From the utterances of Amos against hypocritical religion in Israel it is clear that there was much observance of religious rites at the temple of Bethel. These rites were performed in the name of Yahweh, but the worshippers who took part in them were those same people who had been condemned for being involved in social injustice and victimization of the poor. Amos regards it as a sin to combine ceremonial worship with unjust and immoral attitudes and behaviour.

5:21-24 is a key passage for understanding the attitude of Amos to what he saw taking place at Bethel. 'The LORD says, "I hate your religious festivals; I cannot stand them! When you bring me burnt-offerings and grain-offerings, I will not accept them; I will not accept the animals you have fattened to bring me as offerings. Stop your noisy songs; I do not want to listen to your harps. Instead, let justice flow like a stream, and righteousness like a river that never goes dry.”

In this passage, the main elements of Israel's worship-festivals, sacrifices and praise-are rejected as a way of communication and contact between the people and God, because of the hypocrisy and unrighteousness of the worshippers. We should be clear that Amos is not condemning worship as such, but sees with profound insight that external observance without internal purity of motive is useless.

5: 25 refers to the early simplicity of worship in the wilderness.

5: 26-27 refers to the worship of other gods, possibly star gods from Mesopotamia. From this reference, and also 2: 7-8 and 8: 14, it appears that false worship and syncretism still persisted in Israel.