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Amos 5: The yoke of compulsion
1. Amos 1: Introduction
Amos 1:1 The words of Amos, who was among the herdmen of Tekoa, which he saw concerning Israel in the days of Uzziah king of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash king of Israel, two years before the earthquake. [kjv]
λογοι αμως οι εγενοντο εν νακκαριμ εκ θεκουε ους ειδεν υπερ ιερουσαλημ εν ημεραις οζιου βασιλεως ιουδα και εν ημεραις ιεροβοαμ του ιωας βασιλεως ισραηλ προ δυο ετων του σεισμου [lxx]
Amos is one of twelve
minor prophets. Amos wrote about 750 BC, right before
Hosea and
Isaiah, during the reigns of Kings
Jeroboam II of Israel and
Uzziah of Judah.
Amos came as a sheep herder and sycamore fig farmer and not from the religious elite of the time.
Amos preached against the disparity between the rich and poor so his themes of justice are especially popular with pastors with a social and/or political agenda in the current world environment.
2. Amos 5: The yoke of compulsion
In Amos 5, Amos introduces a number of ideas.
Day of the Lord
Yoke of compulsion
In addition:
Some music analogies.
3. Amos 5:18 Day of the Lord
Amos 5:18 Woe unto you that desire the day of the LORD ! to what end is it for you? the day of the LORD is darkness, and not light. [kjv]
ουαι οι επιθυμουντες την ημεραν κυριου ινα τι αυτη υμιν η ημερα του κυριου και αυτη εστιν σκοτος και ου φως [lxx]
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Amish stop sign
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Amos is the first prophet to use the phrase "
Day of the Lord" and uses it as a day of gloom starting with the word
"woe".
Note: The order of the major and minor books are in general order by the number of words used and not chronologically, so Isaiah, before Amos in size order, came after Amos in time order.
4. Eagle sounds and woe
Revelation 8:13 And I beheld, and heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, Woe, woe, woe, to the inhabiters of the earth by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels, which are yet to sound! [kjv]
και ειδον και ηκουσα ενος αετου πετομενου εν μεσουρανηματι λεγοντος φωνη μεγαλη ουαι ουαι ουαι τους κατοικουντας επι της γης εκ των λοιπων φωνων της σαλπιγγος των τριων αγγελων των μελλοντων σαλπιζειν [gnt]
The word repeated three times in Revelation 8:13 the ancient Greek word
"οὐαί" ≈ "woe, alas". The Greek word, and the English word to some extent, is onomatopoeic in that, if one thinks of eagles (or vultures) lurking overhead ready to feast making a screeching sound as they swoop one gets an idea of the meaning. Unlike "
Holy, holy, holy", there does not appear to be any popular hymn with the title "
woe, woe, woe".
What is a song that uses "woe" three times? Hint: Sung by a cartoon character.
Elmer Fudd: Row, row, row your boat.
5. Amos 5:18
KJV: Woe unto you that desire the day of the LORD ! to what end is it for you? the day of the LORD is darkness, and not light.
Hebrew: הוי המתאוים את יום יהוה למה זה לכם יום יהוה הוא חשך ולא אור׃
Greek: ουαι οι επιθυμουντες την ημεραν κυριου ινα τι αυτη υμιν η ημερα του κυριου και αυτη εστιν σκοτος και ου φως
6. Amos 5:19
Amos 5:19 As if a man did flee from a lion, and a bear met him; or went into the house, and leaned his hand on the wall, and a serpent bit him. [kjv]
ον τροπον οταν φυγη ανθρωπος εκ προσωπου του λεοντος και εμπεση αυτω η αρκος και εισπηδηση εις τον οικον αυτου και απερεισηται τας χειρας αυτου επι τον τοιχον και δακη αυτον ο οφις [lxx]
Two hunters were in the woods when a bear attacked. The one started running. The first hunter said, "You can't outrun a bear!"
The second hunter said, "I don't have to outrun the bear. I just have to outrun you!. This is a fundamental principle of security."
