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Divinity for Advanced Secondary Schools

covenant law by worshipping Baal. God the people had turned to idolatry, which
would send fire to burn down the walls was against the covenant way of life
of Jerusalem (Amos 2:4-5). (Amos 3:14).

Amos’ condemnation of the Israelites There was religious formalism
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(Amos 2:4-11) whereby many Israelites used to do
Amos condemned the Israelites for this for formality. Worse still, there was
their continued sinfulness against God. religious syncretism and apostasy in the
He condemned them in four realms: northern region. Many people used to
religiously, economically, socially and worship pagan gods alongside Yahweh.
politically. This practice showed they had lost trust
in God (Amos 3:9-11).
In the religious realm, the Israelites were Economically, there was income
consulting false prophets. According inequality. Some people were very
to the Mosaic Law, they were only rich, while others were very poor. All
expected to consult the true prophets resources were to be shared equally
of God. They had utterly forgotten God according to mosaic teachings. The
and started worshipping pagans. This rich were hungry for money. They
practice was against the Mosaic Law overcharged their commodities and
and its teachings (Amos 2:4). cheated their customers by mixing
wheat with dust. Furthermore, the rich
There was blasphemy among the were lending at high interest rates, and
Israelites. They used abusive language if a poor person failed to pay back, his
against God’s name. For example, they property would be confiscated.
would say that God is unfair and not
caring. The priests were also misguiding The rich used dishonest weights and
God’s people. Instead of guiding the measures in business. They tampered
Israelites towards the covenant law, with the weighing scales to cheat
they did the opposite. There was a lot their customers. There was a lot of
of religious pretence. Many Israelites extravagance and luxury among the rich.
pretended to be religious, yet their For instance, the poor could only afford
actions did not match their words. They meat feast days, but the rich could eat
were unrepentant. fat lambs on any day they chose (Amos

2:7).
Furthermore, they offered unclean
sacrifices; however, they were expected Socially, the poor had no say in courts
to offer clean sacrifices only according of law; for example, a poor man could
to the mosaic teachings. There was idol travel all the way to Samaria to get
worship; instead of worshipping God, justice, but instead, they would face

74 Form Five Student’s Book