4:16 JO EL / 47 6

Jr 25:30 Ya hweh roars fro m Z ion, 16

IIA m 1:2 +
mak es his voice heard from Je rusa lem; '"o::E
<!
hea ven and ear th trem ble.
Ps46:1·2 But Ya hweh will be a shelter for his peopl e,
a st ro nghold for the so ns of Israel. iii
o
2:27
Is 4 :5
'Y ou will learn then that 1 am Yahweh your God, 17
Elk 38:23 dwe lling in Zion, my ho ly mountai n.
z
Jerusalem will be a holy q place , o-,
no alien will ever pass throu gh it aga in.'

C. TH E G LORIO US F UTURE OF ISRAE L

AMOS
~
:;;
W hen that da y comes, 18 T itle
Am 9: 13 th e mou nta ins will run with new wine
Words of Amos who was o ne of the shepherds o f Tekoa. T he vision s he ha d
and t he hills flow with milk,
a nd all the river beds of J uda h
1 a bo ut Israel in the tim e of Uzziah king of J uda h a nd of Jero boa m" son of
Joash, king of Israel, two years befor e the ea rthq ua ke. 8:8: 9:5
:r:
<!
z
Is .10:25 Zc 14 :5
Elk 47 : 1-12
will run wit h wa ter.
ze 14:8 A fo untain will spring from the hous e of Ya hweh Int roducti on
Jn 4:1 I· III
to water th e wadi of Acacias. r He sa id:
<!
:r:
Egypt will become a desolation , I~
Ya hweh roars fro m Z io n, " lll r 25:3 0
Edorn a dese rt waste IIJ 14 : 10
Ob 10 o n account of the violence done to the sons of Juda h a nd makes his vo ice hea rd from Je rus alem;
0-
the shepherds' pastures mourn, Is 33:9
whose innocent blood they shed in their co un try. Na 1:4
W
..N
Jr 17:25 But Jud ah will be inhabited for ever, co a nd the cro wn of Carmel withers.
El k 37:25
Jeru salem fro m age to age.
' I will ave nge their blood a nd let non e go unpuni shed', "
~
~ I

and Ya hweh sha ll mak e his hom e in Z ion. I. JU D G E M ENT O N TH E N E IG H BOUR S OF I SRAEL
c
A ND O N IS RAEL ITSELF

Is 17:1- 3 o
Dama scus J r 49 :23-27
W
N
Ya hweh says this:
For th e three crim es, th e fo ur crimes," of Da mascus Is 17 : 1
..J
I have made my decree a nd will not relent'
because they ha ve th rashed G ilead! with iron threshing-sledges,' 2:1 3 .~
2 K 8:12:1 0:
I a m going to hurl fire o n the House of Ha zae l 32-33 : 13:
3.7
to burn up Ben-ha da d's - palaces ;
I am goi ng to break th e ga te bar s of Da mas cus,
a nd cut down th e on e ent hro ned! at Bika th-a ven
a nd the scept red one a t Beth-ede n; '
and the peo ple of Ar a m shall go captive to Kir , says Ya hwe h. 2 K 16:9

4 Q. Th at is to sa }'. invio la ble. cr. J r JI :-lO; Na 2:1 ;
155 1:23 : 52:1 : Ob 17 : Zc 9:8: 14 :2 1.
r , Locatio n un certa in in t his apocalyptic co nte xt
in whi ch t he Hol y La nJ is renewe d.
s , Line co rr . Pro bably a gloss.
a . Je rob o am II . kin g of Isr ael fr om 78 3-743 . nu mb er s togeth er ind ica te a n indefinit e q uan thy (s m all
b . W he re his dwe lling is . 2 S 5:9 + . The o bserva tio n o r lar ge acco rd ing 10 th e co n tex t), c r. 4 :8 : Is 17:6 ;
is o f Ju d aea n o r igin . T he ' ro ar ing' s ugges ts th und er. J r 36:23 a nd th e ' n u me rica l p roverbs'. P r 30: I S -+- .
th e voice of Ya hwe h , Ex 19: 16 + . It heral d s a d isas t ro us e . Lit. ' I will not wit hd raw it ' (i.e. th e d ecr ee).
sto rm, o r rather a ju dgem en t of Y ah we h. Is 30:30. th e O the rs tr a ns la te ' I will. nOI thru st h im back ' (Le. the
Ilrst m anifest at ion o f whic h is a severe d rou ght . A m 7:4; Ass yria n in vad er).
4:7-8. f . ' G ilea d ' Hebr . ; ' the p reg na n t wo me n of G ilead '
c . T his sec t io n as se mb les o ra cles pro nou nced at G reek.
va r io us tim es aga ins t seven n ati on s (a n ad ded o racle R. D rugged o ver the t hre sh in g-flo or to separa te
agai nst J uda h is pro ba bly of la te r date) . T he st r uc ture hu sks fr o m w hea t. cr. Is 21: 10 : 28:27 ; 41: IS ; Mi 4:12- 13;
of these o ra cle s is the sa me th r o u gh o ut an d th e sa me 2 K 8: 12: 13:7. c r. J I4: 14 + .
s tereo typed fo rmul as rec ur . T he o ra cles em ph a s ise the h, Haz ae l a nd h is so n Ben- ha de d III were b itter
Jus tice o f Ya hweh t hat puni sh es wrong-do ing in enem ies o f Israel.
wh atever nati on it is fo u nd . Isr ael is dealt wit h las t to i. O r ' the o ne who d wells' (i.e. th e who le
s ho w tha t t his p un is hme nt . so little expect ed . will str ike pop ula tio n) ; so to o v , 8.
Isr ael as it has s tr uck o ther s. and th a t it will be t he I. Bik at h-a ven and Bet h-ed e n, d ifficult 10 lde ru ifv .
sup reme mani festa ti on o f di vine ju s tic e . a re poss ib ly mer ely sy mbolic nam es for D ama scus
d . Lit. ' F o r th re e cr imes o f Damascus an d for fo ur ' t'venev o f wic ked ness ' a nd ' ho use o f plea su re ') .
(so a lso in 1:6.9.1 1,13: 2:1,4). T hese tw o con sec ut ive
 1:6 AMOS /47 8 / 4 79 AM O S 2 : II

J os 1~:;.ti Gaza and Philistia to burn up t he palaces of Keri ot h, h

zP~t:t Yahweh says thi s: and Mo a b sha ll d ie in tumult,
to the sou nd of war cries and the bla re of t ru mpets;
For th e three cr imes, the fou r crimes, of G aza
I will cut down the ch iefta in inside he r
I have made my decree and will no t rele nt:
2 C h 21 :16-
a nd slaughter all her princes with him, «
beca use they have deported entire nat ions co
17 says Yahweh. 0
as sla ves to Edom, k
I am going to hurl fire on the wall s of G aza Juda h'
to burn up her palaces. Ya hweh says this: z
2 Ch 26:6 r am going to cut do wn the one enthroned at Ash dod
4
.,
0
For the three cri mes, the fou r cr imes, of Ju dah
r and the sceptred one a t Ashkelon ;
I am go ing to turn my hand aga inst Ekro n '
I have ma de my dec ree a nd will not re lent:
beca use they ha ve rejected the Law o f Ya hweh Is 5:24
until th e last of the Ph ilist ines is dead , J r 7:2 R o
LI " 26: /4 - 15
a nd failed to kee p his precepts, ~
says Ya hweh .'" Jr 2:25
beca use the fa lse gods" wh ich their a nces tors followed 1102:7
Is 23 Tyre a nd P hoenicia ha ve led the m as tray,
E zk 26:28
Ho 8:14 J:
Ya hwe h says thi s: I am goi ng to h url fire on J udah «
z
to bu rn up the pa laces o f Je rusa lem.
Fo r th e three cr imes, th e four crimes, of Tyrc
Israel 8:4
I have ma de my decree a nd will not relent :
co
beca use th ey hav e dep ort ed entire natio ns as slave s to Edo rn " Ya hwe h says th is: «
1 K 5:26: 9: J:
11-14 a nd ha ve not re me mbe red the covenant o f brotherh ood , For the thr ee crimes, the fo ur crimes, o f Israel
I am go ing to hurl fire on the wa lls of Tyrc 10
I ha ve made my decree an d will not relent :
to burn up her pal aces. becau se the y ha ve so ld the virt uo us ma n fo r silver Q.
W
Nb 20:23 l- Edom a nd the poor man fo r a pa ir of sa nda ls," .o N
Is 34 Is 3: 15
J r 49:7-22 becau se they tra mple o n th e heads of o rd inary people!
Ez k 25: 12- Yahweh says th is: II
14 : 35 an d pu sh the poo r out of th e ir path ,
O b 10 Dr 23:19:
o
Fo r th e three crimes, th e fou r crimes, of Edom becau se fa ther a nd so n ha ve bot h reso rted to th e same girl, « 27:2 0 ~
I ha ve ma de my decree a nd will not relen t: profan ing my holy nam e, ....
beca use he has pe rsec uted his brother" wi th the swor d , beca use they stre tch th em selves o ut by the side of every a ltar
st if1 ing h is pity, o n clothes ac q u ired as pled ges, O t 24:12 -1 3
G n 27:41 persiste ntly nurs ing h is fury " H04:18 o
Nb 20: 14-21 a nd d rin k th e w ine o f th e peop le th ey have fined W
and ever cheris h ing his rage, in the hou se of their go d .. . II
Dl 7: 1 ~- ; 9:
....N
I a m goi ng to hurl fire o n Te rna n» 12 Yet it was I who ove rthrew th e Arn orites when th ey a tta cked, I <~
to burn up the palaces o f Boz ra h. men tall as ceda rs a nd stro ng as oa ks,
I who destroyed t hem , ...J
<!
N bJ~~J?I :6 Ammon both fru it abo ve groun d Ho 9:16
Ez~ ~~~~ jY Ya hweh says this: \3 and root below.' Jb 18: 16

