duane a. garrett-amos a handbook on the hebrew text (2008)

Amos

Garrett Amos final.indd 1 6/6/08 2:24:17 PM

Baylor Handbook on the Hebrew Bible

General Editor

W. Dennis Tucker Jr.


AmosA Handbook on the Hebrew Text

Duane A. Garrett

Baylor University Press


©2008byBaylorUniversityPress,Waco,Texas76798

All Rights Reserved.Nopartofthispublicationmaybereproduced,storedinaretrievalsystem,ortransmitted,inanyformorbyanymeans,electronic,mechanical,photocopying,recordingorotherwise,withoutthepriorpermis-sioninwritingofBaylorUniversityPress.

Cover DesignbyPamelaPollCover photographbyBruceandKennethZuckerman,WestSemiticResearch,incollaborationwiththeancientBiblicalManuscriptCenter.CourtesyRus-sinaNationalLibrary(Saltykov-Shchedrin).

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Garrett,DuaneA.Amos:ahandbookontheHebrewtext/DuaneA.Garrett.p.cm.--(BaylorhandbookontheHebrewBibleseries)Includesbibliographicalreferencesandindex.ISBN978-1-932792-69-0(pbk.)1.Bible.O.T.Amos--Criticism,Textual.2.Bible.O.T.Amos--Language,style.3.Hebrewlanguage--Grammar.I.Title.

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TABlE of ConTEnTs

v

Introduction 1

Amos1 13

Amos2 47

Amos3 77

Amos4 104

Amos5 129

Amos6 177

Amos7 204

Amos8 229

Amos9 256

Glossary 292

Bibliography 295

IndexofModernAuthors 301

SubjectIndex 303


1

InTroDuCTIon

ThebookofAmos,thesuperscripttellsus,wascomposedbyAmosof Tekoa in the mid-eighth century B.C. Although from Judah,Amosdirectedhismessageagainstthearistocraticandpriestlyupper-classesofSamariaandBethel.Israelatthistime,duringthereignofJeroboamII,wasinthemidstofamisleadingperiodofprosperityandmilitarypower.Deceivedbytheiraffluenceandterritorialexpansion,theIsraelitessupposedthatGodwasontheirsideandthatthegoodtimeswouldneverend.Crueltytothepoor,religiousarrogance,andanunboundedsenseofconfidenceinthemightoftheirfortificationscharacterizedtheupperechelonsofsociety.Theycouldnotimaginethattheircitieswereonlydecadesawayfromtotaldestruction,andthey countedAmos a charlatan andblasphemer forhis predictionsof their imminentdemise.ThebookofAmos isacarefullycraftedindictmentagainst Israel, anapologia forAmos’ claims to thepro-phetic office, and a prediction of calamity for Israel followed by afinal,eschatologicalsalvation.

The focusof this commentary is theHebrewtextofAmos.Dis-cussionsof thebook’s social andhistorical background,of insightsgainedfromarchaeology,andofitstheologyaresecondaryandpur-posefullykept toaminimum. Inaddition, this commentaryworksfrom the received Masoretic Text of Amos and makes no effort toincludeanexhaustiverecordoftextualvariants,ofversionalreadings,andofconjecturalemendationsproposedbybiblicalscholars.Discus-sionsoftext-criticalissuesthereforewillappearonlywheneithertheobscurityofthereceivedtextorsomeotherconsiderationsrequireit.ThiscommentaryisintendedprimarilyforthestudentofHebrewand


2 Amos

theBibletranslator,butitshouldbehelpfulalsoforanyteachersoftheBiblewhobelievethatwrestlingwiththeoriginallanguageofthetexttobevaluable.

redaction and structure of the Book of AmosIncurrentOTstudies,thequestionofthestructureofAmosiscloselylinkedtothequestionofitsredactionhistory,asscholarsseektoshowbothwhatwastheoriginal formofthebookandhowitevolved.AfamousexampleofthismethodisthecommentarybyH.W.Wolffwhich,onthebasisofaform-criticalanalysis,arguesthatAmoswentthroughsixredactionalstages(Wolff1977,106–13).ButDirkRott-zollarguesthat itwentthroughno less thantwelvestagesofredac-tion(Rottzoll1996,285–90)!AmorerecentexampleisWood(2002),whichargues that thebookwasoriginally sevenpoemswrittenandperformedbytheprophetasapoetictragedy.Woodassertsthatasec-ondeditionoftheprophet’sbookwasproducedbyanexilicauthorwhoinsertedarunningcommentaryontheoriginalwork,therebynotonlygreatlyexpandingandreorderingtheoriginalbutalsotransformingitintoacomedy(bygivingitaredemptive,happyending).Thisrevisedversion,thepresentbookofAmos,isintenparts.Wood’stheory,likeothersofitskind,isattimesforcedandisnotpersuasive.Nevertheless,somemayfindthetendivisionsthatWoodproposesasthestructureof Amos helpful. Similarly, but with very different results, one seesstructuralanalysismixedinwithaproposedredactionhistoryinPark(2001).Theresultsofredaction-criticalstudiesareinfactexceedinglydiverse.Thereisnoconsensus(seeMöller2003,“ReconstructingandInterpretingAmos’sLiteraryPrehistory”forasurveyofrecentredac-tion-criticalanalyses;seealsoMöller2003,A Prophet in Debate,whicharguesonthebasisofarhetorical-criticalanalysisthatthetextofAmosdidnothaveanextensiveredactionhistory). Inmyview,redaction-criticalapproachesareneithercompellingnorheuristicallyvaluable.

AlthoughcertaindivisionsofAmos areobvious in even a casualreadingofthetext(e.g.,thattheeightoraclesagainstthenationsin


Introduction 3

1:3–2:16constituteasingledivision),manyaspectsofthestructureareobscureanddebated,andreaderswillfindanabundanceofproposalsinthescholarlyliterature.Forexample,O’Connell(1996)arguesthat,followingthepatternofsevennationsplusIsraelin1:3–2:16,Amosuses an “N +1” pattern throughout (where “N” is some stereotypi-calnumbersuchas3or7,andtheadditionalitemissomeelementofsurprise,suchasaddingIsrael tothe listofcondemnednations).O’Connell does not, however, convincingly demonstrate that thispatterngovernsthewholebook.Boyle(1971)saysthat3:1–4:13isacovenant lawsuit,butthis,too, isunpersuasive.Koch(1974)arguesthat the hymn fragments in Amos 4:13; 5:8; 9:5-6 are redactionalbutthattheydemarcatedivisionsofthebook.Noble(1995)saysthatAmosisinthreeparts(1:2–3:8;3:9–6:14;7:1–9:15).Heclaimsthatthemiddlesectionisachiasmus,buthemustrelocateordeleteseveralversestomakeitwork.EverymajorcommentaryonAmos,moreover,has its own presentation of the structure of the book. While therearesomeareasofagreement(again,that1:3–2:16belongstogether),itwouldbeamistaketospeakofanythinglikeastandardview.Thereadershouldconsultthecommentariesforvariousalternativestothestructuresuggestedhere.

ThestartingpointfortheoutlineofAmosproposedinthiscom-mentaryisLimburg(1987),wherehestatesthattherearefiftydivinespeechformulas(suchasאמר יהוה,“saysYHWH,”andנאם יהוה,“theoracleofYHWH”)inAmos.Theseare,hesays,distributedasfollows:oneat1:1–2,fourteenin1:3–2:16,andseveneachin3:1–15;4:1–13;5:1–6:14;7:1–8:3;and8:4–9:15.Thus thereare sevendivi-sionsinthebook.Limburgpointsoutthatthenumberseven(orsevenplusone)isveryimportantinAmos.TherearesevenaccusednationsplusIsraelin1:3–2:16,forexample,andthecallforjusticein5:21-24listsseventhingthatYHWHhates:feasts,solemnassemblies,burntofferings,cerealofferings,peaceofferings,noiseofsongsandmelo-diesofharps.


4 Amos

AsremarkableasLimburg’sanalysisis,thereareaspectsofitthatare not satisfying. For example, 1:2 has no divine speech formulaexplicitnohas ויאמר) subject and isnotadivine speech formula),andthereforethereareforty-nine,notfifty,suchformulas.Thisisnotreallyaproblem,however.Thewholeof1:2 isaboutdivine speechandservestointroducethisasthemotifthatgovernsthebook.Lim-burgcounts3:1twice,apparentlyonthestrengthofitshavingדבר ,לאמרand יהוה but he doesnot count 3:8, which hasיהוה אדני דברtojoinedis(itseparatelycountedbenotshould לאמרBut.דבר אדני יהוהcertainlybutframes),quotativeon1995Millersee;יהוה-showtoattentionlittlegivesLimburgAlso,counted.beshould דברingthatthestructureofAmosactuallydoesfallintothesevengroupshementions.If,forexample,onecannotshowthat8:4–9:15belongstogetherasasingledivision,thereisnoreasontocountthisasonepassagethathassevenspeechformulas.

Slightly modifying Limburg’s presentation, one can see how thevarious formulas areused.After1:2 sets forthdivine speechas thegoverning motif of the book, the divine speech formulas all occuringroupsoffourteenorseveninthesixlargedivisionsindicatedbyLimburg.Withtwoexceptions,everymajordivisioninAmosisintro-ducedwith aplural imperativeofשמע.These exceptions are1:3–2:16,whichisaseriesoforacles,eachbegunwithכה אמר יהוה,andthevisionreportsectionat7:1–8:3,whichisintroducedbyahiphilofand(1:1)superscripttheafterAmosofdivisionsseventheThus,.ראהthepoeticproclamationofYHWHmakinghisvoiceheard(1:2),areasfollows(theopeningwordsofeachdivisionareinparentheses):

I. (כה אמר יהוה)2:16–1:3II. (שמעו את־הדבר הזה)15–3:1III.4:1–13(שמעו הדבר הזה)IV.5:1–6:14(שמעו את־הדבר הזה)V. (כה הראני אדני יהוה)8:3–7:1VI.8:4–9:15(שמעו־זאת)


Introduction 5

I. II. III. IV. V. VI.1:3^

3:1 4:3 5:3^* 7:3 8:9*1:5

1:6^3:8* 4:5* 5:4^ 7:6* 8:11*

1:8*1:9^

3:10 4:6 5:16^+ 7:8& 9:71:11^1:13^

3:11^* 4:8 5:17 7:15& 9:81:152:1^

3:12^ 4:9 5:27+ 7:17^ 9:122:3

2:4^3:13* 4:10 6:8+ 8:2& 9:13

2:6^2:11

3:15 4:11 6:14+ 8:3* 9:15++2:16

KeytoDivineSpeechFormulasinAmos

אמר

אמר יהוה plaintext

כה אמר יהוה plainwithcaret

אמר אדני יהוה plainwithasterisk

אמר יהוה אלהי צבאות plainwithplussign

אמר יהוה אלהיך plainwithtwoplussigns

ויאמר יהוה plainwithampersand

דברדבר יהוה bold

אדני יהוה דבר boldwithasterisk

נאם

נאם יהוה italics

נאם אדני יהוה italicswithasterisk

נאם־יהוה אלהי צבאות italicswithplussign


6 Amos

Thetableaboveanditsaccompanyingkeyshowswhatformulasareusedinwhatverses.ThetableisinsixcolumnscorrespondingtothesixmajordivisionsofAmos.

From this alone one can see certain revealing patterns. As men-tionedabove,1:3–2:16hasfourteendivinespeechformulas.Amosfivetimesbeginsandendseachoftheseeightoracleswithadivinespeechformula. Ifhehad consistentlydone this for all theseoracles, therewouldofcoursebesixteen.ButheskipsthesecondformulaatTyre(1:9-10),Edom(1:11-12)andJudah(2:4-5),andheaddsathirdfor-mulaforIsraelat2:11.Thus,thetextseemstodeliberatelyaimathav-ingfourteenformulas.Moreinterestingly,everymajordivisionexceptforthelastendswithatleastoneנאם formula(seethebottomrowofthetable).Theformulaat9:15,whichuniquelyisאמר יהוה אלהיך,“saysYHWHyourGod,”seemsdeliberatelysetattheendoftheres-torationprophecy(9:11-15)toreassureIsraelthatYHWHwillagainbe theirGod.Note,however, that everyother formulaof8:4–9:15,thelastdivisionofthebook,isaנאם formula,whichcorrespondstothefactthateveryotherdivisionendswithaנאם formula.Itisalsonoteworthythatjustastheנאם formulasdominatethelastdivisionofthebook,8:4–9:15,soalsoin4:1-13everyformulaisoftheנאם kind.This suggests that thebook is in twoparts,1:3–4:13and5:1–9:15,andthisissupportedbytheoverallstructureofthebook,asdescribedbelow.Bycontrast,אמר typeformulasaremorecommoninallotherdivisionsofthebook.Thedivision7:1–8:3ismorenarrativeinnature,and the formulaיהוה with,ויאמר thewayyiqtol verb,occurs twicethere.Themostexalted,pleonasticformulas(אמר יהוה אלהי צבאות andנאם־יהוה אלהי צבאות)alloccurin5:1–6:14,andthetwofor-mulaswithדבר botharein3:1-15.Theredoesnotappeartobeanypatterntotheusageofאדני intheformulasexceptthatitappearsineverymajordivision.

