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Amos 8:5

King James Version (KJV)

“In our prayers we talk to God, in our Bible study God talks to us, and we had better let God do most of the talking.”
— D.L. Moody

Amos 8:5

Verse 5 of 14

Scripture focus

Saying, When will the new moon be gone, that we may sell corn? and the sabbath, that we may set forth wheat, making the ephah small, and the shekel great, and falsifying the balances by deceit?

Amos 8:5 — KJV

Commentary

Commentary on Amos 8:5

Theological / Devotional

New moon. The first day of the month (1 Sam. 20:5, 24, 27; see Vol. n, p. 102) was devoted to religious service, and apparently was a day on which all trade was suspended (see on Num. 28:11; 2 Kings 4:23). Here is a striking example of a formal observance of sacred institutions, with no true spirit of devotion. In their selfishness these apostates begrudged the time their religious formalism demanded of them. Such worship becomes a curse instead of a blessing.

Set forth. Literally, “open,” for the purpose of selling. The LXX reads “open the treasure,” that is, the granaries, or storehouses.

Ephah. See Vol. I, pp. 166, 167. By giving short weight the seller received more money than he should for the quantity of grain sold.

Shekel. See Vol. I, pp. 167-169.

By SdaBc