37 Amos

4:16 Jr 25:30 IIA m 1:2 +

JO EL Ya hweh roars fro m Z ion, mak es his voice heard from Je rusa lem; 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.

2:27 Is 4 :5 Elk 38:23

'Y ou will learn then that 1 am Yahweh your God, dwe lling in Zion, my ho ly mountai n. Jerusalem will be a holy q place , no alien will ever pass throu gh it aga in.'

/ 47 6 16

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AMOS

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

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:;; Am 9: 13

Is .10:25 Elk 47 : 1-12 ze 14:8 Jn 4:1 I·

Ob 10 Jr 17:25

El k 37:25

W hen that da y comes, th e mou nta ins will run with new wine and t he hills flow with milk, a nd all the river beds of J uda h will run wit h wa ter. A fo untain will spring from the hous e of Ya hweh to water th e wadi of Acacias. r Egypt will become a desolation , Edorn a dese rt waste o n account of the violence done to the sons of Juda h whose innocent blood they shed in their co un try. But Jud ah will be inhabited for ever, Jeru salem fro m age to age. ' I will ave nge their blood a nd let non e go unpuni shed', " and Ya hweh sha ll mak e his hom e in Z ion.

18

T itle Words of Amos who was o ne of the shepherds o f Tekoa. T he vision s he ha d 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.

1

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z 8:8: 9:5 Zc 14 :5

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:r: lll r 25:3 0 IIJ 14 : 10

Ya hweh roars fro m Z io n, " a nd makes his vo ice hea rd from Je rus alem; the shepherds' pastures mourn, a nd the cro wn of Carmel withers.

co ~

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He sa id:

Is 33:9 Na 1:4

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I. JU D G E M ENT O N TH E N E IG H BOUR S OF I SRAEL

A ND O N IS RAEL ITSELF

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Is 17:1- 3 J r 49 :23-27

Dama scus

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Ya hweh says this: For th e three crim es, th e fo ur crimes," of Da mascus I have made my decree a nd will not relent' because they ha ve th rashed G ilead! with iron threshing-sledges,' I a m going to hurl fire o n the House of Ha zae l 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.

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

Is 17 : 1 ..J

2:1 3 2 K 8:12:1 0: 32-33 : 13: 3.7

2 K 16:9

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AMOS

/47 8

Gaza and Philistia For th e three cr imes, the fou r crimes, of G aza I have made my decree and will no t rele nt: beca use they have deported entire nat ions as sla ves to Edom, k I am going to hurl fire on the wall s of G aza to burn up her palaces. r am going to cut do wn the one enthroned at Ash dod and the sceptred one a t Ashkelon ; I am go ing to turn my hand aga inst Ekro n ' until th e last of the Ph ilist ines is dead , says Ya hweh .'"

2 Ch 26:6

r Is 23 E zk 26:28

11-14

Nb 20:23 lIs 34 J r 49:7-22 Ez k 25: 1214 : 35 O b 10

Fo r th e three crimes, th e fou r crimes, of Edom I ha ve ma de my decree a nd will not relen t: beca use he has pe rsec uted his brother" wi th the swor d , st if1 ing h is pity, persiste ntly nurs ing h is fury " and ever cheris h ing his rage, I a m goi ng to hurl fire o n Te rna n» to burn up the palaces o f Boz ra h.

G n 27:41 Nb 20: 14-21

Ez~ ~~~~ jY Ya hweh says this: 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 : becau se the y ha ve disembowelled th e pregnant women o f G ilead in o rder to exten d their own frontie rs, I a m goi ng to ligh t a fire against the wall of Ra bba h to burn up her pa laces, to the so und of wa r-cries on th e day of batt le, am id stor ms o n a day of hurricane ; a nd their kin g « sh all go into exile , he a nd h is princes with him , sa ys Ya hweh.

K 8' ' ' ' - 15: 1'6 - ' 'J

110 14: 1

Is 28:2 Ho 4: 19

N b 20:2 3 + Is 15- 16 Jr 4H Ezk 25:8- 11 Z P 2:H- 11

Moab

2

Yah weh says this: Fo r th e th ree crimes, the four cr imes, of M oab I have mad e my dec ree a nd will not relent: becau se they have bu rnt th e bones of the king " of Ed om fo r lime, I am goi ng to hurl fire o n M oa b

Is 5:24 J r 7:2 R

LI " 26: /4 - 15

II

12

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Ho 8:14

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Israel

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N bJ~~J?I :6 Ammon

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For the three cri mes, the fou r cr imes, of Ju dah 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 a nd failed to kee p his precepts, beca use the fa lse gods" wh ich their a nces tors followed ha ve led the m as tray, I am goi ng to h url fire on J udah to bu rn up the pa laces o f Je rusa lem.

Edom Yahweh says th is:

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Ya hweh says this:

Ya hwe h says thi s:

1 K 5:26: 9:

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Juda h' 4

Tyre a nd P hoenicia Fo r th e three cr imes, th e four crimes, of Tyrc I have ma de my decree a nd will not relent : beca use th ey hav e dep ort ed entire natio ns as slave s to Edo rn a nd ha ve not re me mbe red the covenant o f brotherh ood , I am go ing to hurl fire on the wa lls of Tyrc to burn up her pal aces.