Thiscommentarywill attempt todemonstrate thateachdivisiondescribedabovehasinternalcoherenceandstructure(fordiscussions


Introduction 7

ofeachdivision’sstructure,seethe introductionstothemajordivi-sions).Inaddition,thereisaninternallogictothearrangementofthesixmajordivisions,withachiasticstructure,asfollows:

A. 1:3–2:16 Judgment on the nations, with the unexpectedinclusionofIsrael.

B. 3:1-15FirstdefenseofAmos’propheticofficeagainstthosewhoassertthathehasnorighttoprophesyagainstIsrael

C. 4:1-13 First major accusation against the materialisticandreligiousarroganceoftheIsraelites.

C’. 5:1–6:14Secondmajoraccusationagainstthematerialis-ticandreligiousarroganceoftheIsraelites.

B’.7:1–8:3SeconddefenseofAmos’propheticoffice againstthosewhoassertthathehasnorighttoprophesyagainstIsrael

A’. 8:4–9:15FinalaccusationandverdictagainstIsrael,withtheunexpectedrevivalofIsraelandinclusionofthenationsinIsrael’sglory.

Conventions of this CommentaryThroughoutthecommentary,theHebrewtextofAmosappearswithfullcantillationmarks (accents,orטעמים).WhenaHebrewwordis discussed, it iswrittenwithout the cantillationmarks, and cita-tionsofpassagesoutsideofAmosgenerallylackcantillationmarks.Whenverbsareparsed,thetraditionalstemnamesareused(qal,piel,etc.).Conjugations,however,arenamedwiththeterminologythathas become increasingly more the standard in Hebrew studies, asfollows:

qatal =perfect(קטל)yiqtol =imperfect(יקטל)wayyiqtol =imperfectwith“vavconsecutive”(ויקטל)weqatal =perfectwithsimpleconjunction(וקטל)weyiqtol =imperfectwithsimpleconjunction(ויקטל)


8 Amos

Althoughonemightdebatewhetherqatal andweqatal shouldbecon-sideredtobeseparateconjugations,inthesyntaxofthelanguage,eachofthefiveformslistedabovehasadistinctivesetoffunctions.There-fore,onecannottreat theqatal andtheweqatal simplyas thesameverbalform;theformerisgenerallyperfectiveinaspectandindicativeinmood,andittypicallydealswithpast,present,orgnomicactions.Thelatterisgenerallyimperfectiveandmaybesubjunctiveorvolitive,anditoftenisusedforafutureindicativeoranapodosis.Similarly,oneshouldneverregardtheweqatal asthesameasawayyiqtol,orfailtotakenoteoftherelativelyrarepresenceofaweyiqtol inAmos(itisusedseventimes).

AmajorissueinAmosisdistinguishingprosefrompoetry.Inthiscommentary,Hebrewthatisreckonedtobeproseisprintedaswholeverses in paragraph form. After this, the prose text is analyzed onaclause-by-clausebasis,andeachclauseis individuallyprintedinasmallertypeface.Thisisdonebecause,inmyestimation,theclauseistheideallevelatwhichtoapproachtheanalysisofHebrewprose.Withintheclause,onecanseehoweachconstituentandmorphemefunctionsattheclause level,andatahigher level,onecandescribehoweachclausefunctionsinthediscourse.

Colometry(or“stichometry”)isthedivisionofapoemintoitsindi-viduallines.Thecolometryofapoembeingfundamentaltoitsanaly-sis,everypoeticsectionofAmosissetforthona line-by-linebasis.Thebasisforthelinedivisionsusedherearetwo-fold.First,themajordisjunctivemarksof the cantillation systemare taken into account(seeHoop2000).Inthemajorityofcases,linebreaksoccuratthesil-luq,theathnach,andthezaqeph qaton,withsomebreaksoccurringatthepashta,revia,ortifha.Asageneralrule,whenadisjunctiveaccentservestomarka linebreak, itwillhaveaweakerdisjunctiveaccentwithinitsdomain.Asisdonehere,namesofaccentsaregiveninital-icsinasimplifiedtransliteration.Insituationswherethelinedivisionsdonot,inmyview,coincidewiththemajordisjunctiveaccents,somecommentsaremadeinthediscussionofthattext.


Introduction 9

Second, indetermining the colometry of a poem, the “line con-straints” asdescribed inO’Connor (1980) and refined inHolladay(1999) are taken into account. These constraints state that in anyHebrewlineofpoetry,theremustbe:

• From 0 to 3 clause predicators.Alinemayhavenopredicator,butitshouldhavenomorethanthree.Aclausepredicatormaybeafiniteverb,aninfinitiveabsolutethatfunctionsasa finiteverb, an infinitiveconstructphrase functioningasa finite verb (e.g., an infinitive construct thathas a suffixfunctioningasthesubjectoftheaction),aparticiplefunc-tioningasaperiphrasticfiniteverb,andtheparticlesאין andIandpredicator,aasvocativethecountsalsoO’Connor.ישhavefollowedthatrule.

• From 1 to 4 constituents.Aconstituent isawordorphrasethatfillsonegrammaticalslot.Exampleswouldbeasubject,apredicate,oraprepositionalphrase.Althoughithasmorethanoneword,aconstructchainfunctioningasasubjectorvocative,forexample,isasingleconstituent.

• From 2 to 5 units.Aunitisbasicallyaword,butsmallpar-ticles suchas prepositionsor אםor כי suchasאל donotcountasunits.Onemaydebatewhatdoesordoesnotcountasaunit.Itreatלא asanon-unit,andonlycountכל asaunitifitisabsolute.

Asanexample,wehavethefollowinglineinAmos1:9:

ם גלות שלמה לאדום ל־הסגיר ע

Because they handed over a full-scale exile to Edom.

Here,weseethatthelineendswiththedisjunctivezaqeph qaton.Thereis1predicator,על־הסגירם.Thisinfinitiveconstructisreck-onedtobeapredicatorbecauseitworkslikeafiniteverb,takingthe


10 Amos

suffixas its subject.Therearealso3constituentsand4units.Theconstituentsaretheinfinitiveconstructphraseעל־הסגירם,thedirectobjectשלמה unitsThe.לאדוםphraseprepositionaltheand,גלות are,הסגירם,גלותשלמה,andלאדום.Theprepositionעל doesnotcountasaunit(andnosuffixorprefixcountsasaunit).Thepresenceorabsenceofmaqqephisirrelevant.

Neither thecantillationmarksnor the lineconstraints shouldberegardedas inviolable;occasionally thiscommentarywillpointoutlines that, in my opinion, violate one or both of these (e.g., a lineendingwithaconjunctiveaccent,oralinewithonlyoneunit).Nev-ertheless, intheoverwhelmingnumberof instances, linesbothendwitha“normal”finalaccentandalsoconformtothelineconstraints.Inmyview,otherapproachestoHebrewcolometry(suchascountingstresses,words,or syllables)producenomeaningful results andarenotvalid.

Inthediscussionofthecontentofapoem,eachlineisanalyzedsep-arately.First,everylineisdescribedintermsofwhataccentmarkstheendofthelineandintermsoftheaforementionedpoeticconstraints.Then,each“constituent”ofthelineisanalyzedseparately.

Sometimesthiscommentarywillspeakofdevicesthatoccurinthepoems.Theseinclude:

• Gapping (alsocalled“double-duty”),inwhichawordinonelinealsogovernsormodifiesanadjacentline.Forexample,theverbוהכרתי inlineBdof1:5alsogovernslineBe.

• Dependence, in which a line is grammatically incompleteanddependsuponeitherthepreviousorfollowingline.Forexample,in1:3,linesAaandAcbothdependonlineAb.

• Semantic matching,inwhichawordorphraseinonelineissynonymousornearlysynonymouswithawordinanadja-centline.Seelinebof1:2.

• Semantic parallelism,inwhichonelinemore-or-lesshasthesamemeaningasanadjacentline.Seelinesaandbin1:2.It


Introduction 11

iswidelyunderstoodtoday,afterKugel(1981),thatthelinesrarelysimplyrepeatthesameidea;usuallythesecondlineinsomewayadvancesorinsomewaymodifiesthethoughtofthefirst.

• Syntactic parallelism, in which two adjacent lines have thesamegrammaticalstructure,asinlinescanddin1:2.

Having broken down a poem into its lines, the lines need to begrouped into meaningful collections. Unfortunately, there is littleconsistencyintheuseoftermssuchasstanzaandverse.Thiscom-mentaryadoptsthefollowingconventions.Atthehighestlevelisthepoem.Apoemismadeupofoneormorestanzas,andeachstanzaismadeupofoneormorestrophes,andeachstropheismadeofoneormorelines.Theterm“verse”isusedinthiscommentaryexclusivelyforthenumberedversesoftheMT.Inotherwords,“verse”isnotusedtodescribepoeticstructurebuttolocateatextinthebook.AsinglemajordivisionofAmosmayhaveseveralpoemsofvaryinglengthaswellaspassagesinprose.

To aid in the discussions, poetic lines are tagged according tostanza (uppercase Roman letters), strophe (Arabic numerals), andline(lowercaseRomanletters).Forexample,“lineA3b”wouldbethefirststanza(“A”),thethirdstrophe(“3”),andthesecondline(“b”)ofthatstrophe.

• Ifapoemhasonlyonestanza,orifastanzahasonlyonestro-phe,thatsinglestanzaorstrophewillnotbedesignatedbyletterornumber.Forexample,line2cwouldrefertothethirdline(“c”)inthesecondstrophe(“2”)inapoemwithonlyonestanza.

• Ifapoemhasonlyonestanzaandonlyonestrophe,eachlineofthepoemisdesignatedonlywithalowercaseRomanletter(e.g.,“linec”).


1:1-2: Profile of IntroductionTheopeningofthebook,thiscontainsaprosesuperscript(1:1)andapoemofone strophe (1:2).The superscriptgives thenameof thebook’sauthoraswellasthenameoftheauthor’scity.Italsostatesthetimeofcompositionbymeansofthreesynchronisms:withthenamesof the reigningkings of Judah andof Israel andwith a significantevent,amajorearthquake).Thepoemdeclaresthemajorthemeofthebook,thatYHWHhasspokeninangerandthereforethathisprophetmustproclaimGod’smessageofdoom.

1The words of Amos, who was from the shepherds of Tekoa, which he received by vision concerning Israel in the days of Uzziah, the king of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash, the king of Israel, two years before the earthquake. 2And he said,

YHWH will roar from Zion,And he will give his voice from Jerusalem;And the pastures of the shepherds will dry upAnd the top of Carmel will wither.

1:1: SuperscriptThe book opens with a standard prophetic superscript naming theauthorwiththedateofhisprophecycorrelatedtocontemporaryIsra-eliteandJudeankings.

A HAnDBook on THE HEBrEW TExT of Amos

13


ה על־ י עמוס אשר־היה מתקוע אשר חז דברם י ירבע ה ובימ לך־יהוד י׀ עזיה מ ל בימ ישראעש׃ ים לפני הר ל שנת לך ישרא בן־יואש מ

Prose Clause: י עמוס דברTitleofbook;aconstructchain.Prose Clause: ים מתקוע אשר־היה בנקדRelativeclauseinappositiontoעמוס.Aftertherelativepronoun

-prepoais בנקדים.היהofsmqatal 3qalais היהverbthe,אשרsitionalphrasewithב (“with”or“among”),butנקד (“shepherd”)isfoundonlyhereandin2Kings3:4,whereweread,ומישע מלך־מואב isIt.(”sheep-breederawasMoab,ofkingtheMesha,And“) היה נקדrelatedtoנקד (“speckled”),atermusedforsheepinGenesis30:32-33,35,39;31:8,10,12, and itsmeaning isnot in any realdoubt.Also,fromUgarit,UT6(IAb)VI,55hasthetitlerb nqdm,“chiefoftheshepherds.”Anumberofscholars,onthebasisofitsbeingusedtodescribeaking,believethatAmoswasawell-to-dosheepbreederandnotanimpoverishedshepherd(seeHasel1991,35–40,forfurtherdiscussion).מתקוע isaprepositionalphrase(מן)withapropernoun.TheTekoamentionedhere is almostuniversallyassumed tobe thesmallvillageofJudahlocatedabouttwelvemilessouthofJerusalem,althoughRosenbaum(1990,29–40) argues (not convincingly) thatAmoswasfromthenorthand, followingthemedievalrabbiDavidKimchi,suggeststhatTekoamayhavebeeninthetribeofAsher.

Prose Clause: לך־ מ עזיה י׀ בימ ל על־ישרא ה חז אשר לפני ים שנת ל ישרא לך מ בן־יואש ם ירבע י ובימ ה יהודעש הר

Relativeclause(headedbyאשר)inappositiontoדברי.Theverboftheclauseisחזה,aqalqatal 3msחזה.Itisoddtospeakof“wordsthat he saw,” but in this caseחזה means to receive a message viaa revelatoryvision. Inעל־ישראל theprepositionעל maybeeither

1:1

14 Amos1:1


“concerning” (Ruth 2:4) or “against” (Judg 9:18). Three temporalphrasesthatlocateAmos’ministryhistoricallyfollow:

ה לך־יהוד מ עזיה י׀ .בימ A prepositional phrase with בattached to theconstructpluralofיום,with thepropernounעזיה servingastheabsolute.מלך־יהודה isinappositiontoעזיה.AlthoughAmos’ message is primarily against Israel, the king of Judah as achronologicalindicatorprecedesmentionofthekingofIsrael.Thissuggests thatAmos considered theDavidicking tohave a superiorclaimtolegitimacy.

