Amos 2:11

2:11 I made some of your sons prophets

and some of your young men Nazirites. ¹ 

Is this not true, you Israelites?”

The Lord is speaking!

Amos 4:1

4:1 Listen to this message, you cows of Bashan ²  who live on Mount Samaria!

You ³  oppress the poor;

you crush the needy.

You say to your ⁴  husbands,

“Bring us more to drink!” ⁵ 

[2:11]  ¹ tn Or perhaps “religious devotees” (also in the following verse). The Hebrew term נָזִיר (nazir) refers to one who “consecrated” or “devoted” to God (see Num 6:1-21).

[4:1]  ² sn The expression cows of Bashan is used by the prophet to address the wealthy women of Samaria, who demand that their husbands satisfy their cravings. The derogatory language perhaps suggests that they, like the livestock of Bashan, were well fed, ironically in preparation for the coming slaughter. This phrase is sometimes cited to critique the book’s view of women.

[4:1]  ³ tn Heb “the ones who” (three times in this verse).

[4:1]  ⁴ tn Heb “their.”

[4:1]  ⁵ sn Some commentators relate this scene to the description of the marzeah feast of 6:3-6, in which drinking played a prominent part (see the note at 6:6).