They maintained the formal ritual of the Mosaic worship in their idolatry. The various offerings are here enumerated. Burnt offerings; ὁλοκαυτώματα ( Exodus 29:38 , Exodus 29:42 ; Numbers 28:9-11 ). Meat offerings ; θυσίας ; munera (Vulgate); Exodus 29:40 , Exodus 29:41 ; Le Exodus 2:1 . Peace offerings of your fat beasts; σωτηρίους ἐπιφανείας , "your grand peace offerings"; vota pinguium vestrorum (Vulgate); Le Exodus 3:1 , etc. read more
The noise of thy songs. Their psalms and hymns of praise were mere noise in God's ear, and wearied him ( Isaiah 1:14 ; Isaiah 24:8 ; Ezekiel 26:13 ). Viols ( Amos 6:5 ); ὀργάνων . The nebel, usually translated "psaltery," was a kind of harp. Josephus ('Ant.,' 7.12. 3) describes it as having twelve strings, played by the fingers. Music, both instrumental and vocal, was used in the temple worship (see 1 Chronicles 16:42 ; 1 Chronicles 23:5 ; and 25.). read more
Take thou away from Me - Literally, “from upon Me,” that is, from being a burden to Me, a weight on Me. So God says by Isaiah, “your new moons and your appointed feasts My soul hateth; they are a burden upon Me; I am weary to bear them” Isaiah 1:14. Their “songs” and hymns were but a confused, tumultuous, “noise,” since they had not the harmony of love.For - (And) the melody of thy viols I will not hear - Yet the “nebel,” probably a sort of harp, was almost exclusively consecrated to the... read more
Amos 5:21-24. I hate and despise your feast-days This and the three following verses are the same in sense with Isaiah 1:11-16, and the other texts referred to in the margin, on which the reader is desired to consult the notes. They all show of how little signification the external rites of religion are, unless they be accompanied with living faith in, and sincere love to God, and a universal obedience to his will; or without holiness of heart and life. Take away from me the noise of thy... read more
The day of the Lord (5:16-27)God’s terrible judgment will result in grief and mourning throughout the nation, in city and country areas alike (16-17). This intervention of God in judgment is commonly called the day of the Lord. Israelites thought that this day would be one of victory and rejoicing for them because their enemies would be destroyed. Amos tells them that when God acts in judgment, he will act against all the wicked, and Israel will be the first to suffer. There will be no way of... read more
offer = offer up. burnt offerings . . . meat offerings. See App-43 . I will not accept, &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Leviticus 1:4 . App-92 . peace offerings. See App-43 Take thou away &c. Compare Isaiah 1:13 viols = lutes read more
"Yea, though ye offer me your burnt-offerings and meal offerings, I will not accept them; neither will I regard the peace-offerings of your fat beasts."Conspicuous by their absence were the sin-offerings, the Israelites being conscious of no sin whatever and feeling no need of forgiveness. This accounts for their longing, without fear, for the "day of the Lord." As Barnes wrote, "The very fact that they desired but did not fear `The Day of the Lord' shows that they were worthy of punishment,... read more
"Take thou away from me the noise of thy songs; for I will not hear the melody of thy viols."There are two things God condemned in this verse: (1) the noise of the songs of their worship, and (2) the mechanical instruments used in their worship. Commentators generally have (1) either skipped the questions raised by this verse as did McKeating;[53] (2) dismissed the verse on the grounds that the only thing God had against anything at Bethel was the worshipper's violation of the rights of the... read more
22. meat offerings—flour, &c. Unbloody offerings. peace offerings—offerings for obtaining from God peace and prosperity. Hebrew, "thank offerings." read more
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The Pulpit Commentary - Amos 5:21-24
The divinely abhorrer and the divinely demanded. "I hate, I despise your feast days, and I will not smell in your solemn assemblies," etc. Notice - I. THE DIVINELY ABHORRENT . What is that? Mere ceremonial religion; empty ritual. "I hate, I despise your feast days, and 1 will not smell in your solemn assemblies," etc. "The same aversion from the ceremonial observances of the insincere and rebellious Israelites which Jehovah here expresses he afterwards employed Isaiah to declare... read more