r Fo r the three crimes, the four crimes, of the so ns o f A m mo n

I hav e mad e my decree a nd will not rele nt :
\0 It was I who brought yo u ou t o f the land of Egypt
and for forty yea rs led you through the wilderness Dt 2:7

'JK 8' ' ' ' becau se the y ha ve disembowelled th e pregnant women o f G ilead to take possession of the Amorite 's co unt ry.
- 15: 1'6 - '
110 14: 1 II I rai sed up prop het s from your sons DI 18:18+
in o rder to exten d their own frontie rs,
a nd nazirite s from yo ur young men . Nb 6:1 i-
I a m goi ng to ligh t a fire against the wall of Ra bba h 14
to burn up her pa laces, Is thi s not true , so ns o f Isra el ?
to the so und of wa r-cries on th e day of batt le, - it is Yahweh wh o speak s.
Is 28:2 am id stor ms o n a day of hurricane ;
Ho 4: 19 k , For 'Ed om ' perhaps read ' A r um " : so too v , 'f , c. T h is o rac le. gener a l in ton e and de u tcronomic
a nd their kin g « sh all go into exile , IS I. G a th . t he fifth Phil istine {Own, is nOI m ent io ned : in style , is per ha ps a la ter addit ion . '
th ere wa s no need : it had been destroyed by Hazucl . d. Li t. ' their lies ',
he a nd h is princes with him , 2 K 12: I S : cr. Am 6:2, c. Th e p rophe ts often protest a gn ins t le ga l cor-
sa ys Ya hweh. Ill, 'Y a hwe h' G reek : ' the Lo rd Ya h we h' Hcbr . r unri on : A m 5:7 ; 6: 12 ; Is 1:23 ; Mi 3: 1-3, 9-11 : 7: 1-3 : etc ,
n . Isra e l. ' bro ther ' of Eda m . G n 25:2 1-24. 29-30. f. Text corr . Th e avarice of me n in po wer is
N b 20:2 3 + c , Fo llowi ng Sv r. and Vul u. : 'h is fu ry tea rs pe rpct- an ot her p reoccupa tio n o f the p ro p he ts: A m K:5-6:
Moab
Is 15- 16
Jr 4H
Ezk 25:8- 11
Z P 2:H- 11
2 Yah weh says this:
ual l y' He bl'.
D. Either a n Edom ue tribe , o r a s ma ll to wn
p robab ly in t h e nei gh bourho od of Petra , or else used
for Ed o '11 in general , Jr 49 :7 .20 : D b 9.
Is 1:1 7.23; 3: 14: M i 2: 1-2.H-I I; 3:9- 11; 6:9-12: ZP 1:9 :
J r 2: 34 ; Ez k 22:29.
e . Sacred p rost itu ti o n. Dt 23:19 + . a fea t ure of
Canaa nite wor sh ip whi ch con tam inat ed Isr ael.
Fo r th e th ree crimes, the four cr imes, of M oab CJ . ' thei r king' He b r.: ' Milcom ' G reek, c r. h. A t th e sac red ba nq ue ts w hic h fo llo we d the
I have mad e my dec ree a nd will not relent: I K 11:5 " . sac r ifices. ' th eir Rod '. becau se th e 'ROd' thu s wor-
2 a . To ensur e th e s uffer ing of t he so u l. To th e Se mite s h ippe d ha s n u t h ln g to do wit h th e true God.
becau se they have bu rnt th e bones of the king " of Ed om fo r lime, a n appallin g crime. i , A pp a re nt ly a prover bia l exp ressio n for com p lete
I am goi ng to hurl fire o n M oa b b. Possi b ly Ki r Moa b (the m ode rn Kcruk). a nd final ues t ructto n.
 2:12 AMOS /480 /4 8/ AMOS 4:4
Nb 6:4 But you have forced the nazirites to drink wine 12 12 Yahweh says th is:
and given orders to the prophets, Like a shepherd rescuing a couple of legs or a bit of an ear G n 3 [ :39
7:11-13. 16 Ex 22:12
1 K 22:8.2 7
'Do not prophesy' . fro m th e lion 's mo uth, H o 5:14
Is 30:10
Jr 11:21
See then how I am going to crush yo u into the ground 13 so will these so ns of Israel Ba 2:13
Mi 2:6
1:3+
as th e th reshin g-sledge cru shes when clogged by straw ; be rescued, '" who now loll in Samaria ..:
flight will not save even the swift, 14
ro
on the co rne r-pillows of the ir divans." 0
J r 46 :5 th e stro ng man will find his strength useless,
6:9 ; 9: 1 the mighty man will be po werless to save himsel f. Against Bethel and domestic luxury
T he bowman will not sta nd his ground , 15 z
13 Listen, and then testify it against the Hous e of Jacobo ...,0
the fast ru nne r will not esca pe, - it is the Lord Yahweh who speaks, the God of Sabaoth: 1 S 1:3+
the horseman will not save himself, 14 On th e day I punish Israel for his crimes I K 12:29 -
30 +
5:1 8 + the bravest war riors will run away naked tha t da y. 16 I will pun ish the altars of Bethel ;
It is Ya hweh who speak s. ~
the ho rns of the altar are going to be broken off I K 13:1-5 :<
a nd d rop ped on the ground. Ex 27:2 +
15 I mean to pull down both winte r houses and summer ho uses,
II. I SR A E L WA RNE D AN D THR E AT EN E D 1:
the houses of ivory will be destroyed, 6:4 ..:
1 K 22:39 Z
the houses of ebony> will vanish.
Electio n and punishment
It is the Lord Yahweh who speaks.
Listen, son s of Israel, to this o racle Yahwe h speaks aga inst yo u, aga inst the
3 wh ole fam ily I brought out of the la nd of Egypt:"
1
Against the women of Samaria 8:4
Is 3"16-24 ·
ro
..:
0 1 7:6+
Ho9:7
You alone , of all the fam ilies of ea rt h, have I acknow ledged,"
the refore it is for a ll you r sins th at I mean to punish r you .
14 Listen to th is word, you cows of Bashan-
living in t he mo untain of Samaria,
3i: 9-14 . J:
.
M I II :20·
24p opp ressing the needy, crush ing the poor, Q.
The prophetic call cannot be resisted" saying to your husba nds, 'Bri ng us some thi ng to drink!' Is 5:11-12+ UJ
.o N
7: 14 Do two men ta ke th e road toget her The Lord Yahweh swears this by his holi ness: 6:8
Lv 17:1 +
if they have not plann ed to do so? , T he days are co ming to you now Ps 89:35
8:/1 C)
Does the lion ro ar in the jungle when you will be dragged out with hooks, ..:
if no prey has been found?
Do es the young lio n growl in nis lair
the very last of you with prongs. I>
O ut you will go, each by the nearest breach in the wall,
J:
..
if he has captured not hing? to be driven all the way to Hermon.'
D oes the bird fall to the ground! It is Yahweh who speaks. U
UJ
if no trap " has been set?
Does the snare spr ing up fro m the ground The self-deception, obstinacy and punishment of Israel ...
N

