{"id":77099,"date":"2020-07-08T16:14:01","date_gmt":"2020-07-08T13:14:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/?p=77099"},"modified":"2020-07-08T16:14:01","modified_gmt":"2020-07-08T13:14:01","slug":"the-central-sin-oppression-of-the-poor","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/the-central-sin-oppression-of-the-poor\/","title":{"rendered":"The Central Sin: Oppression of the Poor"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[281],"tags":[],"acf":{"old_id":"77099","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":39778,"related_cahpter":"520","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content":{"description":"A nation where the poor get poorer at the hands of a merciless justice system\r\n\r\n","content":"

(This post is the second in a series on social justice in Amos)<\/span><\/p>\n

In today\u2019s chapter, Amos finally turns to his true audience \u2013 the northern kingdom of Israel. His focus on income inequality is clear from his chastisement of the people: \u201cThey recline (<\/span>yatu<\/span><\/em>)<\/span><\/i> by every altar On garments taken in pledge, And drink in the House of their God Wine bought with fines (<\/span>anushim<\/span><\/em>) they imposed\u201d (2:8).<\/span><\/p>\n

The outlines of an economic system are being sketched out: There are poor people in need of capital who borrow money. Their clothing is taken from them as collateral (in contravention of the law from Exodus 22, which requires the lender to return the clothing nightly) and the upper class people who took their collateral use it as a blanket while reclining and drinking wine.<\/span><\/p>\n

Many rare words are in use in this verse, so that some amount of commentary is needed for any clear understanding. The verb \u201c\u05d9\u05b7\u05d8\u05bc\u05d5\u05bc\u201d, <\/span>yatu<\/span><\/em>, translated here as reclining, comes from the definition that means \u201cto stretch out.\u201d It is not commonly used this way, but reminds us of the prohibition against unjust court rulings in the book of Deuteronomy (16:19): \u201c\u05dc\u05b9\u05d0\u05be\u05ea\u05b7\u05d8\u05bc\u05b6\u05d4 \u05de\u05b4\u05e9\u05c1\u05b0\u05e4\u05bc\u05b8\u05d8\u201d <\/span>lo tateh mishpat<\/span><\/em>, \u2013 do not twist or pervert justice.<\/span><\/p>\n

The adjective \u201c\u05e2\u05b2\u05e0\u05d5\u05bc\u05e9\u05c1\u05b4\u05d9\u05dd\u201d, <\/span>anushim<\/span><\/em>,<\/span><\/i> has a similar root to the word for \u2018punishment\u2019, which leads to the commentaries and translators to understand this wine to have been purchased with proceeds from court victories.<\/span><\/p>\n

Who are the perpetrators here? Classical commentaries seize on the references to altars and \u201chouse of their God\u201d to suggest that this could be idolatry. We don\u2019t need to understand it this way. The altar could be the altar in the temple (\u201cevery altar\u201d could be rhetorical rather than plural); the House of their God could be the temple itself.<\/span><\/p>\n

Could it be that the public servants are the villains here? The judges could be enforcing orders to seize collateral and imposing fines, perhaps in concert with the priestly class. Here, the benefits of the economic prosperity of the era can be seen to be accruing to a few, connected to the levers of power, who misuse the justice system to increase their own wealth.<\/span><\/p>\n

The result is a nation where the poor get poorer at the hands of a merciless justice system. Looking back two verses we find: \u201cBecause they have sold for silver Those whose cause was just, And the needy for a pair of sandals.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Rashi says this refers to judges who are taking bribes. But even judges who don\u2019t take bribes yet callously apply the law without regard for the consequences to the poor can be seen to be perverting the system. Even if the pledge can legally be taken, should it be taken such that the creditor (who has such excess that he uses the garment as a sheet) can recline while the debtor goes without?<\/span><\/p>\n

The society is fundamentally twisted, as the prophet will continue to explore in future chapters.<\/span><\/p>\n","image":{"ID":77104,"id":77104,"title":"amos2-poverty","filename":"amos2-poverty.jpg","filesize":0,"url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/amos2-poverty.jpg","link":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/the-central-sin-oppression-of-the-poor\/amos2-poverty\/","alt":"","author":"7","description":"","caption":"","name":"amos2-poverty","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":77099,"date":"2020-07-08 12:41:23","modified":"2020-11-03 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