Looking ahead, might this be the "
wall" built of a "
plumb line"?
7. Amos 5:19
Amos 5:19 As if a man did flee from a lion, and a bear met him; or went into the house, and leaned his hand on the wall, and a serpent bit him. [kjv]
ον τροπον οταν φυγη ανθρωπος εκ προσωπου του λεοντος και εμπεση αυτω η αρκος και εισπηδηση εις τον οικον αυτου και απερεισηται τας χειρας αυτου επι τον τοιχον και δακη αυτον ο οφις [lxx]
Discuss: Does God grade on a curve? Do you just have to outrun the other sinners?
You are being chased by a bear. How do you find out if it is a brown bear or a grizzly bear?
Climb a tree. If it climbs up to get you, it is a brown bear. If it knocks the tree over to get you, it is grizzly bear.
8. Amos 5:19
KJV: As if a man did flee from a lion, and a bear met him; or went into the house, and leaned his hand on the wall, and a serpent bit him.
Hebrew: כאשר ינוס איש מפני הארי ופגעו הדב ובא הבית וסמך ידו על הקיר ונשכו הנחש׃
Greek: ον τροπον οταν φυγη ανθρωπος εκ προσωπου του λεοντος και εμπεση αυτω η αρκος και εισπηδηση εις τον οικον αυτου και απερεισηται τας χειρας αυτου επι τον τοιχον και δακη αυτον ο οφις
9. Amos 5:20
Amos 5:20 Shall not the day of the LORD be darkness, and not light? even very dark, and no brightness in it? [kjv]
ουχι σκοτος η ημερα του κυριου και ου φως και γνοφος ουκ εχων φεγγος αυτη [lxx]
Discuss:
Does darkness flee in the presence of light?
Does true light attract pesky insects?
Are pesky insects attracted to darkness?
Colbert's paradox, also known as
dark night paradox: The following are not compatible.
darkness of the night sky
assumption of an infinite and eternal static universe.
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Details are left as a future topic.
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10. Amos 5:20
KJV: Shall not the day of the LORD be darkness, and not light? even very dark, and no brightness in it?
Hebrew: הלא חשך יום יהוה ולא אור ואפל ולא נגה לו׃
Greek: ουχι σκοτος η ημερα του κυριου και ου φως και γνοφος ουκ εχων φεγγος αυτη
11. Matthew 24:29 Darkness and light
Matthew 24:29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: [kjv]
ευθεως δε μετα την θλιψιν των ημερων εκεινων ο ηλιος σκοτισθησεται και η σεληνη ου δωσει το φεγγος αυτης και οι αστερες πεσουνται απο του ουρανου και αι δυναμεις των ουρανων σαλευθησονται [gnt]
This description that fits an eclipse is part of the "
Olivet Discourse" in Matthew 24:1-51 and 25:1-46 (101 verses), Mark 13:1-37 and Luke 21:4-36. It is one of the larger discourses spoken by Jesus and, at the disciple's request, deals with the "
End Times" or, as a play on words, "
All of it".
By contrast, the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5, 6, 7 spans 111 verses.
The exact Greek word used by Jesus for "
fall" is used by him in only one other place in Matthew, the verse of the "
blind leading the blind falling into a ditch"
[Abraham Lincoln]
12. Amos 5:21-22 Feast days and holocausts
Amos 5:21 I hate, I despise your feast days, and I will not smell in your solemn assemblies. [kjv]
μεμισηκα απωσμαι εορτας υμων και ου μη οσφρανθω εν ταις πανηγυρεσιν υμων [lxx]
5:22 Though ye offer me burnt offerings and your meat offerings, I will not accept them: neither will I regard the peace offerings of your fat beasts. [kjv]
διοτι και εαν ενεγκητε μοι ολοκαυτωματα και θυσιας υμων ου προσδεξομαι αυτα και σωτηριου επιφανειας υμων ουκ επιβλεψομαι [lxx]
The English word
"holocaust" comes, through French and Latin, from the ancient Greek word
"ὁλόκαυστος " ≈ "wholly burnt" as in a
"burnt offering".