if noth ing has bee n ca ught? Go to Bethel , and sin,

112:1 + Does the tr umpe t sound in the city to G ilgal, and sin yo ur hardest!" 5:5 ...J
2 K2:1+ ..:
wit hout the populace becom ing alar med? Offer your sacrifices eac h mo rn ing H o4: 15
5:21
. :<
Does misfort une come to a city and your tith es on t he third day ,>
Is 45:7 if Yah weh has not sent it?
3 a . Here the prop het is a pparent ly addressing all I. 'wilt invadc' corr.: ' a nd all rou nd' He br. 'will be
N o mo re does th e Lord Ya hwe h do a nyth ing tw elv e tribes . bro ught low' corr. : ' he (o r one) will br in g low ' Heb r,
4:13
G n 18: 17
witho ut reveal ing his plans to his serva nts the prophe ts." b. Lit. 'k nown ' in t he b iblica l sense of chosen.
loved: G n 18:10 ; J r 1:5; Ho 13:4; 019:24; Ws 10:5. m. T he first mentio n oC the ' remna nt' of the saved ,
Jr 7:25
R v 10:7 : II:
T he lion roa rs: who can help feelin g afra id? This privilege, according to Amo s. is no t an uncondt- cr. 5; 15 ; 9:8 and [s 4:3 +.
18 T he Lo rd Ya hwe h speaks: who ca n refuse to prop hesy? tio nal pro mise of divi ne pr otect ion, Am 9:10. cr. n. Con i. translation .
7: 14- 15
Jr 20:7-9 Mi 3: I I. it im poses mor al o bligations. 0 , T he ph rase ap pare nt ly mea ns all twe lve tri bes,
c. Lit. ' visit ' , T he d ivine 'visit', cr. Ex 3:16 +. is 9:8-9.
Samaria will perish for her corruption here a punishment. p . 'ebony ' conf., d. Ezk 27:15; 'ma ny (ho uses)'
Procla im it in t he pa laces of Assyria! d. In a ll thi s passa ge the prophet is just ifyinR: his Hebr.
interve ntion . T here is neit her effect wit ho ut ca use, 4 a. Bas han in Tra nalordania was Camo us fo r its
a nd in the pa laces in t he land of Egypt ;' VY. 3-Sb, nor ca use wit hout effect, vv, 5c-6,8a. If the past ure lands a nd ca ttle , In Ps 22: 12 'b ulls of Bas han'
ZP 3:8 saying, 'Assemble o n Sa ma ria's mo unta in prophet exercises his office, it is beca use Ya hwe h has symbo lise fright eni ng power ; here t he 'co ws' sy mbo lise
spok en: if G od speak s, the prophe t ca nno t bu t the reck less luxury of t he women of Sa maria.
and see what great d isorder there is in that city, pr oph esy, v v, 7-8b. T he im ages chos en sugges t tha t the b. Like a herd of ca tt le led by a ' hook' in the
2:6-R
Ha b 1:3
wh at o ppression is found ins ide her'. message will be one of d isaster. m uzzle an d urged alo ng with a goad or ' prong' .
e . O r ' witho ut ha ving met' ; Greek ' without know - c. ' be dr iven' Greek ; 'driven' Hebr. 'To Her mon ' :
Th ey know nothing of fair dea ling 10 ing ea ch ot her' . i.e . towards Assyria . The t ra nslatio n is coni.
- it is Ya hweh wh o spea ks- f. Hebr. adds ' in t he snare'. omitted by G reek; d. T he sin consists not in wo rs hippi ng at t hese
K. Or ' no ba il'. or 'no sling' . places but ih co mbi ni ng cere mo nia l wor sh ip with
they cram their palaces full by har sh ness and extor tio n. h. Th is verse may be a gloss . immo ral a nd unju st ac tio ns, 5:2 1+.
T herefore, the Lo rd Yahwe h says this : II i. 'A ssyria' Gre ek; 'A shdod' Hebr. e. Per haps : on t he thi rd day after ar rival at the
I, Israel's two grea t hostil e nete hbo urs ar e summon- sa nc tua ry. T he ti the. D t 14:22 + , was a very an cient
A n enemy- is go ing to invade the country, ed as wu nesses to her crim es. as heav en a nd ea rth a rc c usto m ; It was offered by Jacob at Bethe l, G n 28:22.
2K I7 :3- 6 your power will be bro ught low;' sum mo ned in I!;[:2. cf. Dt 30:19. Som e render 'e ach mornin g' or 'every thr ee day s'; the
k , Assyri a; though never named, her th reat pe r- prophet is being ironic a l a bo ut the extravagance of the
yo ur pal aces looted. vades the whole prophecy of Am os . forma l cu lt: cr. 0114:28; 26:12 .
 I AMOS 14 82 /483 AMO S
4:5 5: I I

burn leavened dough as a sacrifice with praise , 5 No salvation without repentanc e

\ JtVil ~t
Sf
announce your voluntary offerings, make them public,
for this is what makes you happy, sons of Israel.
It is the Lord Yahweh who speaks .
4 For Yah weh says this to the Ho use of Israel.
Seek me an d you shall live.«
Do not seek Bethel,
ZP 2:3
Ps 55:5
Ho 10:12
4.-4
Jr 48 :13 q;
Lv 26:14-39 And that is why! I left your teeth clean" in all your towns, do not go to G ilgal, Ho4:15 til
WsI 2:2.10
do not journey to Beersheba, e 8: 14
a
Is I:S; 42:25 left you without bread in all your villages;
and yet you never came back to me. since Gilgal is going to be exiled!
ze 3:2.7 and Bethel brought to nothin g.
It is Yahweh who speaks. Z
Seek Yahweh and you shall live, .,0
lr 14:1-6 I kept your rain back with harvest still three months away ; 7
or else he will rush like fire on the House of Joseph
I let rain fallon one town and none on another, and burn it up, with none at Bethel" a ble to put out the flames."
111:12 one field was rained on and the next dried up because I sent it no rain;A
~
two towns, three towns, went tottering to the next for drinking -water, Doxology 4:1 3 + ::<
but their thirst had to stay unque nched; It is he who made the Pleiades and Orion , Jb 9:9 : 38:3 1
and yet you never came back to me. who turns the dusk to dawn
It is Yahweh who speaks. and day to darkest night.
:I:
q;
Z
Dt 28:22
I K8:37
I struck you with burning and scorching, 9 He summons the waters of the sea ~ 9: 6

and withered' your gardens and vineyards ; and pour s them over the land.'
111:4 the locusts devoured your fig trees and olives; Yahweh is his na me. til
q;
and yet you never came back to me. He blazes out ruin on the stron ghold :c
It is Yahweh who speaks. and brings destruction to the fortr ess';
Ex 9:1·7 I sent you a plague like Egypt' s plague; 10 Threats
D \ 8:15 0..
I I slaughtered your young men with the sword, W
Trouble- for those who turn justice into wormwo od, 6:12 'N
while your horses were captured for plund er;
throwi ng integrity to the ground;
r Is 34:2-3
112:20
I filled your nostrils with the stench of your camps; 10 who ha te the man dispensing just ice' at the city gate
MiJ :9

o
and yet you never came back to me.
It is Yahweh who speaks.
and detest those who speak with ho nesty. ~
11 Well then, since you have trampled on the poor man . ~

