Amos 5:5, Amos 5:6 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Amos 5:4-15

This is a message from God to the house of Israel, in which, I. They are told of their faults, that they might see what occasion there was for them to repent and reform, and that, when they were called to return, they might not need to ask, Wherein shall we return? 1. God tells them, in general (Amos 5:12), ?I know your manifold transgressions, and your mighty sins; and you shall be made to know them too.? In our penitent reflections upon our sins we must consider, as God does in his judicial... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Amos 5:5

But seek not Bethel ,.... Do not go to Bethel, the place where one of Jeroboam's calves was set up and worshipped, to consult the oracle, idols, and priests there; or to perform religious worship, which will be your ruin, if not prevented by another course of living: nor enter into Gilgal ; another place of idolatry, where idols were set up and worshipped See Gill on Amos 4:4 ; and pass not to Beersheba ; a place in the further part of the land of Israel; it formerly belonged to... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Amos 5:5

But seek not Beth-el - There was one of Jeroboam's golden calves, and at Gilgal were carved images; both were places in which idolatry was triumphant. The prophet shows them that all hope from those quarters is utterly vain; for Gilgal shall go into captivity, and Beth-el be brought to naught. There is a play or paronomasia on the letters and words in this clause: לאון יהיה אל ובית יגלה גלה הגלגל haggilgal galoh yigleh , ubeith el yiheyeh leaven . "This Gilgal shall go captive into... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Amos 5:5

Verse 5 But Amos afterwards defines the character of true repentance, when he says, Seek not Bethel, go not to Gilgal, pass not over to Beersheba Some think that the Prophet here repudiates all the disguises, which are usually pretended by hypocrites. We indeed know that when God calls such men to himself, that they seek indirect and tortuous courses; for none of them return sincerely and willingly to God. Men indeed see that they are justly reproved for having departed from God: but when they... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Amos 5:4-6

The seeking that is life. This passage contains at once a vindication of the coming destruction on Israel, and a last offer of escape. All past evil had been justly incurred by departure from God. All coming evil might yet be avoided by return to him. "Seek ye me" was the direction on their treatment of which the whole issue turned. I. EVEN THE FOREDOOMED ARE NOT ABANDONED OF GOD . The antediluvians were preached to for a century after their destruction was denounced.... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Amos 5:5

Bethel … Gilgal. The scenes of idolatrous worship, where was no true seeking of God (see note on Amos 4:4 ). Beersheba . A spot about fifty miles southsouthwest of Jerusalem, the site of which has never been lost, and is marked to this day by seven much-frequented wells. As being one of the holy places celebrated in the history of the patriarchs ( Genesis 21:31 , Genesis 21:33 ; Genesis 26:23 , etc.; Genesis 46:1 ), it had become a shrine of idolatrous worship, to which the... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Amos 5:5

But (and) seek not Bethel - Israel pretended to seek God in Bethel. Amos sets the two seeking, as incompatible. The god, worshiped at Bethel, was not the One God. To seek God there was to lose Him. “Seek not God,” he would say, “and a phantom, which will lead from God.”And pass not to Beersheba - Jeroboam I pretended that it was too much for Israel to go up to Jerusalem. And Yet Israel thought it not too much to go to the extremest point of Judah toward Idumaea , perhaps, four times as far... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Amos 5:4-5

Amos 5:4-5 . For Or rather, nevertheless, seek ye me, and ye shall live That is, ye shall be prosperous again; for life, in the Scripture language, is used to express prosperity, or happiness. This shows, that what was said in the 2d verse, of their being fallen to rise no more, is to be taken as it is there explained; namely, in case they did not repent, but continued in their wickedness. But seek not Beth-el, nor enter into Gilgal, &c. The places here named, it is probable,... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Amos 5:1-15

God requires repentance (5:1-15)The prophet again recalls past warnings that the people had consistently ignored. He sees vividly that the result of the people’s stubbornness will be the destruction of Israel. Samaria will be conquered and most of Israel’s army wiped out (5:1-3).What God wants is not an increase in religious ceremonies but a turning in heart and life to him. He does not want processions to religious holy places (which, in any case, will be destroyed) but the administration of... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Amos 5:5

Bethel. Gilgal. Beer-sheba. Compare Hosea 4:15 ; Hosea 10:8 . These were the seats of Israel's idolatrous worship. pass not = pass not through; which was necessary in order to get from the north to Beer-sheba in the south. Compare Amos 4:4 ; Amos 8:14 . Gilgal shall surely go into captivity. Note the Figure of speech Paronomasia ( App-6 ), for emphasis. Hebrew. Gilgal galoh yigleh = The Roller, rolling, shall roll away : i.e. be utterly removed. This is emphasized by the Figure of speech ... read more