2 : II

to burn up t he palaces of Keri ot h, h 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; I will cut down the ch iefta in inside he r a nd slaughter all her princes with him, says Yahweh.

zP~t:t Yahweh says thi s:

2 C h 21 :1617

AM O S

/ 4 79

For the thr ee crimes, the fo ur crimes, o f Israel I ha ve made my decree an d will not relent : becau se the y ha ve so ld the virt uo us ma n fo r silver a nd the poor man fo r a pa ir of sa nda ls," becau se they tra mple o n th e heads of o rd inary people! an d pu sh the poo r out of th e ir path , becau se fa ther a nd so n ha ve bot h reso rted to th e same girl, « profan ing my holy nam e, beca use they stre tch th em selves o ut by the side of every a ltar o n clothes ac q u ired as pled ges, a nd d rin k th e w ine o f th e peop le th ey have fined in the hou se of their go d .. . II Yet it was I who ove rthrew th e Arn orites when th ey a tta cked, men tall as ceda rs a nd stro ng as oa ks, I who destroyed t hem , both fru it abo ve groun d and root below.' 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 to take possession of the Amorite 's co unt ry. I rai sed up prop het s from your sons a nd nazirite s from yo ur young men . Is thi s not true , so ns o f Isra el ? - it is Yahweh wh o speak s. k , For 'Ed om ' perhaps read ' A r um " : so too v , 'f , I. G a th . t he fifth Phil istine {Own, is nOI m ent io ned : th ere wa s no need : it had been destroyed by Hazucl . 2 K 12: I S : cr. Am 6:2, Ill, 'Y a hwe h' G reek : ' the Lo rd Ya h we h' Hcbr . n . Isra e l. ' bro ther ' of Eda m . G n 25:2 1-24. 29-30. c , Fo llowi ng Sv r. and Vul u. : 'h is fu ry tea rs pe rpctual 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. CJ . ' thei r king' He b r.: ' Milcom ' G reek, c r. I K 11:5 " . 2 a . To ensur e th e s uffer ing of t he so u l. To th e Se mite a n appallin g crime. b. Possi b ly Ki r Moa b (the m ode rn Kcruk).

c. T h is o rac le. gener a l in ton e and de u tcronomic in style , is per ha ps a la ter addit ion . ' d. Li t. ' their lies ', c. Th e p rophe ts often protest a gn ins t le ga l corr unri on : A m 5:7 ; 6: 12 ; Is 1:23 ; Mi 3: 1-3, 9-11 : 7: 1-3 : etc , f. Text corr . Th e avarice of me n in po wer is an ot her p reoccupa tio n o f the p ro p he ts: A m K:5-6: 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. h. A t th e sac red ba nq ue ts w hic h fo llo we d the sac r ifices. ' th eir Rod '. becau se th e 'ROd' thu s wors h ippe d ha s n u t h ln g to do wit h th e true God. i , A pp a re nt ly a prover bia l exp ressio n for com p lete

a nd final ues t ructto n.

Q.

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Is 3: 15

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Dr 23:19: 27:2 0

.... O t 24:12 -1 3

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Ho 9:16 Jb 18: 16

Dt 2:7

DI 18:18+ Nb 6:1 i-

AMOS

2:12 Nb 6:4

/480

But you have forced the nazirites to drink wine and given orders to the prophets, 'Do not prophesy' . See then how I am going to crush yo u into the ground as th e th reshin g-sledge cru shes when clogged by straw ; flight will not save even the swift, th e stro ng man will find his strength useless, the mighty man will be po werless to save himsel f. T he bowman will not sta nd his ground , the fast ru nne r will not esca pe, the horseman will not save himself, the bravest war riors will run away naked tha t da y. It is Ya hweh who speak s.

7:11-13. 16 1 K 22:8.2 7 Is 30:10 Jr 11:21 Mi 2:6 1:3+ J r 46 :5 6:9 ; 9: 1

5:1 8 +

II. I SR A E L

/4 8/ 12

13

14

0 1 7:6+ Ho9:7 M I II :20· 24p 7: 14

112:1 +

Is 45:7

4:13 G n 18: 17 Jr 7:25 R v 10:7 : II: 18 7: 14- 15 Jr 20:7-9

Listen, and then testify it against the Hous e of Jacobo - it is the Lord Yahweh who speaks, the God of Sabaoth: On th e day I punish Israel for his crimes I will pun ish the altars of Bethel ; the ho rns of the altar are going to be broken off a nd d rop ped on the ground. I mean to pull down both winte r houses and summer ho uses, the houses of ivory will be destroyed, the houses of ebony> will vanish. It is the Lord Yahweh who speaks.

13

14 16

15

ZP 3:8 2:6-R Ha b 1:3

2K I7 :3- 6

Ba 2:13

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Ex 27:2 +

6:4 1 K 22:39

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1

Against the women of Samaria

14

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 . The prophetic call cannot be resisted" Do two men ta ke th e road toget her if they have not plann ed to do so? , Does the lion ro ar in the jungle if no prey has been found? Do es the young lio n growl in nis lair if he has captured not hing? D oes the bird fall to the ground! if no trap " has been set? Does the snare spr ing up fro m the ground if noth ing has bee n ca ught? Does the tr umpe t sound in the city wit hout the populace becom ing alar med? Does misfort une come to a city if Yah weh has not sent it? N o mo re does th e Lord Ya hwe h do a nyth ing witho ut reveal ing his plans to his serva nts the prophe ts." T he lion roa rs: who can help feelin g afra id? T he Lo rd Ya hwe h speaks: who ca n refuse to prop hesy? Samaria will perish for her corruption Procla im it in t he pa laces of Assyria! a nd in the pa laces in t he land of Egypt ;' saying, 'Assemble o n Sa ma ria's mo unta in and see what great d isorder there is in that city, wh at o ppression is found ins ide her'. Th ey know nothing of fair dea ling - it is Ya hweh wh o spea ksthey cram their palaces full by har sh ness and extor tio n. T herefore, the Lo rd Yahwe h says this : A n enemy- is go ing to invade the country, your power will be bro ught low;' yo ur pal aces looted.

G n 3 [ :39 Ex 22:12 H o 5:14

Against Bethel and domestic luxury 15

WA RNE D AN D THR E AT EN E D

Listen, son s of Israel, to this o racle Yahwe h speaks aga inst yo u, aga inst the wh ole fam ily I brought out of the la nd of Egypt:"

4:4

Yahweh says th is: Like a shepherd rescuing a couple of legs or a bit of an ear fro m th e lion 's mo uth, so will these so ns of Israel be rescued, '" who now loll in Samaria on the co rne r-pillows of the ir divans."

