עמוס, פרק ה׳, פסוק ז׳

A harsh rebuke is directed at a corrupt leadership, describing a moral collapse that threatens the very foundation of the nation. The criticism is aimed primarily at kings and judges, whose original purpose is to serve as the legal and moral backbone of the people [אבן עזרא, רד״ק]. The existence of the nation relies on two core pillars. The first is justice, which regulates relationships between people and ensures a peaceful, orderly society free from oppression. The second is righteousness, which encompasses the Commandments governing the relationship between humanity and God [מלבי״ם]. However, the leaders fail entirely in both areas.

Proper justice guided by the Torah is inherently good, pleasant, and sweet. Yet, the judges pervert the law by showing favoritism to the powerful, making the experience of justice as bitter as a harsh weed for those who are oppressed [רד״ק, מצודת דוד]. Another perspective views this profound bitterness as the result of replacing true justice with idolatry [מצודת דוד]. Through these actions, the corrupt leaders ignore the reality that God is capable of overturning their own lives as a punishment for their distorted judgments [רש״י].

The leaders also display a profound disrespect for their spiritual and moral duties. Instead of upholding righteousness, they degrade it, tossing it to the ground with complete indifference [רד״ק, מצודת דוד, שטיינזלץ]. Some suggest they simply leave the responsibility of maintaining righteousness entirely on the shoulders of the common people [אבן עזרא]. While righteousness is meant to elevate the soul upward to heaven, the leadership treats it as a worthless, earthly matter because they lack faith in the eternal nature of the soul [מלבי״ם]. By abandoning these values, they forget that God is the one who executes justice and righteousness on earth, and He expects people to follow His path and imitate His traits [רד״ק, אבן עזרא].