ל לך ישרא ם בן־יואש מ י ירבע -coorconjunctionThe.ובימdinatesthisconstructchainwithבימי עזיה.Again,wehaveacon-structchainwithapropernoun.Thetwoconstructchainsבן־יואש andמלך ישראל areinappositiontoירבעם.

עש ים לפני הר -prepthewith(”year“) שנהofdualThe.שנתositionalphraseלפני הרעש isusedadverbiallyforatemporalphrase.The earthquake (רעש) was evidently of such severity that it wasrememberedforyearsthereaftersimplyas“theearthquake.”Itisherementionednotonly for chronologicalpurposesbut also as an allu-siontotheophanyandthedayoftheLord,asinIsaiah29:6,“FromYHWHofhostsyouwillbepunishedwiththunderandearthquake....”SeealsoEzekiel3:12.StatingthatAmosgavehismessagetwoyears before the earthquake, it is as though the textwere claimingthattheearthquakewereavindicationofAmos’claimthatthedayofYHWHwasabouttobreakoutagainstIsrael.Thechronologicalprecision,thatitwas“twoyears”beforetheearthquake,suggeststhatAmosgaveallofhispropheciesinthespaceofafairlyshorttime.

ר׀ ויאמAprosequotationformulaforthepoeticstanzainlinesa–d.Itlacksexplicit reference to the deity, and therefore is not a divine speechformula even though God is obviously the speaker.ויאמר is a qalwayyiqtol 3msofאמר.

1:2

Amos1:1-2 15


1:2: Introductory ProclamationFourlines(a-d)inonestrophe.Lineaissyntacticallyandsemanticallyparalleltob(linea=X+yiqtol,andlineb=ו +X+yiqtol),withgap-pingofיהוה inlineb.Linecissyntacticallyandsemanticallyparalleltod(bothareweqatal clauses).Theweqatal clausesindicatethattheactionofc-disconsecutivetothatofa-b.

ג יהוה מציון ישאו ן קול ם ית ומירושלים בלו נאות הרע וא

ל׃ פ אש הכרמ ש ר ויבLine a:Thecolon-markeriszaqeph qaton andtheconstraintsare:1

predicator,3constituents,and3units..YHWHisprophecytheofwordfirstthesubject;The .יהוה מציוןthatsuggestmight יהוה מציוןinorderwordThe .מציון

couldbetakenwithיהוה asanappellation,“YHWHofZion,”andasasingleconstituent.Againstthis,however,isthedisjunctivepashta inprepositionalthesuch,As.מציוןmunah inconjunctivetheand יהוהphraseמציוןadverbiallymodifiestheverbישאג andisnotboundtothenounיהוה.

ג fact(theyiqtol pattern+XThe.שאגofsmyiqtol 3Qal .ישאthattheyiqtol isnon-initial)suggeststhattheverbisindicativeandnotmodal.Itmaybefutureorpresentiterative.

Line b:Thecolon-markerisathnach andtheconstraintsare:1pred-icator,3constituents,and3units.

coordinationclause-levelindicatesconjunctionThe .ומירושלםwithlinea.Theabsenceofanexplicitsubjectisgappingofthesubject,anditconfirmsthattheprepositionalphraseisboundtotheverb,andsoaffirmstheimplicationoftheaccentsinיהוה מציון.

ן .נתןofsmyiqtol 3Qal .ית

abcd

16 Amos1:2


ו semantically יתן קולוphraseThesuffix.3mswithNoun .קולmatchesישאג.

Line c:Thecolon-markeriszaqeph qaton andtheconstraintsare:1predicator,2constituents,and3units.Thislineissequentialtolinesa–b.

בלו ”up“drytoII, אבלisThis.אבלofpcweqatal 3Qal .ואandnotאבל I,“tomourn.”SeeHALOT.

ים הרע Feminine .נאות plural noun from ,נוה “a greenmeadow,”inaconstructchainwithהרעים.

Line d:Thecolon-markerissilluq andtheconstraintsare:1predi-cator,2constituents,and3units.Thislinehassyntacticparallelismwithandamplifieslinec.

structureparalleltheofBecause.יבשofsmweqatal 3Qal .ויבשoflinesc–d,theactionofthisweqatal isnotsequentialtothatofthepreviousline.

ל הכרמ אש A .ר construct chain. The gentle, and usuallygreen,slopesofMt.Carmelprovideaspecificexample,afterlinec,ofapasturelandthatisparched.

1:3–2:16: oracles against the nationsThis,thefirstmajordivisionofAmos,isaseriesofeightpoems,eachoneanoracleofjudgmentagainstanation(1:3-5,Damascus[Syria];1:6-8,Gaza[Philistia];1:9-10,Tyre[Phoenicia];1:11-12,Edom;1:13-15,Ammon;2:1-3,Moab;2:4-5,Judah;2:6-16,Israel).SomesuggestthatAmosisgeographicallyencirclingIsrael,movingfromnortheast(Damascus), to southwest (Philistia), tonorthwest (Tyre), to south-east(Edom),tothetransjordanstates(AmmonandMoab),toJudah,and finally to Israel. Others suggest that he bases his rhetoric onethnicity,beginningethnicallydistantorunrelatedpeoples(Arame-ans,Philistines,andPhoenicians),movingtocloselyrelatednations(Edom,Ammon,andMoab)andfinallytoJudah,whowereofthesamepeopleasthenorthernIsraelites,beforeaddressingIsraelitself.

Amos1:2–2:16 17


Itisclear,however,thatAmosisrhetoricallyentrappingtheIsraelitesbybeginningwithGentilestatesandprogressivelymovingcloseruntilhereachesthemainobjectofhisdenunciations,Israelanditscapitalcity,Samaria.Steinmann(1992)arguesthatotherpatternsareevidentintheorderof thepoems.Forexample, the first threearedirectedagainstcity-states,thenextthreearedirectedagainstpeoples,andthelasttwoaredirectedagainstthecovenantnations.

OnemayassumethattheinclusionofIsraelamongthecondemnednationsisintendedtobeunexpectedandthereforerhetoricallyeffec-tive.Thereareseveral indicatorsofthis.Firstofall,Israel isplacedlast, after a condemnation of seven states, and the audience mighthaveassumedthattheoracleswerefinishedatseven.Second,incon-demningGentilenations,Amoswasprobablyplayingtheroleofthe“optimisticprophet”whopredictsonlysalvationforIsraelbutdisasterforitsenemies;thepeoplemaywellhaveexpectedaprophettocon-demnforeignnations(Barton1980,5).Third,bybeginningwithacondemnationofSamaria’sancientrivalDamascus,Amoslulledhisaudienceintothinkingthatthiswouldbeajingoisticmessage.

Formally,thefollowingcharacteristicsareevidentinthefirstsevenpoems (i.e., in all but the Israel poem).Each is in two stanzas, anaccusation(oneortwostrophes)andapredictionofjudgment(alwaysone strophe). The accusation stanza always begins with a standardthree-line formula inwhicheach linebeginswith על (orועל).Thejudgment stanza alwaysbeginswith the formula אש . ושלחתי . .although,(”...consumewillitand...firesendwillIand“)ואכלה thejudgmentonAmmonat1:14distinctivelybeginswithוהצתי אש (“andIwillkindlefire”)insteadofושלחתי אש.Thejudgmentstanzacanbeexpandedtosevenlines,oritmayconsistofonlythetwo-lineformulaheadedbyושלחתי.

Three patterns are found among the first seven poems. In theoracles on Damascus (1:3-5), Gaza (1:6-8), Ammon (1:13-15), andMoab(2:1-3),theaccusationisasinglestropheofthreeorfourlines,andthejudgmentisasinglestropheofsevenlinesdominatedbytheweqatal verb.IntheoraclesonEdom(1:11-12)andJudah(2:4-5),the

18 Amos1:3–2:16


accusation is intwostrophes, the first strophebeingfour lines(thefirstthreeheadedbythestandardעל)andthesecondstrophebeingabicolonheadedbyawayyiqtol verb.Thejudgmentstanzainthesetwopoemsisminimal,consistingofonlythebicolonheadedbythetheispoemshortesttheandpatternthirdTheformula.ושלחתי אשjudgmentonTyre (1:9-10). Ithas a four-lineaccusation stanza andtheminimaltwo-line judgmentformula.Exceptforthefourth lineofthefirststanza,theTyreoraclehasonlytheminimalfeaturesfortheseoracles.

Anotherfeatureofthefirstsevenoraclesisconcatenation,inwhichoneormoreelementsinoneoraclearerepeatedinthenext.Forexam-ple,thestructureandmuchofthecontentofDamascusoracle(1:3-5)arerepeatedintheGaza(Philistine)oracle(1:6-8).Both,forexample,speakofGodremovingtheonewhosits(onthethrone)andwhoholdsthe scepter שבטand יושב) ;ותומך 1:5 and 1:8). In the Philistineoracle,Godsends fireonthewallofGaza(1:7); in thenextoracle,GodsendsfireonthewallofTyre(1:10).Tyrein1:9iscriticizedfornotrememberingthecovenantofbrothers,whereasEdomin1:11pur-suedhisbrotherwithasword.Edomin1:11slaughteredרחמיו (whichheremeans“hischildbearers”;seediscussionbelow),whereasAmmonin1:13cutopenthepregnantwomenofGilead.Ammonwillgointoexileבתרועה,“amidthebattle-cry”(1:14),andMoabwillbedefeated-shotheofsoundthewithbattle-cry,theamid“,בתרועה בקול שופרfar.”In2:2,GodsaysthathewillsendfireonMoab(theregion),anditwillconsumeKerioth(theprincipalcity).In2:5,GodwillsendfireonJudah (the region), and itwill consumeJerusalem(theprincipalcity).Forfurtherdiscussionandelaboration,seePaul(1971).

3Thus says YHWH:Because of three rebellions of Damascus,And because of four, I will not revoke it;Because they threshed Gilead with the iron sledges.4And I will send fire on the house of Hazael,And it will consume the citadels of Ben-hadad;

Amos1:3–2:16 19


5And I will shatter the gate-bar of Damascus,And I will cut off the seated (ruler) from the Valley of AvenAnd the one who holds a scepter from Beth-eden,And the people of Syria will go into exile to Kir.Says YHWH.

6Thus says YHWH:Because of three rebellions of Gaza,And because of four, I will not revoke it;Because they carried off a full-scale exile to hand them over to Edom.7And I will send fire on the wall of Gaza,And it will consume its citadels;8And I will cut off the seated (ruler) from AshdodAnd the one who holds a scepter from Ashkelon,And I will send back my hand against Ekron,And what remains of the Philistines will perish.Says the Lord YHWH.

9Thus says YHWH:Because of three rebellions of Tyre,And because of four, I will not revoke it;Because they handed over a full-scale exile to EdomAnd did not remember a fraternal covenant.10And I will send fire on the wall of Tyre,And it will consume its citadels.

11Thus says YHWH:Because of three rebellions of Edom,And because of four, I will not revoke it;Because he pursued his brother with the swordAnd was exterminating their child-bearers.And his rage tore on and onWhile his wrath remained ever vigilant.12And I will send fire on Teman,And it will consume the citadels of Bozrah.

20 Amos1:3–2:16


13Thus says YHWH:Because of three rebellions of the Ammonites,And because of four, I will not revoke it;Because they split open the pregnant women of GileadIn order to enlarge their territory.14And I will kindle a fire on the wall of Rabbah,And it will consume its citadelsWith a war-signal, on a day of battle,With a wind-storm, on a day of tempest.15And their king will go into exile—He and his princes together.Says YHWH.

2:1Thus says YHWH:Because of three rebellions of the Moab,And because of four, I will not revoke it;Because they burned the bones of the king of Edom to lime.2And I will send a fire upon Moab,And it will consume the citadels of KeriothAnd Moab shall perish with clamor,With a war-signal—with a blast of a shofar.3And I will cut off a judge from the midst of it,And I will kill its princes with him.Says YHWH.

4Thus says YHWH:Because of three rebellions of the Judah,And because of four, I will not revoke it;Because they rejected the Torah of YHWH,And they did not keep his statutes,5And their lies led them astray—(Lies) which their fathers followed.

And I will send a fire upon Judah,And it will consume the citadels of Jerusalem.

Amos1:3–2:16 21


6Thus says YHWH:Because of three rebellions of the Israel,And because of four, I will not revoke it;Because they sell a righteous man because of silverAnd an impoverished man because of a pair of sandals;7They are people who sniff at the dust of the earth after the heads of

the poorAnd stretch out the way of the weak.

And a man and his father go to the same girlIn order to profane my holy name,8And on garments taken in pledge they stretch outAlongside every altar,And they drink wine taken from people by finesAt the house of their God.

