Amos 4:1–13 contains the second oracle of judgment against Israel. Written in the literary genre of judgment speech,1 Amos specifies a number of areas in which Israel has failed to engage with God. The focus of the chapter is on highlighting Israel’s failures and calling them to prepare for a meeting with God. Their failure to engage with God will not prevent God from engaging with them in judgment.2
Amos 4 can be arranged as follows:3
An introductory call to the women of Samaria and the first indictment (Amos 4:1)
The first announcements of judgment (Amos 4:2–3)
The second indictment (Amos 4:4–5)
The third indictment (Amos 4:6–11)
The final announcement of judgment (Amos 4:12)
A concluding hymn (Amos 4:13)
1 “Hear this word, you cows of Bashan, who are on the mountain of Samaria, who oppress the poor, who crush the needy, who say to your husbands, ‘Bring, that we may drink!’