Judah: Rejecting the LORD’s Law

After six foreign nations, Amos turns toward home. Judah’s indictment differs from the others because Judah possesses revealed covenant instruction: they rejected the law of the LORD and did not keep his statutes. Their “lies” led them astray as earlier generations had been led astray. The movement matters rhetorically. Listeners in Israel may have welcomed judgment on neighboring enemies and perhaps on Judah, only to discover that the longest and most searching accusation is about to fall on them. Knowledge of God increases responsibility; it does not create immunity.