12

Electio n and punishment

3

AMOS

Listen to th is word, you cows of Bashanliving in t he mo untain of Samaria, opp ressing the needy, crush ing the poor, saying to your husba nds, 'Bri ng us some thi ng to drink!' The Lord Yahweh swears this by his holi ness: T he days are co ming to you now when you will be dragged out with hooks, the very last of you with prongs. I> O ut you will go, each by the nearest breach in the wall, to be driven all the way to Hermon.' It is Yahweh who speaks.

8:4 Is 3"16-24 · 3i: 9-14 .

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Is 5:11-12+

UJ .o N

Q.

6:8 Lv 17:1 + Ps 89:35 8:/1

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 tw elv e tribes . bro ught low' corr. : ' he (o r one) will br in g low ' Heb r, 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 , This privilege, according to Amo s. is no t an uncondt- cr. 5; 15 ; 9:8 and [s 4:3 +.

10

II

tio nal pro mise of divi ne pr otect ion, Am 9:10. cr. n. Con i. translation . 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. here a punishment. p . 'ebony ' conf., d. Ezk 27:15; 'ma ny (ho uses)' 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 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' 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. 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 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 ' : ing ea ch ot her' . i.e . towards Assyria . The t ra nslatio n is coni. 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 h. Th is verse may be a gloss . immo ral a nd unju st ac tio ns, 5:2 1+. 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 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. 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 vades the whole prophecy of Am os . forma l cu lt: cr. 0114:28; 26:12 .

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The self-deception, obstinacy and punishment of Israel Go to Bethel , and sin, to G ilgal, and sin yo ur hardest!" Offer your sacrifices eac h mo rn ing and your tith es on t he third day ,>

.

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5:5 2 K2:1+ H o4: 15 5:21

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AMOS

4:5

\

burn leavened dough as a sacrifice with praise , announce your voluntary offerings, make them public, for this is what makes you happy, sons of Israel. It is the Lord Yahweh who speaks .

JtVil ~t Sf

ze 3:2.7 lr 14:1-6 111:12

I struck you with burning and scorching, and withered' your gardens and vineyards ; the locusts devoured your fig trees and olives; and yet you never came back to me. It is Yahweh who speaks.

9

I sent you a plague like Egypt' s plague; I slaughtered your young men with the sword, while your horses were captured for plund er; I filled your nostrils with the stench of your camps; and yet you never came back to me. It is Yahweh who speaks.

10

I overthrew you as God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah,l and you were like a brand snatched from the blaze; and yet you never came back to me. lt is Yahweh who speaks.

11

This therefore, Israel, is what I plan to do to you, and because I am going to do this to you, Israel, prepare to meet your Godl>

11

For he it was who formed the mountains, created the wind, reveals his mind to man, m makes both dawn and dark ," and walks on the top of the heights of the world;> Yahweh, God of Sabaoth, is his name.

13

Ex 9:1·7 D \ 8:15

I Is 34:2-3 112:20

On 19:1+ ZC3:2

S:17 M1 3:1·2

MII:3 S:8.27: 9:6 J r 32:18 Ho 12:6

Lament for Israel Listen to this oracle I speak against you, it is a dirge, House of Israel: She is down and will rise no more, the virgin of Israel .« There she lies all alone on her own soil, with no one to lift her up; for thus says the Lord Yahweh to the House of Israelis The town which used to put a thousand in the field will be left with a hundred, and the one which used to put a hundred will be left with ten.s

I

Doxology

11

5

1

ZP 2:3

Ps 55:5

Ho 10:12

4.-4

Jr 48 :13 Ho4:15

8: 14

q; til

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4:1 3 +

It is he who made the Pleiades and Orion , who turns the dusk to dawn and day to darkest night. He summons the waters of the sea and pour s them over the land.' Yahweh is his na me. He blazes out ruin on the stron ghold and brings destruction to the fortr ess';

Jb 9:9 : 38:3 1

Trouble- for those who turn justice into wormwo od, throwi ng integrity to the ground; who ha te the man dispensing just ice' at the city gate and detest those who speak with ho nesty. Well then, since you have trampled on the poor man . extort ing levies on his wheatthose houses you have built of dressed sto ne, you will never live in them ; and those precious vineyards you have planted,

6:12

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Threats

10

Doxology' 3:7

5: I

For Yah weh says this to the Ho use of Israel. Seek me an d you shall live.« Do not seek Bethel, do not go to G ilgal, do not journey to Beersheba, e since Gilgal is going to be exiled! and Bethel brought to nothin g. Seek Yahweh and you shall live, or else he will rush like fire on the House of Joseph and burn it up, with none at Bethel" a ble to put out the flames."

4

7

111:4

AMO S

No salvation without repentanc e

5

I kept your rain back with harvest still three months away ; I let rain fallon one town and none on another, 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, but their thirst had to stay unque nched; and yet you never came back to me. It is Yahweh who speaks.

Dt 28:22 I K8:37

llf

/483

And that is why! I left your teeth clean" in all your towns, left you without bread in all your villages; and yet you never came back to me. It is Yahweh who speaks.

