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Home , Amos 4, Amos 7, Amos 9

AN ECUMENICAL STUDY ltlHllE NIEW OXIFOl�ID ANNOTATED IBIIIBILIE W lllt IHl ltIHl IE AIPOCI� YIPIHlA

REVISED STANDARD VERSION

/ Containing the Second Edition of the New Testament And an Expanded Edition of the Apocrypha

EDITED BY HERBERT G. MAY BRUCE M. METZGER

NEW YORK OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS Restoration of Judah and THE BOOK OF 1s " day for the violence done to the people And in that . . of Judah, the mountains shall dnp sweet ":me, _ because they have shed innocent During the long and peaceful reign of Jeroboam II (786-746 B.c.) attained a and the hills shall flowwith milk, height of territorial expansion and national prosperity never again reached. The military stream beds of Judah blood in their land. and all the be inhabited for security and economic affluence which characterized this age were taken by many Israelites shall flowwith water; 20 But Judah shall ever, as signs of the LoRD's special favor toward them which they felt they deserved because and a fountain shall come forth from . of their extravagant support of the official shrines. LORD and Jerusalem to allgenerat10ns. the house of the Into this scene stepped the Amos, probably sometime during the decade 760- 21 I will avenge their blood, and I will and water the valley of Shittim. C not clear the guilty, 750 B.C. A native of the small Judean village of Tekoa, he was called by God from a for the LoRD dwells in Zion." shepherd's task ( 7 .14-15) to the difficult mission of preaching harsh words in a smooth "E blood which I season. He denounced Israel, as well as her neighbors, for reliance upon military might, 10 gypt shall become a d�solation g Gk Syr: Heb I will hold innocent their and a desolate wilderness, have not held innocent and for grave injustice in social dealings, abhorrent immorality, and shallow, meaningless piety. Amos' forceful, uncompromising preaching brought him into conflict with the re­ include th paradisiacal 14 21. Rev 21 2-3 27). lB-21: The divine blessings bestowed in that day � ligious authorities of his day His personal confrontation with the priest Amaziah (7.10-17) ancient enemies, and the restor t1on o J da . . fe;tility of ·th� 1an'd, the destruction of Israel's � ! _ � � remains one of the unforgettable scenes in Hebrew prophecy. Ezek.47.1-12 n. 19: Edom, Ob.11 n. �0-2l. Is.l2. , ec · 18: mountains, Am.9-.13; fountain, Expelled from the royal sanctuary at and commanded not to prophesy there 2.10-12. again, Amos probably returned to Judah and wrote down the essence of his public preach­ ing in substantially its present form. The book falls into three parts, chs. 1-2, oracles against Israel's neighbors; chs. 3-6, indictment of Israel herself for sin and injustice; and chs. 7-9, visions of Israel's coming doom. Amos became the first in a brilliant succession of writing whose words have left their indelible stamp on later thought about God an man. 1 H WORDS OF AMOS, WHO WAS because they have threshed Gilead 7l among the shepherds of Teko'a, with threshing sledges of iron. \ which he. saw concerning Israel in the 4 So I will send a fireupon the house days of Uzzi'ah king of Judah and in of Haz'ael, the days of Jerobo' am the son of Jo' - and it shall devour the strongholds ash, king of Israel, two yearsa before of Ben-ha'dad. theearthquake. 2 And he said: 5 I will break the bar of Damascus, "The LORD roars from Zion, and cut offthe inhabitants from and utters his voice from the Valley of A ven, c Jerusalem; and him that holds the scepter from the pastures of the shepherds mourn, Beth-eden; and the top of Carmel withers." and the people of shall go into exile to Kir," 3 Thus says the LORD: says the LORD. "For three transgressions of Damascus, 6 Thus says the LoRD: and for four, I will not revoke the b a Or during two years punishment; b Heb cause it to return c Or On 1.1: Superscription. He saw, see Nah.1.1 n. reigned over the southern kingdom from 783 to 742 B.C. The earthquake, mentioned again in Zech.14.5, cannot be precisely dated. 