9But I destroyed the Amorite before youWhose height was like the height of cedars,And he was as strong as oaks;And I destroyed his fruit aboveAnd his roots below.10And I brought you up from the land of Egypt,And I took you through the wilderness for forty yearsTo possess the land of the Amorite.11And I raised up some of your sons as prophetsAnd some of your young men as Nazirites.Is not this in fact the case, Sons of Israel?The oracle of YHWH.12And you made the Nazirites drink wine,And you prohibited the prophets, saying:“Never prophesy!”

13Look! I am weighed down under you,Just as a cart is weighed down —One that is full of sheaves.

22 Amos1:3–2:16


14And retreat shall escape the swift:A strong man will not rally his strength,And a warrior will not save his life,15And one who bends a bow will not stand,And one swift on his feet will not save (his life), And one riding a horse will not save his life,16And one mighty of heart among warriorsWill flee naked on that day.The oracle of YHWH.

1:3-5: First Oracle (Damascus)After the prose heading יהוה) אמר ,(כה the poem has two stan-zas.Thefirststanza(1:3)givesthereasonsGodwilljudgeDamascus(threelines)inwhicheachlineisheadedbytheprepositionעל.Thesecond stanza (1:4-5) gives the punishment (seven lines), in whicheachlineisheadedbyaweqatal verb,exceptforlineBe,wherethereisgappingwiththeverbוהכרתי inlineBddoingdouble-duty,andlineBg,whichistheconcludingאמר יהוה.

ה ר יהו ה אמ כ

Prose Clause:Aprosedivinespeechformulaforthefollowingoracle.theis יהוהand,כהparticlethewith אמרsm3qatalqalais אמרsubjectoftheverb.

1:3b:First Stanza. Threelines.Eachisheadedbyעל orועל.

שק י דמ על־שלשה פשענו א אשיב ה ל ועל־ארבע

ד׃ ם בחרצות הברזל את־הגלע על־דוש

Line Aa:Thecolon-markeriszaqeph qatonandtheconstraintsare:0predicators,1constituent,and3units.Thislineisgrammaticallydependentonלא אשיבנו inthefollowingline.

1:3a

1:3bAaAbAc

Amos1:3 23


שק י דמ -regis על.phraseprepositionalA .על־שלשה פשעularly used in these oracles to indicate the reason God is bringingdownjudgment,anditshouldbetranslated“because.”פשעי דמשק isaconstructchainboundtothenumberשלשה.DamascuswasthedominantcityofSyria,northofIsrael.פשע,“crime”or“actofrebel-lion,”indicatesthatYHWHisthelegitimatesovereignovereventhisGentilestate.

Line Ab: The colon-marker is athnach and the constraints are: 1predicator,2constituents,and2units.

ה There .ועל־ארבע is gapping with the previous line, thephraseפשעי דמשק beingunderstoodhere.Thesignificanceoftheformula “for three . . . for four” in Amos is debated. In Proverbs,theN...N+1formulagenerallyindicatesthatthelatternumberisthespecificnumberofexamplesthattheteacherwillenumerate.Forexample,Proverbs6:16says,“TherearesixthingsthattheLordhates,seventhatareanabominationtohim,”andverses17-19goontolistsevensins.ThisisnotthecaseinAmos,whereforDamascushecitesonly one specific sin. The “for three . . . for four” therefore couldsimplymean,“forseveral.”Itisnoteworthy,however,that3+4=7,andthisisanimportantnumberforAmos.Theoraclesagainstthenationsspecify6GentilestatesplusJudah,thecovenantpeople,forsevenoraclesofjudgment(thefactthatIsraelistheeighthnationissignificant,asdiscussedbelow).Asiswellknown,thenumbersevengenerallysignifiescompletion.Thus,thepointof“forthree...forfour”isprobablythatDamascushasreachedthemaximumallowednumberoftransgressions.Thatis,thecupoftheiriniquitiesisfull.AmosthereforeassertsthatthenumberofDamascus’sinshasreachedthecriticalpoint,demandingdivinejudgment,butheonlyspecifiesoneparticularsin.

נו א אשיב -sufsm3with שובofscyiqtol 1hiphilNegated .לfix.Itmarkstheapodosisofa“because...therefore”construction,inwhichtheprotasislinesaremarkedbyעל.Theverbsignifies“tocausetoturnback”buthere,inajudicialcontext,meansto“revoke.”

24 Amos1:3


Thethingnotrevoked(indicatedbythesuffix)istheimpliedpunish-ment.Forasummaryofalternativeinterpretationsofלא אשיבנו,seeBarton(1980,18).

Line Ac:Thecolon-markerissilluqandtheconstraintsare:1predi-cator,3constituents,and4units.Thislineisgrammaticallydepen-dentonthepreviousline.

ם andsuffixpm3with דושofconstructinfiniteQal .על־דושprepositionעל.Theverbmeansto“trample”or“thresh.”Theprepo-sitionresumestheexplanatoryorcausalsequenceoftheprotasis.

הברזל A .בחרצות prepositional phrase (בחרצות) in con-struct with the noun .הברזל The preposition is ב instrumental.Sledgeswereheavywoodenplatformsstuddedwithnailsorspikesonthebottom.Drawnbyoxen,farmersusedsuchtoolstothreshgrain.The image is ametaphorofharshmilitary conquest, ripping apartpeopleandcommunitiesjustasasledgeripsapartwheat.Thismeta-phor for military subjugation also appears in Akkadian texts fromTiglath-pileserIandEsarhaddon(Barton1980,19).

ד The .את־הגלע direct object. Gilead, east of the Jordan,wasdisputed territory thatwasat timesheldbyIsraelandat timesbyDamascus.TheOmridekingsofIsrael foughtaseriesofbattlesagainstDamascusinanattempttomaintaincontrolofGilead.Theconquestalludedtoheremaybe thatcarriedoutbyHazael (2Kgs10:32-33).SeeBarton(1980,26–31)forasurveyofthehistoryoftheconflictbetweenDamascusandIsrael.

1:4-5: Second Stanza. Sevenlines.Eachlineisheadedbyaweqa-tal exceptwherethereisgapping(lineBe)andinthefinalline.Thesevenlinesofdivinejudgmentcorrespondtotheseven(3+4)sinsofDamascusin1:3.

ל ית חזא ש בב חתי א ושלד׃ ה ארמנות בן־הד ואכלשק יח דמ ברתי בר וש

1:4

1:5

BaBbBc

Amos1:4-5 25


ון י יושב מבקעת־א והכרתדן ית ע בט מב ך ש ותומירה ם ק וגלו עם־אר

ה׃ פ ר יהו אמ

Line Ba: The colon-marker is athnach and the constraints are: 1predicator,3constituents,and4units.

חתי significantweqatal isThe.שלחofscweqatal 1Piel .ושלfortworeasons.First,itcontinuestheapodosisbegunbyלא אשיבנו.Second, thisandall subsequentweqatal formsconstitute themain-lineframeworkofananticipatory(futuretense)narration.Fivespe-cificcalamitiesarepredictedforDamascus,asrepresentedbythefiveweqatal verbsinlinesBa,Bb,Bc,Bd-e,andBf.

ש theofdestructiontheconnoteshereFireobject.directThe .אcity.

ל ית חזא withconstructin(בבית)phraseprepositionalA .בבthepropernounחזאל.Theprepositionב islocative,butitalsoindi-cates the secondaryobject.Hazael, likeBen-hadad,was apparentlya throne-name; the history of Damascus is difficult to reconstructbecausemanykingsareidentifiedbythesamename(itappearsthatat least three different kings of Damascus are called Ben-hadad intheBible).ThefamousHazaeloftheBible(2Kgs8–12;latterpartoftheninthcentury)wasascourgetoIsrael,inflictingseveredefeatsuponthem,althoughIsraelrecoveredafterhisdeath.The“houseofHazael” refers to the dynastic succession of rulers over Damascus.Notallmembersoftherulinglinewererelated;Hazaelhimselfwasausurper.ButtheentirelineofDamascuskings,thetextsays,willcometoanend.

Line Bb:Thecolon-markerissilluq andtheconstraintsare:1predi-cator,2constituents,and3units.

.alineoffiretheissubjectThe.אכלofsfweqatal 3Qal .ואכלה

BdBeBfBg

26 Amos1:4-5


ד בן־הד ,objectdirectThe .ארמנות a construct chain.Thedestruction of the “citadels” of a city in Amos is formulaic for thedestructionofthatcityandfortheendofthatstate.Thewordארמון maymean“palace,”but it is also construedas fortified, suggestingthat anEnglish termsuchas “citadel” is appropriate. It could refertotheacropolisaroundwhichmostancientcitieswerebuilt,asthatpositionwasmosteasilydefendedandwouldalsooftenbetheloca-tionforapalaceortemple.בן־הדד istheotherthronenameusedinDamascus;itisaHebrewversionoftheAramaicBir-Hadad,“sonof(thegod)Hadad.”HazaelandBen-hadadformamerismindicatingthattherewillbenomoreArameankingsofDamascus.

Line Bc:Thecolon-markeriszaqeph qaton andtheconstraintsare:1predicator,2constituents,and3units.Despitetheversenumber-ing,thiscontinuesthestrophebeguninv.4.

ברתי mainlinethecontinuesThis.שברofscweqatal 1Qal .ושpredictionbeguninthepreviouslines.

שק יח דמ -synbyDamascus,ofbarTheobject.directThe .ברecdoche,representsthegateofthecity,whichinturnrepresentsitsdefenses.Thepointisthatallofthecity’sdefenseswillfail.

Line Bd:Thecolon-marker iszaqeph qaton andtheconstraintsare:1predicator,3constituents,and3units(בקעת־און isregardedasapropernameandthereforeas1unit).

י .כרתofscweqatal 1Hiphil .והכרת”“inhabitantmean,couldthis,ישבofsmparticipleQal .יושב

andrefertoallthecitizens.However,itispairedwith“theonewhoholdsascepter”inlinee(semanticmatching)andthereforeitreferstoapersonwho“sits(uponathrone)”;thatis,totheking.

ון theoflocationThe.מןwithphraseprepositionalA .מבקעת־א“ValleyofAven”isunknown,butthetitleisprobablyacacophemism(atermofdisparagement)ratherthantheactualnameofaplace,asitmeans“valleyofiniquity.”ItprobablyreferstothevalleyareanorthofGalileebetweentheLebanonandAnti-Lebanonmountains.

Amos1:4-5 27


Line Be:The colon-marker isathnach and the constraints are: 0predicators, 3 constituents, and 3 units. There is gapping, in thatthislineisgovernedbyוהכרתי fromlined.Takingintoaccountthegapping,linesdandesyntacticallyparalleloneanother,eachhavingaparticipleorparticipialphrase(יושב andותומך שבט)followedbyaprepositionalphraseinwhichatwo-wordpropernameisgovernedbyמן.ThegappinghereindicatesthattherulerfromtheValleyofAven and of the scepter-holder from Beth-eden are conceptually asingleperson.Probablytherulerofeachplaceisoneandthesameman,thekingofDamascus.

ך Theconjunction.with תמךofsmparticipleactiveQal .ותומparticipleissubstantival.

בט .ותומךofobjectdirectThe .שדן ית ע knownisBeth-eden.מןwithphraseprepositionalA .מב

asBit Adini inAssyriantextsandwaslocatedontheEuphratesRiverabout 200 miles northeast of Damascus. With the Valley of Aven,apparentlyinthesouthwest,thisindicatesthatthekingsofDamascuswill losepoweroveralloftheirterritory,fromthesouthwesttothenortheast.

Line Bf:Thecolon-markeristifha.Theconstraintsare:1predica-tor,3constituents,and4units.Ifאמר יהוה weretreatedaspartofthis line, there would be too many constituents and units. SeveraltimesinAmosatifha willmarkalinebreakbeforeadivinespeechformula.

fiveofseriesainlasttheisThis.גלהofpcweqatal 3Qal.וגלוmainlinepredictionsmarkedbytheweqatal.

ם -foreAmossubject.theasservingchainconstructA .עם־ארseesamassdeportationoftheArameanpeople.

ירה islocationKir’s.הdirectiveawithKir,name,properA .קnotcertain,butIsaiah22:6suggeststhatitwasintheareaofElam,east of southern Mesopotamia. Amos 9:7 indicates that this is theoriginalhomelandof theArameans,and that textasserts thatGodbroughtuptheArameansinan“exodus”fromKir.Now,hesays,their

28 Amos1:4-5


exoduswillbereversed.SeeAmos2:10,wheretheimplicationisthatIsrael’sexodusfromEgyptwillalsobereversed.

Line Bg:Thecolon-markerissilluq andtheconstraintsare:1predi-cator,2constituents,and2units.

ר -terformulaspeechdivineThe.אמרofsmqatal 3Qal .אמminatesthepoem.