Lv 26:14-39 WsI 2:2.10 Is I:S; 42:25

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Zc 5:3-4

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r. T he follo wing p assage. vv , 6- 12, is a sho rt p oem with a refrai n indica tin g th e lesson G od wan ted th e peopl e to learn fr om these event s . As a fat her pu nish es his ch ild. D t 8:5 +. so Go d want s to brin g back his peopl e t o h imself (her e the se ven s trok es of h is rod are lis ted in crescend o , A m 4:6- 11 ; Lv 26: 14-39 : D t 28: I S-68) : b u t a ll is in va in, Is 9: 12 : 42:25 : J r 2:30 : 5:3: H o 7: 10 : ZP 3:2.7: H g 2: 17. cr. R v 9:20.2 1'; 16:9,11 ; Ex 7~ 1 1 , Israel is ha rd en ed in s in an d God is a bo u t to s trik e him d o wn . g. I.e . b y se nd ing fa m ine . h. Text corr. fo llowin g G reek . I. ' withered ' cor e.: ' [0 mu lt iply ' H e br. j. Pro ba bly a lluding to a n ea r thqua ke . cr. 1:1. k .. Enig ma tic an no unc ement of the final pun ishm en t. ' and beca use _. . YO U' is p er hap s a glos s. J. T h is doxo logy, cf. 5:8-9 : 9:5-6, m ay h ave been add ed for use in th e litu r gy. In its pr ese nt co ntex t it m akes th e thr ea t still more im p ress ive . m. O r 'revea ls m a n's th ou gh ts' , cr. Jr 11:20 : Ps 94: 11; 2 K 5:25-26 etc, n . Fo llow ing G reek : He br. 'ch an ges d aw n to da r knes s' , 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 nipo tence o f G od . Mi 1:3-6 : Ps 18:33; Dt 32: 13 : J b9:8 : Is 58:14, 5 a . T he na tio n itse lf, co mp a red to a virg in ca rried otf by de a th before she has k now n the Io ys of m arr ied life. b. 't o the Ho use o f Isra e l' 'tr an s posed here from t he end o f th e verse . 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 +.

d . T he sa nc tua r ies will be des tro yed, v. 5, a nd sacrifice in them is not su tllcient mean s o f sa lva tio n; a man m us t 'se ek Ya hwe h' , I.e. seek to kn ow h is will a nd do it, ' seek good and not evil', 5: 14 . Hence men 'seek' Ya hwe h (verb: dar ash) by visiting h is sa nc tuar ies, A m 5:5: 2 C h 1:5: D t 12:5, b ut a lso by 'q uesti oni ng" hi m (cf. I S 14 :4 1 -t-) thr ou gh the medium o f a m a n of God , G n 25 :22; Ex 18:15: 1 S 9:9; 1 K 22 :8. or again b y 's eek in g the wo rd ', I K 22:5 ; cr. 14:5, e it he r in a book , Is 34:16, or t hr o ugh th e medi a tion of a 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, I.e. t he p resence , o f Ya hwe h. H o 5: 15: 2 S 21:1 ; 1 Ch 16: It ( = Ps 105:4) : Ps 24:6 : 27:R and (proba bly 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 [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.

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Pr 17:23

I

IfI I

II(

AMOS

5:1 2

IIM i 2:3

yo u will never drink the ir wine. F or I know that you r cri mes a re many, an d your sins en ormous : persecuto rs of th e virtuous, blackmailers, turning away the needy at t he city gate. No wonder the prude nt man keeps silent , the times are so evil.

1,4:3 +

Exhortation 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 as you claim m he is. Hate evil, love good , ma inta in j ustice at th e city gate, a nd it may be th at Ya hweh, God of Sa baoth, will ta ke pity on the remn ant of Jo seph ."

4:12 Ex 12:12 M I 3: 1-2

Impending punishment Therefore Ya hweh says this , th e God of Sabaoth, the Lo rd. In every public squ are there will be lamenta t ion, in every str eet wail s o f 'A las! Alas!' Peasa nts will be called on to la ment as well as the profession al mourners 0 a nd there will be wa iling in every vineyard , for I a m goi ng to pass thro ug h you , says Ya hweh.

5:4 + P, 34:12- 14: 37:27 J12: 14

J o n 3:9

Ez k 7: 1( ;

13:5

J r / 3:/6 ; 14:1 9

Lm 2:16 D n 8:19

Mt 3:7 I n 8:12 +

14 84

Th e day of Yahweh Trouble for those who are wa iting so longingly for the day of'Ya hweh!> W ha t will this day o f Ya hwe h mean for yo u? It will mea n da rkness, no t light, q as wh en a man escapes a lion's mouth, only to meet a bea r ; he enters his house and puts his ha nd on the wall , o nly for a sna ke to bite h im. W ill not the day of Yahweh be darkness, no t light? It will a ll be gloom, without a single ray of light.

14 85

14

15 4

Is 1:1 1 +

H o 8: 13

Mi 6:8

Ac 7:3 7. / 4 2-4 3

I hate a nd despi se your feasts, I ta ke no pleasure in you r solemn festivals. W hen you o ffer me holocau sts, I reject your o bla tions, an d refuse to look at you r sacrifices of fattened ca ttle'. Let me ha ve no more of the din of your cha nting, no mo re of you r st rum ming on ha rps." But let j ustice flow like wa ter, a nd int egri ty like a n unfa iling stream. Did you b ring me sacrifice a nd o blat io n in the wilde rnes s" for a ll those fo rty yea rs, House o f Isra el? Now you mu st sho ulder Sa kk uth your kin g and Ka iwa n your god , t hose idol s you have made for you rselves ;"

4:1 3 + Is 5 :8 9:10 Pr 1:32 Lk 6:24

J r 5:12 -13

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3:15 Ho 4: 18

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I Ch 23 :5 Ne 12:36 J b 2 1:12



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Rv 18: 14

o

The punishment and its horrors T he Lo rd Ya hweh swears it by his ow n self rn. Rely ing o n its sp eci a l p lace as the Ch osen

18

19

20

Aga inst formalism in religion r .4:4 -5 1,1 : 11 : 48 : 1 Jr 6:20 M i6:8 + Mt 23:23 M k 12:33 R m 2: 17f

Against the self-indulgent and the ir false sense of security Woe to those ensconced so snugly in Z ion a nd to t hose who feel so safe on the mountain of Samaria, th ose famous men of this first of nations to whom the Ho use of Israel goes as clien t. a Ma ke a journey to Ca lneh and look, go on from there to Ha mat h the great, th en d own to Gath in Philistia. ! Are they a ny better o ff tha n t hese ki ngdoms? Is their ter ritory la rger than yo urs? Yo u thin k to de fer the day of misfortu ne, b ut yo u ha sten the reign of violence. C Lying o n ivor y beds a nd spra wling o n their divans, they d ine o n lambs fro m the flock, a nd sta ll-fa tte ned vea l; they bawl" to the so und of the ha rp, they invent new instruments o f m usic like Dav id, they d rink win e by the bow lful , a nd use t he finest o il fo r a noi nting themselves, but a bo ut the ru in o f Joseph ' they do not care a t a ll. T ha t is why th ey will be the first to be exiled; the sprawlers' reve lry! is over.

