What prompted Amos to speak the message from God so forthrightly?
(v. 10) Amos was very straightforward with his message. Here we catch Amos in the middle of a strong indictment against the behavior of God’s people. This verse deals with a court situation at the city gate. Him that rebuketh is someone in authority who renders verdicts. Amos thus charges his listeners with being completely uninterested in justice and truth. In modern terminology we could say that people don’t want honest judges or witnesses (compare Proverbs 24:23–25; Isaiah 29:21). Apparently it was now time to stop being gentle with the people and give the God’s warning in more outspoken ways. 2. What was so important about the city gates, and what was happening to them in Israel at that time? The city gates were the place where many business and legal proceedings took place. Judges met to arbitrate for the people at the city gates. Examples are recorded in Deuteronomy 21:18-21; Ruth 4:1-11. Unfortunately, the city gates were the place where the most injustices in Israel had become
