5:1 Hear this word This formulaic introduction also appears in 3:1 and 4:1.

a lament The Hebrew word used here is qinah, referring to a specific kind of poetry. See note on Ezek 19:1.

5:2 Virgin Israel An image expressing Israel’s helplessness and vulnerability (see Jer 18:13; 31:4, 21; compare Isa 47:1 and note).

5:3 will only have a hundred left Israel’s military defeat is envisioned as the loss of 90 percent of their soldiers. The small remnant symbolizes evidence of destruction, not hope for the future, similar to the imagery in Amos 3:12.

5:4 Seek me so that you may live Israel has one chance to survive this massive defeat through genuine repentance.

5:5 Bethel One of the northern kingdom’s major centers of worship. See note on 3:14.

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

to Beersheba A location in southern Judah, perhaps mentioned as a site of pilgrimage for Israelites from the northern kingdom.

5:6 the house of Joseph Refers to the northern kingdom. See note on Obad 18.

5:7 justice Frequently mentioned together with righteousness in Amos (see Amos 5:24; compare note on Isa 5:7).

Justice

wormwood See note on Lam 3:15.

5:8 the Pleiades and Orion The Hebrew words used here are the names of constellations—usually identified as the Pleiades and Orion. The two are commonly paired in the ot. Compare Job 9:9; 38:31.

5:10 They hate the one who reproves in the gate The elders of a city would hold court in the gate. The wickedness of Israel’s upper class is evident in their hatred for any leader who dares to oppose their interests and side with truth and justice. Compare Isa 10:2; 29:21.

5:11 you trample on the poor A specific example of their injustice is oppressing the poor and taking more than their share of the land’s produce. Compare Isa 10:2 and note.

you will not live in them Part of the curses for breaking the covenant law (Deut 28:30).

vineyards of delightfulness Compare Deut 28:39.

5:12 a bribe See Ezek 22:12 and note; compare Deut 16:19.

5:14 Seek good and not bad Reiterates the appeal to repent.

5:15 will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph The prophets preached repentance in the hope that there was still a chance to avert divine wrath. See note on Joel 2:12.

the remnant of Joseph Those who remain from the northern kingdom after the judgment. See note on Isa 1:9.

5:16 wailing Returns to the image of lament over national disaster, as in Amos 5:1–3. If they fail to heed the call to repent, they will experience judgment.

5:18 the day of Yahweh Amos is the earliest prophet to introduce the motif of the “Day of Yahweh.” His criticism shows that Israel expected the Day of Yahweh to be a time of vindication and victory over their enemies. Amos warns them to be careful what they wish for, since the Day of Yahweh is a day of disaster. See note on Joel 1:15.

darkness and not light A typical element of the Day of Yahweh. See Joel 2:2 and note.

5:21 I despise your festivals Yahweh hates outward ritual observance that hides inward rebellion and failure to live up to His standards for justice and righteousness. (see Isa 1:11–14 and note; note on Hos 6:6).

5:22 I will not accept Compare Jer 6:20.

5:26 Sikkuth, your king, and Kaiwan, your images, the star of your gods The rare Hebrew words used here—sikkuth and kiyyun—may have been names for Babylonian deities. Sikkuth (Sakkuth) may refer to the obscure Babylonian god, Sakkut. Kiyyun (Kaiwan; Chiun) is a Babylonian name for the planet Saturn, which was worshiped as a god. Some translations read these names as common nouns related to idolatry. The verse is probably denouncing the worship of heavenly bodies like the sun, stars, and the planets (known as astral worship; see note on Jer 8:2).

Pagan Deities in the Old Testament Table

5:27 I will deport you beyond Damascus Israel was deported by Assyria and resettled in Mesopotamia. See 2 Kgs 17:6.