Amo 4:4-5 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Amos 4:4-5: 4:4-5 The prophet’s sarcasm shows how far Israel had strayed from God’s ways. Israel had plenty of religion but no reverence for God. 4:4 Amos lampoons the Israelites’ worthless piety. • Bethel , the site of Jacob’s famous vision of the ladder with angels descending and ascending (Gen 28:11-22 ), was the southern seat of the religion established by Jeroboam I (see Amos 3:14 ; 1 Kgs 12:28-29 ). Gilgal , Israel’s campsite after they crossed the Jordan (Josh 4:19–5:9 ), had become a popular shrine by the time of Amos and Hosea (Hos 4:15 ; 9:15 ; 12:11 ). • sacrifices each morning ... tithes every three days: Israelite males were to appear before the Lord at the sanctuary three times each year (Exod 23:14-19 ; 34:23 ; Deut 16:16-17 ). Tithes were typically paid annually (Deut 14:22-29 ), with a special tithe paid every three years (see Deut 14:28 ; 26:12 ). Amos is making the point that the Israelites were religious to the point of absurdity, but they balked at being godly (Amos 5:15 ; Hos 6:6 ; Mic 6:8 ; see Luke 11:42 ).

Summary for Amos 4:4-5: 4:4-5 ^a The prophet’s sarcasm shows how far Israel had strayed from God’s ways. Israel had plenty of religion but no reverence for God. 4:4 ^b Amos lampoons the Israelites’ worthless piety.

• Bethel, the site of Jacob’s famous vision of the ladder with angels descending and ascending (Gen 28:11-22 ^c), was the southern seat of the religion established by Jeroboam I (see Amos 3:14 ^d; 1 Kgs 12:28-29 ^e). Gilgal, Israel’s campsite after they crossed the Jordan (Josh 4:19–5:9 ^f), had become a popular shrine by the time of Amos and Hosea (Hos 4:15 ^g; 9:15 ^h; 12:11 ⁱ).

• sacrifices each morning ... tithes every three days: Israelite males were to appear before the Lord at the sanctuary three times each year (Exod 23:14-19 ^j; 34:23 ^k; Deut 16:16-17 ^l). Tithes were typically paid annually (Deut 14:22-29 ^m), with a special tithe paid every three years (see Deut 14:28 ⁿ; 26:12 ^o). Amos is making the point that the Israelites were religious to the point of absurdity, but they balked at being godly (Amos 5:15 ^p; Hos 6:6 ^q; Mic 6:8 ^r; see Luke 11:42 ^s).
4:5 ^t Leavened bread (that is, sourdough fermented by wild yeast) was for daily consumption. The more primitive unleavened bread (made without yeast) became a sacred symbol, commemorating Israel’s affliction as slaves in Egypt (Deut 16:3 ^u), the Passover (Exod 12:17-20 ^v), and their hasty departure from that land (Exod 12:34 ^w, 39 ^x). Unleavened bread thus became altar bread (Lev 6:17 ^y; 7:12 ^z). However, bread made with yeast could accompany a peace offering of thanksgiving (Lev 7:13 ^aa).