Amos 5:18-20

Day of the Lord] see Intro., and cp. Isaiah 5:30; Isaiah 8:22; Joel 2:2; Obadiah 1:15.

21. Festivals such as Tabernacles (1 Kings 12:33) are meant. I will not smell] RV 'I will take no delight.' The original words refer to the smelling the pleasant odour of the sacrifice (Genesis 8:21; Leviticus 26:31).

22. The burnt offering was the costliest of sacrifices, and in early times was not often presented by private individuals.

Meat offerings] RV 'meal offerings': flour, or flour mingled with salt, oil, and incense.

Peace offerings] The 'thank offerings' of RM is better. These were partly eaten by the worshippers. Fat beasts were, of course, a costly sacrifice.

23, 24. Vocal and instrumental music was employed in the Temple service at Bethel, but was utterly distasteful to God because of the unrighteousness of the singers and the people generally: cp. Isaiah 1:13; Ezekiel 26:13.

Viols] a kind of lute or guitar, with ten or twelve strings and a sounding-board. Mighty stream] RM 'ever-flowing.'