Amo 5:1-2 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Amos 5:1-3: 5:1-3 The charges against Israel had been filed (3:1-2 ; 4:1-3 ); now it was time for judgment. Amos made this point clear by singing a funeral song for Israel, as though the nation were already dead. 5:1 funeral song: The Hebrew word ( qinah ) describes a special rhythm (3+2 beats) used for funeral dirges (most of the book of Lamentations is written in qinah ). The ominous significance was clear: Israel had already died and now awaited burial.

a5:1-3►

b3:1-2►

c4:1-3►

d5:1►

e5:2►

fIsa 47:1►

gLam 2:13►

hLam 1:1►

‏ Amos 5:1-2

Summary for Amos 5:1-3: 5:1-3 ^a The charges against Israel had been filed (3:1-2 ^b; 4:1-3 ^c); now it was time for judgment. Amos made this point clear by singing a funeral song for Israel, as though the nation were already dead. 5:1 ^d funeral song: The Hebrew word (qinah) describes a special rhythm (3+2 beats) used for funeral dirges (most of the book of Lamentations is written in qinah). The ominous significance was clear: Israel had already died and now awaited burial.
5:2 ^e When used to describe political powers, virgin refers to a state of being unconquered by a foreign power (e.g., Babylon, Isa 47:1 ^f; Jerusalem, Lam 2:13 ^g; cp. Lam 1:1 ^h).