On 19:1+ I overthrew you as God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah,l 11 extort ing levies on his wheat-
llf ZC3:2
and you were like a brand snatched from the blaze; those houses you have built of dressed sto ne, Dt 28:30 .
33 +
and yet you never came back to me. you will never live in them ; Zc 5:3-4
U
W

-
N
lt is Yahweh who speaks. and those precious vineyards you have planted,
This therefore, Israel, is what I plan to do to you, 11 r. T he follo wing p assage. vv , 6- 12, is a sho rt p oem
and because I am going to do this to you, with a refrai n indica tin g th e lesson G od wan ted th e d . T he sa nc tua r ies will be des tro yed, v. 5, a nd ...J
S:17 peopl e to learn fr om these event s . As a fat her pu nish es sacrifice in them is not su tllcient mean s o f sa lva tio n; <i
M1 3:1·2 Israel, prepare to meet your Godl> his ch ild. D t 8:5 +. so Go d want s to brin g back his a man m us t 'se ek Ya hwe h' , I.e. seek to kn ow h is will
::!:
peopl e t o h imself (her e the se ven s trok es of h is rod a nd do it, ' seek good and not evil', 5: 14 . Hence men
Doxology' are lis ted in crescend o , A m 4:6- 11 ; Lv 26: 14-39 : D t 28: 'seek' Ya hwe h (verb: dar ash) by visiting h is sa nc tuar ies,
I S-68) : b u t a ll is in va in, Is 9: 12 : 42:25 : J r 2:30 : 5:3: A m 5:5: 2 C h 1:5: D t 12:5, b ut a lso by 'q uesti oni ng"
For he it was who formed the mountains, created the wind, 13 H o 7: 10 : ZP 3:2.7: H g 2: 17. cr. R v 9:20.2 1'; 16:9,11 ; hi m (cf. I S 14 :4 1 -t-) thr ou gh the medium o f a m a n of
Ex 7~ 1 1 , Israel is ha rd en ed in s in an d God is a bo u t to God , G n 25 :22; Ex 18:15: 1 S 9:9; 1 K 22 :8. or again
3:7 reveals his mind to man, m s trik e him d o wn . b y 's eek in g the wo rd ', I K 22:5 ; cr. 14:5, e it he r in
makes both dawn and dark ," g. I.e . b y se nd ing fa m ine . a book , Is 34:16, or t hr o ugh th e medi a tion of a
h. Text corr. fo llowin g G reek .
MII:3 and walks on the top of the heights of the world;> I. ' withered ' cor e.: ' [0 mu lt iply ' H e br.
p rop het . I K 22:7. A si m ila r expressi o n ( the verb
bei ng norma lly hl Qqesh ) mean s rather to see k th e fac e,
S:8.27: 9:6 Yahweh, God of Sabaoth, is his name. j. Pro ba bly a lluding to a n ea r thqua ke . cr. 1:1. I.e. t he p resence , o f Ya hwe h. H o 5: 15: 2 S 21:1 ;
J r 32:18
Ho 12:6 k .. Enig ma tic an no unc ement of the final pun ish- 1 Ch 16: It ( = Ps 105:4) : Ps 24:6 : 27:R and (proba bly
m en t. ' and beca use _. . YO U' is p er hap s a glos s.
Lament for Israel J. T h is doxo logy, cf. 5:8-9 : 9:5-6, m ay h ave been
in the sa me se nse) Zp 1:6 : H o 3:5: 5:6: Ex 33:7 + , etc .
Bu t th e two ex pressions ar e re la ted : a m an se eks ' the
Listen to this oracle I speak against you, add ed for use in th e litu r gy. In its pr ese nt co ntex t it

5
m akes th e thr ea t still more im p ress ive .
it is a dirge, House of Israel: m. O r 'revea ls m a n's th ou gh ts' , cr. Jr 11:20 : Ps
She is down and will rise no more, 1 94: 11; 2 K 5:25-26 etc,
n . Fo llow ing G reek : He br. 'ch an ges d aw n to
the virgin of Israel .« da r knes s' ,
There she lies all alone on her own soil, c. Either a n a llu sion to t he stor m, Ps 1 8 : 7~1 5 ,
or p re fera b ly a n ex pres sio n symbolising: t he o m ni-
with no one to lift her up; po tence o f G od . Mi 1:3-6 : Ps 18:33; Dt 32: 13 : J b9:8 :
for thus says the Lord Yahweh to the House of Israelis Is 58:14,
5 a . T he na tio n itse lf, co mp a red to a virg in ca rried
The town which used to put a thousand in the field otf by de a th before she has k now n the Io ys of m arr ied
will be left with a hundred, life.
b. 't o the Ho use o f Isra e l' 'tr an s posed here from
and the one which used to put a hundred t he end o f th e verse .
will be left with ten.s C, A great di saster but lea vin g a 'rem na nt', cf. 3: 12 ;
5: 15 ; 9:8 an d Is 4:3 +.
[ace' of Ya hweh in order to lear n his w ill. w hose
presence is often m an ifes ted by way of o racles, In th e
D.T. this 's eek ing Yah weh ' is a n im per a tive necess ity
of ma n 's re ligio us life ; in th e N .T . the eq uiva len t is to
'sec k the ki ngd o m' , Mt 6:33.
c. A fa mou s s h rine in pa tr iar ch al tim es, G n 21:
31-33 ; 26:23-25.
f. Giteat Kaloh vtste«. p un on G ttgal : so too o n
Bet he l ( ee ho use of God , no w ' ho use of n othing ' ).
g . 'a t Bet he l' H ebr . : ' in th e Hou se o f Israel' G reek.
h. We p u t v, 7 af te r v, 9.
I, Ei t her to s wa m p th e eart h, Jb 12:15, a nd red uce
it to Irs p r ime va l sta te. Ps 1 04 : 5~ 9 . or to water it with
be nefic en t ra in, J b 36:27-28.
I. Tr a ns lat ion fo llow ing G reek .
k . 'Woe ' , added here , cf . S: IR a nd 6:1.
I. Eit he r t ne truth ful witness o r th e just judge.
 J 5:1 2 AMOS

yo u will never drink the ir wine.

F or I know that you r cri mes a re many,
14 84

12
27
14 85 AMOS
for I mean to tak e you far beyond Dam ascu s' into exile,
says Ya hweh-God o f Sab aoth is his na me.
6:8

4:1 3 +

an d your sins en ormous :

Against the self-indulgent and the ir false sense of security Is 5 :8
III Pr 17:23 persecuto rs of th e virtuous, blackmailers,
I 9:10
turning away the needy at t he city gate.
No wonder the prude nt man keeps silent , 13 6 Woe to those ensconced so snugly in Z ion
a nd to t hose who feel so safe on the mountain of Samaria,
Pr 1:32
Lk 6:24
J r 5:12 -13
ia1
IIM i 2:3 the times are so evil. th ose famous men of this first of nations
IfI I to whom the Ho use of Israel goes as clien t. a
z
Exhortation Ma ke a journey to Ca lneh and look, o
-,
14 go on from there to Ha mat h the great,
II( 5:4 +
P, 34:12- 14:
37:27
J12: 14
Seek goo d a nd not evil
so th at you may live,
and that Ya hweh, G od of Saba oth, may really be with yo u
th en d own to Gath in Philistia. !
Are they a ny better o ff tha n t hese ki ngdoms?
~
as you claim m he is. Is their ter ritory la rger than yo urs? :;
Hate evil, love good , 15 Yo u thin k to de fer the day of misfortu ne,
ma inta in j ustice at th e city gate, b ut yo u ha sten the reign of violence. C
4 Lying o n ivor y beds 3:15 :I:
J o n 3:9 a nd it may be th at Ya hweh, God of Sa baoth, will ta ke pity Ho 4: 18 <l:
Z
1,4:3 + on the remn ant of Jo seph ." a nd spra wling o n their divans,
they d ine o n lambs fro m the flock,
Impending punishment a nd sta ll-fa tte ned vea l;
I Ch 23 :5 CD
Therefore Ya hweh says this , 16 they bawl" to the so und of the ha rp, Ne 12:36
<l:
J:
they invent new instruments o f m usic like Dav id, J b 2 1:12
th e God of Sabaoth, the Lo rd.
In every public squ are there will be lamenta t ion, they d rink win e by the bow lful ,
in every str eet wail s o f 'A las! Alas!' a nd use t he finest o il fo r a noi nting themselves, n,