"ὅλος" ≈ "whole, entire" as in the first part of the English word "hologram".
"καίω" ≈ "to burn" and is related to the English word "caustic".
13. Amos 5:21
KJV: I hate, I despise your feast days, and I will not smell in your solemn assemblies.
Hebrew: שנאתי מאסתי חגיכם ולא אריח בעצרתיכם׃
Greek: μεμισηκα απωσμαι εορτας υμων και ου μη οσφρανθω εν ταις πανηγυρεσιν υμων
14. Amos 5:22
KJV: Though ye offer me burnt offerings and your meat offerings, I will not accept them: neither will I regard the peace offerings of your fat beasts.
Hebrew: כי אם תעלו לי עלות ומנחתיכם לא ארצה ושלם מריאיכם לא אביט׃
Greek: διοτι και εαν ενεγκητε μοι ολοκαυτωματα και θυσιας υμων ου προσδεξομαι αυτα και σωτηριου επιφανειας υμων ουκ επιβλεψομαι
15. Matthew 9:12-13 Paraphrase
Matthew 9:12 But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. [kjv]
9:13 But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. [kjv]
The strong (who oppress the harmed) are righteous (in their own eyes) and do not want the healer (Jesus).
The harmed (who are oppressed by the strong) want a healer (Jesus).
Mercy is needed from the strong (who oppress) and not sacrifice from the harmed (as man's additions to God's laws).
I have not come to call the righteous (in their own eyes) as they do not want the healer (Jesus). (They will not listen nor repent)
I have come to call the sinners as they want the healer (Jesus). (They, at least, will listen and may or may not repent.)
16. Barnabas 2.4 Sacrifices and burnt offerings
English: For he has made it clear to us through all the prophets that he needs neither sacrifices nor whole burnt offerings nor general offerings, saying on one occasion: (Barnes, p. 383)
Greek: πεφανέρωκεν γὰρ ἡμῖν διὰ πάντων τῶν προφητῶν, ὅτι οὔτε θυσιῶν οὔτε ὁλοκαυτωμάτων οὔτε προσφορῶν ψρῄζει, λέγων ὅτε μέν· Barnabas [2.4]
Discuss:
What does getting rid of "sacrifices" and "burnt offerings" do to the economic viability of the religious institution offering these services - sometimes at marked up or inflated prices?
Do those religious institutions extort and oppress by way of the required compulsion?
Has any religious institution since the time of Jesus attempted or reintroduced required compulsion, albeit in a different appearance? If so, provide examples.
17. Barnabas 2.5 Sacrifices and burnt offerings
English: What is the multitude of your sacrifices to me? says the Lord. I am full of whole burnt offerings, and I do not want the fat of lambs and the blood of bulls and goats, not even if you come to appear before me. For who demanded these things from your hands? Do not continue to trample my court. If you bring fine flour, it is in vain; incense is detestable to me; your new moons and Sabbaths I cannot stand. (Barnes, p. 383)
Greek: Τί μοι πλῆθος τῶν θυσιῶν ὑμῶν; λέγει κύριος. πλήρης εἰμὶ ὁλοκαυτωμάτων, καὶ στέαρ ἀρνῶν καὶ αἷμα ταύρων καὶ τράγων οὐ βούλομαι, οὐδ’ ἂν ἔρχησθε ὀφθῆναί μοι. τίς γὰρ ἐξεζήτησεν ταῦτα ἐκ τῶν χειρῶν ὑμῶν; πατεῖν μου τὴν αὐλὴν οὐ προσθήσεσθε. ἐὰν φέρητε σεμίδαλιν, μάταιον· θυμίαμα βδέλυγμά μοί ἐστιν· τὰς νεομηνίας ὑμῶν καί τά σάββατα οὐκ ἀνέχομαι. Barnabas [2.5]
18. Isaiah 1:11-14
19. Isaiah 1:11
KJV: To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the LORD: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats.
