Chizuk Emunah Under the Microscope: Chapter 31

    Thus says the LORD:
    “For three transgressions of Israel,
        and for four, I will not revoke the punishment,
    because they sell the righteous for silver,
        and the needy for a pair of sandals—
    those who trample the head of the poor into the dust of the earth
        and turn aside the way of the afflicted;
    a man and his father go in to the same girl,
        so that my holy name is profaned;
    they lay themselves down beside every altar
        on garments taken in pledge,
    and in the house of their God they drink
        the wine of those who have been fined.
(Amos 2:6-8)

Amos was a prophet who lived in Judah but gave his prophecies to the Northern Kingdom of Israel. The imagery in the passage is similar to that of Jesus being betrayed for 30 pieces of silver. Northern Israel has sinned so grievously that God will not revoke the punishment. Northern Israel was to die. Overzealous Christians have tried to apply this to the Jewish people, but the Jews are descendants of the Southern Kingdom of Judah, not the Northern Kingdom. Furthermore, the passage applies to the kingdom itself, and not to each individual inhabitant in the kingdom.