Dangerous Waters of Justice and Righteousness: Amos 5:18--27

Abstract

Amos 5:18-27 is an important text for understanding First Testament prophetic religion and social justice. Recent interpretations stress God's command to perform justice and righteousness instead of the traditional acts of cultic reverence. However, such a reading misinterprets this passage, which focuses on theology rather than worship or ethics. The justice and righteousness of Amos 5:24 do not refer to the human activity that God prefers, but to God's own activity to purge the community of its failings in order to provide justice and righteousness for all people.