Peasa nts will be called on to la ment but a bo ut the ru in o f Joseph ' they do not care a t a ll. W
·N
T ha t is why th ey will be the first to be exiled; 7;11
as well as the profession al mourners 0
a nd there will be wa iling in every vineyard , 17 the sprawlers' reve lry! is over. Rv 18: 14
o
4:12 for I a m goi ng to pass thro ug h you , The punishment and its horrors <l:
:I:
Ex 12:12
M I 3: 1-2 says Ya hweh. 4:2
T he Lo rd Ya hweh swears it by his ow n self
Th e day of Yahweh rn. Rely ing o n its sp eci a l p lace as the Ch osen acc ept a ble sac rifice: o bed ience , gra titude. co ntritio n ;
Nat io n. Is rae l has been co u nt ing o n Ya hw eh 's u nco n- th e Book s o f C hro nicl es. too , in sist on t he pa r t p layed
Ez k 7: 1( ; Trouble for those who are wa iting so longingly for the day of'Ya hweh!> 18 d it io na l p ro tect io n. 5: 1S : 9: 10: Mi 3: II. in sacr ificial wo rs h ip by th e lit u r gica l cha n t as an expres- U
W
13:5
J r / 3:/6 ;
14:1 9
W ha t will this day o f Ya hwe h mean for yo u? n. I.e . on the Northern K ingd om de ple ted b y
success ive pu n ish me nts fr o m Ya hwe h, 4:6- 11. no t ye t
sion of in wa rd sen t imen ts ; these a ut ho rs a lso pro test
ag ain st a re ligion o f me re fo rm , T he N. T. will for mul a te ....N
Lm 2:16 It will mea n da rkness, no t light, q finished, 5:3 . The . 're mna n t' of Isr ael ap pears her e in the d is tin ction dctlnltclv : Lk 11:4 1-42: Mt 7:21:
D n 8:19
Mt 3:7 as wh en a man escapes a lion's mouth, 19 t he Prop he ts for the firs t t im e, cf . Is 4:3 +. I n 4:2 1-24 .
I n 8:12 + o . Inv ert ing t he He br. o rder o f word s . s . A line is m issin g her e , ...J
only to meet a bea r ; D. Co nfident in its el ec t ion. Dt 7:6 + , Israel ser ene ly t . T he reference is to 'comm union sacr iflce, <t
:;
he enters his house and puts his ha nd on the wall , awaits Go d 's in ter ven tion wh ich is bo und to be in its cr. Lv3: 1+ .
....
favour. To [his expec ted 'd ay of Ya hwe h ' A m os u . Re ligio us cere mo nies were accompa nied by vocal
o nly for a sna ke to bite h im. o ppo ses th e prophe tic co ncep t of it: the da y of Ya hwe h and instrume nta l mu sic, 1 S 10:5 : 2 S 6:5,15 .
W ill not the day of Yahweh be darkness, no t light? 20 is a d a y o f wra th . Z n 1: 15 : El k 22:24 : Lm 2:22, aga inst v. A m os, li ke Ho sea , 2: 16- 17 : 9: 10, a nd Je remiah ,
an Israel ha rden ed in sin : a day of da rkness , [ear s, 2:2-3 , re garded the pe riod in [he de se rt as a time of
It will a ll be gloom, without a single ray of light. massacr e. terr or . A m 5: 1f~ -20 ; 2: 16 : S:9- 10, 13 ; Is 2:6-21 ; pe rfe ct u ni on bet ween Ya hweh a nd hi s people, 0-

Jr 30:5- 7 : Zp 1:4- 18. cf. JI I: 15- 20 : 2: 1-1 1. A ll th ese
texts co n ta in threa ts of a dis astro us invasio n (Assyria n
Aga inst formalism in religion r or C hald aea n). D ur in g the Ex ile. the da y o f Ya hweh
21 becom es a n o b ject o f ho pe : t he wra t h of God will no w
.4:4 -5
1,1 : 11 : 48 : 1
I hate a nd despi se your feasts, turn aga ins t Israel's oppressor s. Ob 15 ; Bab ylon .
Jr 6:20 I ta ke no pleasure in you r solemn festivals. Is 13:6,9 : J r 50 :27 : 5 1;2 : Lm 1:21 : E ~ Y P t . Is 19: 16 :
M i6:8 + 22
Mt 23:23 W hen you o ffer me holocau sts, J r 46: 10.2 1: Ezk 30:2 : Ph il is t ia . J r47:4 : Ed om , ls 34:X:
M k 12:33 63:4 . T h is d a y. th erefore . is 10 br ing Israel ' s reco ver y.
R m 2: 17f a se nse fo un d eve n in Amo s I} ; I I. a nd also in Is 11: II :
Is 1:1 1 + I reject your o bla tions, 12: 1: 30:26 : cf. J I 3:4 : 4 :1. Aft er- th e Exile , th e 'day
H o 8: 13 o f Yahwe h ' becom es m or e and m o re a da y of 'iud s e-
an d refuse to look at you r sacrifices of fattened ca ttle'. mcrn ' ens ur ing -t hc t riu m ph o f t hc virtuous a nd th e
Let me ha ve no more of the din of your cha nting, 23 destruc tio n of sin ner s. M I 3: 19-23 : Jb 2 1:30 : Pr 11:4.
wit h t he wh o le wor ld fo r its th ea t re, Is 26:20-2 7: I :
no mo re of you r st rum ming on ha rps." 33: 10· 16 . See also M t 24:1 + . O n the cos mic signs th a t
24 ar c to acco mpany t hc d ay of Yahvvc h. cf. A m 8:9 + .
Mi 6:8 But let j ustice flow like wa ter, a. C f.J 12: 1·2: Z p 1;14· I R.
a nd int egri ty like a n unfa iling stream. r, T he nron hc ts oft en a ttack re ligio us hynocr tsv.
Ac 7:3 7. Did you b ring me sacrifice a nd o blat io n in the wilde rnes s" 25 t he co nv ict io n (hat all is wctt. p ro vided exte rna l fo r ms
/ 4 2-4 3 Ii ~e sac rifice an d fast in g arc o bser ved . rhou ah th e mo s t
for a ll those fo rty yea rs, House o f Isra el? ctcm cntarv pri ncip les of soci al Jus tice and netah bour fv
Now you mu st sho ulder Sa kk uth your kin g 26 lo ve a re neg lected . 1 S 15:22 ; Is 1: 10- 16 ; 29: 13- 14:
5H: I-8: H06:6 : :-.1i 6; 5-X; Jr 6:20 ; J I 2: 13: Zc 7:4-6:
and Ka iwa n your god , d . Ps 40;6- 8 : 50;5- 15: 51 : 16- 17. Th e Psa lmi sts lay
t hose idol s you have made for you rselves ;" cm ritrnsts on t he inne r dis po s itio ns th a t m us t lie beh ind
cr. H o 2: 16 1-. Th e mat erial ci rc ums ta nc es o f a no m ad ic
peopl e a nd the und eveloped legisla tio n ga ve sma ll
o p po rtu nity fo r ela bo ra te worshi p, cf. J r 7:22; Ya hweh
co uld th er efore be plea sed by wo rs hip whi ch, th ou gh
sim p le , wa s since re .
w. Te xt ca rr. a nd translat io n co ni. W ith th em
in to exile the Isr aelites will tak e, c r. Jr 4S:7 : 49:3 :
Is 46: I. t he ima ges of th e fa lse eo d s [hey ha ve adored .
Sa kku th a nd K aiwan a rc appa re n tly Bab ylonian de it ies.
x , Lc . to Assyr ia .
6 a . In ord er to pay ho m age . se c k co unsel. as k for
lustt cc .
h. At p rese nt. u nder Jer o bo a m II t he co nq ueror ,
Israe l is pow erf ul , bu t A m os warn s it of c ut es on ce
p rosp ero us. now in rui ns. C alne h . cr. Is 10:9 . N . of
A le p po . wa s to be ca p tured by th e Assy r ia ns in 738.
Hnmat h o n the Oro nrcs in 720 . G at h in t he N . of
Phlllsua in 7 1 ' , but a ll t hree had a lready s u ffered mu ch
d estructi on , 2 K 12: 18 : 14 :28 : 2 C h 26:0 . ' T hese
k ingd om s' arc Isr ael a nd J uda h .
c . I.e . o f ene m y occ upat io n .
d. Mcant nu un certain .
e . T he im pend ing co lla pse of the k ingd o m of Isr ae l.
f . O r ' com p any' .
 6:9 AM O S /4 86 /4 8 7 AMOS '8: 2

