Amos 5:11

“Forasmuch therefore as your treading [is] upon the poor, etc.] This seems to be spoken to the princes, judges, and civil magistrates, as Kimchi observes; who oppressed the poor and needy, and crushed them to the ground, trampled upon them, stripped them of the little substance they had, and left them destitute; exercising a cruel and tyrannical power over them, they having none to stand by them, and deliver them: and ye take from him burdens of wheat; which perhaps he had been gleaning in the field, and was carrying home for the support of his family; or which he had gotten with great labour, and was all he had in the world: this they took away from him, for the payment of pretended debts,…”

“burdens of wheat--burdensome taxes levied in kind from the wheat of the needy, to pamper the lusts of the great [HENDERSON]. Or wheat advanced in time of scarcity, and exacted again at a burdensome interest [RABBI SALOMON]. built houses . . . but not dwell in them . . . vineyards, . . . but not drink wine of them--according to the original prophecy of Moses (Deu 28:30, Deu 28:38-39). The converse shall be true in restored Israel (Amo 9:14; Isa 65:21-22).”

“Forasmuch therefore - (Since they rejected reproof, he pronounces the sentence of God upon them,) “as your treading is upon the poor.” This expresses more habitual trampling on the poor, than if he had said, “ye tread upon the poor.” They were ever trampling on those who were already of low and depressed condition. “And ye take from him burdens of wheat, presents of wheat.” The word always signifies presents, voluntary , or involuntary , what was carried, offered to anyone. They received “wheat” from the poor, cleansed, winnowed, and “sold the refuse Amos 8:6, requiring what it was wrong to receive, and selling what at the least it was disgraceful not to give. God had expressly forbidden to…”

“Your treading - You utterly oppress the helpless. Ye take - Ye extort from the poor great quantities of wheat, on which he should live. Amos 5:12”

“5:11 stone houses: Again, Amos targets the rich. The houses of peasants were built of mud brick. Cut stone, the result of laborious handwork, was very expensive.”

“treading: Amo 4:1; Isa 5:7, Isa 5:8, Isa 59:13, Isa 59:14; Mic 2:2, Mic 3:1-3; Jam 2:6; Rev 11:8-10 ye have built: Deu 28:30, Deu 28:38, Deu 28:39; Isa 65:21, Isa 65:22; Mic 6:15; Zep 1:13; Hag 1:6 pleasant vineyards: Heb. vineyards of desire Amos 5:12”