.subjectThe .יהוה

1:6-8: Second Oracle (Gaza)Aftertheproseheading(ר יהוה ,stanzastwohaspoemthe,(כה אמeachasinglestrophe.Thispoemisstructurallyidenticalto1:3-5.Thefirststanza(1:6)givesthereasonsGodwilljudgeGazaandthePhilis-tinesinthreelines,witheachheadedbytheprepositionעל.Thesec-ond(1:7-8)givesthepunishmentinsevenlines,witheachlineheadedby a weqatal verb, except for line Bd, where there is gapping withtheverbוהכרתי inlineBcdoingdouble-duty,andlineBg,whichistheconcludingאמר אדני יהוה.Scholarshavenotedthatthisoracleincludes every city of the Philistine pentapolis except Gath (Gaza,Ashdod,Ashkelon,andEkronareallmentioned).ItappearsthatGathwasrelativelyinsignificantbythetimeofAmos.ThelastknownkingofGathwasAchish(mentionedin1Kgs2:39-40,fromtheearlypartofSolomon’sreign),andGathisabsentincuneiformsourcesfromthistime(forfurtherinformation,seediscussionat6:2).

ה ר יהו ה אמ כSee1:3.1:6b: First Stanza. Three lines.Each isheadedbymatchingעל

orועל.

ה י עז על־שלשה פשענו א אשיב ה ל ועל־ארבע

יר לאדום׃ ה להסג ם גלות שלמ על־הגלות

1:6a

1:6bAaAbAc

Amos1:6-8 29


Line Aa:Thecolon-markeriszaqeph qaton andtheconstraintsare:0predicators,1constituent,and3units.This lineisdependentonthefollowingline.

ה י עז -repretheasherementionedisGaza .על־שלשה פשעsentativecityofthePhilistineseitherbecauseitisthesouthernmostPhilistinecity(andthusisattheextremesoutheastcornerofAmos’mapofcondemnednations,oppositeDamascus),orbecauseitwasthemostpowerfulofthecity-states,orbecauseitsplacealongthecoastaltrade-route made it an important junction in the slave trade (Paul1991,56).BythelateeighthcenturyGazawasunderthedominationofAssyria.GazagavetributetoTiglath-pileserIIIofAssyria(ruled745–727)accordingtoanAssyrianbuildinginscription(ANET 282).Thereafter rulers of Gaza were tributary vassals of Assyria and arementionedassuch intextsconnectedwithSennacherib(704–681),Esar-haddon (680–669) and Ashurbanipal (668–633); see ANET 288,291,294.


ה .causallyused עלwithphrasePrepositional .ועל־ארבענו א אשיב -sufsm3with שובofscyiqtol 1hiphilNegated .ל

fix.Line Ac:Thecolon-markerissilluq andtheconstraintsare:1predi-

cator(הגלותם),4constituents,and5units.ם withsuffixpm3withconstructinfinitiveHiphil .על־הגלות

.causallyused עלה שלמ is גלותwordTheobject.directThe .גלות acognate

accusative withהגלותם. The wordשלמה is adjectival, giving themeaning“acompleteexile.”Itmayrefertoraidingvillagesandtakingtheirentirepopulationsascaptivestosellintoslavery.

יר ahereisIt.לwith סגרofconstructinfinitiveHiphil .להסגcomplementtoהגלותם.Onסגר,see1:9.

30 Amos1:6


asregardedbemaywhich,לwithphrasePrepositional .לאדוםbothdirectionalandasadativeofadvantage.Edomismentionedhereandin1:9astherecipientofalargenumberofpersonskidnappedforslavery.Edomapparentlyeitherservedasamiddlemanfortransport-ingslavestoArabiaoritselfusedtheslavesinitscoppermines.

1:7-8: Second Stanza. Sevenlines.Theinitialweqatal verbsconsti-tuteamainlineseriesoffutureevents.FourlinesendwithreferencestonamesofPhilistinecities (Gaza,Ashdod,Ashkelon,andEkron),oneline(Bb)endswithארמנתיה (“her[Gaza’s]citadels”),andoneline(Bf)endswithפלשתים -Philistheofremainderthe“) שארית tines”).Inshort,thefirstfivelineseachdescribethedestructionofaPhilistinelocation,andthesixthbroadlystatesthatallPhilistiawillbedestroyed.

ת עזה ש בחומ חתי א ושליה׃ ה ארמנת ואכל

אשדוד י יושב מ והכרתאשקלון בט מ ך ש ותומי על־עקרון והשיבותי ידים ית פלשת בדו שאר וא

ה׃ פ ר אדני יהו אמ


חתי As.שלחfromscweqatal 1Piel .ושל in1:4,theweqatal forms here continue the apodosis and give a mainline sequence offutureevents.

ש .objectdirectThe .את עזה YHWHtimesThree.בwithphrasePrepositional .בחומ

sendsfireontheחומה (“wall”)ofacity(1:7,10,14).חומה isadefen-

1:7

1:8

BaBbBcBdBeBfBg

Amos1:7-8 31


sivewallaroundacity,building,orvineyard.Themoregeneraltermforawallisגדר (Hammershaimb1970,31),andקיר isaninternal,structuralwall(seeAmos5:19).


.אכלfromsfweqatal 3Qal .ואכלהיה .(עזהisantecedent)suffixsf3withobjectDirect .ארמנת

Line Bc:Thecolon-markeriszaqeph qaton andtheconstraintsare:1predicator,3constituents,and3units.

י .כרתofscweqatal 1Hiphil .והכרתrepresentswordthis1:5inAs.ישבofsmparticipleQal .יושב

theruler,onewhositsonathrone,andnotanordinary“inhabitant.”Itismatchedbyותומך שבט inBd.

אשדוד Prepositional .מ phrase with .מן The eighth-centurycityofAshdodsufferedtwoconflagrations.Itwassubduedinaround760byUzziah(2Chr26:6)andthenin712bytheAssyrianSargonII (721–705B.C.). It is thereaftermentionedas a tributary stateofAssyria(seeANET 288,291,294).

Line Bd: The colon-marker is athnach and the constraints are: 0predicators,2constituents,and3units.Thereisgappingoftheverb.Bclinein והכרתי

בט ך ש -conjuncwith תמךofsmparticipleactiveqalA .ותומtionandinconstructwithשבט,anobjectivegenitive.Theparticipleissubstantival.

אשקלון locatedwasAshkelon.מןwithphrasePrepositional .מontheMediterraneancoastbetweenGazatothesouthandAshdodtothenorth.Tiglath-pileserIIItwiceconfrontedAshkelon,amemberofananti-AssyriancoalitionledbyDamascus,whilecampaigningintheLevant.SeeABD,“Ashkelon.”

Line Be:Thecolon-markerisrevia andtheconstraintsare:1predi-cator,3constituents,and3units.

32 Amos1:7-8


Hiphil .והשיבותי weqatal 1 c s ofשוב. The verb, with thedirect object and ידי the prepositionעל, means, “I will send backmyhandagainst”(seeIsa1:25).ElsewhereinAmos1–2,thehiphilof.judgmenta“revoke”tomeans שוב

י .objectdirectThe .ידPrepositional .על־עקרון phrase with .על Ekron was located

more toward the interior and further from the coast, making it abordercitybetweenJudahandPhilistia.CurrentlyidentifiedatTelMiqne, it, too, cameunderAssyriandomination in the late eighthcentury. Inhis campaignof 701, Sennacherib assaultedEkron andkilled its leading citizens, impaling them about the city wall; seeANET 287–88).

Line Bf:Thecolon-markeriszaqeph qaton andtheconstraintsare:1predicator,2constituents,and3units.

בדו weqatal completesfinalThis.אבדofpcweqatal 3Qal .ואthemainlineseriesandindicatesthecompleteendofPhilistinecivi-lization.

ים ית פלשת theofremainder“thechain,constructThis .שארPhilistines,”acknowledgesthattherewereotherPhilistinecitiesandvillages, includingwhat remainedofGath.Thepoint is that allofPhilistiawillbesweptaway.

Line Bg:Thecolon-markerissilluq andtheconstraintsare:1predi-cator,2constituents,and3units.

ר .אמרofsmqatal 3Qal .אמה ”lords“myliterally) אדניofadditionTheSubject. .אדני יהו

butusedfrequentlyasanhonorificforYHWHandsimplytranslatedas“lord”),overagainst theshorterיהוה ,1:5in אמר illustrates thekindofminorvariationAmosfrequentlyemploys.

1:9-10: Third Oracle (Tyre)Aftertheproseheading(ר יהוה .stanzastwohaspoemthe,(כה אמThefirststanza(1:9)givesthereasonsGodwilljudgeTyreandthe

Amos1:7-8 33


Phoenicians.Thesecond(1:10),inatruncatedfashion,describesthecalamitiesthatwillbefallTyre.TheabbreviatedjudgmentclausedoesnotindicatethatTyrewillexperiencealessseveretrauma.AlthoughAmosemploysrepetitionthroughouthisfirsttwochapters,heavoidsthe tediumof structuring everypoem in exactly the samemanner.Asdescribedabove,onlytwoelementsarerepeatedverbatimineverypoem. First, every poem employs the same opening in three lines.Second,inthepronouncementofjudgment,everyoracleexceptthatonIsraelhasthetwolines... ושלחתי אשand...ואכלה.TheoracleonTyreisuniqueinthatithasonlytheserequisitefivelinesplusoneadditionalline,Ad.


Prose Clause: See1:3.1:9b: First Stanza. Fourlines.Eachisheadedbyעל orועל,except

thatthefourthline(Ad)isheadedbyולא זכרו.ThislineisexpositiononAc,indicatingtheespeciallyheinousnatureofthisactofkidnap-pingpeopleforslavery.

ר על־שלשה פשעי־צנו א אשיב ה ל ועל־ארבע

ם גלות שלמה לאדום ל־הסגיר עים׃ ית אח א זכרו בר ול


ר פשעי־צ Tyre .על־שלשה was the dominant Phoeniciancityintheeighthcentury,SidonatthistimebeinginvassalstatustoTyre(Paul1991,59).

1:9a

1:9bAaAbAcAd

34 Amos1:9




fix.Line Ac:Thecolon-markeriszaqeph qaton andtheconstraintsare

1predicator,3constituents,and4units.This line is theconcaten-ouslinktoasimilaraccusationleveledagainstGazain1:6,butasiscommoninAmos,thereisminorvariationinthewording(seelineAcin1:6).

ם ל־הסגיר -sufpm3with סגרofconstructinfinitiveHiphil .עfixandacausalprepositionעל.Theinfinitivehereservesasapredi-cator;bycontrast,in1:6,הגלותם isthepredicatorandלהסגיר isitscomplement.But themeaningofboth lines isessentially thesame.“handtomeansithiphiltheinbut“shut”tomeansqalthein סגר(arefugee)over”toapursuerorenemy.TheusageinDeuteronomy23:16(E15)isparticularlyapropos.

שלמה ,whole“) שלםadjectiveTheobject.directThe .גלות complete”)suggeststhatanentirecommunitywasseizedandcarriedoffintoslavery.

Prepositional .לאדום phrase with .ל As in 1:6, Edom is therecipientofthecapturedslaves.Itisperhapsnoteworthythatplacesfromwhichtheseslavesweretakenisnotindicatedinthetext.OnemightassumethattheyaresnatchedfromIsraelorJudah,butthetextdoesnotsaythis.Theimportantpointisthatthesenationsengagedinthecrimeofseizingpeoplestosellasslaves.WhetherornotthepeopletheyseizedwereIsraeliteissecondary.

Line Ad:Thecolon-markerissilluq andtheconstraintsare:1predi-cator,2constituents,and3units.Withintheaccusationstanzasoftheoraclesofthispoem,thelinesheadedbyעל mayberegardedasmainline elementsof theprotasis, listing theprincipal reasons thatGod’sjudgmentiscoming.Thisולא +qatal clause,asisnormallythe

Amos1:9 35


case,isoffline,anditherecommentsontheaccusation.Inthiscase,theactofattackingvillagesandtakingpeopletosell intoslaveryismadeallthemoreheinousbythefactthatthepeoplestheyattackedweretreaty-alliesandthusshouldhavebeenundertheirprotection.

א זכרו usedis זכרtermThe.זכרofpcqatal 3qalNegated .ולforremembering(i.e.,forabidingbythetermsof)acovenant,asinGenesis9:15andExodus2:24.

ים אח ית A .בר construct chain serving as the direct object.The covenant alluded to here may be the treaty relations betweenIsraelandTyre.SuchatreatywasmadebetweenDavidandHiramofTyre(2Sam5:11),anditwasmaintainedunderSolomonandHiram(1Kgs5:1-12).TherewasalsoamarriageallianceinvolvingAhabofIsraelandJezebeldaughterofEthbaalofSidon(1Kgs16:31).Again,however, the lack of specificity is important. The crime of Tyre isnotthattheyactedagainstIsrael,butthattheykidnappedpeopleforslaveryandviolatedtreatiesinordertodoso.“Brothers”(אחים)isintheancientNearEastatechnicaltermfortreatypartners(see1Kgs9:13).SeePriest(1965).

1:10: Second Stanza. Twolines.Bothareheadedbyweqatal verbs,indicatingthatthisstropheistheapodosis.Asdescribedabove,thesetwolinesconstitutetheminimalconfigurationforajudgmentstanzainthefirstsevenpoems.

