עמוס, פרק ח׳, פסוק י״ד

The ultimate spiritual betrayal occurs when faith in God is replaced by intense devotion to idol worship. The prophet severely condemns those who abandon the truth and instead swear by false gods. The guilt associated with the region of Samaria represents the golden calves crafted by its kings [מלבי״ם, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. In fact, the very practice of idol worship is named after the crime and guilt of those who engage in it [מצודת ציון]. Although the primary golden calf was located in Bethel, the blame is placed on Samaria because it served as the capital of the northern kingdom. Its leaders actively maintained this false worship, pulling the entire nation after them [רד״ק]. Instead of taking oaths in the name of God, the people would swear to one another by the false god in Dan, honoring the second golden calf positioned in the north [רש״י, רד״ק, מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ].

This dedication to false gods involved immense physical and geographic effort. Beersheba, located at the southern edge of the land, also became a prominent site for foreign worship [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. The people's oaths reflected this intense commitment. They would swear by the travelers making the long pilgrimage to the altars in Beersheba [מצודת דוד], or by the very road that led to Bethel [מלבי״ם]. A deeper perspective reveals that the people would wander across the entire land, from Beersheba in the south to Dan in the north. Driven by a fierce devotion to the golden calves, they believed they would receive a great reward for the hardship of such a long journey. Consequently, they would swear by the life of the idol they traveled so far to reach [רד״ק].

The punishment for this deep corruption is severe and decisive. The very terror these sinners fear will overtake them [אבן עזרא], causing them to fall without the ability to rise again [ביאור שטיינזלץ, מלבי״ם, רד״ק]. This state of ruin is set to last for an extended period of time [מצודת ציון]. However, there is an approach that limits the finality of this destruction. While the sinners will fall and remain down throughout the entire era of the Second Temple, they are destined to rise once more during the future redemption, joining together with the tribe of Judah [מצודת דוד].