Amos 2:4

This is what the Lord says: “Because Judah has committed three covenant transgressions ¹  – make that four! ²  – I will not revoke my decree of judgment. ³  They rejected the Lord’s law; ⁴  they did not obey his commands. Their false gods, ⁵  to which their fathers were loyal, ⁶  led them astray.

Le 26:14,15; De 31:16-18; De 32:15-27; Jud 2:11-17; Jud 2:17-20; Jud 10:6; 2Sa 12:9,10; 2Ki 17:19; 2Ki 22:11-17; 2Ch 30:7; 2Ch 36:14-17; Ne 1:7; Ne 9:26,29,30; Isa 5:24,25; Isa 9:15,16; Isa 28:15; Isa 44:20; Jer 8:2; Jer 8:9; Jer 9:14; Jer 9:25,26; Jer 16:19,20; Jer 23:13-15,25-32; Jer 28:15,16; Eze 13:6-16,22; Eze 16:1-63; Eze 20:13,16,24; Eze 20:13,16,18,24,30; Eze 22:8; Eze 22:28; Eze 23:11-21; Da 9:5-12; Ho 5:12,13; Ho 6:11; Ho 12:2; Am 3:2; Hab 2:18; Ro 1:25; 1Th 4:8; 1Pe 1:18

¹ tn This is the same Hebrew term that is translated “crimes” in the previous oracles (see at 1:3). The change to “covenant transgressions” reflects the probability that the prophet is condemning the nation of Israel for violating stipulations of the Mosaic Law.

² tn Heb “Because of three violations of Judah, even because of four.”

sn On the three…four style that introduces each of the judgment oracles of chaps. 1-2 see the note on the word “four” in 1:3.

³ tn Heb “I will not bring it [or “him”] back.” The translation understands the pronominal object to refer to the decree of judgment that follows; the referent (the decree) has been specified in the translation for clarity. For another option see the note on the word “judgment” in 1:3.

⁴ tn Or “instruction”; NCV “teachings.”

⁵ tn Heb “lies.” This may very well be a derogatory term for idols (perhaps also at Ps. 40:4 [Heb 40:5]). Elsewhere false gods are called “vanities” (Deut 32:21; 1 Kgs 16:13, 26) and a delusion (Isa 66:3). In no other prophetic passages, however, are they called “lies.” The term could refer to the deceptions of false prophets (note Ezek 13:6-9; cf. Hab 2:3). See F. I. Andersen and D. N. Freedman, Amos (AB), 301-6.

⁶ tn Heb “after which their fathers walked.” The expression “to walk after” is an idiom meaning “to be loyal to.” See S. M. Paul, Amos (Hermeneia), 75-76.

sn Here the idolatry of the parents carried over to the children, who persisted in worshiping the idols to which their fathers were loyal.