1.2-2.16: Indictment of neighboring peoples, Israel, and Judah. Amos applies the same stand­ ardsto Israel's neighbors and to Israel. 2: This verse occurs in similar formin Jl.3.16 (compare Jer.25.30). Some scholars consider it an editorial addition. It sounds the solemn theme of the whole section. 3,6,9, etc.: Thus says the LORD and the conclusion says the LORD (Hebrew, "the oracle of Yahweh") are standard formulas identifying prophetic oracles. The expression for three transgressions . .. and for four indicates "more than enough" (Job 33.14; Pr.30.18). Here transgression means rebellion. 3-5: Against Damascus (compare Is.17.1-3; Jer.49.23-27; Zech. 9.1-4). Damascus was the capital of Syria; Hazael and Ben-hadad III were rulers (2 Kg.13.3); and Kir is called the place of Syrian origins (Am.9.7) and exile (2 Kg.16.9). The Valleyof Aven, perhaps to be read "the Valley of On," may be between the Lebanon and Anti-Lebanon ranges. Beth-eden is the Bit-idini of the Assyrian records, by the Euphrates. The Syrian conquest of [1106] [1107] Judgment on Israel nations Judgment on the 13 because they have rejected the LORD: law and some of your young men for "For three transgressions of Gaza, Thus says the of the LoRD, . b three transgressions of the and for four, I will not revoke the "For and have not kept his statutes, Is it not indeed so, 0 people of punishment; Ammonites, but their lies have led them astray, Israel?" and for four, I bwill not revoke the because they carried into exile a 5 after which their fathers walked. says the LORD. whole people punishment; So I will send a fireupon Judah, 12 because they have ripped up women 7 to deliver them up to Edom. and it shall devour the strongholds "But you made the Nazirites drink upon the wall with child in Gilead, of Jerusalem." wine, So I will send a fire enlarge their of Gaza, that they might and commanded the prophets, devour her 14 border. 6 saying, 'You shall not prophesy.' and it shall a firein the wall of Thus says the LORD: strongholds. So I will kindle 13 8 Rabbah, "For three transgressions of Israel, "Behold, I will press you down in cut offthe inhabitants from e I will and it shall devour her and for four, I will not revoke the your place, , punishment; as a cart full of sheaves and him that holds the scepter strongholds, presses in the day of battle, because they sell the righteous for 14 down. from Ash'kelon; with shouting Ekron; with a tempest in the day of the silver, Flight shall perish from the swift, I will turn my hand against and the needy for a pair of shoes- es 1 whirlwind; 7 and the strong shall not retain his and the remnant of the Philistin 5 and their king shall go into exile, they that trample the head of the strength, shall perish," poor into the dust of the earth, says the Lord Goo. he and his princes together," 15 nor shall the mighty save his life; 9 says the LORD. and tum aside the way of the he who handles the bow shall not Thus says the LORD: afflicted; stand, "For three transgressions of Tyre, Q Thus says the LORD: a man an his father go in to the and he who is swift of foot shall and for four, I bwill not revoke the _ "For three transgressions of Moab, sam i maiden, not save himself, punishment; and for four, I will not revoke the 8 so tha my holy name is profaned; nor shall he who rides the horse because they delivered up a whole punishment/ they lay themselves down beside 16 save his life; people to Edom, because he burned to lime eveIT altar and he who is stout of heart among of Edom. upon ·garments taken in pledge; the mighty and did not remember the 2 the bones of the king covenant of brotherhood. So I will send a fireupon Moab, and in the house of their God they shallflee away naked in that day," 1o So I will send a fire upon the wall of and it shall devour the drink says the LoRD. strongholds of Ker'ioth, the wine of those who have been Tyre, Hear and it shall devour her and Moab shall die amid uproar, fined. 