עמוס, פרק ח׳, פסוק ז׳

A severe divine oath seals the judgment against a society plagued by moral decay, ensuring that true justice is inevitable. God makes this vow upon the ultimate pride of the nation. The primary approach among commentators is that this refers to the Holy Temple. The Temple stood as the nation's greatest source of pride because God's glory rested within its walls, even though the people's sins ultimately drove His presence away [מצודת דוד, רד״ק, חומת אנך, אברבנאל, ביאור שטיינזלץ].

Alternatively, this oath may refer directly to God Himself or His holy name. In this view, God swears by His own glorious name, which is uniquely known to the people of Israel and serves as the true foundation of their pride [אבן עזרא, רד״ק, מלבי״ם, אברבנאל]. Others suggest that the oath is taken upon the Ark of the Covenant [אבן עזרא בשם יפת], or even upon the inherent value, virtue, and high standing of the nation itself [ביאור שטיינזלץ].

The substance of this divine oath is a firm promise that none of their corrupt actions will ever slip from memory. On the surface, the people maintain an illusion of religious devotion, carefully observing days of rest and refraining from work. Yet, beneath this pious exterior, their minds are entirely focused on exploiting the poor [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Therefore, God makes an absolute guarantee. Even if justice appears delayed and the corrupt seem to escape the consequences of their actions for a time, the deep harm they have caused remains etched in memory. Ultimately, they will face the full measure of their punishment [מלבי״ם, אברבנאל].