- it is th e Lord Ya hweh who spea ks, the God of Sabao th. ' A plum b-line ' I sa id.
Is 28: 1 I det est the pride of Jacob, T hen the Lor d said to me,
H o 5:5
I hat e his palaces. 'L oo k, I am goi ng to measure my people Israel by plumb-line;
]e 22 :13
I mean to aba ndon the city" and all it contains. no lo nger will I overlo o k their offences .
D I 12:2 +
2: 14· 16 And if ten men ar e left in a single house, they shall die. The high plac es of Isaac are go ing to be ruined, «
lD
Only a few will escape" 10 the sa nct uari es of Israel destr oyed, 0
7:11
8:3 to carry the bones ou t of the house ; and, swo rd in han d, I will att ack the Ho use of Jeroboa m.' 2 K 15'8 -10
and if a man should say to another one in a corner of th e ho use,
The intervention of Amaziah: Amos expell ed from Bethel Z
'Is the re a nyo ne left wit h yo u?' ..,0
Hab 2 :20 he will reply, 'No! Hus h ! The name of Yahweh must no t 10 Arnaz iah the priest of Bethel then sent wo rd to Je ro boam king of Israel as
ze\ :7
follows. 'Am os is plotting against you in the heart of the Ho use of Israel; the H o 9 :8
Zc 2: 17 be ment ioned."
Fo r see, Ya hwe h himself orders it ; II \I co un try can no longer to lerate wha t he keep s saying. -Fo r t his is what he says,
as he strikes, the great house falls to pieces ,
the sma ll house cru mbles. 12
"Jero boa m is going to die by the sword, and Israe l go int o exile far fro m its
co untry",' -T o Amos, Arnaziah sa id, 'Go away, seer ;" get back to the lan d of
5:27 : 0:7: 7:
9: 9:4
"
:.

13 J uda h ; ea rn yo ur bread ' the re, do your pro phe sying there . •We wa nt no mor e 2: 12 +
12 1 K 12:29
H o 10:4 Do horses gallop on roc ks, \4 pro phesying in Bet hel; t his is the royal sa nctua ry, the nati onal temple.' · '1 was :I:
<t
do men plou gh th e sea / with oxe n, no pro phet , neithe r did I belong to a ny o f the bro therhoods of pro phets." A mos z
for yo u to cha nge ju stice int o pois on, 15 replied to Arn azia h ' I was a shepherd," a nd loo ked after sycamo res: -bu t it 3:3-8 -'-
2 S 7:8
5:7 and the fru it of integrity into wo rmw ood? was Ya hweh who took me from herdin g the flock, a nd Ya hweh who said, "Go, P s 78:70-7\
You rejoice ove r Lo -debar ," 13 lD
16 prophesy to my people Isra el" . -So listen to the wo rd of Ya hweh. You say: <t
D1 8:17 'Was it not by ou r ow n strength ' you say :I:
] g 7:2 2: 12 +
'that we took Ka rn aim?' " Do no t prophesy aga inst Israel,
Now see, you Ho use of Israel, how I am stirring up again st yo u 14 utt er no o racles against the House of Isaac".
- it is Ya hweh who speaks, the G od of Sab ao th - 17 Very well, this is what Ya hweh says , 11.
W
" Your wife will be forced to go on the stree ts, I ·N
a nati on ' that will harr y yo u ,
fro m the Pass of Ha rnat h yo ur so ns a nd da ughters will fall by the swo rd,
yo ur land be parce lled o ut by mea suring line, DI28:30-3 3
right dow n to the wadi of the Ara ba h.'" 2 K 17:24 o
a nd yo u you rself d ie on unclean soil v <t
Ho 9:3 :I:
a nd Israel will go into exile far dista nt from its own land" .'
III . T HE VI SI O N S
Fourth vision:" the basket of ripe fruit
First VIsion : the locusts 7:7 -9 ow
D I 28:38 T his is wha t the Lord Ya hweh showed me: 8 T his is what the Lo rd Ya hweh sho wed me:
a basket of ripe fruit:
N
]1 1:4-7 : 2 :
3-9 7 it was a swarm of locusts
at the time whe n the second cro p was start ing to grow,
'Wh at do you see, Amos?' he as ked .
'A basket of ripe fruit' I said .
...J
a swa rm of full-grown locusts, when th e king' s cutti ng" was o ver. T hen Ya hweh said , <t
I)) :.
T hey were abo ut to devo ur" all the greenstuff in the land,
Ezk 9:8 but I said, ' Lord Ya hweh, for give, I beg you .'
g. Sa ma ria. o r else a ll the ci ties o f th e No r t hern i .e . fire fro m hea ven s uch a s de st ro yed So d o m an d
Ho w can Ja co b surv ive, being so small?'
A nd Ya hweh relented;"
Kin gd om .
h. Tex t corr. fo llow ing G reek; He br . u nint elli gib le.
G omor ra h, G n 19:24-25 ,28.
I. T he nether oce a n whe nce rain a nd r ivers com e. ...
i. O ut of respect. or possib ly s upers tit io us fea r , g. ' the Lord Ya hwe h' added, foll owi ng 7: 1 a nd
'This sha ll not ha ppen ' sa id Ya hweh. a t thi s aCI of Go d. Pe rha ps v . I I sh ould be read a fte r 8:1. ' A m a n ' G ree k; 'The Lo rd ' Hebr. ' b y a wa ll':
v . 8 a nd v. 10 aft e r v, 11. He br. ad ds '(b uilt wit h) a p lu mb -lin e' . T r a ns la t io n
Second vision: the drought [, '( do me n pl ou gh) the sea ' co rr. ; ' (do me n p lo ug h) co ni. Th e image o f the p lu m b-line su gges ts, a p p a ren tly.
th ere' Hebr. t ha t th is sy m bo lic wa ll is bu lgin g o r lean in g o ver an d
Th is is what t he Lo rd Ya hweh sho wed me: k . 'Lo-deb a r' co rr .; ' th a t wh ich is not hina ' Hc h r. ab ou t to co lla p se, cf. Is 30: 13. T he nl um b-Iine ca n a lso
l.o- deba r a nd Ka rnai m , b o th in T ra nsio rdan ia . had s ign ify de s tr uc tio n , 2 K 2 1: 13: Is 2K:17 ; 34: 11; L m 2:8,
t he Lor d Ya hweh himself summoning fire in punishment ;" be e n rec o nque re d eithe r by Jeroboam 1I o r by h is
It had de voure d the great Abyss! fa t her J o ash . d. 2 K 13:25 : 14: 25.
I. Assyr ia. h. Here the tcr m is p os sib ly co n te m p tuo u s ('v i s ~
and was already e ncroac hing o n the la nd. m . N . a nd S. bou nd a ries of Israel . cf. 11=: 20 :1 -j- . ion a rv').
Ez k 9:8 Th e n I sa id , 'Stop, Lo rd Ya hweh, I beg you . 7 a , ' It wa s a sw a r m' G reek: ' He was Io rm tnu' i . A m azfuh s pea ks as i f A mo s we re o ne of th e
t tc br . ' o f full-gro wn locust s' G-reek ; 'a nd be ho ld th e nrofc sstun al pr ophets for whom p rop hecy was a liveli-
Ho w ca n Ja co b sur vive, being so sma ll?' seco nd crop' Hebr. Pres u ma b ly th e ki ng exa cted a hoo d . cr. I S 9:7 -1- .
And Ya hweh relen ted ; pa r i of t he first gro wt h for his hors es. l. ' ne ither d id I belo n g . . . ' : lit. ' no r th e so n o f a
b . 'T he y wer e a bo u t to de vou r ' co rr.: ' W hen t he y n ro nhct ". d . 2 K 2:3 to .
'Th is will not happen either' sa id the Lo rd Yahweh. had de vo u red ' l lc br . k . ' shephe rd ' corr., ct. 1: 1; ' herd sm a n' H eb r .
c , Fo r nro nhc ts inte rcedin g o n be hal f o f t he pe o p le. I. Fo rced to thi s fo r he r living .
T hird vision: the plumb-line d . Ex32: 11 , t J r 15:1 ; IH::!O; cf. 2 M 15:14 · :Ezk 9:H: m . All Io reiun co u n tries a re u ncle an on accou n t o f
Dn 9: 15- 19. t heir id o ls, Ho 9:3-4: the la nd of Is ra el where Ya hwe h
T his is what the Lo rd Ya hweh sho wed me: d . I. e . ag ree d no t to carry o ut hi s inten tion . resid es. 110 H:I: Zc 9:8 : Jr 12:7, is p u re, 2 K 5: 17, and
a man sta nd ing by a wa ll, c. 's u m mo ning fire in nu nis hm ent ' co rr . : 'calli nu ' ho ly', Ex 19:12 l : Zc2: 16; 2 M 1:7,
in o rd e r to puni s h by fire " Hc br . Thc ' Fire is d r o ua t u. H :1. Dcsnit c th e in te rr up tio n o f t he Bethel ep iso de ,
2 K 21: 13 plumb-line in ha nd ." A m 1:2 : 4:6-H, t ha t devo urs cvcr vr h lnx. d . J I 1: 19-20 : 7: 10- 17. t his fo u rth visio n is co n ne cted wit h t he third ,
'What do yo u see, Amos?' Ya hweh asked me. 2:J. O the rs tran sla te ' he cal led for a iu d aemc nt by fire' . 7:7-9, to wh ich it is s im ilar in str uc tu re a nd idea .
 8:3 A MOS 14 88 /489 AMOS 9:8
Rv 14:15 -18 ' My people Israel is ripe for destruction ; 0 I mean to bre ak the ir heads, everyone,'
I will no longer overlook its offences. a nd all who remain I will put to the sword ;
2:13- \6 ; 9 :
T he palace singing girls' will wail that day not one shall get away , 9 -10
-it is the Lord Ya hweh wh o speaks- not one escape.
J bI 4 :13 ;
so man y will be dead , Should they burrow thei r way down to Sheol, 26 ;6 <:(
Ps 139 ;7-1 2 !ll
6:10 + all thrown dow n anywhere." H ush !' my hand shall haul them out ; Si 16:1 7 a
Je 23: 2 3-24
should th ey scale the heavens,
Ii 2 :6- 8: 4 :1 Again st swindlers and ex ploiters ' I will d rag them down;
z
Listen to th is, you who trample on! the needy should they hide on Carmel's peak, a...,
and try to suppress the poor peopl e of the co untr y, there I will track them down and catc h them ;
Ps 135 :6
you wh o say , 'When will New Moon be over ' should they hide from my sight on the sea bed ,
J b 3;8 + ; 7;
so that we can sell our corn , I will tell the Dr agon to bite them there;" 12 +
and sa bbath, so that we can market our whea t? 4 should the y go into exile driven befor e their enem ies. 7:11 ':e
~
Lv 19:35
D ' 25: 13- 16 T hen by lowering the bushel , raising the shekel , I will o rder the sword to sla ughter th em there;
P e 11:1 by swindl ing and tampering with th e scales , and my eyes will be on them
Ho 12:8
MI6:1O- 11
we can buy up the poo r for mon ey, for their misfortune, not the ir good .' :r:
<:(
2:6 and the needy for a pair of sandals, z
4 :13 ; 5;8
a nd get a pr ice even for the sweepings of th e wheat.' Doxo logy
Ya hweh swears it by t he prid e of Jacob, ' T he Lord Yahweh of Sab aoth-
to
' Never will I forget a sing le thing you have done' . he touches th e ea rt h and it melt s, <:(
~ 8;8 :r:
1:1 Is this not the reason for the earthquakes, and all its inhabitants mourn ;
~ 9: 5
1;1
for its inhabitants all mourn ing, it all heaves, like the Nile ,
and all of it heavi ng, like the Nile , a nd SUbsides, like the river of Egypt.
11.
then subsi ding, like the rive r of Egypt ?' H e has bui lt his high dwelling place' in the hea vens W
.. N
and supported his vault on the ea rth ;
Prediction of a mysterious punishment : da rkness and mourning he summons the waters of the sea
~5: 8
P s 104: 3
'That day -it is the Lor d Ya hweh who speak s- and pour s them ove r th e land. o
Is 24 : 18 4 :13 +
«
:I:
E zk 38:20 I will make th e sun go down at noon, Yahweh is his name.
Z p 1: 18
an d da rken the ea rth in bro ad daylight ;' ...
/ T b 2:6 I am going to turn yo ur feast s into funerals, 10 No special privileges for Israel
H o 2:13
all you r singing into lam entation; 'Are not you and the Cushites/ all the same to me,'
U
Is 3:24 I will have your loins all in sackcloth, sons of Israel?- it is Yahweh who speaks. w
Ez k 7: 18 N
your heads all shaved.s D id not I, who brought Israel out of the land of Egypt, ~

