Amos 2
2
Moab
1Yahweh says this:
“For the three terrible crimes of the Moabites—
no, make that four—
I will not turn back my wrath.
They burned the bones of the king of Edom to lime. # 2:1 This historical event of burning the king’s bones did not take place immediately after the death of the unknown king but apparently sometime later, when his tomb was opened and desecrated. The ancient Semites considered this offensive act to be odious.
2So I will send fire down into Moab
to devour the fortresses of Kerioth. # 2:2 The Septuagint translates Kerioth not as a proper name but as “towns.”
Moab will perish in the heat of battle
amid war cries and the blaring of shofars.
3I will destroy Moab’s ruler # 2:3 Or “judge.”
and slaughter all officials there with him,”
says Yahweh.
Judah
4Yahweh says this:
“For the three terrible crimes of Judah—
no, make that four—
I will not turn back my wrath
because they have despised Yahweh’s instructions # 2:4 Or “torah [law].”
and not kept his commandments.
Their lies, # 2:4 That is, their idolatry. which their ancestors followed,
have led them astray.
5I will send fire down on Judah
to devour the fortresses of Jerusalem.”
Israel
6Yahweh says this:
“For the three terrible crimes of Israel—
no, make that four—
I will not turn back my wrath.
For a few pieces of silver,
they sold honest people into slavery.
They even sold
the poor,
who couldn’t pay their debts,
for a pair of sandals.
7They trample the poor and helpless into the dirt # 2:7 The Hebrew for the word translated “trample” has a homonym meaning “to be eager,” “to pant for,” or “to long for.” That is, the oppressors “long for the dust of the earth on the head of the poor.” It would then imply that the rich are satisfied only when they see the poor with dust on their heads in a miserable condition. The ever-present (to this day) temptation for those at the top of the economic pyramid, especially during times of prosperity, is to protect their position (with force if necessary) and turn a blind eye to those at the bottom. Hierarchies will always naturally form as the able, intelligent, and powerful take on more responsibility. The question always remains: How are you going to behave when you get to the top? Amos deals with such wise insights that are so very applicable to this prosperous age in which we now live. The sin is not being “at the top.” Someone has to run things. The sin is allowing corruption to pervert our time at the top.
and shove aside the rights of the destitute. # 2:7 Or “[they] bend the way of the afflicted” (i.e., they put stumbling blocks in their way or traps to impede the anticipated enjoyment of their lives).
A son and his father have sex with the same woman, # 2:7 Expositors are evenly divided over the identity of this young woman or girl. Some view her as a cultic prostitute, and others see her as a domestic servant violated by a son and his father.
and by doing so, they profane my holy name.
8They lay themselves down beside every altar
on garments taken as security for debts,
and in the house of God they drink the wine
they got from those who have been fined.
9“Yet it was I who destroyed the Amorites # 2:9 The Amorites were the original pre-Joshua inhabitants of what became Israel.
before your very eyes.
They stood as tall as cedar trees
and as strong as oaks.
I destroyed them root and branch. # 2:9 Or “their fruit above and root below.” This is a Hebraic figure of speech (i.e., “from crown to kingdom”) to say that they were completely destroyed. See Job 18:16.
10It was I who brought you up from Egypt
and led you for forty years through the desert
to possess the land of the Amorites.
11I raised up prophets from your sons
and Nazirites # 2:11 Nazirites were those completely set apart for the service of God. A Nazirite was not allowed to cut his hair, touch any dead thing (person), or drink wine. He had to take several vows that are described in the law of the Nazirite found in Num. 6:1–21. from your young men.
People of Israel, is this not true?
I, Yahweh, have spoken!
12“But you made the Nazirites drink wine and break their vow.
You ordered the prophets,
‘You’d better not prophesy.’
13Very well! I will press you down # 2:13 The meaning of the Hebrew verb is uncertain. There are at least seven possible ways to translate ʿuq with variant nuances: (1) “to press down [crush]”; (2) “to groan”; (3) “to split [hollow out]”; (4) “to bring to a halt [hinder]”; (5) “to shake [earthquake]”; (6) “to collapse”; (7) “to cut in pieces.” For a detailed study of each possible translation and their criticism, see Hartmut Gese, “Kleine Beiträge zum Verständnis des Amosbuches,” Vetus Testamentum 12.4 (1962), 417–24; Hans-Peter Müller, “Die Wurzeln ʿyq, yʿq, und ʿwq,” Vetus Testamentum 21.5 (1971), 556–64.
like a cart overloaded with grain.
14Even the swiftest runner will not escape,
physical strength will not be enough to protect the strong,
nor will the mighty warrior be able to save himself.
15The archer will not stand his ground,
the fastest runners will not escape,
nor will the one who flees on horseback save his life.
16In that day, even the bravest of warriors
will throw down his arms and run away. # 2:16 Or “will flee stripped [ill-clad].”
I, Yahweh, have spoken.”
