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Amplified Bible

Amos 5:5

"But do not resort to Bethel [to worship the golden calf] Nor enter [idolatrous] Gilgal, Nor cross over to Beersheba [and its idols]; For Gilgal will certainly go into captivity and exile, And Bethel will come to nothing.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Beer-Sheba;   Beth-El;   Gilgal;   Idolatry;   Prayer;   Repentance;   Seekers;   Thompson Chain Reference - Beer-Sheba;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Beer-Sheba;   Gilgal;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Bethel;   Gilgal;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Amos, Theology of;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Amos;   Beersheba;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Amos;   Beer-Sheba;   Bethel;   Canaan, History and Religion of;   Gilgal;   History;   Pilgrimage;   Remnant;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Amos;   Beth-Aven;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Beersheba ;   Bethel ;   Gilgal;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Bethel;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Amos (1);   Beersheba;   Beth-Aven;   Calf, Golden;   Gilgal;   Jeroboam;   Joel (2);   Nought;   Kitto Biblical Cyclopedia - Beer-sheba;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Hosea, Book of;   Memra;   Palestine;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Do not seek Bethelor go to Gilgalor journey to Beer-sheba,for Gilgal will certainly go into exile,and Bethel will come to nothing.
Hebrew Names Version
But don't seek Beit-El, Nor enter into Gilgal, And don't pass to Be'er-Sheva: For Gilgal shall surely go into captivity, And Beit-El shall come to nothing.
King James Version
But seek not Bethel, nor enter into Gilgal, and pass not to Beersheba: for Gilgal shall surely go into captivity, and Bethel shall come to nought.
English Standard Version
but do not seek Bethel, and do not enter into Gilgal or cross over to Beersheba; for Gilgal shall surely go into exile, and Bethel shall come to nothing."
New American Standard Bible
"But do not resort to Bethel And do not come to Gilgal, Nor cross over to Beersheba; For Gilgal will certainly go into captivity And Bethel will come to nothing.
New Century Version
But do not look in Bethel or go to Gilgal, and do not go down to Beersheba. The people of Gilgal will be taken away as captives, and Bethel will become nothing."
Geneva Bible (1587)
But seeke not Beth-el, nor enter into Gilgal, & go not to Beer-sheba: for Gilgal shal goe into captiuitie, and Beth-el shal come to nought.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
"But do not resort to Bethel And do not come to Gilgal, Nor cross over to Beersheba; For Gilgal will certainly go into captivity And Bethel will come to trouble.
Legacy Standard Bible
But do not seek Bethel,And do not come to Gilgal,Nor cross over to Beersheba;For Gilgal will certainly go into exile,And Bethel will become evil.
Berean Standard Bible
Do not seek Bethel or go to Gilgal; do not journey to Beersheba, for Gilgal will surely go into exile, and Bethel will come to nothing.
Contemporary English Version
Don't go to Gilgal or Bethel or even to Beersheba. Gilgal will be dragged away, and Bethel will end up as nothing."
Complete Jewish Bible
but don't seek Beit-El, or enter Gilgal or pass on into Be'er-Sheva; for Gilgal will certainly go into exile, and Beit-El will come to nothing."
Darby Translation
And seek not Bethel, neither go to Gilgal, and pass not to Beer-sheba; for Gilgal shall surely go into captivity, and Bethel shall come to nought.
Easy-to-Read Version
But don't look in Bethel. Don't go to Gilgal. Don't cross the border and go down to Beersheba. The people of Gilgal will be taken away as prisoners, and Bethel will be destroyed.
George Lamsa Translation
But do not seek Beth-el, nor enter into Gilgal, and pass not to Beer-sheba; for Gilgal shall surely go into captivity and Beth-el shall come to nought.
Good News Translation
Do not go to Beersheba to worship. Do not try to find me at Bethel—Bethel will come to nothing. Do not go to Gilgal—her people are doomed to exile."
Lexham English Bible
