Amos 5:11

"They hate him who reproves in the gate, and they abhor him who speaks blamelessly."

Key Reflection

In Amos 5:11, the prophet critiques the societal attitudes of his time by pointing out that those who opposed corruption and injustice were despised. The phrase "in the gate" refers to public spaces where community matters were discussed and legal disputes settled, indicating that these reprovers were challenging systemic injustices directly in communal settings. This verse would have resonated with the original audience as a critique of their hypocrisy, for while they professed to honor God through worship, they actively rejected those who sought to uphold righteousness and condemn wrongdoings publicly.

From the Scholars: Barnes' Notes

Forasmuch therefore -(Since they rejected reproof, he pronounces the sentence of God upon them,) “as your treading is upon the poor.” This expresses more habitual trampling on the poor, than if he had said, “ye tread upon the poor.” They were ever trampling on those who were already of low and depressed condition. “And ye take from him burdens of wheat, presents of wheat.” The word always signifies presents, voluntary , or involuntary , what was carried, offered to anyone. They received “wheat” from the poor, cleansed, winnowed, and “sold the refuseAmos 8:6, requiring what it was wrong to receive, and selling what at the least it was disgraceful not to give.

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