Amos 2:13says, “Behold, I am pressed under you, as a cart is pressed that is full of sheaves.”  Let’s look at the person of Amos before we seek to answer your good question.  We read in Amos 1:1-2, “The words of Amos, who was among the HERDMEN of Tekoa, which he saw concerning Israel in the days of Uzziah king of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash king of Israel, two years before the earthquake.  And he said, The LORD will roar from Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the habitations of the shepherds shall mourn, and the top of Carmel shall wither.”

Amos’ background seems to be one of meager means.  He says of himself in Amos 7:14-15, “…I was no prophet, neither was I a prophet’s son; but I was an herdman, and a gatherer of sycomore fruit: And the LORD took me as I followed the flock, and the LORD said unto me, Go, prophesy unto my people Israel.”  Amos was a “herdsman”, which indicates his work as a shepherd.  He was a “gatherer of sycamore fruit” which might indicate his own poverty as these figs were only eaten by the poorest people.  He was not a prophet, yet the Lord used him to prophesy.  His heritage was simple…he did not come from a prophet, either.  Amos lived in the days of King Uzziah.  He was from Judah, but the Lord used him to prophesy to Israel.  The timeframe of Amos’ prophesy is around 810-782 B.C.

The book of Amos consists of the prophecies he spoke while in Bethel, which follow the two introductory chapters. The people are here reproved and their sins uncovered, and judgment for them is declared.  In the first two chapters, we see the judgments announced that are in store for the nations surrounding Israel, but Judah and Israel are also included in these judgments.  In the first chapter, and the beginning of chapter two, we see six nations being mentioned and condemned by the Lord.  (Damascus, Gaza, Tyrus, Edom, Ammon, and Moab).  In each proclamation of judgment, the Lord announced, “For three transgressions, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof.”  This means the Lord’s judgment could not be stopped.  It would happen!

Judah and Israel were just as guilty, and even more so than these nations, so their names are included in these judgments in Amos 2:4-8.  The Lord used the same words so describe Judah and Israel as he had described the other six nations: “For three transgressions, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof.” In verses 9-11, the Lord pointed out the many ways He had favored Judah and Israel over the other nations.  In verse 12, the Lord pointed out some of the rebellious acts of His people.  “But ye gave the Nazarites wine to drink; and commanded the prophets, saying, Prophesy not.”  The Nazarites were forbidden to drink wine, but the people enticed them to disobey.  The prophets were sent to bring words from God Himself, but the people ordered them to stop their prophesies.  Oh, what a rebellious people! 

I will quote Amos 2:13-16 from the NASB which correctly shows this portion is the word of the Lord to His people showing how He would administer His judgment upon them for their rebellion and unfaithfulness.  “Behold, I am making a rut in the ground beneath you, just as a wagon makes a rut when filled with sheaves. Refuge will be lost from the swift, and the strong will not strengthen his power, nor the warrior save his life. The one who grasps the bow will not stand his ground, the swift of foot will not escape, nor will the one who rides the horse save his life. Even the bravest among the warriors will flee naked on that day,” declares the Lord.”

I trust this makes the meaning of verse 13 clear as it correctly shows the Lord’s impending judgment upon His people.  (CC)  (742.2)