Study Desk

Then Amaziah, the ^(C1)priest of Bethel, sent word to ^(C2)Jeroboam king of Israel, saying, "Amos has ^(C3)conspired against you in the midst of the house of Israel; the land is unable to endure all his words.

"For this is what Amos says: 'Jeroboam will die by the sword, and Israel will certainly go from its land into exile.'"

Then Amaziah said to Amos, "^(C1)Go, you seer, flee to the land of Judah; and eat bread there and do your prophesying there!

"But ^(C1)do not prophesy at Bethel any longer, for it is a ^(C2)sanctuary of the king and a royal ^(F1)residence."

Then Amos replied to Amaziah, "I am not a prophet, nor am I the ^(C1)son of a prophet; for I am a herdsman and a ^(F1)grower of sycamore figs.

"But the LORD took me from ^(F1)following the flock, and the LORD said to me, 'Go ^(C1)prophesy to My people Israel.'

"So now hear the word of the LORD: you are saying, 'You ^(C1)shall not prophesy against Israel ^(C2)nor shall you ^(F1)prophesy against the house of Isaac.'

"Therefore, this is what the LORD says: 'Your ^(C1)wife will become a prostitute in the city, your ^(C2)sons and your daughters will fall by the sword, your land will be parceled up by a measuring line, and you yourself will die ^(F1)upon ^(C3)unclean soil. Furthermore Israel will certainly go from its land into exile.'"