VOLUME 15 OLD TESTAMENT NEW COLLEGEVILLE THE BIBLE COMMENTARY AMOS HOSEA MICAH NAHUM ZEPHANIAH HABAKKUK Carol J. Dempsey, OP SERIES EDITOR Daniel Durken, O.S.B. LITURGICAL PRESS Collegeville, Minnesota www.litpress.org Nihil Obstat: Reverend Robert Harren, Censor deputatus. Imprimatur: Most Reverend John F. Kinney, J.C.D., D.D., Bishop of St. Cloud, Minnesota, April 15, 2013. Design by Ann Blattner. Cover illustration: Demands of Social Justice by Suzanne Moore. © 2007 The Saint John’s Bible, Saint John’s University, Collegeville, Minnesota USA. Used by permis- sion. Scripture quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, Catholic Edition, copyright 1989, 1993 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Photos: pages 8, 38, 76, 104, and 130, Sanctuary of Bom Jesus of Matosinhos at Congonhas, Minas Gerais, Brazil; page 116, icon of Zephaniah, Wikimedia Commons. Maps created by Robert Cronan of Lucidity Information Design, LLC. Scripture texts, prefaces, introductions, footnotes and cross references used in this work are taken from the New American Bible, revised edition © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC. All Rights Reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner. © 2013 by Order of Saint Benedict, Collegeville, Minnesota. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form, by print, microfilm, microfiche, mechanical recording, photocopying, translation, or by any other means, known or yet unknown, for any purpose except brief quotations in reviews, without the previous written permission of Liturgical Press, Saint John’s Abbey, PO Box 7500, Collegeville, Minnesota 56321-7500. Printed in the United States of America. 123456789 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Dempsey, Carol J. Amos, Hosea, Micah, Nahum, Zephaniah, Habakkuk / Carol J. Dempsey, OP pages cm. — (New Collegeville Bible Commentary. Old Testament ; Volume 15) Includes index. ISBN 978-0-8146-2849-2 (alk. paper) 1. Bible. O.T. Minor Prophets—Commentaries. I. Title. BS1560.D46 2013 224'.907—dc23 2013008344 CONTENTS Abbreviations 6 THE BOOK OF AMOS 7 Introduction 7 Text and Commentary 12 Superscription and Introduction (Amos 1:1-2) 12 Proclamations Concerning the Nations (Amos 1:3–2:16) 12 Three Words to Israel (Amos 3:1–5:6, 8-9) 19 Three Woes (Amos 5:7, 10-17; 5:18-27; 6:1-14) 26 Five Visions; Two Judgment Speeches (Amos 7:1–9:10) 29 Epilogue (Amos 9:11-15) 35 THE BOOK OF HOSEA 37 Introduction 37 Text and Commentary 42 Superscription (Hosea 1:1) 42 Marriage Metaphor; Gomer, Hosea, God, and Israel (Hosea 1:2–3:5) 43 Proclamation against Israel and Its Leadership (Hosea 4:1–5:7) 51 Judgment Speech against Israel and Judah (Hosea 5:8-14) 55 Expression of Divine Frustration and Judgment upon Israel and Judah (Hosea 5:15–7:2) 56 Description of Failed Leadership (Hosea 7:3-7) 57 Description of Israel’s Folly and Fate (Hosea 7:8-12) 58 Woe Speech against Israel (Hosea 7:13-16) 59 Declaration of Warfare (Hosea 8:1-14) 60 Judgment Speech against Israel (Hosea 9:1-6) 62 Statement of Impending Divine Chastisement (Hosea 9:7-9) 63 Contents Description of Israel’s Crimes (Hosea 9:10-17) 64 Three Metaphors Concerning Israel (Hosea 10:1–11:11) 65 Description of Israel’s Infidelity (Hosea 12:1–13:1) 70 Judgment Speech against Israel (Hosea 13:2–14:1) 71 Divine Plea and Promise of Healing, Restoration, and New Life (Hosea 14:2-9) 73 Epilogue: A Word of Exhortation (Hosea 14:10) 74 THE BOOK OF MICAH 75 Introduction 75 Text and Commentary 80 Superscription (Micah 1:1) 80 Proclamation of Judgment; Word of Hope (Micah 1:2–3:12) 80 Proclamation of Future Restoration (Micah 4:1–5:14) 89 Words of Judgment, Lament, Trust (Micah 6:1–7:20) 95 THE BOOK OF NAHUM 105 Introduction 105 Text and Commentary 108 Superscription (Nahum 1:1) 108 A Hymn to God (Nahum 1:2-11) 108 A Word of Good News to Judah (Nahum 1:12–2:1) 109 A Prophetic Vision Concerning Nineveh (Nahum 2:2–3:19) 110 THE BOOK OF ZEPHANIAH 115 Introduction 115 Text and Commentary 119 Superscription (Zephaniah 1:1) 119 Proclamations of Judgment and Imminent Disasters (Zephaniah 1:2–3:8) 120 Statement of Reproach against Jerusalem (Zephaniah 3:1-7) 125 Statement of Future Purification (Zephaniah 3:8-13) 126 4 Contents Proclamation of Hope, Salvation, and Restoration (Zephaniah 3:14-20) 127 THE BOOK OF HABAKKUK 129 Introduction 129 Text