6

13

17

6:8

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.

27 12

16

AMOS

21

22

23

24

25

26

Nat io n. Is rae l has been co u nt ing o n Ya hw eh 's u nco nd it io na l p ro tect io n. 5: 1S : 9: 10: Mi 3: II. 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 finished, 5:3 . The . 're mna n t' of Isr ael ap pears her e in t he Prop he ts for the firs t t im e, cf . Is 4:3 +. o . Inv ert ing t he He br. o rder o f word s . D. Co nfident in its el ec t ion. Dt 7:6 + , Israel ser ene ly awaits Go d 's in ter ven tion wh ich is bo und to be in its favour. To [his expec ted 'd ay of Ya hwe h ' A m os o ppo ses th e prophe tic co ncep t of it: the da y of Ya hwe h is a d a y o f wra th . Z n 1: 15 : El k 22:24 : Lm 2:22, aga inst an Israel ha rden ed in sin : a day of da rkness , [ear s, massacr e. terr or . A m 5: 1f~ -20 ; 2: 16 : S:9- 10, 13 ; Is 2:6-21 ; 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 or C hald aea n). D ur in g the Ex ile. the da y o f Ya hweh becom es a n o b ject o f ho pe : t he wra t h of God will no w turn aga ins t Israel's oppressor s. Ob 15 ; Bab ylon . Is 13:6,9 : J r 50 :27 : 5 1;2 : Lm 1:21 : E ~ Y P t . Is 19: 16 : J r 46: 10.2 1: Ezk 30:2 : Ph il is t ia . J r47:4 : Ed om , ls 34:X: 63:4 . T h is d a y. th erefore . is 10 br ing Israel ' s reco ver y. a se nse fo un d eve n in Amo s I} ; I I. a nd also in Is 11: II : 12: 1: 30:26 : cf. J I 3:4 : 4 :1. Aft er- th e Exile , th e 'day o f Yahwe h ' becom es m or e and m o re a da y of 'iud s emcrn ' ens ur ing -t hc t riu m ph o f t hc virtuous a nd th e 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 : 33: 10· 16 . See also M t 24:1 + . O n the cos mic signs th a t ar c to acco mpany t hc d ay of Yahvvc h. cf. A m 8:9 + . a. C f.J 12: 1·2: Z p 1;14· I R. r, T he nron hc ts oft en a ttack re ligio us hynocr tsv. t he co nv ict io n (hat all is wctt. p ro vided exte rna l fo r ms Ii ~e sac rifice an d fast in g arc o bser ved . rhou ah th e mo s t ctcm cntarv pri ncip les of soci al Jus tice and netah bour fv 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: d . Ps 40;6- 8 : 50;5- 15: 51 : 16- 17. Th e Psa lmi sts lay cm ritrnsts on t he inne r dis po s itio ns th a t m us t lie beh ind


:I:

4:2

acc ept a ble sac rifice: o bed ience , gra titude. co ntritio n ; th e Book s o f C hro nicl es. too , in sist on t he pa r t p layed

in sacr ificial wo rs h ip by th e lit u r gica l cha n t as an expression 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 the d is tin ction dctlnltclv : Lk 11:4 1-42: Mt 7:21: I n 4:2 1-24 . s . A line is m issin g her e , t . T he reference is to 'comm union sacr iflce, cr. Lv3: 1+ . u . Re ligio us cere mo nies were accompa nied by vocal and instrume nta l mu sic, 1 S 10:5 : 2 S 6:5,15 . v. A m os, li ke Ho sea , 2: 16- 17 : 9: 10, a nd Je remiah , 2:2-3 , re garded the pe riod in [he de se rt as a time of pe rfe ct u ni on bet ween Ya hweh a nd hi s people, 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' .

U

W

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6:9

/4 86

- it is th e Lord Ya hweh who spea ks, the God of Sabao th. I det est the pride of Jacob, I hat e his palaces. I mean to aba ndon the city" and all it contains. And if ten men ar e left in a single house, they shall die. Only a few will escape" to carry the bones ou t of the house ; and if a man should say to another one in a corner of th e ho use, 'Is the re a nyo ne left wit h yo u?' he will reply, 'No! Hus h ! The name of Yahweh must no t be ment ioned." Fo r see, Ya hwe h himself orders it ; as he strikes, the great house falls to pieces , the sma ll house cru mbles.

Is 28: 1

H o 5:5 ]e

AM O S

22 :13

2: 14· 16

8:3

Hab 2 :20 \ :7 Zc 2: 17

ze

Do horses gallop on roc ks, do men plou gh th e sea / with oxe n, for yo u to cha nge ju stice int o pois on, and the fru it of integrity into wo rmw ood? You rejoice ove r Lo -debar ," 'Was it not by ou r ow n strength ' you say 'that we took Ka rn aim?' Now see, you Ho use of Israel, how I am stirring up again st yo u - it is Ya hweh who speaks, the G od of Sab ao th a nati on ' that will harr y yo u fro m the Pass of Ha rnat h right dow n to the wadi of the Ara ba h.'"

H o 10:4

5:7

D1 8:17 ] g 7:2

/4 8 7

AMOS

'8: 2

' A plum b-line ' I sa id. T hen the Lor d said to me, 'L oo k, I am goi ng to measure my people Israel by plumb-line; no lo nger will I overlo o k their offences . The high plac es of Isaac are go ing to be ruined, the sa nct uari es of Israel destr oyed, and, swo rd in han d, I will att ack the Ho use of Jeroboa m.'

