Texts in Conversation
Amos 4 describes God giving ironic commands, urging the people to continue their sin at Bethel and Gilgal as a form of rebellion. The Aramaic translation in Targum Jonathan changes this to remove the irony, likely to avoid making God look cruel.
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Amos 4:4
Hebrew Bible
3 Each of you will go straight through the gaps in the walls; you will be thrown out toward Harmon.” The Lord is speaking. 4 “Go to Bethel and rebel! At Gilgal rebel some more! Bring your sacrifices in the morning, your tithes on the third day! 5 Burn a thank offering of bread made with yeast! Make a public display of your voluntary offerings! For you love to do this, you Israelites.” The Sovereign Lord is speaking.
Date: 6th Century B.C.E. (based on scholarly estimates)
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Jonathan Amos 4:4
Targum
3 They shall break down the wall upon you and they shall lead you out headlong like women and deport you beyond the mountains of Armenia,” says the Lord. 4 “They came to Bethel and rebelled, in Gilgal they increased sinning, bringing your sacrifices every morning, your tithes every three days. 5 You collect a free-will offering by violence and bring it with a song, saying, ‘This is for acceptance.’ For you love that sort of thing, O people of Israel,” says the Lord God.
Date: 200-300 C.E. (based on scholarly estimates)
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Notes and References
"... Amos 4:4 ... The Masoretic text’s ironic invitation, ‘Come to Bethel and transgress; to Gilgal and transgress even more’, is altered by the Targumist who probably wanted to avoid Yahweh’s involvement in a summons to evil. ..."
* The use of references are not endorsements of their contents. Please read the entirety of the provided reference(s) to understand the author's full intentions regarding the use of these texts.
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