ר ש בחומת צ חתי א ושליה׃ פ ה ארמנת ואכל


חתי .שלחfromscweqatal 1Piel .ושלש .objectdirectThe .אר .chainconstructaon בwithphrasePrepositional .בחומת צ

1:10BaBb

36 Amos1:9-10


ThedestructionofTyre represents the endofPhoenician indepen-denceandofitshegemonyoverthenorthernLevant.


.(אשissubjectthe) אכלfromsfweqatal 3Qal .ואכלהיה 3Theobject.directThe .ארמנת f s suffixhasTyre as its

antecedent;citiesareconstruedasfeminine.

1:11-12: Fourth Oracle (Edom)After theproseיהוה אמר ,כה thepoemhas twostanzas, the firsthavingtwostrophesandthesecondhavingone.


See1:3.1:11b-c: First Stanza. Twostrophes.Thefirstisastandardaccusa-

tionstrophe,but thesecondisconjoinedto itwithawayyiqtol andgivesasecondaryaccusation.

1:11b: First Strophe.4lines.Eachisheadedbyעל orועל,exceptthatthelastline(1d)isheadedbytheweqatal ושחת.

י אדום על־שלשה פשענו א אשיב ה ל ועל־ארבערב אחיו על־רדפו בח

יו ת רחמ ושח

Line A1a:Thecolon-markeriszaqeph qaton andtheconstraintsare:0predicators,1constituent,and3units.This lineisdependentonthefollowingline.

1:11a

1:11bA1aA1bA1cA1d

Amos1:10-11 37


אדום י פשע ,Edom .על־שלשה locatedsouthoftheDeadSea,wasanationwhosepeopleweremostcloselyrelatedtotheIsrael-itesbutwhooftenweretheirmostbitterenemies.Edomismentionedfourtimesinthesepoems,twiceastherecipientofslaves(1:6,9),onceasthevictimofacrime(2:1),andhere,whereEdomistheobjectofdivinejudgment.

Line A1b:Thecolon-marker isathnach andtheconstraintsare:1predicator,2constituents,and2units.


fix.Asusual,itmarkstheapodosis.Line A1c: The colon-marker is pashta and the constraints are: 1

predicator,3constituents,and3units.Theuseofpashta attheendofalineisunusual,butfortworeasonsthislineshouldterminatehere.First,ifושחת רחמיו wereaddedtothisthelinewouldbetoolong(fiveconstituents).Second,theparallelism,withרדף correspondingtoשחת andwithאחיו correspondingtoרחמיו,suggeststhatושחת .lineseparateais רחמיו

Qal .על־רדפו infinitive construct ofרדף with 3 m s suffixandprepositionעל usedcausally.Thisservesasthepredicatorofthisline.

רב isswordThe.בinstrumentalwithphrasePrepositional .בחmetonymyformilitaryaction.

-repreherecould“brother”1:9,inAsobject.directThe .אחיוsentatreatypartner,butinthiscaseitprobablyrepresentstheracialkinship between Edom and Judah, their neighbors to the north.Again,thefactthatJudahisnotexplicitlynamedindicatesthatitisthenatureofthecrime,notthefactthatJudahwasthevictim,thatis the focus.Becauseof thecondemnationofEdomin thebookofObadiah,setapparentlyatthetimeoftheexile,somesuggestthatthisoracleisalaterinsertioncondemningEdomfortheroleitplayeddur-ingthefallofJerusalemtoNebuchadnezzarII(in586).Thisconclu-

38 Amos1:11


sionisunnecessary.TherewerenodoubtmanyincursionsandbattlesalongtheborderofEdomandJudahthroughouttheirlonghistory,andAmosprobablyhadanincidentinmindthatwehavenospecificknowledgeof.Thisappearstohavebeenanespeciallyviciousattack,however;itwasanattempttocarryoutapolicyofgenocideagainstJudah.

Line A1d:Thecolon-markeriszaqeph qaton andtheconstraintsare:1predicator,2constituents,and2units.

ת ,destroytomeansverbThe.שחתofsmweqatal 3Piel .ושחruin, or exterminate. The use of the weqatal for the past tense isunusual and demands attention. Amos 1–2 has a large number ofweqatal verbs,butalmostallrepresentamainlinefuturetenseexposi-tion,asiscommon.Normallyaconjoinedpasttenseactionisexpressedwiththewayyiqtol,buttheuseofthewayyiqtol herewouldsuggestaseparate,sequentialaction.Theweqatal suggeststwothings.First,asmentionedabove,theactionofthisline(A1d)issimultaneouswiththatofthepreviousline,A1c.Second,theactionisimperfective(“andhewasexterminating”)andnotperfective(“andheexterminated”).Thelatterwouldberepresentedbythewayyiqtol.

יו or“compassion”forabstractlyusedis רחמיםwordThe .רחמ“pity,”andthusmostversionstakethislineas“hedestroyedhispity,”understanding that to mean that he showed no compassion. How-ever,asShalomPaulstates,suchaninterpretation“isamakeshiftoneandistotallyunattested”(Paul1991,64).Variousinterpretationsfornotionunconvincingtheincludingproposed,beenhavehere רחמיםthatitreferstotreatypartners(seeFishbane1970and1972;Coote1971;Barré1985).Itismorelikelyherethatרחם (“womb”)isusedbymetonymyfor“women”especiallyintheircapacityaschild-bearers.SimilarusageappearsinJudges5:30:

הלא ימצאו יחלקו שללרחם רחמתים לראש גבר

Amos1:11 39


“Won’t they find [and] divide plunder? A womb, two wombs, for the head of each warrior?”

Here,thesexuallanguageisquitegraphic.Womentakeninplun-deraredescribedas“wombs”forthe“head”(i.e.,forthesexualorgan)of each soldier. In Amos, the women are similarly the victims ofenemysoldiers,andagaintheyarebymetonymyreferredtoasרחם becauseitistheirsexualcapacitythatisinview.InAmos,however,thewomenarerepresentedaschildbearersandarenotobjectsofrapebutofslaughter,becauseEdom’sobjectiveisgenocide.Thetermרחם inUgariticalsocanmean“woman,”asitisusedinparallelwithbtlt,“virgin”(CTA 6:ii:26–27;citedinPaul1991,65).Inaddition,thecon-catenationpatterndescribedforthispoemindicatesthattheslaughterofwomenisinview,sincetheprincipalcrimeoftheAmmonitesin1:13isthattheycutopenpregnantwomen.Ontheotherhand,thefactthatרחמים means“compassion”isnotlostonAmos.Makingawordplayonthetwosensesofthewordas“child-bearers”and“com-passion,”hespeaksofhowtheEdomitesgavefullexpressiontotheirrageinthenextstrophe(2a-2b).Theantecedentofthe3mssuffixon-refercollectivea“brother”Asline.previousthein“brother”is רחמיוencetothepeopleofJudah,thesuffixcanbetranslatedas“their.”

1:11c: Second Strophe. Two lines. The lines are plainly parallelThebicolon.aconstituteand,(נצחwith לעדand,ועברתוwith אפו)initialwayyiqtol isusedhereandin2:4tointroduceasecondaryaccu-sation.

ף לעד אפו ויטרצח׃ רה נ ועברתו שמ

Line A2a:Thecolon-markeriszaqeph qaton andtheconstraintsare:1predicator,3constituents,and3units.

ף -wayythenarrativeproseIn.טרףofsmwayyiqtol 3Qal .ויטרiqtol typicallygivesthemainlinestructureforahistoricalsequenceof

1:11cA2aA2b

40 Amos1:11


events.Thistext,however,althoughpasttense,isnotstrictlyanar-rativebutanaccusation.Thewayyiqtol isnottemporallysequentialbutitissecondary,beinganadditionalaccusation.Theverbטרף (“totear”)isoftenemendedtoנטר (“toguard”)onthegroundsthatitisabetterparalleltoשמר inline2b,andalsobecauseoftheusageinJer-emiah3:5,הינטר לעולם אם־ישמר לנצח (“Willheguard[hisanger]forever?Willhekeep[it]continually?”).Thisemendationisappealingandmaybecorrect,butonecanmaintaintheMTasitstands.

theand“future,”ortime”“lastingmeans עדnounThe .לעדidiomלעד means“permanently.”

-subtheasconstruedbetoisthiswhethercertainnotisIt .אפוjectorobjectoftheverb,butsince“hetorehiswrath”isunclearandactually suggests thathedestroyedhiswrath (i.e., brought it to anend),itismorelikethatthatאפו isthesubject,“hiswrathtore.”

Line A2b: The colon-marker is silluq and the constraints are: 1predicator,3constituents,and3units.

-subtheiswordthiswhetherunclearisit,אפוwithAs .ועברתוjectorobjectoftheverb.Theparallelwiththepreviousline,however,suggeststhatitisthesubject.

רה withsmqatal 3Qalabetoappearsthisstands,itAs .שמ3 f s suffix, but without the normal mappiq (such forms are rarebutattested; seeGKC §58g). If this iscorrect, thesuffixmustbearesumptivepronounreferringbacktothedirectobjectועברתו.Thisconstruction(“hisrage,hekepther”)isquitepeculiar,andsomesim-plyemendtheverbtoשמר,droppingthesuffix.AnalternativeistorepointtheverbasasimpleQalqatal 3fs,שמרה,aminoremenda-tionthatleavestheconsonantaltextintact.Sounderstood,ועברתו isthesubjectratherthantheobjectoftheverb.Adifficultyhereisthatthisrequirestakingשמר inanintransitivesense,as“tocontinue”or“remainvigilant,”althoughitalmostalwaysistransitive,toguardorkeepsomething.Itispossiblethatwehaveanintransitiveusagein2Samuel11:16,wheretheinfinitiveconstructofשמר seemstomeanto“keepwatch”or“maintainvigilance”(eventhere,however,there

Amos1:11 41


isanindirectobject).Nevertheless,itappearsthatreadingשמרה asaqatal 3fsusedintransitivelywithועברתו asthesubjectisthebestoption.Theuseoftheו +[X]+qatal patternafterthewayyiqtol hereindicatesthatthetwolinesdescribeasingleaction.Twolinesheadedbywayyiqtol verbswouldsuggesttwoseparate,sequentialactions.”.“endlesslyadverb,anasand,“duration”meansThis .נצח1:12: Second Stanza. Two lines. This is the standard judgment

stanzainitsshortestform.

ן ש בתימ חתי א ושלה׃ פ ה ארמנות בצר ואכל


חתי .שלחfromscweqatal 1Piel .ושלש .objectdirectThe .אן theofnamethewasTeman.בwithphrasePrepositional .בתימ

regionofnorthEdom.Line Bb:Thecolon-markerissilluq andtheconstraintsare:1predi-

cator,2constituents,and3units..אכלfromsfweqatal 3Qal .ואכלהה -Bozobject.directtheandchainconstructA .ארמנות בצר

rahwasthechiefcityofEdom;itwasaboutthirtymilessoutheastoftheDeadSea.

1:13-15: Fifth Oracle (Ammon)Aftertheheading(יהוה ר אמ ,(כה thepoemhastwostanzas.ThestructureofthispoemisthussimilartotheoraclesonDamascus(1:3-5)andPhilistia(1:6-8).


1:12BaBb

1:13a

42 Amos1:11-13


See1:3.1:13b: First Stanza. ItgivesthereasonsGodwilljudgeAmmonin

fourlines,inwhicheachlineisheadedbytheprepositionעל exceptforlineAd,whichisapurposeclausedependentonlineAc.

י בני־עמון על־שלשה פשענו א אשיב ה ל ועל־ארבעד על־בקעם הרות הגלעם׃ יב את־גבול ען הרח למ


בני־עמון י פשע This .על־שלשה indictmentuniquelyhas“sonsofAmmon,”thenameofthepeople,ratherthanthenameofaterritory(suchas“Moab”)or leadingcity(suchas“Tyre”),asthedesignationfortheaccusedstate.



fix.Line Ac:Thecolon-markeriszaqeph qaton andtheconstraintsare:

1predicator,2constituents,and3units.-infiniQalais בקעם;causalis עלprepositionThe .על־בקעם

tiveconstructofבקע,witha3mpsuffixservingasthesubjectoftheaction.

ד adjectivetheobject;directaschainconstructA .הרות הגלעsecondtheisThissubstantively.usedandpfhereis(”pregnant“) הרהtimeGilead ismentionedas theobjectofaggression(see1:3).This

1:13bAaAbAcAd

Amos1:13 43


atrocity,rippingopenpregnantwomen,issequentialtotheslaughterofchildbearers(1:11)intheconcatenousstructureofthepoem.

Line Ad:Thecolon-markerissilluq andtheconstraintsare:1predi-cator,2constituents,and3units(takingלמען asaunit).

יב ען הרח infinitivehiphila,הרחיבwithclausepurposeA .למconstructofרחב (“enlarge”).

ם The .את־גבול direct object. The Ammonites desired moreLebensraum;togainthistheywerewilling,asweretheEdomites,toslaughterpregnantorchildbearingwomen.

1:14-15: Second Stanza. Thisisanotherseven-linedescriptionofpunishment.LinesBa,Bb,andBeareeachheadedbythestandardweqatal verb.LinesBcandBdareprepositionalphrasesdependentonBb.LineBfhasgapping,withוהלך inlineBegoverningbothlines.LineBgisthestandardconcludingאמר יהוה.