But do not seek Bethel or go to Gilgal or cross over to Beersheba, for Gilgal will certainly go into exile and Bethel will come to disaster."
Literal Translation
But do not seek Bethel, and do not enter Gilgal, and do not cross over to Beer-sheba; for Gilgal going shall go into exile, and Bethel shall be for nothing.
American Standard Version
but seek not Beth-el, nor enter into Gilgal, and pass not to Beer-sheba: for Gilgal shall surely go into captivity, and Beth-el shall come to nought.
Bible in Basic English
Do not be looking for help to Beth-el, and do not go to Gilgal, or make your way to Beer-sheba: for Gilgal will certainly be taken prisoner, and Beth-el will come to nothing.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
But seek not Beth-el, nor enter into Gilgal, and pass not to Beer-sheba; for Gilgal shall surely go into captivity, and Beth-el shall come to nought.
King James Version (1611)
But seeke not Bethel, nor enter into Gilgal and passe not to Beer-sheba: for Gilgal shall surely goe into captiuitie, and Bethel shal come to nought.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
But seke not Bethel, nor enter into Gilgal, and go not to Beerseba: for Gilgal shall go into captiuitie, and Bethel shall come to naught.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
But seek not Bethel, and go not into Galgala, and cross not over to the Well of the Oath: for Galgala shall surely go into captivity, and Bethel shall be as that which is not.
English Revised Version
but seek not Beth-el, nor enter into Gilgal, and pass not to Beer-sheba: for Gilgal shall surely go into captivity, and Beth-el shall come to nought.
World English Bible
But don't seek Bethel, Nor enter into Gilgal, And don't pass to Beersheba: For Gilgal shall surely go into captivity, And Bethel shall come to nothing.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
and nyle ye seke Bethel, and nyle ye entre in to Galgala, and ye schulen not passe to Bersabee; for whi Galgal schal be led caitif, and Bethel schal be vnprofitable.
Update Bible Version
but don't seek Beth-el, nor enter into Gilgal, and don't pass to Beer-sheba: for Gilgal shall surely go into captivity, and Beth-el shall come to nothing.
Webster's Bible Translation
But seek not Beth-el, nor enter into Gilgal, and pass not to Beer-sheba: for Gilgal shall surely go into captivity, and Beth-el shall come to naught.
New English Translation
Do not seek Bethel! Do not visit Gilgal! Do not journey down to Beer Sheba! For the people of Gilgal will certainly be carried into exile; and Bethel will become a place where disaster abounds."
New King James Version
But do not seek Bethel, Nor enter Gilgal, Nor pass over to Beersheba; For Gilgal shall surely go into captivity, And Bethel shall come to nothing.
New Living Translation
Don't worship at the pagan altars at Bethel; don't go to the shrines at Gilgal or Beersheba. For the people of Gilgal will be dragged off into exile, and the people of Bethel will be reduced to nothing."
New Life Bible
But do not look for Bethel. Do not go to Gilgal or cross over to Beersheba. For the people of Gilgal will be taken away to a strange land, and Bethel will come to nothing."
New Revised Standard
but do not seek Bethel, and do not enter into Gilgal or cross over to Beer-sheba; for Gilgal shall surely go into exile, and Bethel shall come to nothing.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Then do not seek Bethel, and, Gilgal, shall ye not enter, and, unto Beer-sheba, shall ye not cross over, For, Gilgal, shall, surely go into exile, and, Bethel, shall become a trouble.
Douay-Rheims Bible
But seek not Bethel, and go not into Galgal, neither shall you pass over to Bersabee: for Galgal shall go into captivity, and Bethel shall be unprofitable.
Revised Standard Version
but do not seek Bethel, and do not enter into Gilgal or cross over to Beer-sheba; for Gilgal shall surely go into exile, and Bethel shall come to nought."
Young's Literal Translation
And seek not Beth-El, and Gilgal enter not, And Beer-Sheba pass not through, For Gilgal doth utterly remove, And Beth-El doth become vanity.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
but seke not after Bethel. Come not at Galgal, and go not to Bersaba: for Galgal shall be caried awaye captyue, and Bethel shal come to naught.