3 this word that the LORD has strongholds." amid shouting and the sound of spoken against you, 0 people of 9 Israel, against the whole family which 11 the trumpet; 3 . . "Yet I destroyed the Amorite before I brought up out of the land of : Thus says the LORD: I will cut offthe ruler from its midst, them, 2 "For three transgressions of Edom, and will slay allits princes with "You only have I known I bwill not revoke the him," whose height was like the height of all the families of the earth; and for four, of the cedars, punishment; says the LORD. therefore I will punish you his brother with and who was as strong as the oaks; for all your iniquities. because he pursued 4 I destroyed his fruit above, the sword, Thus says the LORD: 3 10 and his roots beneath. "Do two walk together, and cast off all pity, transgressions of Judah, d "For three Also I brought you up out of the unless they have made an and his anger tore perpetually, and for four, I ewill not revoke the for ever. land of Egypt, 4 appointment? 12 and he kept his wrath punishment; b Heb cause it to return and led you forty years in the Does a lion roar in the forest, anI will Ssend a aeVOUr fireupon e Teman, So It d Gk Syr Vg: Heb his wrath kept wilderness, when he has no prey? d · h 11 d th strongholds e Heb cause it to return of Bozrah." 11 to possess the land of the Amorite. Does a young lion cry out from his s e cities are condemn d because of 2 Kg.10.32-33. 6-8: Against Philistia. Four Phili tin � And I raised up some of your sons Heb den, Gilead, e ). 9-10: Aga1 st Tyre (see e cause it to return e tr d (2 Chr.21.16-17; Jl.3.4-8; Z ph.2.4-� � their slav affic with E om s e for prophets, e 13. 11-12: gainst Edom. Thi oracl , re• Jl.3.4-8). Covenant of brotherhood, compar 1 Kg.9_. � _ �gainst Israel. Using the same literary form, Amos shows that Israel and her neighbors are d t diah), 1s re rded by many as e es against E dom (see Intro uction o Oba �� udge by the same standards. 7-8: cult e calling lat r oracl _ t es 2.8-11), � ? Same maiden, prostitutes. 9: , the pre-Isra lite d Against the Ammom � (Zeph secondary. Brother, that is, Ju ah, Mal.1.2. 13-15: _ _ : _ mhab1tants of Canaan (see Ezek.16.3). 11: Nazirites, Num.6.2 n.; Jg.13.5 n. t es st s e tes m Trans-Jordan m e s ed e se of inhuman atroci i again I ra h e e e e who are to b puni h b cau s 3.1-6.14:Israel's sinfulness and God'spunishment. Thr e sections, ach with th same op ning t e e t e s th-east of the Jorda (I .15.1- 2.1-3: Against Moab, Israel's ancien n my �o h ou � exhortation (3.1; 4.1; 5.1). Gilead. e 20, I s.3 - 2). e s involving a desecration (compar 2 Kg.23.16- � ! 16.14). Burned to lime, p rhap _ e dd 3.1-15: The privileges of election create a greater responsibility (Lk.12.48b). Because Israel ts consider this oracle a lat r a 1t1on 4_5: Against Judah. In part because of i languag�, many � had been favored above all the families of the earth (Ex.19.4-6; Dt.7.6), the neighboring nations t s st d table before God. 6-16. t s s s e th Amos' view that all na 10n an accoun but i i con i t nt wi [1109] [1108] Israel will be punished The LORD's repeated warnings if he has taken nothing? so shall the people of Israel who dwell and you shall be cast forth into yet you did not return to me," 5 Does a bird fall in a snare on the in Sama'ria be rescued, with the cor­ Harmon," says the LORD. earth, ner of a couch and partg of a bed." says the LORD. when there is no trap for it? 10 "I sent among you a pestilence after Does a snare spring up from the 4 13 "Hear, and testify against the house "Come to Bethel, and transgress; the manner of Egypt; ground, of ," to , and multiply I slew your young men with the when it has taken nothing? says the Lord Goo, the God of transgression; sword; 6 Is a trumpet blown in a city, hosts, bring your sacrificesevery morning, I carried away your horses;i and the people are not afraid? your tithes every three days; 14 "that on the day I punish Israel for and I made the stench of your Does evil befall a city, his transgressions, 5 offera sacrificeof thanksgiving of unless the LORD has done it? camp go up into your nostrils; I will punish the altars of Bethel, that which is leavened, yet you did not return to me," 7 Surely the Lord Goo does nothing, and the horns of the altar shall be and proclaim freewill offerings, says the LORD. without revealing his secret cut off publish them; to his servants the prophets. and fall to the ground. for so you love to do, 0 people of 8 The lion has roared; "I overthrew some of you, 15 I will smite the winter house with Israel!" 