Amos 5:10

5:10 The Israelites ¹  hate anyone who arbitrates at the city gate; ² 

they despise anyone who speaks honestly.

Amos 7:10-13

Amos Confronts a Priest

7:10 Amaziah the priest of Bethel ³  sent this message ⁴  to King Jeroboam of Israel: “Amos is conspiring against you in the very heart of the kingdom of Israel! ⁵  The land cannot endure all his prophecies. ⁶  7:11 As a matter of fact, ⁷  Amos is saying this: ‘Jeroboam will die by the sword and Israel will certainly be carried into exile ⁸  away from its land.’”

7:12 Amaziah then said to Amos, “Leave, you visionary! ⁹  Run away to the land of Judah! Earn your living ¹⁰  and prophesy there! 7:13 Don’t prophesy at Bethel ¹¹  any longer, for a royal temple and palace are here!” ¹² 

[5:10]  ¹ tn Heb “they”; the referent (the Israelites) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[5:10]  ² sn In ancient Israelite culture, legal disputes were resolved in the city gate, where the town elders met.

[7:10]  ³ map For location see Map4 G4; Map5 C1; Map6 E3; Map7 D1; Map8 G3.

[7:10]  ⁴ tn The direct object of the verb translated “sent” is elided in the Hebrew text. The words “this message” are supplied in the translation for clarity and for stylistic reasons.

[7:10]  ⁵ tn Heb “in the middle of the house of Israel.”

[7:10]  ⁶ tn Heb “words.”

[7:11]  ⁷ tn Or “for.”

[7:11]  ⁸ tn See the note on the word “exile” in 5:5.

[7:12]  ⁹ tn Traditionally, “seer.” The word is a synonym for “prophet,” though it may carry a derogatory tone on the lips of Amaziah.

[7:12]  ¹⁰ tn Heb “Eat bread there.”

[7:13]  ¹¹ map For location see Map4 G4; Map5 C1; Map6 E3; Map7 D1; Map8 G3.

[7:13]  ¹² tn Heb “for it is a temple of a king and it is a royal house.” It is possible that the phrase “royal house” refers to a temple rather than a palace. See S. M. Paul, Amos (Hermeneia), 243.