John Gill Commentary Amos 5:12

"For I know how manifold are your transgressions, and how mighty are your sins-ye that afflict the just, that take a bribe, and that turn aside the needy in the gate [from their right]." — Amos 5:12 (ASV)

For I know your manifold transgressions and your mighty sins ,
&c.] Their sins were numerous, and of the first magnitude, attended with very heavy aggravations; and these with all their circumstances were well known to the omniscient God, and therefore he determined to punish them as he had threatened.

Some of their transgressions are pointed out, as follow: they afflict the just ;
who are so both in a moral and evangelic sense; not comparatively only, but really; and particularly whose cause was just, and yet were vexed and distressed by unjust judges, who gave the cause against them, made them pay all costs and charges, and severely mulcted them: they take a bribe; of those that were against the just, and gave the cause for them. The word signifies "a ransom" ^F6 . The Targum it false mammon. Corrupt and unjust judges are here taxed:

and they turn aside the poor in the gate [from their right] ;
in the court of judicature, where they should have done them justice, such courts being usually held in the gates of cities; but instead of that they perverted their judgment, and did them wrong.

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FOOTNOTES:

• F6: (rpwk) "pretium redemptionis", Mercerus, Liveleus, Drusius, Lytron, Cocceius.