11 who will not fear? the summer house; says the Lord Goo. as when God overthrew Sodom The Lord Goo has spoken; and the houses of ivory shall and Gomor'rah, who can but prophesy?" perish, 6 "I gave you cleanness of teeth in all and you were as a brand plucked h your out of the burning; and the great houses shall come to cities, yet you did 9 Proclaim to the strongholds in an end," and lack of bread in all your not return to me," / says the LORD. says the LoRD. place� and to the strongholds in the land yet you di ot return to me," of Egypt, 'f_n· says the LORD. 12 "Therefore thus I will do to you, 0 and say, "Assemble yourselves upon Jl "Hear this word, you cows of Israel; the mountains of Sama'ria, 1r , because I will do this to you, and see the great tumults within who are in the mountain of 7 "And I also withheld the rain from you prepare to meet your God, 0 her Sama'ria, Israel!" and the oppressions in her midst." who oppress the poor, who crushthe when there were yet three months to the harvest; 10 "They do not know how to do needy, right," says the LORD, who say to their husbands, 'Bring, I would send rain upon one city, 13 For lo, he who forms the mountains, "those who store up violence and that we may drink!' and send no rain upon another and creates the wind, robbery in their strongholds." 2 The Lord Goo has sworn by his city; and declares to man what is his 11 Therefore thus says the Lord Goo: holiness one field would be rained upon, thought; "An adversary shall surround the that, behold, the days are coming and the fieldon which it did not who makes the morning darkness, rain withered; land, upon you, . and treads on the heights of the and bring down your defenses when they shall take you away with 8 so two or three cities wandered to earth- from you, hooks, one city the LORD, the God of hosts, is his and your strongholds shall be even the last of you with fishhooks. to drink water, and were not name! plundered." 3 And you shall go out through the satisfied; yet you did not return breaches, to me," Hear this word which I take up 12 Thus says the LORD: "As the every one straight before her; says the LORD. 5 over you in lamentation, 0 house f Gk: Heb Ashdod shepherd rescues from the mouth of g The meaning of the Hebrew word is uncertain of Israel: 9 the lion two legs, or a piece of an ear, h Or many houses "I smote you with blight and 2 "Fallen, no more to rise, mildew; i is the virgin Israel; are assembled to witness her chastisement. 3-B: e cal to prophes d 1:1t ! � canno_ J '?eresiste . 6: I laid waste your gardens and forsaken on her land, Israel's God is operative in history, sending calamity (evil) as corr�cttve d1sc1p!m� (Job 2.10, your vineyards; with none to raise her up." Is.45.7). 7: The concept of revelation is grounded m the conviction that the your figtrees and your olive trees God who is Lord over nature and history discloses his will to his chosen servants (2.11; Gen. the locust devoured; i Cn: Heb the multitude of e a a d j Heb with the captivity of your horses 18.17-19; Ex.4.15-16; J r.7.25; D n.9.10; Lk.1.70). 12: Although fewmay be �e�cue fr:om a a d a e e d the c t strophe (5.3), the bur en of Amos' mess g is the thoroughn ss of the 1vme pumsh- manifold public rites at the chief sanctuaries is satirized. 6-12: Having ignored the LORD'S ment (9.1). 15: Houses of ivory, see 1 Kg.22.39 n. , re�eated warnings through nature and history, Israel must now prepare to meet her God who 4. 1-13: Israel's luxurious excesses and vain piety. Israel has not heede� the LoR� s repeated is characterized by patient love and inexorable justice. 13: This doxology, like those in '5.8-9 a e ea a d d a a a w rnings. 