Contextual Overview

4For thus says the LORD to the house of Israel, "Seek Me [search diligently for Me and regard Me as more essential than food] so that you may live. 5"But do not resort to Bethel [to worship the golden calf] Nor enter [idolatrous] Gilgal, Nor cross over to Beersheba [and its idols]; For Gilgal will certainly go into captivity and exile, And Bethel will come to nothing.6"Seek the LORD [search diligently for Him and long for Him as your most essential need] so that you may live, Or He will rush down like a [devouring] fire, O house of Joseph, And there will be no one to quench the flame for [idolatrous] Bethel, 7For those [shall be consumed] who turn justice into wormwood (bitterness) And cast righteousness down to the earth." 8He who made the [cluster of stars called] Pleiades and [the constellation] Orion, Who turns deep darkness into the morning And darkens the day into night, Who calls for the waters of the sea And pours them out on the surface of the earth, The LORD is His name. 9It is He who causes [sudden] destruction to flash forth on the strong So that destruction comes on the fortress. 10They hate the one who reprimands [the unrighteous] in the [court held at the city] gate [regarding him as unreasonable and rejecting his reprimand], And they detest him who speaks [the truth] with integrity and honesty. 11Therefore, because you impose heavy rent on the poor And demand a tribute (food-tax) of grain from them, Though you have built [luxurious] houses of square stone, You will not live in them; You have planted beautiful vineyards, but you will not drink their wine. 12For I know your transgressions are many and your sins are great (shocking, innumerable), You who distress the righteous and take bribes, And turn away from the poor in the [court of the city] gate [depriving them of justice]. 13Therefore, he who is prudent and has insight will keep silent at such a [corrupt and evil] time, for it is an evil time [when people will not listen to truth and will disregard those of good character].

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

seek: Amos 4:4, Hosea 4:15, Hosea 9:15, Hosea 10:14, Hosea 10:15, Hosea 12:11

Beersheba: Amos 8:14, Genesis 21:33

Gilgal: There is a paronomasia here, both on the letters and words: hag gilgal galoh yigleh oovaith el yiheyeh leawen "Gilgal shall surely go into captivity, and Beth-el (the house of God) shall come to nought," or Aven, i.e., Beth-aven, the house of iniquity.

and Bethel: Amos 7:17, Leviticus 26:30-32, Deuteronomy 28:41, Hosea 4:15, Hosea 10:8, Hosea 10:15

come: Job 8:22, Psalms 33:10, Isaiah 8:10, Isaiah 29:20, 1 Corinthians 1:28, 1 Corinthians 2:6, Revelation 18:17

Reciprocal: Joshua 4:19 - Gilgal 2 Kings 2:23 - Bethel Jeremiah 48:13 - as the Amos 6:7 - shall they Amos 7:9 - the high

Cross-References

Genesis 3:19
"By the sweat of your face You will eat bread Until you return to the ground, For from it you were taken; For you are dust, And to dust you shall return."
Genesis 5:7
Seth lived eight hundred and seven years after the birth of Enosh, and he had other sons and daughters.
Genesis 5:8
So Seth lived nine hundred and twelve years, and he died.
Genesis 5:10
Enosh lived eight hundred and fifteen years after the birth of Kenan and had other sons and daughters.
Genesis 5:11
So Enosh lived nine hundred and five years, and he died.
Genesis 5:12
When Kenan was seventy years old, he became the father of Mahalalel.
Genesis 5:14
So Kenan lived nine hundred and ten years, and he died.
Genesis 5:21
When Enoch was sixty-five years old, he became the father of Methuselah.
Genesis 5:22
Enoch walked [in habitual fellowship] with God three hundred years after the birth of Methuselah and had other sons and daughters.
Genesis 5:32
After Noah was five hundred years old, he became the father of Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