Hebrew: למה לי רב זבחיכם יאמר יהוה שבעתי עלות אילים וחלב מריאים ודם פרים וכבשים ועתודים לא חפצתי׃
Greek: τι μοι πληθος των θυσιων υμων λεγει κυριος πληρης ειμι ολοκαυτωματων κριων και στεαρ αρνων και αιμα ταυρων και τραγων ου βουλομαι
20. Isaiah 1:12
KJV: When ye come to appear before me, who hath required this at your hand, to tread my courts?
Hebrew: כי תבאו לראות פני מי בקש זאת מידכם רמס חצרי׃
Greek: ουδ εαν ερχησθε οφθηναι μοι τις γαρ εξεζητησεν ταυτα εκ των χειρων υμων πατειν την αυλην μου
21. Isaiah 1:13
KJV: Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting.
Hebrew: לא תוסיפו הביא מנחת שוא קטרת תועבה היא לי חדש ושבת קרא מקרא לא אוכל און ועצרה׃
Greek: ου προσθησεσθε εαν φερητε σεμιδαλιν ματαιον θυμιαμα βδελυγμα μοι εστιν τας νουμηνιας υμων και τα σαββατα και ημεραν μεγαλην ουκ ανεχομαι νηστειαν και αργιαν
22. Isaiah 1:14
KJV: Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them.
Hebrew: חדשיכם ומועדיכם שנאה נפשי היו עלי לטרח נלאיתי נשא׃
Greek: και τας νουμηνιας υμων και τας εορτας υμων μισει η ψυχη μου εγενηθητε μοι εις πλησμονην ουκετι ανησω τας αμαρτιας υμων
23. Matthew 21:12-14 House of prayer
Matthew 21:12 And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves, [kjv]
και εισηλθεν ιησους εις το ιερον και εξεβαλεν παντας τους πωλουντας και αγοραζοντας εν τω ιερω και τας τραπεζας των κολλυβιστων κατεστρεψεν και τας καθεδρας των πωλουντων τας περιστερας [gnt]
21:13 And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves. [kjv]
και λεγει αυτοις γεγραπται ο οικος μου οικος προσευχης κληθησεται υμεις δε αυτον ποιειτε σπηλαιον ληστων [gnt]
21:14 And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple; and he healed them. [kjv]
The "
strong" or "
righteous" do
not "
want" a "
healer". The "
harmed" or "
sinners" want a "
healer". Jesus refers to those "
selling" "
birds" as "
birds".
[Luke, Mark, Isaiah, guesses as to why Jesus was mad]
24. Matthew 21:13 Den of thieves
Matthew 21:13 And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves. [kjv]
και λεγει αυτοις γεγραπται ο οικος μου οικος προσευχης κληθησεται υμεις δε αυτον ποιειτε σπηλαιον ληστων [gnt]
Jesus said, "
My house shall be called the house of prayer, but you have made it ..." (check all that apply.)
☐ A den (cave) of thieves.
☐ A coffee shop and bookstore.
☐ A basketball and volleyball court.
☐ A platform for social and political change.
☐ A place for "
cultural diversity" (even if it goes against God's laws).
☐ A yoke of compulsion (e.g., church as a tax collector)
☐ ... (add your own ideas here) ...
Discuss: Are these valid comparisons?
25. Barnabas 2.6 Yoke of compulsion
In the
Epistle of Barnabas, the writer explains at length, quoting verses such as found in Isaiah (and elsewhere), to point out that Jesus removes the "
yoke of compulsion".
