Amos 5:6
Seek the LORD, and ye shall live; lest he break out like fire in the house of Joseph, and devour it, and there be none to quench it in Beth-el.
Original Language Analysis
Cross References
Historical Context
Beth-el's fire imagery may reference literal burning during Assyrian conquest or metaphorical fire of divine wrath. Isaiah, Jeremiah, and other prophets use fire imagery for God's consuming judgment (Isaiah 33:14, Jeremiah 4:4, 21:12). The New Testament continues this: Hebrews 12:29 declares "our God is a consuming fire," and 2 Thessalonians 1:7-8 describes Christ's return "in flaming fire taking vengeance." The "house of Joseph" terminology distinguishes northern Israel (Joseph's descendants) from Judah. By Amos's time, the kingdoms had been divided 150+ years. Amos's warning proved true—Assyria burned Israelite cities (confirmed archaeologically by destruction layers showing fire), and Beth-el's sanctuary couldn't save the kingdom.
Questions for Reflection
- Why does God command seeking Himself rather than religious locations, rituals, or traditions?
- How does the imagery of unquenchable fire emphasize both the intensity and inevitability of divine judgment?
- What is the relationship between genuine seeking of God (verse 6a) and deliverance from judgment (verse 6b)?
Analysis & Commentary
Seek the LORD, and ye shall live (דִּרְשׁוּ אֶת־יְהוָה וִחְיוּ, dirshu et-YHWH vihyu)—in stark contrast to verse 5's prohibition against seeking Beth-el, Gilgal, and Beer-sheba, God commands seeking Himself, not religious locations. The verb darash (דָּרַשׁ, "seek diligently") implies active, intentional pursuit of God's presence, will, and ways. The promise "and ye shall live" (vihyu, וִחְיוּ) offers both physical survival (escaping coming judgment) and spiritual vitality. This echoes 5:4—seeking God is the only path to life.
The urgent warning follows: lest he break out like fire in the house of Joseph, and devour it, and there be none to quench it in Beth-el (pen-yitsalach ka'esh beit Yosef ve'akhelah ve'ein mekhabeh leBeit-El, פֶּן־יִצְלַח כָּאֵשׁ בֵּית יוֹסֵף וְאָכְלָה וְאֵין מְכַבֶּה לְבֵית־אֵל). The verb tsalach (צָלַח, "break out/rush forth") depicts fire bursting forth uncontrollably. "House of Joseph" refers to northern Israel (Ephraim and Manasseh, Joseph's sons, dominated the north). God's wrath will consume like unquenchable fire—and Beth-el's shrine cannot save. The phrase "none to quench it" emphasizes helplessness before divine judgment. The very shrine Israel trusted will prove powerless.