God Almighty.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

“House of Israel, was it sacrifices and grain offerings that you presented to me during the forty years in the wilderness? But you have taken up Sakkuth your king and Kaiwan your star god, images you have made for yourselves. So I will send you into exile beyond Damascus.” The Lord, the God of Armies, is his name. He has spoken.

NLTNew Living Translation

“Was it to me you were bringing sacrifices and offerings during the forty years in the wilderness, Israel? No, you served your pagan gods—Sakkuth your king god and Kaiwan your star god—the images you made for yourselves. So I will send you into exile, to a land east of Damascus,” says the Lord, whose name is the God of Heaven’s Armies.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

Did you bring to me sacrifices and offerings those forty years in the desert, O house of Israel? And you will take up Sikkuth, your king, and Kaiwan, your images, the star of your gods which you made for yourselves. And I will deport you beyond Damascus,” says Yahweh—the God of hosts is his name.

KJV 1900King James Version

Have ye offered unto me sacrifices and offerings in the wilderness forty years, O house of Israel?

But ye have borne the tabernacle of your Moloch and Chiun your images,

The star of your god, which ye made to yourselves.

Therefore will I cause you to go into captivity beyond Damascus,

Saith the Lord, whose name is The God of hosts.

Public Domain