English: Therefore he has abolished these things, in order that the new law of our Lord Jesus Christ which is free from the yoke of compulsion, might have its offering, one not made by humans. (Holmes, 2007, p. 383)
Greek: ταυτα ουν κατηργησεν, ινα ο καινος νομος του κυριου ὑμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, ἄνευ ζυγοῦ ἀνάγκης, ὤν, μὴ ἀνθρωποποίητον ἔχῃ τὴν προσφοράν. Epistle of Barnabas [2.6]
Any religious establishment that profits from that "
yoke of compulsion" would not want the
Epistle of Barnabas included in the canon. Another disputed book, Hebrews, was included. Interesting, Hebrews includes many verses that appear to support a "
yoke of compulsion" while some verses in the
Epistle of Barnabas appear to be mistranslated (to provide continued support for not including it in the canon).
26. Yoke of compulsion
The lack of need for a religious hierarchy or
"yoke" of
"compulsion" as Barnabas explains, from the teachings of Jesus about the "
kingdom of heaven", would not have appealed to a human sand hierarchy interested in secular power.
Matthew 11:30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. [kjv]
ο γαρ ζυγος μου χρηστος και το φορτιον μου ελαφρον εστιν [gnt]
The Greek for
"easy" is that of being
"useful" and is a play on words with the Greek word for
"Christ". The word
"yoke" means, literally,
"two going together".
The ancient Greek word "χρηστός" ≈ "useful, good".
The ancient Greek word "χριστός" ≈ "anointed one, Christ".
Without the play on words: My yoke is useful.
With the play on words: My yoke is Christ.
The word for
"burden" was also a word for
"tax". What is the
"tax" of the "
yoke" of "
compulsion"? Think "
altars" and "
sacrifices" and "
money tables".
"φόρτος" ≈ "load, cargo" and "φορτίον" ≈ "load, cargo" (diminutive)
"φόρος" ≈ "tribute, tax".
27. Yoke of compulsion
Other early church fathers talk of the "
yoke of compulsion". This idea appears to have become less important as the church gained more power.
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Details are left as a future topic.
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28. Matthew 11:12-14 Exploring the Kingdom of Heaven
Matthew 11:12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force. [kjv]
It is not clear if what Daniel describes as the
"kingdom" of
"heaven" is related to what Jesus says.
29. Amos 5:23 Songs
Amos 5:23 Take thou away from me the noise of thy songs; for I will not hear the melody of thy viols. [kjv]
μεταστησον απ εμου ηχον ωδων σου και ψαλμον οργανων σου ουκ ακουσομαι [lxx]
Remove from me the sound of your songs, and I will not hear the music of your instruments. [bs3]
The Greek for "
songs" is the source of the English word
"ode".
The Greek for "
melody" , from the Hebrew, is the source of the English word
"psalms".
The Greek for "
viols", as in "
violins", is the source of the English word
"organ".
Discuss: Is this verse support against loud music with little meaningful content?
Which creates less anxiety, playing a violin or playing a guitar?
With a violin, there is nothing to fret about!
Why do people not get tired of listening to cello suites?
There is always room for cello!
30. Amos 5:23
KJV: Take thou away from me the noise of thy songs; for I will not hear the melody of thy viols.
Hebrew: הסר מעלי המון שריך וזמרת נבליך לא אשמע׃
Greek: μεταστησον απ εμου ηχον ωδων σου και ψαλμον οργανων σου ουκ ακουσομαι
Brenton: Remove from me the sound of your songs, and I will not hear the music of your instruments.
31. Amos 5:24 Judgment
Amos 5:24 But let judgment run down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream. [kjv]
και κυλισθησεται ως υδωρ κριμα και δικαιοσυνη ως χειμαρρους αβατος [lxx]
32. Amos 5:24
KJV: But let judgment run down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream.
Hebrew: ויגל כמים משפט וצדקה כנחל איתן׃
Greek: και κυλισθησεται ως υδωρ κριμα και δικαιοσυνη ως χειμαρρους αβατος
33. End of page
Isaiah 1:11 To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the LORD: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats. [kjv]
1:12 When ye come to appear before me, who hath required this at your hand, to tread my courts? [kjv]
1:13 Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting. [kjv]
1:14 Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them. [kjv]
