Amos 2:6
¶Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Israel, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because kthey sold the righteous for silver, and the poor for a pair of shoes;
¶Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Israel, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they sold the righteous for silver, and the poor for a pair of shoes;
k:
Amos 8:6 That we may buy the poor for silver, and the needy for a pair of shoes; yea, and sell the refuse of the wheat?
Amos 5:11 Forasmuch therefore as your treading is upon the poor, and ye take from him burdens of wheat: ye have built houses of hewn stone, but ye shall not dwell in them; ye have planted pleasant vineyards, but ye shall not drink wine of them.
Amos 5:12 For I know your manifold transgressions and your mighty sins: they afflict the just, they take a bribe, and they turn aside the poor in the gate from their right.
2 Chronicles 19:7 Wherefore now let the fear of the LORD be upon you; take heed and do it: for there is no iniquity with the LORD our God, nor respect of persons, nor taking of gifts.
Leviticus 25:39 ¶And if thy brother that dwelleth by thee be waxen poor, and be sold unto thee; thou shalt not compel him to serve as a bondservant:
For three transgressions: see Amo 1:3.
the kingdom of the ten tribes, under the government of Jeroboam the Second at this time, against which the prophet was chiefly sent, though he began with Syria and others, by the threats against which nations he prepared both Judah and Israel to hearken and consider.
see Amo 1:3.
those who by the appointment of the law had power to hear and decide causes between man and man; judges and witnesses, like the corrupt judges,
for bribes were their aim, and they would at any time sell justice to the highest bidder.
the innocent, or those who had a just and righteous cause, for the prophet here speaks of the justness of the cause, not of the exact justice or absolute righteousness of the person.
money was the most current and prevailing commodity with these judges, but money’s worth would do the feat too, if money were out of the way.
when poor men went to law with poor men before these judges, and the thing they contended for was of small value, the contenders too had light purses, and could not give a considerable bribe;
a very poor bribe, expressed here proverbially, would sway with these judges, who gaped still after somewhat of gain from all.