and Commentary 133 Superscription (Habakkuk 1:1) 133 The Prophet’s First Complaint (Habakkuk 1:2-4) 133 A Divine Response (Habakkuk 1:5-11) 134 The Prophet’s Second Complaint (Habakkuk 1:12–2:1) 135 A Divine Response: A Vision Statement with Five Woes (Habakkuk 2:2-20) 136 A Prophet’s Prayer (Habakkuk 3:1-19) 138 Review Aids and Discussion Topics 140 Index of Citations from the Catechism of the Catholic Church 145 Maps 146 5 ABBREVIATIONS Books of the Bible Acts—Acts of the Apostles 2 Kgs—2 Kings Amos—Amos Lam—Lamentations Bar—Baruch Lev—Leviticus 1 Chr—1 Chronicles Luke—Luke 2 Chr—2 Chronicles 1 Macc—1 Maccabees Col—Colossians 2 Macc—2 Maccabees 1 Cor—1 Corinthians Mal—Malachi 2 Cor—2 Corinthians Mark—Mark Dan—Daniel Matt—Matthew Deut—Deuteronomy Mic—Micah Eccl (or Qoh)—Ecclesiastes Nah—Nahum Eph—Ephesians Neh—Nehemiah Esth—Esther Num—Numbers Exod—Exodus Obad—Obadiah Ezek—Ezekiel 1 Pet—1 Peter Ezra—Ezra 2 Pet—2 Peter Gal—Galatians Phil—Philippians Gen—Genesis Phlm—Philemon Hab—Habakkuk Prov—Proverbs Hag—Haggai Ps(s)—Psalms Heb—Hebrews Rev—Revelation Hos—Hosea Rom—Romans Isa—Isaiah Ruth—Ruth Jas—James 1 Sam—1 Samuel Jdt—Judith 2 Sam—2 Samuel Jer—Jeremiah Sir—Sirach Job—Job Song—Song of Songs Joel—Joel 1 Thess—1 Thessalonians John—John 2 Thess—2 Thessalonians 1 John—1 John 1 Tim—1 Timothy 2 John—2 John 2 Tim—2 Timothy 3 John—3 John Titus—Titus Jonah—Jonah Tob—Tobit Josh—Joshua Wis—Wisdom Jude—Jude Zech—Zechariah Judg—Judges Zeph—Zephaniah 1 Kgs—1 Kings 6 INTRODUCTION Amos The book of Amos, resplendent with a variety of rhetorical forms expres- sive of a polished, impassioned, dynamic, and didactic style, captures the imaginations of readers with its straightforward, “in-your-face” message. The prophet wastes no time in drawing attention to the horrific injustices of his day (1:2–5:3; 5:7, 10-13; 5:16–9:10). Such a vision, however, is not without words of encouragement (5:4-9, 14-15) and a vision of future res- toration (9:11-15), one that speaks of hope and not despair, life and not death. Amos, the book’s prophet, addresses his message to a host of mighty nations guilty of horrendous deeds and horrific injustices (1:3–2:16); to Judah (2:4-5) and Israel (2:6–3:15) for their transgressions; to those living in Samaria who are guilty of oppression and abuse (4:1-3); and to all other Israelites who have failed to keep covenant and live according to God’s ways (5:7–6:14). The lot of wayward Israel will be pain, suffering, and devastation at the hand of Israel’s God, all of which they will be warned about by the prophet Amos, who will be shown a series of divine visions that outline the impending disasters (7:1–9:10). Despite all of the foreboding news for Israel, the people will not be left without a glimmer of hope. The book of Amos closes on a positive note: in days to come, God will restore the people of Israel (7:11-15). Like so many of the prophets of biblical times, Amos heralds a God who metes out punitive justice for the sake of re- establishing right relationship and restoring the people to their land and to covenant fidelity. The historical and social world of Amos Whether or not Amos is an actual historical person has been debated among some scholars, but some evidence does exist that suggests he was someone who came from Judah and traveled to Israel, where he conducted his prophetic activity during the first half of the eighth century b.c. Israel’s king at the time was Jeroboam II (786–746 b.c.). Judah’s king was Uzziah (783–742 b.c.). Jeroboam II was the last king in the northern kingdom’s longest dynasty known as the Jehu dynasty. During Jeroboam II’s reign, 7 Introduction to the Book of Amos Egypt, Assyria, and Babylon were not yet formidable nations or threats to Israel. The king had successfully subdued the Arameans, who were Israel’s most powerful enemy (2 Kgs 14:25-28). Furthermore, no strife between Israel and Judah existed at this time. For Israel, the early part of the eighth century b.c. was a time of prosperity that brought with it, unfortunately, the exploitation of the poor and defenseless by the wealthy and the powerful. With a new economic order came excessive wealth for some Is- raelites, which, in turn, led to a leisured upper class, many of whom became involved in decadent lifestyles (2:8; 4:1; 6:1-6). Judicial corruption also took root (5:7-12) along with religious hypocrisy.