But seek not Bethel,.... Do not go to Bethel, the place where one of Jeroboam's calves was set up and worshipped, to consult the oracle, idols, and priests there; or to perform religious worship, which will be your ruin, if not prevented by another course of living:

nor enter into Gilgal; another place of idolatry, where idols were set up and worshipped :-;

and pass not to Beersheba; a place in the further part of the land of Israel; it formerly belonged to Judah, but was now in the hands of the ten tribes, and where idolatrous worship was practised; see Amos 8:14; it having been a place where Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, had dwelt, and worshipped the true God:

for Gilgal shall surely go into captivity; that is, the inhabitants of it; they will not be able with their idols and idol worship to save themselves, and therefore go not thither. There is an elegant play on words here b, as there is also in the next words:

and Bethel shall come to nought; which also was called Bethaven, the house of vanity, or of an idol which is nothing in the world; and therefore, because of the idolatry in it, should come to nothing, be utterly destroyed, and the inhabitants of it. So the Targum,

"they, that are in Gilgal, and worship calves in Bethel.''

b הגלגל גלה יגלה.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

But (and) seek not Bethel - Israel pretended to seek God in Bethel. Amos sets the two seeking, as incompatible. The god, worshiped at Bethel, was not the One God. To seek God there was to lose Him. “Seek not God,” he would say, “and a phantom, which will lead from God.”

And pass not to Beersheba - Jeroboam I pretended that it was too much for Israel to go up to Jerusalem. And Yet Israel thought it not too much to go to the extremest point of Judah toward Idumaea , perhaps, four times as far south of Jerusalem, as Jerusalem lay from Bethel. For Beersheba is thought to have lain some thirty miles south of Hebron , which is twenty-two miles south of Jerusalem ; while Bethel is but twelve to the north. So much pains will people take in self-willed service, and yet not see that it takes away the excuse for neglecting the true. At Beersheba, Abraham “called upon the name of the Lord, the everlasting God” Genesis 21:33. There God revealed Himself to Isaac and Jacob Genesis 26:23-24; Genesis 46:1. There, because He had so revealed Himself, Judah made a place of idolatry, which Israel, seeking nought besides from Judah, sought. Beersheba was still a town or large village in the time of Jerome. Now all is swept away, except “some foundations of ruins,” spread over 34 of a mile, “with scarcely one stone upon another” . The wells alone remain , with the ancient names.

Gilgal shall surely go into captivity - The verbal allusions in the prophets are sometimes artificial; sometimes, they develop the meaning of the word itself, as when Zephaniah says, “Ekron (probably the “firm-rooting”) “shall be uprooted” Zephaniah 2:4; sometimes, as here, the words are connected, although not the same. In all cases, the likeness of sound was calculated to fix them in men’s memories. It would be so, if one with authority could say, “Paris perira” , “Paris shall perish” or “London is undone.” Still more would the words, Hag-gilgal galo yigleh, because the name Gilgal still retained its first meaning, “the great rolling , and the word joined with it had a kindred meaning. Originally it probably means, “swept clear away.” God first “rolled away the reproaeh of Egypt” Joshua 5:9 from His people there. Then, when it made itself like the pagan, it should itself be rolled clear away Jeremiah 51:25. Gilgal was originally in Benjamin, but Israel had probably annexed it to itself, as it had Bethel and Jericho 1 Kings 16:34, both of which had been assigned by Joshua to Benjamin Joshua 18:21-22.

And Bethel shall come to nought - Hosea had called “Bethel, God’s house,” by the name of “Bethaven Hosea 4:15; Hosea 10:5, Vanity-house.” Amos, in allusion to this probably, drops the first half of the name, and says that it shall not merely be “house of vanity,” but “Aven, vanity” itself. “By sin the soul, which was the house or temple of God, becomes the temple of vanity and of devils.”

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Amos 5:5. But seek not Beth-el — There was one of Jeroboam's golden calves, and at Gilgal were carved images; both were places in which idolatry was triumphant. The prophet shows them that all hope from those quarters is utterly vain; for Gilgal shall go into captivity, and Beth-el be brought to naught. There is a play or paronomasia on the letters and words in this clause: הגלגל גלה יגלה ובית אל יהיה לאון haggilgal galoh yigleh, ubeith el yiheyeh leaven. "This Gilgal shall go captive into captivity; and Beth-el (the house of God) shall be for Beth-aven," (the house of iniquity.)


 
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