1-3: Th w lthy n gree y women of , being s gmlty s therr ?usb nds, and 9.5-6, with which it sh ares the refrain the LORD is his name, is probably a later addition. a e a a will lso be punish d (comp re Is.3.1�26). Cows of Bashan, Ps.22.12. 4-5: Isr el s love of 5.1-6.14: The horror and finality of Israel's deserved punishment. 5.1-3: A lament for the [1110] [llll] The day of the "Let justice roll down like waters" AMOS 5 LORD 3 19 For thus says the Lord Goo: you have built houses of h_ewn stone, as if a man fledfrom a lion, the notable men of the firstof the "The city that went forth a thousand but you shall not dwell m them; and a bear met him; nations, shall ha-qe a hundred left, you have planted pleasant or went into the house and leaned 2 to whom the house of Israel come! and that which went forth a hundred vineyards, with his hand against the wall, Pass over to Calneh, and see; shall have ten left 12 but you shall not drink their wine. 20 and a serpent bit him. and thence go to Hamath the to the house of Israel." For I know how many are your Is not the day of the LORD darkness, great; transgressions, 4 . and not light, then go down to of the For thus says the LORD to the house and how great are your sms­ and gloom with no brightness in . of Israel: you who afflictthe righteous, who it? Are they better than these kingdoms? take a bribe, 5 "Seek me and live; 21 Or is their territory greater than but do not seek Bethel, and turn aside the needy in the "I hate, I despise your feasts, 3 your territory, and do not enter into Gilgal 13 gate. and I take no delight in your 0 you who put far away the evil day, or cross over to Beer-sheba; Therefore he who is prudent will 22 solemn assemblies. and bring near the seat of for Gilgal shall surely go into exile, keep silent in such a time; Even though you offerme your violence? and Bethel shall come to nought." for it is an evil time. burnt offeringsand cereal 4 14 offerings, "Woe to those who lie upon beds of 6 Seek good, and not evil, ivory, Seek the LoRD and live, that you may live; I will not accept them, lest he break out like firein the and the peace offeringsof your fatted and stretch themselves upon their and so the LORD, the God of hosts, couches, house of , will be with you, beasts and it devour, with none to quench 23 I will not look upon. and eat lambs from the flock, 15 as you have said. and calves from the midst of the 7 it for Bethel, Hate evil, and love good, Take away f m me the noise of O you who turn justice to your so is; 5 stall; and establish justice in the gate; who sing idle songs to the sound of wormwood, it may be that the LORD, the God of to the mel dy of your harps I will and cast down righteousness to 24 not listen. the harp, hosts, and like David invent for the earth! the remnant of But let justice roll down like waters, will be gracious to and righteousness like an themselves instruments of 8 Joseph. ever-flowingstream. 6 music; He who made the Plei'ades and 16 Orion, Therefore thus says the LORD, the who drink wine in bowls, and turns deep darkness into the and25 "Did you bring to me sacrifices and anoint themselves with the God of hosts, the Lord: finestoils, morning, "In all the squares there shall be offerings the forty years 26in the and darkens the day into night, wailing; wilderness, 0 house of Israel? You but are not grieved over the ruin who calls for the waters of the sea, and in all the streets they shall say, shall take up Sakkuth your king, and 7 of Joseph! and pours them out upon the Kaiwan your star-god, your images, k Therefore they shall now be the 'Alas! alas!' firstof those to go into exile, surface of the earth, 27 They shall call the farmers to which you made for yourselves; and the revelry of those who 9 the LORD is his name, mourning therefore I will take you into exile who makes destruction flash forth beyond Damascus," says the LORD, stretch themselves shall pass and to wailing those who are away." against the strong, 17 skilled in lamentation, whose name is the God of hosts. so that destruction comes upon and in all vineyards there shall be 8 the fortress. The Lord Goo has sworn by wailing, 6 "Woe to those who are at ease in himself 10 for I will pass through the midst Zion, hate him who reproves in the ( says the LORD, the God of hosts) : They of you," and to those who feel secure on "I abhor the pride of Jacob, gate, says the LoRD. the mountain of Sama'ria, k Heb your images, your star-god and they abhor him who speaks the truth. 