10

D I 12:2 +

0

7:11 2 K 15'8 -10

The intervention of Amaziah: Amos expell ed from Bethel 10

II

\I

12 12

13 \4

15

13 16

Arnaz iah the priest of Bethel then sent wo rd to Je ro boam king of Israel as follows. 'Am os is plotting against you in the heart of the Ho use of Israel; the co un try can no longer to lerate wha t he keep s saying. -Fo r t his is what he says, "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 J uda h ; ea rn yo ur bread ' the re, do your pro phe sying there . •We wa nt no mor e pro phesying in Bet hel; t his is the royal sa nctua ry, the nati onal temple.' · '1 was no pro phet , neithe r did I belong to a ny o f the bro therhoods of pro phets." A mos replied to Arn azia h ' I was a shepherd," a nd loo ked after sycamo res: -bu t it was Ya hweh who took me from herdin g the flock, a nd Ya hweh who said, "Go, prophesy to my people Isra el" . -So listen to the wo rd of Ya hweh. You say: " Do no t prophesy aga inst Israel, utt er no o racles against the House of Isaac". Very well, this is what Ya hweh says , " Your wife will be forced to go on the stree ts, I 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, a nd yo u you rself d ie on unclean soil v a nd Israel will go into exile far dista nt from its own land" .'

14 17

« lD

Z

..,0 H o 9 :8

5:27 : 0:7: 7: 9: 9:4

" :.

2: 12 + 1 K 12:29 :I:


z 3:3-8 -'2 S 7:8 P s 78:70-7\

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11. W

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Ho 9:3

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III . T HE VI SI O N S Fourth vision:" the basket of ripe fruit D I 28:38 ]1 1:4-7 : 2 : 3-9

I)) Ezk 9:8

Ez k 9:8

2 K 21: 13

First VIsion : the locusts T his is wha t the Lord Ya hweh showed me: it was a swarm of locusts at the time whe n the second cro p was start ing to grow, a swa rm of full-grown locusts, when th e king' s cutti ng" was o ver. T hey were abo ut to devo ur" all the greenstuff in the land, but I said, ' Lord Ya hweh, for give, I beg you .' Ho w can Ja co b surv ive, being so small?' A nd Ya hweh relented;" 'This sha ll not ha ppen ' sa id Ya hweh.

7

Second vision: the drought Th is is what t he Lo rd Ya hweh sho wed me: t he Lor d Ya hweh himself summoning fire in punishment ;" It had de voure d the great Abyss! and was already e ncroac hing o n the la nd. Th e n I sa id , 'Stop, Lo rd Ya hweh, I beg you . Ho w ca n Ja co b sur vive, being so sma ll?' And Ya hweh relen ted ; 'Th is will not happen either' sa id the Lo rd Yahweh. T hird vision: the plumb-line T his is what the Lo rd Ya hweh sho wed me: a man sta nd ing by a wa ll, plumb-line in ha nd ." 'What do yo u see, Amos?' Ya hweh asked me.

8

T his is what the Lo rd Ya hweh sho wed me: a basket of ripe fruit: 'Wh at do you see, Amos?' he as ked . 'A basket of ripe fruit' I said . T hen Ya hweh said ,

g. Sa ma ria. o r else a ll the ci ties o f th e No r t hern Kin gd om . h. Tex t corr. fo llow ing G reek; He br . u nint elli gib le. i. O ut of respect. or possib ly s upers tit io us fea r , a t thi s aCI of Go d. Pe rha ps v . I I sh ould be read a fte r v . 8 a nd v. 10 aft e r v, 11. [, '( do me n pl ou gh) the sea ' co rr. ; ' (do me n p lo ug h) th ere' Hebr. k . 'Lo-deb a r' co rr .; ' th a t wh ich is not hina ' Hc h r. l.o- deba r a nd Ka rnai m , b o th in T ra nsio rdan ia . had be e n rec o nque re d eithe r by Jeroboam 1I o r by h is fa t her J o ash . d. 2 K 13:25 : 14: 25. I. Assyr ia. m . N . a nd S. bou nd a ries of Israel . cf. 11=: 20 :1 -j- . 7 a , ' It wa s a sw a r m' G reek: ' He was Io rm tnu' t tc br . ' o f full-gro wn locust s' G-reek ; 'a nd be ho ld th e seco nd crop' Hebr. Pres u ma b ly th e ki ng exa cted a pa r i of t he first gro wt h for his hors es. b . 'T he y wer e a bo u t to de vou r ' co rr.: ' W hen t he y had de vo u red ' l lc br . c , Fo r nro nhc ts inte rcedin g o n be hal f o f t he pe o p le. d . Ex32: 11 , t J r 15:1 ; IH::!O; cf. 2 M 15:14 · :Ezk 9:H: Dn 9: 15- 19. d . I. e . ag ree d no t to carry o ut hi s inten tion . c. 's u m mo ning fire in nu nis hm ent ' co rr . : 'calli nu in o rd e r to puni s h by fire " Hc br . Thc ' Fire is d r o ua t u. A m 1:2 : 4:6-H, t ha t devo urs cvcr vr h lnx. d . J I 1: 19-20 : 2:J. O the rs tran sla te ' he cal led for a iu d aemc nt by fire' .

