social justice in the book of amos

Lately myself and Joel have been talking a bit (here and here) through the issues of economic justice, and whether good economic policies are more socialist or capitalist.  Needless to say, I fall more on the capitalistic end of the spectrum, while Joel is more socialistic in his views.  In order to give the Bible a chance to speak for itself on relations between the rich and poor and economic policy, I give you some relevant selections on the book of Amos.  Judge for yourselves whether Amos is concerned about social justice, and judge for yourselves just what social justice means for Amos.

Here’s Amos 1 13-15:

Thus says Jehovah, For three transgressions of B’nei Ammon, and for four, I will not turn away their punishment;  because they have ripped open the pregnant women of Gilead to enlarge their own territory.  And I will set fire to the wall of Rabbah [their capital city], and it will devour its palaces, with shouting in the day of battle, with a tempest in the day of the whirlwind;  and their king will go into captivity, he and his princes together, says Jehovah.

Here’s Amos 2 6-8

Thus says Jehovah, For three transgressions of Israel, and for four, I will not turn away their punishment;  because they sold the righteous for silver, and the poor for a pair of shoes;  who trample on the heads of the poor as upon the dust of the earth, and they turn aside the way of the lowly.  And a man and his father go in to the same girl, to dishoner my holy name.  And they lay themselves down on clothes taken in pledge by every altar, and they drink the wine of those they condemned in the temple of their God.

And Amos 3 8-11

The lion has roared;  who will not fear?  The Lord Jehovah has spoken, who can keep from prophesying?  Announce this in the palaces at Ashdod, and in the palaces in the land of Mizraim, and say, Assemble yourselves on the mountains of Shomron, and behold the great tumults in the midst of it, and the oppressed in the midst of it.  For they do not know to do right, says Jehovah, they who store up violence and destruction in their palaces.  So thus says the Lord Jehovah, An adversary will encircle the land, and he will take away your palaces will be looted.

Amos 4 1-2

Hear this word, you cows of Bashan, who are in the mountain of Shomron, who oppress the poor, and who crush the needy, who say to your husbands, Bring us more to drink!  The Lord Jehovah has sworn by his holiness that behold, the days will come upon you that he will take you away with hooks, and your offspring with fishhooks.

Amos 4 11 (one Mitchell point if you can tell me what this might have to do with social justice)

I have overthrown some of you as God overthrew Sedom and Amorah, and you were like firebrand plucked out of the flames, yet you have not returned to me, says Jehovah.

Amos 5 8-9

Jehovah is his name, who strengthens strengthens the spoiled against the strong, so that the spoiled will come against the fortress.  They hate him who rebukes in the gate, and they abhor the one who speaks uprightly.  So because you enact taxes upon the poor, taking from him taxes of wheat;  you have built houses of hewn stone, but you shall not dwell in them;  you have planted pleasant vineyards, but you shall not drink wine of them.  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 what is rightfully theirs.  So the prudent will keep silence in that time, for it is an evil time.  Seek good, and not evil, that you may live;  and so Jehovah, the God of Hosts, will be with you as you have spoken.  Have was is evil, and love what is good, and establish justice in the gate.  Perhaps Jehovah God of Hosts will be gracious to those who remain of Joseph.

Amos 6 1-8:

Woe to those who are at ease in Zion, and put their trust in the mountain of Shomron, who are named chief of the nations, to whom the house of Israel came!  Pass to Calneh, and see;  and from there go to Hamath the great;  then go down to Gath of the Philistines–are they better than these kingdoms?  Or is their border greater than your border?  You who put far away the evil day, and cause the seat of violence to come near;  who lie upon beds of ivory, and stretch themselves upon their couches, and eat the lambs out of the flock, and the calves in the stall;  who chant to the sound of the viol, and invent for themselves instruments of music, like David;  who drink wine in bowls, and anoint themselves with the finest ointments;  but are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph.  Therefore they will now be carried off into captivity with the first who are carried away, and the banquent of those who stretched themselves out will be removed.  The Lord Jehovah has sworn by himself, says Jehovah the God of Hosts, I abhor the excellency of Jacob, and hate his palaces;  therefore I will deliver up the city with all that is in it.