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Amos 2: TPT
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Learn More About The Passion TranslationAmos 2
2
Moab
1Yahweh says this:
“For the three terrible crimes of the Moabites—
no, make that four—
I will not turn back my wrath.
They burned the bones of the king of Edom to lime. # 2:1 This historical event of burning the king’s bones did not take place immediately after the death of the unknown king but apparently sometime later, when his tomb was opened and desecrated. The ancient Semites considered this offensive act to be odious.
2So I will send fire down into Moab
to devour the fortresses of Kerioth. # 2:2 The Septuagint translates Kerioth not as a proper name but as “towns.”
Moab will perish in the heat of battle
amid war cries and the blaring of shofars.
3I will destroy Moab’s ruler # 2:3 Or “judge.”
and slaughter all officials there with him,”
says Yahweh.
Judah
4Yahweh says this:
“For the three terrible crimes of Judah—
no, make that four—
I will not turn back my wrath
because they have despised Yahweh’s instructions # 2:4 Or “torah [law].”
and not kept his commandments.
Their lies, # 2:4 That is, their idolatry. which their ancestors followed,
have led them astray.
5I will send fire down on Judah
to devour the fortresses of Jerusalem.”
Israel
6Yahweh says this:
“For the three terrible crimes of Israel—
no, make that four—
I will not turn back my wrath.
For a few pieces of silver,
they sold honest people into slavery.
They even sold
the poor,
who couldn’t pay their debts,
for a pair of sandals.
7They trample the poor and helpless into the dirt # 2:7 The Hebrew for the word translated “trample” has a homonym meaning “to be eager,” “to pant for,” or “to long for.” That is, the oppressors “long for the dust of the earth on the head of the poor.” It would then imply that the rich are satisfied only when they see the poor with dust on their heads in a miserable condition. The ever-present (to this day) temptation for those at the top of the economic pyramid, especially during times of prosperity, is to protect their position (with force if necessary) and turn a blind eye to those at the bottom. Hierarchies will always naturally form as the able, intelligent, and powerful take on more responsibility. The question always remains: How are you going to behave when you get to the top? Amos deals with such wise insights that are so very applicable to this prosperous age in which we now live. The sin is not being “at the top.” Someone has to run things. The sin is allowing corruption to pervert our time at the top.
and shove aside the rights of the destitute. # 2:7 Or “[they] bend the way of the afflicted” (i.e., they put stumbling blocks in their way or traps to impede the anticipated enjoyment of their lives).
A son and his father have sex with the same woman, # 2:7 Expositors are evenly divided over the identity of this young woman or girl. Some view her as a cultic prostitute, and others see her as a domestic servant violated by a son and his father.
and by doing so, they profane my holy name.
8They lay themselves down beside every altar
on garments taken as security for debts,
and in the house of God they drink the wine
they got from those who have been fined.
9“Yet it was I who destroyed the Amorites # 2:9 The Amorites were the original pre-Joshua inhabitants of what became Israel.
before your very eyes.
They stood as tall as cedar trees
and as strong as oaks.
I destroyed them root and branch. # 2:9 Or “their fruit above and root below.” This is a Hebraic figure of speech (i.e., “from crown to kingdom”) to say that they were completely destroyed. See Job 18:16.
10It was I who brought you up from Egypt
and led you for forty years through the desert
to possess the land of the Amorites.
11I raised up prophets from your sons
and Nazirites # 2:11 Nazirites were those completely set apart for the service of God. A Nazirite was not allowed to cut his hair, touch any dead thing (person), or drink wine. He had to take several vows that are described in the law of the Nazirite found in Num. 6:1–21. from your young men.
People of Israel, is this not true?
I, Yahweh, have spoken!
12“But you made the Nazirites drink wine and break their vow.
You ordered the prophets,
‘You’d better not prophesy.’
13Very well! I will press you down # 2:13 The meaning of the Hebrew verb is uncertain. There are at least seven possible ways to translate ʿuq with variant nuances: (1) “to press down [crush]”; (2) “to groan”; (3) “to split [hollow out]”; (4) “to bring to a halt [hinder]”; (5) “to shake [earthquake]”; (6) “to collapse”; (7) “to cut in pieces.” For a detailed study of each possible translation and their criticism, see Hartmut Gese, “Kleine Beiträge zum Verständnis des Amosbuches,” Vetus Testamentum 12.4 (1962), 417–24; Hans-Peter Müller, “Die Wurzeln ʿyq, yʿq, und ʿwq,” Vetus Testamentum 21.5 (1971), 556–64.
like a cart overloaded with grain.
14Even the swiftest runner will not escape,
physical strength will not be enough to protect the strong,
nor will the mighty warrior be able to save himself.
15The archer will not stand his ground,
the fastest runners will not escape,
nor will the one who flees on horseback save his life.
16In that day, even the bravest of warriors
will throw down his arms and run away. # 2:16 Or “will flee stripped [ill-clad].”
I, Yahweh, have spoken.”
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Copyright © 2020 Passion & Fire Ministries, Inc.
Learn More About The Passion Translation