4:1 Hear this word The same formulaic introduction used in Amos 3:1 and 5:1.

you cows of Bashan A derogatory label ridiculing the wealthy women of Samaria. Bashan was the fertile plateau east of the Sea of Galilee and south of Mount Hermon. The region was known for its livestock, especially cattle (Psa 22:12; Ezek 39:18).

Samaria The capital of Israel (the northern kingdom). See note on Jer 31:5.

who oppress the powerless The women are guilty of self-indulgence at the expense of the poor and powerless of society.

4:3 toward Harmon This word occurs only here and is probably the name of a place. The location is unknown.

4:4 to Bethel One of the worship centers of the northern kingdom. See note on Amos 3:14.

to Gilgal An Israelite sanctuary near Jericho. See note on Hos 4:15.

Bring your sacrifices in the morning Amos offers a satirical critique of Israelite worship, mockingly encouraging them to continue in religious rituals that he has identified as “transgression.” Frequency of offerings is meaningless without genuine obedience.

4:5 a thank offering Compare Lev 7:13.

freewill offerings Compare Deut 12:6; Lev 22:18.

4:6 cleanness of teeth The Hebrew text uses an idiom meaning “empty teeth” as a metaphor for famine. The people had no food to stick to their teeth.

Famines in the Bible Table

Yet you did not return to me This refrain is repeated throughout this series and reflects the prophetic expectation that warnings should inspire repentance. See Joel 2:12 and note.

4:7 I also withheld the rain Referring to God’s judgment through drought. By causing the crops to fail, drought created the famine. Compare 1 Kgs 17; Jer 14:1 and note.

4:9 blight and with mildew Both were damaging to the crops. See Deut 28:22.

your vineyards and your fig trees The culture of the biblical world was thoroughly agrarian. Grapes, figs, and olives were primary crops (compare Joel 2:19–24; Hab 3:17). Drought, disease (blight), and locusts were the main dangers to the agricultural economy of Israel.

the cutting locust Part of the curse for breaking the covenant. See Deut 28:38; note on Joel 1:4.

4:10 a plague in the manner of Egypt Compare Deut 28:27.

the stench of your camps The smell of death from the corpses of the young men. Compare Joel 2:20 and note.

4:11 Sodom and Gomorrah Proverbial examples of divine judgment. See note on Isa 1:9.

4:12 O Israel, prepare to meet your God Alluding cryptically to future judgment.

4:13 the one who forms the mountains The oracle concludes with a doxology (a declaration of praise) that praises Yahweh as Creator using standard hymnic language common in biblical poetry (compare Amos 5:8; 9:6; Isa 40:12; Psa 104; Job 9).

the one who treads on the heights of the earth Compare Mic 1:3.