2:1 This is what the Lord says: “Because Moab has committed three crimes—make that four!—I will not revoke my decree of judgment. They burned the bones of Edom’s king into lime.

Moab was a blood-related cousin of Israel through the incestuous relationship between Lot and his daughter Moab. Three crimes against Israel fill up God’s cup of wrath. Four crimes caused the cup to overflow.

Moab did not show respect to the dead. They burned up the bones of the Edomite king.

2:2 So I will set Moab on fire, and it will consume Kerioth’s fortresses. Moab will perish in the heat of battle amid war cries and the blaring of the ram’s horn.

Kerioth was the key city of Moab. It will be burn to the ground. The Moabites will die in battle.

2:3 I will remove Moab’s leader; I will kill all Moab’s officials with him.” The Lord has spoken!

The royal house of Moab will be slain. The Moabites were enemies of their cousin Israel. Israel will once again cheer, because their enemy will be judged. However, the lion of Judah is closing in on them.

2:4 This is what the Lord says: “Because Judah has committed three covenant transgressions— make that four!—I will not revoke my decree of judgment. They rejected the Lord’s law; they did not obey his commands. Their false gods, to which their fathers were loyal, led them astray.

Amos was a prophet from Judah. Now, he begins to prophesy against his own nation. This had to make Israel very nervous, because they were next door to Judah. The lion was within walking distance of them.

Judah had committed three crimes, which filled Jehovah’s cup of wrath. Their fourth crime caused the cup of wrath to overflow.

Judah rejected the Mosaic Law. They worshiped false gods. This had to make Israel nervous, because they had done the same thing at even a greater level.

2:5 So I will set Judah on fire, and it will consume Jerusalem’s fortresses.”

Jerusalem will be set on fire and sent into the Babylonian captivity.

2:6 This is what the Lord says: “Because Israel has committed three covenant transgressions— make that four!—I will not revoke my decree of judgment. They sold the innocent for silver, the needy for a pair of sandals.

The lion of Judah has now arrived in Israel, ready to devour her. Israel had committed three crimes against Jehovah, which filled His cup of wrath. The fourth crime caused the cup to overflow.

Israel was abusing their poor. They were selling their own fellow Jews into slavery for the price of a pair of sandals.

2:7 They trample on the dirt-covered heads of the poor; they push the destitute away. A man and his father go to the same girl; in this way they show disrespect for my moral purity.

Israel was trampling the poor. Father and sons were committing adultery with the same temple prostitutes. Temple prostitution and adultery were supposed to be capital crimes, but they were tolerated in Israel.

2:8 They stretch out on clothing seized as collateral; they do so right beside every altar! They drink wine bought with the fines they have levied; they do so right in the temple of their God!

According to the Mosaic Law, if a man was so poor that he had to pay his debt with his garment, then it was to be returned to him at night so that he could stay warm. The lenders were keeping his garment at night and taking it to drinking parties. They charged high fines to the poor and used the money to buy themselves more drinks.

2:9 For Israel’s sake I destroyed the Amorites. They were as tall as cedars and as strong as oaks, but I destroyed the fruit on their branches and their roots in the ground.

The Amorites were powerful tribes who outnumbered the Israelites. They were large, strong men with fortified cities and powerful weapons. Yet, God destroyed the Amorites Himself and gave their land to the Israelites. The Israelites did not appreciate this kind gesture by God. They turned from Him and began worshiping demons.

2:10 I brought you up from the land of Egypt; I led you through the wilderness for forty years so you could take the Amorites’ land as your own. ]

God brought Israel out of national slavery from the mightiest nation in the world. God provided for the needs of two million Jews in the desert for forty years. God vomited the Amorites out of the land and gave it to Israel.

2:11 I made some of your sons prophets and some of your young men Nazirites. Is this not true, you Israelites?” The Lord is speaking!

God gave Israel prophets and Nazarites in order to instruct them in God’s Word.

2:12 “But you made the Nazirites drink wine; you commanded the prophets, ‘Do not prophesy!’

Israel’s response was that they enticed the Nazirites to break their vows and drink wine. They told the prophets to keep their mouths closed.

2:13 Look! I will press you down, like a cart loaded down with grain presses down.

God will place extreme pressure on Israel.

2:14 Fast runners will find no place to hide; strong men will have no strength left; warriors will not be able to save their lives.

War will be brought to Israel, but she will lose. Her fast runners will find no place to hide. Her strong men will have no more strength to fight. The skilled warriors will not possess enough skill to save their own lives.

15 Archers will not hold their ground; fast runners will not save their lives, nor will those who ride horses.

Archers will run away. Fast runners will be captured and killed. Those on fast horses will be captured and killed.

16 Bravehearted warriors will run away naked in that day.” The Lord is speaking!

Even the most courageous soldiers will lose their courage and run away.