Jos 13;2 +
Je 6:26
Zc 12: 10 I will make it a mourn ing like the mourni ng for an o nly son , bri ng the Philistines from Caphtor, and the Aramaeans from Kir? Z p 2: 5
as long as it lasts it will be like a day of bittern ess. Now, my eyes' are tu rned on the sinful kingdo m, ...J
<:(
to wipe it off the face of th e earth. ::E
Famine and drought of the word of God
4:2 'See what days are com ing-it is t he Lord Ya hweh who speaks- 11 Only sinners will perish
3:12 +
days when I will bri ng fam ine on the co untry, 'Yet I a m not going to destroy Is 4;3 +
D 18 :3+ t-
SI ~ 1 :24 a fam ine not of bread , a drought not of wate r, b. Lit. 'The end has come for my peo ple Israel' . Hab 3:6: JI2 ; IO, II; 3;3.4: 4:15 .16: cf . M I24:29;
M15:6 but of hea ring the word' of Ya hweh. Rv6 :12-14 , and see M t24:1 + .
The translation is an attempt to reflect the He br ,
pl a y on t he very sim ila r words fo r 'e nd' a nd ' ri pe k . Signs of m ournin g .
T hey will sta gger fro m sea to sea, 12 I. ' the word' Greek ; 'the words' Hebe.
frui t' ,
wander fro m north to eas t, c. ' s in gin g gir ls' corr. : ' so ns ' H eb r. ' pa lace' ; or m . 'Ash imah ' co rr ., cf. 2 K 17:30: 's in ' Hebr .
O n 12:4 n. Where J er o b oa m had one of his gol den ca lves ,
Ho 5:6 + seek ing the wo rd of Ya hweh ' te m p le' ,
1 K 12:30 .
d . Te xt uncert a in : t r a n sla t io n coni.
and fai ling to find it. e . The t hree fo llowing o racles. vv . 4-14 . separate o . 'you r Beloved 's ' carr. (doubtless a loc a l god) :
somew ha t aw kwa rd ly th e fo u rt h from the fifth visio n . 'you r way's' He br.
Fresh prediction of punishment f. ' tr a mple on' co rr. 9 a. P ro b a b ly the shrine at Be the l.
g . T he N e w Moon , Lv 2 3:24 +, lik e the sabbath , b . A n a nge l is perhaps add ressed.
Zc 9:17 That da y, delicat e girl 13 halted b us iness .
h . T he ' pride o f Jacob' may either be an ep ithe t of c . 'a t the side of' or ' on '. ' t he roof (tumble down)'
an d stalwa rt youth shall faint from thirst. Yahweh, I S t5:29 ; or , as in 6:8, the arrogan ce of Isra el, corr .: ' th e th resho ld s (be s haken)' Hebr. ' I will
5:5 A ll who swea r by Sam ar ia 's Ashima h, "' 14 fit m atter fo r oath si nce it is so co ns tant ; or pe rhaps br eak' corr . : 'b reak t hem' He br.
Ho 4: 15 d. 't here' corr.: 'fro m t her e ' Hebr .
th ose wh o swear, "By your god's life, Dan !"n P a lestine, lan d o f Ya hwe h , Ps 47 :4.
i . T he prophet compares the d ist u rbance of th e e . ' h la h d welling p la ce' co rr . : 'upper st o reys ' H eb r.
an d, " By your Beloved' s - life, Beersheba!" country to t he rise a nd fall of t he N ile . We omi t r. T he E th io p ia ns . menti oned pre cisely bec a u se
' and be to ssed a b ou t' . ' subsiding' cor r. : ' be ing the ir co un try is so re m ote ,
these shall all fall, never to rise again .' g . T he Is raelites cannot pr esu me on th eir ele c tion ,
drowned' He b r .
i . T he d ay of Y a hwe h . 5: 18 +, is accomp a nie d b y 2:9- 1 t : 3:2 ; 7:8,15 ; 8:2 ; 9: 10 ; cf . Dt 7:6+; th e y o we it
Fifth vision: the fall of the sanctuary" co smic s igns : eart hq ua ke, A m 8:8 ; Is 2: 10 : Jr 4 :24 , e nt ire ly to t he free will of Yahweh , Lo rd of nati on s ,
so la r ec lipse , A m 8:9; J r 4 :23 ; th e la ter pr op het s e nlar ge cf. D I2;9- 12. 18-23 ;9:4-6;JO 11:24 . See 1 C o 4:7 .
I saw the Lord standing at th e side of the altar.
9 'S trike the capitals' ~ he said 'and let the roof tumble down!
on th is, usin g co nve n tio n al image ry that m ust not be
ta ken lit erally, Zp 1: 15; Is 13:10, 13: 34: 4; Ezk 32:7,8 ; H ebr.
h . ' m y e yes' corr . ; ' th e eye s of th e L or d Ya hweh'
 9:9 AM O S [4 90