1s Woe to you who desire the day of will be darkness and gloom (Am.8.9-14; see Zeph.1.14-18 n.). Amos' profound reinterpretation 11 of this popular concept is among his most significant contributions. 21 -27: The delights Therefore because you trample the LORD! LORD not in an abundance of festivalsand sacrificesbut injustice and righteousness. Verse 24 expresses upon the poor Why would you have the day of the heart of Amos' preaching. 25: In the desert Israel had a pure, direct relation with God which It the LORD? and take from him exactions of rendered 1sacrifices unnecessary (Jer.2.2-3; Hos.2.14-20; 9.10). 26: Sakkuth and Kaiwan wheat, is darkness, and not light; designate known Assyrian deities (Acts 7.42-43). 6. 1-7: The Israelites, who feel themselves fallen and forsaken nation. Went forth a thousand, a reference to military forces. 4-7,14-15: securein their false confidence and lie upon beds of ivory in luxurious self-indulgence, will be There is yet time to seek the and live. 8-9: The second doxology (see 4.1 n.). 10-13, LORD � the first of those whom God will send into exile. 2: Compare Is.10.9-11; 2 Chr.26.6. Calneh 1 6-17: Amos warns Israel again about the nature and effect of her trans�ress1o�s. 18-�0: and Hamath, important commercial centers in Syria, represent wealth and security. s: David, in which Israelites piously expected to be vindicated agamst their enemies, The day of the LORD, 1 Chr.23.5; Neh.12.36. 8-14: Because Israel has turned faith into pride (Is.28.1; Hos.5.5; Am. [1112] [1113] The visions of Amos Amos and Amaziah "O and hate his strongholds; Lord Goo, forgive, I beseech 'Jerobo' am shall die by the sword, "the dead bodies shall be many; and I will deliver up the city and thee! and Israel must go into exile in every place they shall be cast away from his land.' " 1 all that is in it." How can Jacob stand? 12 out in silence. " He is so small!" And Amazi' ah said to Amos, "O 3 4 9 And if ten men remain in one The LORD repented concerning this; seer, go, flee away to the land of Hear this, you who trample upon the 10 when a "It shall not be," said the LoRo. Judah, and eat bread there, and proph­ needy, house, they shall die. And 1 man's kinsman, he who burns him, esy there; 13 but never again prophesy and bring the poor of theland to to bring the bones 4 Thus the Lord Goo showed me: at Bethel, for it is the king's sanctuary, an end, shall take him up 5 out of the house, and shall say to him behold, the Lord Goo was calling for a and it is a temple of the kingdom." saying, "When will the new moon who is in the innermost parts of the judgment by fire, and it devoured the 14 Then Amos answered Amazi'ah, be over, house, "Is there still any one with great deep and was eating up the land. "I am no prophet, nor a prophet's son;P that we may sell grain? you?" he shall say, "No"; and he shall 5 Then I said, but I am a herdsman, and a dresser And the sabbath, "O 15 say, "Hush! We must not mention the Lord Goo, cease, I beseech thee! of sycamore trees, and the LORD that we may offerwheat for sale, name of the LoRD." How can Jacob stand? took me from following the flock, and that we may make the ephah small He is so small!" the LORD said to me, 'Go, prophesy and the shekel great, 11 For behold, the LORD commands, 6 The LORD repented concerning this; to my people Israel.' and deal deceitfully with false and the great house shall be "This also shall not be," said the 16 "Now therefore hear the word of balances, smitten into fragments, Lord Goo. the LORD. 6 that we may buy the poor for silver and the little house into bits. You say, 'Do not prophesy against and the needy for a pair of 12 Do horses run upon rocks? 