The Oracle Concerning Judah

Amos

8

The Oracle Concerning Judah (2:4-5) 1. The Text Thus says the LORD: For three transgressions of Judah, and for four, I will not revoke the punishment; because they have rejected the law [Torah] of the LORD, and have not kept his statutes, but they have been led astray by the same lies after which their ancestors walked. 5 So I will send a fire on Judah, and it shall devour the strongholds of Jerusalem. 4

2. The Problem of Late Insertion -scholars suggest this is a secondary addition. Amos is supposed to speak against Israel, not Judah. The test is shortest and references to rejection of YHWH’s Torah are common style of Deuteronomic history which could be from the late monarchic, exilic, or postexilic period (see Wolff, pp. 139-141). --Sweeney (p. 213) thinks other wise. For Amos it could be rhetorical style, to make prepare readers to his ultimate rhetorical goal i.e. Israel (like closing in on a target as in the dart game). Furthermore, the rejection of YHWH’s Torah does not necessarily refer to the Law of Moses (Deuteronomic, note the mistranslation of NRSV), but simply “instruction” (see on ritual purity or propriety in Hag 2:11-13; or on political propriety in Hab 1:4; see also Job 22:22). In the case of Amos, “Torah” could refer to the instruction to protect the poor (see Isa 5:24). 3. Two Possible crimes of Judah --social abuse in treatment of the poor --rebellion against Israel. Note that Judah is an ally of Israel in Isaiah 5:1-14 and there had been times when Judah attempted to revolt against Israel (e.g. during the reign of Amaziah; 2 Kgs 14:1-14). 4. Punishment: “I will send fire” --reference to military attack Note: Luke 9:54 and Luke 12:49 EXCURSUS: On the meaning of the Hebrew peša` (“transgression” in NRSV) -common nuance “rebellion” (both in the political and religious sense), see 1 Kgs 12:19; 2 Kgs 1:1; Isa 1:2; Hos 8:1. --but it may mean also the infraction of property and personal rights (Wolff, pp. 152-153), see Exod 22:9 [in Heb Bible Exod 22:8] In any case of disputed ownership [ `a|l-Kol-Dübar-Peºša` ] involving ox, donkey, sheep, clothing, or any other loss, of which one party says, "This is mine," the case of both parties shall come before God; the one whom God condemns shall pay double to the other.