th e H ouse of Jac ob co mpletely-it is Yahweh who speak s.

For now I will issue orders
and shake the Ho use of Israel among all the nat io ns,'
as you shak e. a sieve
so th at not o ne pebb le can fall o n the ground. '
All the sinners of my people are goi ng to per ish by th e sword, 10
iil0
III " 6:1 -6
Is 28:15
all those who say,
"No misfortune will ever to uch us, nor even come anywhere nca r US" . k
Z
Jr 5:12
...,
0

llr IV . PROSPECTS OF RESTORATION

AND OF IDYLLIC P RO SPERITY' ~

Tb 13: 10 'T ha t day I will rc-erect the totteri ng hut of Dav id, 11
OBA D IA H :;

/' A c 15: 16- :r:

make goo d the ga ps in it, restore its ruin s « z«
17
Title and prologue
a nd rebuild it as it was in th e days of old,
Nb 20:23 +
G n :!: 2: !7 so tha t t hey ca n conquer t he rem na nt of Edorn 12 1:1 Vision of O badiah: about Edorn.
Nb 24:I H
and all the nat io ns tha t belo nged to me." lc I have received a message" from Yahweh, IIJ r 49: 14
1Il
It is Yahweh who speaks, and he will carr y th is o ut. «
a hera ld has been sent througho ut the natio ns, l> :I:

5: 11 'T he days are com ing now- it is Ya hweh who speak s- 1.1 'Up ! Let us ma rch aga inst thi s peop le.
Ps 65: 11: whe n har vest will follow dir ectl y after plo ugh ing, Into battle!'
72 :16
0..
Lv 26 :5
the tread ing of gra pes soo n after sowing, W
Sentence pronounced on Edom- ·N
when the mountain s will run with new wine
," J14: I H and the hills all flow with it. Ib The Lor d Yahweh says this:
1I1r 49: 15- 16
D' 30:3-5 I mean to restor e the fort unes of my peopl e Israel; " 14 Now I a m go ing to red uce you amo ng the nation s, o
«
Is 65:2 1-22 they will reb uild th e rui ned cities a nd live in the m, and make you utte rly despised . :r:
Jr 31:5
Ho 14:8 plant vineya rds and d rink their wine, Your pride of hea rt has led yo u astray, Is 14: 13f
d ig ga rde ns a nd eat their produce. you whose home is in the holes in the rocks,"
[ will plan t them in their ow n co untry , 15
who make the height s" your dwe lling, U
never to be rooted up aga in who say in your heart,
W
N
out of the lan d I have given them, 'Who will bring me dow n to the gro und?'
...
says Ya hweh , your God.'
Ha b 2:9
Th ough yo u soared like the eagle, -J
though you set/ your nest among the sta rs, «
::;:
I would still fling you down again-it is Ya hweh who speaks . ....
The annihilat ion of Edom
If ro bbers came to yo u,
1I1r 49:9 ...
or plunde rer s at night,
the y wo uld stea l to the ir hea rt' s co ntent.
If gra pe-gat herers ca me to yo u,
they wo uld leave no gleanings behind them. "
How you have been pillaged!'
1I1r 49:10
How Esau has been loo ted,

9 i. T his or acle d ales po ssi bl y fro m the t im e of th e
first Is raeli te d ep o rtat ion (734). Sec 2 K 15:29.
j . Eithe r the sieve t ha i ho ld s the s ma ll s to ne <the
s inners ) alt o win a t he fine sa nd ( t he virtu o us ) 10 p ass
thr o u gh. o r t he s ieve th at ho lds th e grai n (the virtuous),
t ht: c h a ff be ing blo wn away ; (i n th is seco nd case we
s ho u ld t ra ns la te ' wit ho u t o ne gr-ain falli n g on th e
gro u nd ') .
k . T he tran sla uo n fo llow s G re e k .
I. T hese pr om ises in clu de t he res tor a t ion o f t he
Dav id!c ki ngd o m . vv. 11-12 : m at er ia l n ro spcrit y
vv. 13- 14 : the hom elan d reco ver ed fo r eve r, v, 15. O n
t he ha p pi ness of m ess ian ic oav s. d . 110 2:20 ,1, . T his
passage is ap pa ren tly o f a lat er d a te. sec Intro d uc t io n
to the Prop het s .
m. ' ga ps' , ' ru ins ' co rr.
n. Li t. ' o ve r wh ich m y nam e has been pro no un ced '
o , Or ' I m ea n to brin g ba ck tho se of m y peo p le
Isra e l who ha ve been held ca pt ive',
a . Li t. 'I have he ard (co r r. wi th Gree k a nd l r 49: 14: ca p ita l o f Ed om . H as-sola . 'T he Rock ', cf. 2 K 14:7 ;
' We hav e heard ' H ebr.) what was heard'. the G reek na me of thi s cap ita l, Pet ra . preserves the
b. Met aphor ica l d escript io n of a co nfederacy in sa me sense.
nro cess of fo r matio n aga inst Edo m . C f. Jr 4:5 : 50:2. e . 'm a ke the heig hts ' versio ns.
c . T he ti me will come when Edom in tu rn will be r. ' YOU se t ' co rr. with G reek .
desp ised . 2. l Oc. a nd so bec om e an o bject of d eris ion g. T h is is ex p lained b y VV, 647: Edam has be en
III Israel , 12; the co llapse will be t he pun ishment o f de sp o iled m or e th o rou ghl y th an by co m m o n br igands .
arr o ga nce. O n t his doc tr ine o f pr ide a nd fall see who a lway s leave so m et hing be h ind , o r b y t he o rd in ary
Pr 16:18 : 29:23 a nd (ap pl ied to na tion s) Is 14 ; l r 50-5 1: grape-gurherer who wo u ld lea ve a few grap es for th e
El.k 29-32 ; 26-28 : Zc 10: 1 1. glea ner . cf. Dt 24:21.
d . T he ' rock ' ( seta) in wh ich Edom is ensco nced is b. T h is li ne is fou nd in the Hebe. a ft er 'or p lu nd-
II ter m ch ose n , perhaps. to sug gest t he name of the erers at night ' .