i .e . fire fro m hea ven s uch a s de st ro yed So d o m an d 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. g. ' the Lord Ya hwe h' added, foll owi ng 7: 1 a nd 8:1. ' A m a n ' G ree k; 'The Lo rd ' Hebr. ' b y a wa ll': He br. ad ds '(b uilt wit h) a p lu mb -lin e' . T r a ns la t io n co ni. Th e image o f the p lu m b-line su gges ts, a p p a ren tly. t ha t th is sy m bo lic wa ll is bu lgin g o r lean in g o ver an d ab ou t to co lla p se, cf. Is 30: 13. T he nl um b-Iine ca n a lso s ign ify de s tr uc tio n , 2 K 2 1: 13: Is 2K:17 ; 34: 11; L m 2:8,

h. Here the tcr m is p os sib ly co n te m p tuo u s ('v i s ~ ion a rv'). i . A m azfuh s pea ks as i f A mo s we re o ne of th e nrofc sstun al pr ophets for whom p rop hecy was a livelihoo d . cr. I S 9:7 -1- . l. ' ne ither d id I belo n g . . . ' : lit. ' no r th e so n o f a n ro nhct ". d . 2 K 2:3 to . k . ' shephe rd ' corr., ct. 1: 1; ' herd sm a n' H eb r . I. Fo rced to thi s fo r he r living . m . All Io reiun co u n tries a re u ncle an on accou n t o f t heir id o ls, Ho 9:3-4: the la nd of Is ra el where Ya hwe h resid es. 110 H:I: Zc 9:8 : Jr 12:7, is p u re, 2 K 5: 17, and ' ho ly', Ex 19:12 l : Zc2: 16; 2 M 1:7, H :1. Dcsnit c th e in te rr up tio n o f t he Bethel ep iso de , 7: 10- 17. t his fo u rth visio n is co n ne cted wit h t he third , 7:7-9, to wh ich it is s im ilar in str uc tu re a nd idea .

7:7 -9

ow

N

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8:3 Rv 14:15 -18

2 :6- 8: 4 :1

Lv 19:35 D ' 25: 13- 16 P e 11:1 Ho 12:8 MI6:1O- 11

2:6

1:1 ~ 9: 5

Is 24 : 18 E zk 38:20 Z p 1: 18 / T b 2:6

H o 2:13

Is 3:24 Ez k 7: 18 Je 6:26 Zc 12: 10

4:2

D 18 :3+ SI ~ 1 :24 M15:6

O n 12:4 Ho 5:6 +

Zc 9:17

5:5 Ho 4: 15

/489

14 88

Again st swindlers and ex ploiters ' Listen to th is, you who trample on! the needy and try to suppress the poor peopl e of the co untr y, you wh o say , 'When will New Moon be over ' so that we can sell our corn , and sa bbath, so that we can market our whea t? T hen by lowering the bushel , raising the shekel , by swindl ing and tampering with th e scales , we can buy up the poo r for mon ey, and the needy for a pair of sandals, a nd get a pr ice even for the sweepings of th e wheat.' Ya hweh swears it by t he prid e of Jacob, ' ' Never will I forget a sing le thing you have done' . Is this not the reason for the earthquakes, for its inhabitants all mourn ing, and all of it heavi ng, like the Nile , then subsi ding, like the rive r of Egypt ?' Prediction of a mysterious punishment : da rkness and mourning 'That day -it is the Lor d Ya hweh who speak sI will make th e sun go down at noon, an d da rken the ea rth in bro ad daylight ;' I am going to turn yo ur feast s into funerals, all you r singing into lam entation; I will have your loins all in sackcloth, your heads all shaved.s I will make it a mourn ing like the mourni ng for an o nly son , as long as it lasts it will be like a day of bittern ess. Famine and drought of the word of God 'See what days are com ing-it is t he Lord Ya hweh who speaksdays when I will bri ng fam ine on the co untry, a fam ine not of bread , a drought not of wate r, but of hea ring the word' of Ya hweh. T hey will sta gger fro m sea to sea, wander fro m north to eas t, seek ing the wo rd of Ya hweh and fai ling to find it. Fresh prediction of punishment That da y, delicat e girl an d stalwa rt youth shall faint from thirst. A ll who swea r by Sam ar ia 's Ashima h, "' th ose wh o swear, "By your god's life, Dan !"n an d, " By your Beloved' s - life, Beersheba!" these shall all fall, never to rise again .' Fifth vision: the fall of the sanctuary" I saw the Lord standing at th e side of the altar. 'S trike the capitals' ~ he said 'and let the roof tumble down!

9

AMOS I mean to bre ak the ir heads, everyone,' a nd all who remain I will put to the sword ; not one shall get away , not one escape. Should they burrow thei r way down to Sheol, my hand shall haul them out ; should th ey scale the heavens, I will d rag them down; should they hide on Carmel's peak, there I will track them down and catc h them ; should they hide from my sight on the sea bed , I will tell the Dr agon to bite them there;" should the y go into exile driven befor e their enem ies. I will o rder the sword to sla ughter th em there; and my eyes will be on them for their misfortune, not the ir good .'

' My people Israel is ripe for destruction ; 0 I will no longer overlook its offences. T he palace singing girls' will wail that day -it is the Lord Ya hweh wh o speaksso man y will be dead , all thrown dow n anywhere." H ush !'

6:10 +

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4

9:8

2:13- \6 ; 9 : 9 -10 J bI 4 :13 ; 26 ;6 Ps 139 ;7-1 2 Si 16:1 7 Je 23: 2 3-24

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a..., Ps 135 :6 J b 3;8 + ; 7; 12 + 7:11

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No special privileges for Israel 'Are not you and the Cushites/ all the same to me,' sons of Israel?- it is Yahweh who speaks. D id not I, who brought Israel out of the land of Egypt, bri ng the Philistines from Caphtor, and the Aramaeans from Kir? Now, my eyes' are tu rned on the sinful kingdo m, to wipe it off the face of th e earth. Only sinners will perish 'Yet I a m not going to destroy b. Lit. 'The end has come for my peo ple Israel' . Hab 3:6:

12

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 frui t' , c. ' s in gin g gir ls' corr. : ' so ns ' H eb r. ' pa lace' ; or ' te m p le' ,

13

14

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T he Lord Yahweh of Sab aothhe touches th e ea rt h and it melt s, and all its inhabitants mourn ; it all heaves, like the Nile , a nd SUbsides, like the river of Egypt. H e has bui lt his high dwelling place' in the hea vens and supported his vault on the ea rth ; he summons the waters of the sea and pour s them ove r th e land. Yahweh is his name.

