The Israelites are reproved for their oppressing the poor, for their idolatry, and their incorrigibleness.

¹ Listen to this word, you fat cows that are on the mountain of Samaria, you who make false accusations against the destitute and crush the poor, who say to your nobles, “Bring, and we will drink.”¹²

1. 4:1The word ‘dominis’ is either first declension plural feminine or second declension plural masculine. With this ambiguity, it could refer to a group that includes men and women. The word can mean ‘owner’ or it could refer to someone who is above you in authority or leadership. But, in this context, wherein they are giving a command to their ‘dominis,’ to serve them, it refers to aristocrats or nobles or other types of leaders (perhaps even religious leaders), who ought to be in a role of leadership, but who are made to serve these sinners instead.(Conte)
2. 4:1Fat kine: He means the great ones that lived in plenty and wealth.(Challoner)

² The Lord God has sworn in his holiness: behold, the days that will overcome you and that will impale you on poles, and that will place what remains of you in boiling pots.

³ And you will go out through the breaches, one over another, and you will be cast out into Harmon, says the Lord.¹

1. 4:3Armon: A foreign country; some understand it of Armenia.(Challoner)

⁴ Come to Bethel and behave impiously, to Gilgal and increase betrayals. And bring daybreak to your victims, your tithes in three days.¹

1. 4:4A tithe is a tenth part, hence the term ‘decimas,’ meaning a tenth: ‘your tenth part in three days.’(Conte)

⁵ And offer a sacrifice of praise with leaven. And call for voluntary oblations, and announce it. For such is your will, sons of Israel, says the Lord God.

⁶ Therefore, because of this, I have given you dull teeth in every one of your cities, and a lack of bread in all your places. And you have not been turned back towards me, says the Lord.

⁷ Therefore, I have withheld the rains from you, when there were still three months left until the harvest. And I rained on one city, and I did not rain on another city; one part was rained on, and the part on which I did not rain, dried out.¹

1. 4:7The harvest in ancient times began during the Feast of Passover. Planting occurred in late fall/early winter, i.e. November/December. Three months until harvest is just after planting.(Conte)

⁸ And two and three cities went to one city, in order to drink water, and they were not satisfied. And you did not return to me, says the Lord.

⁹ I struck you with a burning wind and with yellowing; the caterpillar has consumed your many gardens and your vineyards, your olive groves and your fig groves. And you did not return to me, says the Lord.¹

1. 4:9The word ‘aurugine’ is derived from the Latin word for gold. It refers to a yellow color caused by sickness. This could be translated as ‘jaundice’ or ‘yellowing’ or as some other disease that causes a sickly color, or as mildew when it refers to plants.(Conte)

¹⁰ I sent death to you by way of Egypt; I struck your youths with the sword, even bringing captivity to your horses. And I made the stench of your camp ascend into your nostrils. And you did not return to me, says the Lord.

¹¹ I overturned you, just as God overturned Sodom and Gomorrah, and you became like an ember seized from the fire. And you did not return to me, says the Lord.

¹² Because of this, I will do these things to you, Israel. But after I have done these things to you, Israel, be prepared to meet your God.

¹³ For behold, he who forms the mountains and creates the wind and announces his speech to man, who makes the morning mist and steps over the heights of the earth: the Lord God of hosts is his name.