ה ת רב תי אש בחומ והציה ה ארמנות ואכל

ה בתרועה ביום מלחמה׃ ער ביום סופ בסה ם בגול ך מלכ והלו יו יחד הוא ושרה׃ פ ר יהו אמ

Line Ba:Thecolon-markeriszaqeph qaton andtheconstraintsare:1predicator,3constituents,and4units.

תי inunusualisrootThis.יצתfromscweqatal 1Hiphil .והצthatinallofitsinflectedforms(Qal,Niphal,andHiphil),itfollowsthemorphologyoftheI-נ root(suchasנפל),inwhichthefirstradicalassimilates toanddoublesthesecond.This is theonlyplace inthefirstsevenoracleswherethejudgmentstanzabeginswithוהצתי אש

1:14BaBbBcBdBeBfBg

1:15

44 Amos1:13-15


insteadofושלחתי אש.Weprobablyshouldnotmaketoomuchofthisvariation;throughouttheoracles,Amosusesformulasandrepeti-tionwithoutrigidlyadheringtofixedpatterns.

.objectdirectThe .אשה רב ת Rabbah.בprepositionwithchainconstructA .בחומ

waslocatedatthesiteofthemoderncapitalofJordan,Amman.InHellenistictimesitwascalledPhiladelphia.IntheIronAge,itwasthecapitalcityoftheAmmonites.

Line Bb: The colon-marker is athnach and the constraints are: 1predicator,2constituents,and2units.

.אכלfromsfweqatal 3Qal .ואכלהיה isantecedentwhosesuffixsf3withobjectDirect .ארמנות

.רבהLine Bc:Thecolon-markeriszaqeph qaton andtheconstraintsare:

0predicators,2constituents,and3units.Thislinerelatestothepre-viouslineadverbially,describingcircumstances.

Prepositional .בתרועה phrase with for ב attendant circum-stances.

ה withchainconstructaonphrasePrepositional .ביום מלחמ.ב Asyndeton (lack of conjunction) here indicates that this phraseandבתרועה areunderstoodtobeinapposition,simultaneous,anddescriptiveofasingleevent.

Line Bd:Thecolon-markerissilluq andtheconstraintsare:0predi-cators,2constituents,and3units.Thislinegrammaticallymatchesthepreviousbutisnotsemanticallyequivalent,althoughitmetaphor-icallytreatsthesamecircumstances.

ער -cirattendantforusedhere,בwithphrasePrepositional .בסcumstances.

ה ,בwithchainconstructaonphrasePrepositional .ביום סופusedtemporally.Asyndetonagainindicatesthatthisphraseandבסער areunderstoodtobeinapposition,simultaneous,anddescriptiveofa

Amos1:14-15 45


singleevent.Thestormorwhirlwindismetaphoricalforthechaosanddestructivenessofbattle,thussuggestingametaphoricalratherthanliteralsemanticunitywiththepreviousline.

Line Be: The colon-marker is athnach and the constraints are: 1predicator,3constituents,and3units.

ך .הלךofsmweqatal 3Qal .והלם The .מלכ subject,מלך with a 3 m p suffix. Several Greek

recensions readMelxomhere, and thus somebelieve that thiswordshouldbe read as “Milcom,” godof theAmmonites.However, thesubsequent lineandalsothetendencyofAmostospeakofsendingrulersintoexile(1:5,8)indicatethatthisreferstothekingandnottothegod.Theremaybe,however,awordplayonMilcominAmos’useofthetermמלכם insteadofthetermformonarchsthatheusesabove,ישב.

-attendescribetohereused,בwithphrasePrepositional .בגולהdantcircumstancesasacomplementtoהלך.

Line Bf:Thecolon-markeristifha andtheconstraintsare:0predica-tors,1constituent,and3units.Theuseoftifha foracolon-markerisunusual,butseveraltimesintheseoraclesaweakdisjunctiveprecedesa formulaofdivine speech,which shouldbe regardedas a separateline.Thelinehasgapping,withוהלך inthepreviouslinegoverningthislinealso.

ו יו יחד secondarilyis והלךverbtheofsubjectThe .הוא ושרexpandedtoincludetheking’shighofficials.Thisisthusacompoundsubjectandthereforeasingleconstituent.Rhetorically,thissuggeststhatnooneinleadershipwillescape.

Line Bg:Thecolon-markerissilluq andtheconstraintsare:1predi-cator,2constituents,and2units.Anotherdivinespeechformula.

ר .אמרofsmqatal 3Qal .אמ.subjectThe .יהוה

46 Amos1:14-15


2:1-3: Sixth Oracle (Moab)Aftertheheading(ר יהוה Thestanzas.twohaspoemthis,(כה אמfirststanza(2:1)givesthereasonsGodwilljudgeMoab(threelines)inwhicheachlineisheadedbytheprepositionעל.Thesecond(2:2-3)givesthepunishment(sevenlines),inwhicheachlineisheadedbyaweqatal verb,exceptforlineBd,wherethereisgappingwiththeverbbyBelinetotiediswhichBf,linedouble-duty,doingBclinein ומתachiasticstructure,andlineBg,whichistheconcludingאמר יהוה.ThestructureofthispoemisavariationonthepatternfoundwithDamascus (1:3-5), Philistia (1:6-8) and Ammon (1:13-15). Barton(1980,33–35)hasagoodsurveyofpossiblehistoricalbackgroundsforthewarfarealludedtointhisoracle,butheconcludesthatitisnotpossibletoknowwithcertaintywhatincidentAmosherealludesto.


See1:3.2:1b: First Stanza. Three lines.Each is headedby causalעל or

.ועל

ב י מוא על־שלשה פשענו א אשיב ה ל ועל־ארבע

יד׃ לך־אדום לש על־שרפו עצמות מ

Line Aa:Thecolon-markeriszaqeph qaton andtheconstraintsare:0predicators,1constituent,and3units.This lineisdependentonlineAb.

ב י מוא andJordantheofeastlocatedMoab, .על־שלשה פשעnorthofEdom,isaccusedofviolencetowarditssouthernneighbor.


2:1bAaAbAc

2:1a

Amos2:13 47



fix.Line Ac: The colon-marker is silluq and the constraints are: 1

predicator,3constituents,and5units.-infiniQalais שרפו;causalis עלprepositionThe .על־שרפו

tiveconstructofשרף with3mpsuffixservingasthesubjectoftheaction.

לך־אדום .objectdirectasservingchainconstructA .עצמות מItisnoteworthythatEdomisthevictimofMoab’satrocity,indicatingthatitisthenatureofthecrimeitselfandnottheidentityofthevic-timthatisAmos’concern.Inotherwords,nationsarenotcondemnedsimplyforbeingopposedtoIsrael.

יד withphrasePrepositional .לש servingarticledefiniteand לas a complement to theverb.The significanceofburningbones tolime(שיד)isdisputed.Thereisnoevidencesupportinganalterna-tivetranslationforשיד oranemendation.Somesuggestthatburn-ingbonestolimeissimplydisregardforhumandignity,butofitselfthisoffenseseemsratherpaltrycomparedtothecrimesattributedtotheothernations.Otherssuggestthatthisisareligiousactandthatburningtheboneswasmeanttopreventthedeceasedfromattainingresurrection(Stuart1987,314).Thereis,however,noevidencefromIronAgeLevantinestatesofawidespreadbeliefthattheboneshadtobepreservedinordertoinsurearesurrection(indeed,wehavenoreasontobelievethatpeopleineitherMoaborEdombelievedinaresurrectionatall).ReverenceforthebonesofthedeadisnotafeatureofIronAgeburialsitesintheLevant.ItisbesttofollowtheTargum Jonathan onAmosinitsassertionthatthebodywasburnedtolimeinorder tomakeplaster for thewalls of a room.That, after all, iswhatlimeiswasusedfor.WemaysuggestspecificallythatthelimewasusedtowhitewashthethroneroomofthekingofMoab.SuchapracticewouldbeanalogoustotheAssyrianpracticeofdecoratingthewallsof theirpalaceroomswithscenesdepictingtheirvictories

48 Amos2:1


over their enemies and even of displaying proudly Assyrian atroci-tiesagainsttheirenemies.ThenorthpalaceatNineveh,forexample,hasareliefshowingAshurbanipalandhistroopssackinganElamitecity.MoresignificantforbiblicalscholarsaretheLachishreliefsfromSennacherib’spalaceatNineveh,showingnotonlyhistakingofthecitybuttheAssyrians’impalingoftheirprisoners.Moab’sburningofbonestolimecouldberegardedassimilar—gruesomecelebrationoftheirownviolenceonthewallsoftheirpalace.Itthusimpliedthattheyhadbecomeinhumanintheirviciousness.

2:2-3: Second Stanza. Sevenlinesinonestrophe,followingwithminorvariationthestructureofthejudgmentstanzasagainstDamas-cus,Gaza,andtheAmmonites.

ב ש במוא ושלחתי־אה ארמנות הקריות ואכל

ב ת בשאון מוא ומר׃ ה בקול שופ בתרוע

ה ט מקרב י שופ והכרתיה אהרוג עמו וכל־שר

ה׃ פ ר יהו אמ

Line Ba:Thecolon-markeriszaqeph qaton andtheconstraintsare:1predicator,3constituents,and3units.

חתי .שלחfromscweqatal 1Piel .ושל.objectdirectThe .אשב ,nationorregiontheagainstsentbetosaidisfireHere, .במוא

Moab,insteadofagainstthecapitalcity.ButthenextlinementionsthecityKerioth.

Line Bb: The colon-marker is athnach and the constraints are: 1predicator,2constituents,and3units.

2:2

2:3

BaBbBcBdBeBfBg

Amos2:1-3 49


.אכלfromsfweqatal 3Qal .ואכלההקריות .objectdirectaasusedchainconstructA .ארמנות

KeriothwasoneoftheprincipalcitiesofMoab,anditismentionedinJeremiah48:24aswellasinline13oftheMeshaStele(alsoknownasthe“MoabiteStone”),whereitissaidtohavebeenthesiteofatempletoChemosh,theprincipaldeityofMoab.


ת .מותofsmweqatal 3Qal .ומ-attenforadverbiallyused בwithphrasePrepositional .בשאון

dant circumstances. from) שאון ;II שאה Isa 17:12). The worddescribesaloudnoise,oftenonemadebyacrowdofpeople(Isa5:14;13:4;24:8;Hos10:14;Ps74:23),butalsothenoiseoftheocean(Isa17:13;Ps65:8[E7]).Herethesourceofthenoiseisnotdisclosed,butitprobably includes theburningof thecity, the lamentationof theinhabitants,andthewar-criesandbattlesignalsoftheattackers.

ב ”.“diewillnationentireanRemarkably,subject.The .מואLine Bd:Thecolon-markerissilluq andtheconstraintsare:0predi-

cators,2constituents, and3units.This line is structurally identicaltolineBcinthepreviouspoem(1:14),withwhichitisaconcatenouslink.

ה Prepositional .בתרוע phrase with for ב attendant circum-stances(adverbialofומת inthepreviousline).

ר .chainconstructaon בwithphrasePrepositional .בקול שופThisphrasecouldbestrictlyappositionalwithבתרועה,identifyingthenoiseofbattleasashofar,butitisprobablycitedasanexampleofoneofthenoisesofbattle.

Line Be: The colon-marker is athnach and the constraints are: 1predicator,3constituents,and3units.

י .כרתofscweqatal 1Hiphil .והכרתט רwithassonanceofsaketheForobject.directThe .שופ ,שופ

50 Amos2:2-3


Amosemploysשופט ratherthantermshehasusedpreviously,suchasישב. As is common,שופט connotes a ruler rather than simplysomeonewhojudgesinlegalproceedings.

ה Thesuffix.sf3theand מןwithphrasePrepositional .מקרבantecedenttothefemininesuffixistheimpliedארץ מואב,thelandofMoab.

Line Bf:Thecolon-markeristifha andtheconstraintsare:1predi-cator,3constituents,and3units.

יה שר.suffixsf3withchainconstructobjectdirectA .וכל־שרrefers toahighofficial; theolder translation“prince” ismisleadingsinceaשר isnotnecessarilyroyalty.

Qal .אהרוג yiqtol 1c sofהרג.The sequenceweqatal withadirectobjectinlineBefollowedbyadirectobjectwithyiqtol inBfimplies that the slayingof the “judge” (שופט) andall theofficialsaofpartconceptuallyarebutsequentialnotare(וכל־שריה) singleevent.Thereisaninversionhere,withlineBehavingaverb,object,andprepositionalphrasewhilelineBfhastheobject,thentheverb,andthenaprepositionalphrase.

-antethesuffix;sm3aand עםwithphrasePrepositional .עמוcedentisשופט.

Line Bg:Thecolon-markerissilluq andtheconstraintsare:1predi-cator,2constituents,and2units.Thisisanotherdivinespeechfor-mula.


2:4-5: Seventh Oracle (Judah)Thispoem,withminor variation, follows thepatternof theEdomoracle(1:11-12).