11

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4 :13 ; 5;8

Doxo logy

10

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d . Te xt uncert a in : t r a n sla t io n coni. e . The t hree fo llowing o racles. vv . 4-14 . separate somew ha t aw kwa rd ly th e fo u rt h from the fifth visio n . f. ' tr a mple on' co rr. g . T he N e w Moon , Lv 2 3:24 +, lik e the sabbath , halted b us iness . h . T he ' pride o f Jacob' may either be an ep ithe t of Yahweh, I S t5:29 ; or , as in 6:8, the arrogan ce of Isra el, fit m atter fo r oath si nce it is so co ns tant ; or pe rhaps 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 country to t he rise a nd fall of t he N ile . We omi t ' and be to ssed a b ou t' . ' subsiding' cor r. : ' be ing drowned' He b r . i . T he d ay of Y a hwe h . 5: 18 +, is accomp a nie d b y co smic s igns : eart hq ua ke, A m 8:8 ; Is 2: 10 : Jr 4 :24 , so la r ec lipse , A m 8:9; J r 4 :23 ; th e la ter pr op het s e nlar ge 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 ;

JI2 ; IO, II; 3;3.4: 4:15 .16: cf . M I24:29; Rv6 :12-14 , and see M t24:1 + . k . Signs of m ournin g . I. ' the word' Greek ; 'the words' Hebe. m . 'Ash imah ' co rr ., cf. 2 K 17:30: 's in ' Hebr . n. Where J er o b oa m had one of his gol den ca lves , 1 K 12:30 . o . 'you r Beloved 's ' carr. (doubtless a loc a l god) : 'you r way's' He br. 9 a. P ro b a b ly the shrine at Be the l. b . A n a nge l is perhaps add ressed. c . 'a t the side of' or ' on '. ' t he roof (tumble down)' corr .: ' th e th resho ld s (be s haken)' Hebr. ' I will br eak' corr . : 'b reak t hem' He br. d. 't here' corr.: 'fro m t her e ' Hebr . e . ' h la h d welling p la ce' co rr . : 'upper st o reys ' H eb r. r. T he E th io p ia ns . menti oned pre cisely bec a u se the ir co un try is so re m ote , g . T he Is raelites cannot pr esu me on th eir ele c tion , 2:9- 1 t : 3:2 ; 7:8,15 ; 8:2 ; 9: 10 ; cf . Dt 7:6+; th e y o we it e nt ire ly to t he free will of Yahweh , Lo rd of nati on s , cf. D I2;9- 12. 18-23 ;9:4-6;JO 11:24 . See 1 C o 4:7 . h . ' m y e yes' corr . ; ' th e eye s of th e L or d Ya hweh' H ebr.

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P s 104: 3

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3:12 + Is 4;3 +

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9:9

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6:1 -6 Is 28:15 Jr 5:12

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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, all those who say, "No misfortune will ever to uch us, nor even come anywhere nca r

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IV . PROSPECTS OF RESTORATION AND Tb 13: 10 /' A c 15: 1617

G n :!: 2: !7 Nb 24:I H

5: 11

Ps 65: 11: 72 :16

Lv 26 :5 ," J14: I H

D' 30:3-5 Is 65:2 1-22 Jr 31:5 Ho 14:8

OF IDYLLIC P RO SPERITY'

~

OBA D IA H

'T ha t day I will rc-erect the totteri ng hut of Dav id, make goo d the ga ps in it, restore its ruin s « a nd rebuild it as it was in th e days of old, so tha t t hey ca n conquer t he rem na nt of Edorn and all the nat io ns tha t belo nged to me." It is Yahweh who speaks, and he will carr y th is o ut.

11

'T he days are com ing now- it is Ya hweh who speak swhe n har vest will follow dir ectl y after plo ugh ing, the tread ing of gra pes soo n after sowing, when the mountain s will run with new wine and the hills all flow with it. I mean to restor e the fort unes of my peopl e Israel; " they will reb uild th e rui ned cities a nd live in the m, plant vineya rds and d rink their wine, d ig ga rde ns a nd eat their produce. [ will plan t them in their ow n co untry , never to be rooted up aga in out of the lan d I have given them, says Ya hweh , your God.'

1.1

12

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Title and prologue Vision of O badiah: about Edorn. I have received a message" from Yahweh, a hera ld has been sent througho ut the natio ns, l> 'Up ! Let us ma rch aga inst thi s peop le. Into battle!'

z« Nb 20:23 + IIJ r 49: 14

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Sentence pronounced on EdomIb

14

15

The Lor d Yahweh says this: Now I a m go ing to red uce you amo ng the nation s, and make you utte rly despised .

·N 1I1r 49: 15- 16

Your pride of hea rt has led yo u astray, you whose home is in the holes in the rocks," who make the height s" your dwe lling, who say in your heart, 'Who will bring me dow n to the gro und?'

Is 14: 13f

Th ough yo u soared like the eagle, though you set/ your nest among the sta rs, I would still fling you down again-it is Ya hweh who speaks .

Ha b 2:9

How you have been pillaged!' 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
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 ; the G reek na me of thi s cap ita l, Pet ra . preserves the ' We hav e heard ' H ebr.) what was heard'. b. Met aphor ica l d escript io n of a co nfederacy in sa me sense. e . 'm a ke the heig hts ' versio ns. nro cess of fo r matio n aga inst Edo m . C f. Jr 4:5 : 50:2. r. ' YOU se t ' co rr. with G reek . c . T he ti me will come when Edom in tu rn will be g. T h is is ex p lained b y VV, 647: Edam has be en desp ised . 2. l Oc. a nd so bec om e an o bject of d eris ion 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 glea ner . cf. Dt 24:21. El.k 29-32 ; 26-28 : Zc 10: 1 1. b. T h is li ne is fou nd in the Hebe. a ft er 'or p lu ndd . T he ' rock ' ( seta) in wh ich Edom is ensco nced is erers at night ' . II ter m ch ose n , perhaps. to sug gest t he name of the

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The annihilat ion of Edom If ro bbers came to yo u, 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. "

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1I1r 49:9

1I1r 49:10

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