7 He showed me: behold, the Lord Israel, sandals, Does one plow the sea with oxen? was standing beside a wall built with and do not pr ch against the and sell the refuse of the wheat?" But you have turned justice into a plumb line, with a plumb line in his house of Is !c.' poison hand. 8 And the LORD said to me, 17 Therefore thus ays the LORD: 7 The LoRD has sworn by the pride and the fruit of righteousness into "Amos, what do you see?" And I said, 'Your wife shall be a harlot in the of Jacob: wormwood- "A plumb line." Then the Lord said, city, "Surely I will never forget any of "Behold, I am setting a plumb line and your sons and your daughters their deeds. 13 you who rejoice in Lo-debar,n who say, "Have we not by our in the midst of my people Israel; shall fall by the sword, 8 Shall not the land tremble on this own strength I will never again pass by them; and your land shall be parceled account, taken Karnaim0 for ourselves?" 9 the high places of Isaac shall be out by line; and every one mourn who dwells 14 "For behold, I will raise up against made desolate, you yourself shall die in an unclean in it, you a nation, and the sanctuaries of Israel shall land, and all of it rise like the , 0 house of Israel," says the Lo RD, be laid waste, and Israel shall surely go into and be tossed about and sink the God of hosts; and I will rise against the house exile away from its land.' " again, like the Nile of Egypt?" "and they shall oppress you from of J erobo' am with the sword." the entrance of Hamath Thus the Lord Goo showed me: 9 "And on that day," says the Lord to the Brook of the Arabah." 10 Then Amazi' ah the priest of 8 behold, a basket of summer fruit.q Goo, Bethel sent to J erobo'am king of Is­ 2 And he said, "Amos, what do you "I will make the sun go down at Thus the Lord Goo showed me: rael, saying, "Amos has conspired see?" And I said, "A basket of sum­ noon, 7 behold, he was forming locusts in against you in the midst of the house mer fruit."q Then the LORD said to and darken the earth in broad the beginning of the shooting up of the of Israel; the land is not able to bear me, daylight. latter growth; and lo, it was the latter all his words. 11 For thus Amos has "The end' has come upon my 10 I will turn your feasts into growth after the king's mowings. said, people Israel; mourning, 2 I Or who makes a burning for him I will never again pass by them. and all your songs into When they had finished eating the n Or a thing of nought grass of the land, I said, o Or horns 3The songs of the temples shall lamentation; become wailings in that day," p Or one of the sons of the prophets 8.7) and justice into poison, she will be thoroughly punished. 9-10: The sequel to siege or pes­ q Heb qayits r Heb qets _ says the Lord Goo; s Or palace t Or be silent! tilence. Not mention the name of the LORD, perhaps out of fear of furtherJudgment. 14: From Hamath to the Arabah, the farthest extent of Israelite territory (see 2 Kg.14.25). 7.1-9.15: Five visions of God's judgment, and a prophecy of restoration. 7.1-9: The first three �ctuary at Bethel. 14: Amos asserts that he is not a professional prophet (1 Sam.9.6-10; visions. 1-3: Judgment by locusts (Jl.1.2-7 n.). 4-6: Judgment by fire (see 1.4). The judgments Mic.3.5-8,11) or a member of a prophetic guild (2 Kg.2.3 n.; 1 Sam.10.5; 1 Kg.22.6), but a lay­ are halted when Amos pleads. 7-9: Plumb line (2 Kg.21.13-15). The people are found warped man whom the LoRD took and sent to prophesy to his people (3.3-8; 2 Sam. 7.8). beyond correction; God decrees an irrevocable sentence of destruction. 5· 8,1-3: Fourth vision. A basket of ripe summer fruit symbolizes the immediacy of Israel's end. 7.10-17: Amos and Amaziah. A prose biographical incident, introduced here perhaps because 8.4-14: The indictment of Israel and the coming of the day of mourning (see 5.18-20 n.). of the threat against the house of Jeroboam in v. 9. Amaziah was the official priest of the royal �-6:The merchants are impatient for the holy days to pass so they can resume their fraudulent [1114] [1115] No escape from the LORD' s judgment Restoration of the booth of David AMOS 9 I will bring sackcloth upon all loins, though they climb up to heaven, I and I will destroy it from the and all the nations who are called and baldness on every head; from there will bring them down. surface of the ground; I will make it like the mourning for 3 Though they hide themselves on the by my name," except that I will not utterly says the LORD who does this. an only son, top of Carmel, destroy the house of Jacob," and the end of it like a bitter day. from there I will search out and says the LORD. 13 take them; "Behold, the days are coming," says 11 "Behold, the days are coming," says and though they hide from my sight the LORD, the Lord Goo, at the bottom of the sea, 9 "For lo, I will command, "when the plowman shall overtake "when I will send a famine on the there I will command the serpent, and shake the house of Israel the reaper land; and it shall bite them. among all the nations and the treader of grapes him not a famine of bread, nor a thirst 4 And though they go into captivity as one shakes with a sieve, who sows the seed; for water, before their enemies, but no pebble shall fall upon the the mountains shall drip sweet wine, but of hearing the words of the there I will command the sword, earth. and all the hills shall flowwith it. All 1 LORD. and it shall slay them; 10 the sinners of my people shall 4 I will restore the fortunes of my 12 They shall wander from sea to sea, and I will set my eyes upon them die by the sword, people Israel, and from north to east; for evil and not for good." who say, 'Evil shall not overtake and they shall rebuild the ruined they shall run to and fro, to seek the or meet us.' cities and 'inhabitthem; word of the LORD, 5 The Lord, Goo of hosts, they shall plant vineyards and drink their wine, but they shall not findit. he who touches the earth and it 11 "In that day I will raise up melts, the booth and they shall make gardens and of David that is fallen eat their fruit. 13 "In that day the fair virgins and the and all who dwell in it mourn, and r�a�r its b�each_es, 15 I will plant them upon their land, young men and all of it rises like the Nile, ancfra1seup its rums, shall faint for thirst. and sinks again, like the Nile of and and they shall never again be rebuild it as in the days of plucked up 14 Those who swear by Ash'imah of Egypt; old· out of the land which I have given Sama'ria, 6 who builds his upper chambers m 12 that they may possess the remnant and say, 'As thy god lives, 0 ,' the heavens, of Edom them," and, 'As the way of Beer-she�a lives,' and founds his vault upon the says the LORD your God. every sinful kingdom. Here i a they shall fall, and never nse earth; Amos' un vers lism (see 1.2-2.16 n.) compl t t el ti emen s he doctrine of again." who calls for the waters of the sea, ec on (3.2). 7: Caphtor, see Jg.13.1 n. Kir, see 1.5 n. 9.11-15: Prophecies of the and pours them out upon the restoration of the Davidic dynasty (vs. 11-12) and the glorious to e (vs. 13-15). i age I u c�� Th s section, so affirmative in its empha a saw the LORD standing beside surface of the earth- t sis, is gener lly considered a later add1 1on. It expands, however, genui t 9 ne elemen s in Amos' own thought (compa the altar, and he said: the LORD is his name. a re 3.12; 5.3,4,6, 11-15) nd also illustrates a basic concept t a h t the fullprophe tic word contains both judgment "Smite the capitals until the and alvation t ti � (see In roduc on to Micah). 11-12: Not t t 7 e he use of his passage by James at the thresholds shake, "Are you not like the Ethiopians to meetmg of the apostles and t l t he e ders of he church at Jerusalem in Act and shatter them on the heads of me, Jl.3.18-21 n. s 15.16-17. 13: See all the people;v O people of Israel?" says the and what are left of them I will slay LORD. with the sword; "Did I not bring up Israel from the not one of them shall flee away, land of Egypt, not one of them shall escape. and the Philistines from Caphtor and the Syrians from Kir? 2 "Though they dig into Sheol, 8 Behold, the eyes of the L