ה ר יהו ה אמ כ 2:4a

Amos2:3-4 51


See1:3.2:4b: First Stanza. Twostrophes.Thefirstisastandardaccusation

strophewithlinesheadedbyעל,butthesecondisconjoinedtoitwithawayyiqtol andgivesasecondaryaccusation.

2:4b: First Strophe.Fourlines.Eachlineisheadedbyעל orועל exceptforthefourth,line1d,whichisboundtoline1cbyachiasticstructure.

ה י יהוד על־שלשה פשענו א אשיב ה ל ועל־ארבע

ה ת יהו ם את־תור ל־מאס ערו א שמ וחקיו ל


ה י יהוד areJudahagainstaccusationsThe .על־שלשה פשעnotgeneralcrimesagainsthumanity,aswasthecase intheaccusa-tionsagainsttheGentiles,butconcerncovenantviolations.



fix.Line A1c:Thecolon-markerisrevia andtheconstraintsare:1predi-

cator,2constituents,and3units.ם ל־מאס suffixpm3with מאסofconstructinfinitiveQal .ע

(theimpliedantecedentisthepeopleofJudah)andtheprepositionעל usedcausally.Thisinfinitivefunctionsasapredicator.

ה ת יהו .objectdirectThe .את־תור

2:4bA1aA1bA1cA1d

52 Amos2:4


Line A1d:Thecolon-markeriszaqeph qaton andtheconstraintsare:1predicator,2constituents,and2units.Thislineformsachiasmuswiththepreviousline.

-paralitconjunction;andsuffixsm3withobjectDirect .וחקיוlelsה .יהוהissuffixthetoantecedenttheand,את־תורת יהו

רו א שמ .שמרofpcqatal 3qalNegated .ל2:4c: Second Strophe.2lines.AsintheEdomoracle,thisstrophe,

headedbyawayyiqtol,constitutesasecondaryaccusation.

ם ויתעום כזביהם׃ ם אחריה אשר־הלכו אבות


with תעהofpmwayyiqtol 3Hiphil .ויתעום a3mp suffixreferringtothepeopleofJudah.Thewayyiqtol isherelogicallysec-ondarytothepreviousaccusationbutitisnottemporallysequential.ItisbothasecondaryaccusationandanexampleofhowJudahwentaboutabandoningthelawofYHWH.

ם (”lie“) כזבnounThesuffix.pm3ahasitsubject;The .כזביהhereprobablyreferstoidols.


ם אחריה . . . relativeA .אשר clausewhose antecedent ispronounpm3resumptivethetoboundis אשרrelativeThe.כזביהםsuffixinאחריהם.Literally,“whichtheirfatherswentafterthem,”itmeans,“afterwhichtheirfatherswent.”Relativeclausesconstituteaspecialproblemindelineatingtheconstituentsofalineaccordingtotheconstraints, sinceelementsof therelative,ashere,maycomeatthebeginningandendoftheclause,withotherconstituentsinsertedbetweenthetwoparts.

2:4cA2aA2b

Amos2:4 53


Qal .הלכו qatal 3 c p ofהלך (“walk”). The verb here con-notesbelievinginsomethingandengaginginthepracticesassoci-atedwithit.

ם isantecedentwhosesuffixpm3ahasitsubject;The .אבותtheimpliedpeopleofJudah.

2:5: Second Stanza. Two lines. This is the standard judgmentstanzainitsshortestform.

ה יהוד ש ב חתי א ושלם׃ פ ה ארמנות ירושל ואכל


חתי .שלחfromscweqatal 1Piel .ושלש .objectdirectThe .אה יהוד againstsenthereisfireMoab,againstoracletheinAs .ב

thenation,Judah,insteadofagainstthecapitalcity;butasin2:2,thenextlinementionstheprincipalcityofthenation,Jerusalem.


.אכלfromsfweqatal 3Qal .ואכלהם ofmentiononlytheisthis1:2,fromApart .ארמנות ירושל

JerusaleminAmos(although6:1referstoZion).Strikingly,1:2rep-resentsJerusalemastheabodeofYHWH,theplacefromwhichheroars,whereasthisversedescribesfirefromYHWHconsumingthecitadelsofJerusalem.

2:6-16: Eighth Oracle (Jerusalem)Theeighthstanzadramaticallybreaksfromthepatternsetinthefirstseven.After thenormalproseheading(יהוה ר אמ ,(כה ithas fourstanzasandatotalofeightstrophes.Onlythefirstthreelinesofthe

2:5BaBb

54 Amos2:4-5


firststrophehavethestandardpatternofaccusationsheadedbytheprepositionעל.Also,thestandardjudgmentbicolonusedinthesevenpriororacles(withושלחתי אש,etc.)isnotemployedintheeighth.Thereisalargeaccusationstanzaintwostrophes,followedbyastanzadescribinginfourstrophesGod’shistoricalactsofgracetoIsraelandtheir response. This is followed by a metaphorical description ofYHWH’sgrief(thethirdstanza[asinglestrophe]),andconcludedbyalengthyportrayaloftheIsraelitearmyroutedinbattle(thefourthstanza[asinglestrophe]).


See1:3.2:6-8: First Stanza. Thisisformedfromtwostrophesofsixlines

each.2:6b-7a: First Strophe.Six lines (A1a-f).Eachof the first three

linesisheadedbythenormalעל orועל.Onemighttreattheopeningtwolinesof2:7asaseparatestrophe,buttwofactorsspeakagainstthis.First,theparticipleהשאפים (thefirstwordof2:7)functionsasarelativeclausehavingasitsantecedentthepronounsuffixon מכרםfrom2:6,suggestingthat,despiteappearances,itispartofthesamestrophe.Astheheadofanewstropheהשאפים hangsintheairquiteawkwardly.Seealsotheuseofהאוצרים in3:10,whichbeginsalinebutclearlybelongswiththeprecedingstrophe.SimilarexamplesofapluralparticipleusedinthiswayareatAmos3:10;4:1and5:6-7.Also,aftertheformulaictwolinesthatintroducethestanza(A1a-b)thefollowingfourlines(A1c-f)areboundbyfournounsdescribingthevictimsofabuse: צדיק(A1c), ואביון(A1d), דלים(A1e),and ענוים(A1f).Thisstrophe,therefore,ismarkedbyhavingtheabuseofthepoorasitscentralaccusation.

ל י ישרא על־שלשה פשענו א אשיב ה ל ועל־ארבע

2:6a

2:6bA1aA1b

Amos2:6-8 55


יק סף צד ם בכ על־מכרים׃ ואביון בעבור נעל

ים אש דל רץ בר ים על־עפר־א השאפים יטו רך ענו וד


ל י ישרא used עלwithphrasePrepositional .על־שלשה פשעcausally on a construct chain. Amos at last comes to the principalobjectofhisprophecy,Israel.



fix.Thisservesastheapodosistothephraseswithעל.Line A1c:Thecolon-markeriszaqeph qaton andtheconstraintsare:

1predicator,3constituents,and3units.ם suffixpm3with מכרofconstructinfinitiveQal .על־מכר

andprepositionעל usedcausally.סף ;somethingofpricethemarksoften בprepositionThe .בכ

seeHALOT ב definition17.Itcouldalsoexpressthecauseorreasonforsomething(HALOT ב definition19).

יק -“righpersontheissensewhatinButobject.directThe .צדteous,”andhowishesold“forsilver”(בכסף)?Thereareatleastthreepossibilities.(1)Heissoldintotoslaveryforasetpriceofsilver,andslaveryintosoldisHe(2)this.deservenotdoeshethatindicates צדיקbecauseheowessomemoney,andצדיק againindicatesthathedoesnotdeservethisandthatthepenaltyistooharsh.(3)Heismetaphori-callysoldoutinthelawcourtswhensomeonebribesthejudgesfor

2:7a

A1cA1dA1eA1f

56 Amos2:6-7


anamountofsilver,andצדיק indicatesthatheisinnocentorintherightinthecaseatlaw.

Line A1d:Thecolon-markerissilluq andtheconstraintsare:0pred-icators,2constituents,and3units.Thereisgappinghere,withם מכרinthepreviouslinegoverningbothlines.

צדיקtoparallelisThisconjunction.withobjectDirect .ואביוןinthepreviousline.Thethreepossibleinterpretationsdescribedaboveforצדיק applyhere aswell, except that stresses ואביון the victim’spovertyinsteadofhisinnocence.

ים נעל phraseprepositionalthisline,abovetheinAs .בעבור couldmean“forthepriceofapairofsandals”or“onaccountofapairof sandals.”Shouldsandalsberegardedas somethingofhighvalueorassomethingthatisverycheap?Clothingcouldbeofhighvaluebecauseoftheintensivelaborrequiredinweavingcloth,anditcouldbeusedascurrency(e.g.,Judg14:13).Butsandalsareneverspokenofinthisway,andSirach46:19explicitlytreatssandalsassomethingofverylittlevalue.Thisshouldruleouttheideathatthispersonwassoldforthepriceofapairofsandals;whateverhisoppressorthoughtofhim,hewouldwanttogetasmuchmoneyforsellinghimaspos-sible. It also seemsodd that the judges in a courtwould accept sosmallabribeasapairofsandals,althoughAmoscouldbemakingthepointthatthejudgesaresolackinginintegritythattheywillpervertjusticeforeventhecheapestofbribes.Still,theideaofbribingsome-onewithsandalsseemsveryodd,andifbriberyincourtisthepointhere,itmaybebettertoemendthetexttoנעלם,a“hidden(bribe),”assuggestedbyseveralscholars(Paul1991,78).Suchanemendationispurelyconjectural,however.Therefore,thebestsolutionistoassertthatthepooraresoldintoslaveryforaverysmalldebtthattheycan-notpay,suchasforthepriceofapairofsandals.

Line A1e: The colon-marker is zaqeph qaton and the constraintsare:1predicator,3constituents,and5units.Theparticipleהשאפים isnotsubstantivalbutservesasapredicatorwithinaparticipialrela-

Amos2:6-7 57


tiveclause.Itcouldbetakentobeperiphrasticandtranslatedwithafiniteverb.

ים iswordThisarticle.definitewithpmparticipleQal .השאפafamousconundrum;itmeansto“pant”or“sniff”andsoseemstomakenosenseincontext.Someinterpreterssaythattheoppressorsaresokeentogetwhattheycanfromthepoorthattheyevensniffatthedustontheirscalps,butthismakesforsuchabizarremetaphorthatitcannotpossiblyberight.Anumberofinterpretersemendthetexttotherootשוף orsuggestthatשאף hereisaby-formofשוף.Theytakeשוף tomean“trample,”andtranslatetheline,“thosewhotrampletheheadsofthepoorintothedustoftheearth”(Paul1991,79–80).Thereare threereasonsthat this is impossible.First, if theverbmeans “trample,” the line literally reads, “who trampleon thedustoftheearthattheheadsofthepoor.”Thisisaveryawkwardandunnaturalsentence,anditcannotmeanthattheytrampletheheadsof the poor into the earth. Second,שוף does not mean “trample.”TheverbappearsinGenesis3:15(twice),Psalm139:11,andJob9:17.WhilethefirstoccurrenceoftheverbinGenesis3:15mightbetakentomean“trample,”thesecondcannotmeanthat,anditisbesttotakebothinstancestomean“tostrike.”SoalsoinJob9:17,whereisשוף usedinparalleltoוהרבה פצעי,“andhemultipliesmywounds,”itisbesttakentomean“tostrike.”Theשוף inPsalm139:11appearstobeahomonymmeaning“cover”or“hide,”butitclearlydoesnotmean“trample.”Third,theproposalthatהשאפים isaby-formofשוף isnotpersuasive.ShalomPauloffersthreeanalogiesforthis(Hos10:14;2Sam19:5;Zech14:10),buttheseareallqatal orweqatal formsthathavetheא asanorthographicfeature(e.g.,inHos10:14writingוקאם forוקם)andnotasa trueby-form,as thempparticipleהשאפים wouldbe.Therefore,שאף as“tosniff”remainsourbesttranslationoption,asthatmeaningiswellattested(seeHALOT שאף).

רץ Prepositional .על־עפר־א phrase withעל. What sniffs atthedustof theearth?Theanswer isadogwhenit ishunting.Theoppressorsaremetaphoricallyrepresentedasapackofhuntingdogs

58 Amos2:6-7


seekingtheirprey.IfSamarianaristocratsenjoyedhuntingwithdogsinthemanneroftheir18thcenturyEnglishcounterparts,thiscouldbeadeliberaterecastingoftheirsport.Theyhuntedforpeoplewiththesamerelishthattheyhuntedforanimals.

ים אש דל .chainconstructaon בwithphrasePrepositional .ברTheprepositionmarkstheobjectandcouldbetranslatedas“after.”Theterm“head”canbemetonymyforthewholeperson(seeHALOT -metahuntingthecontinuesthisthatpossibleisIt5).definition ראשphor.Didancienthuntersdisplaytheheadsofanimalstheyhadkilledastrophies,asmodernhuntersdo?Wedonotknow,butwedoknowthathumanheadscouldbedisplayedastrophies(1Sam17:54).Thepointhereisnotthattheyliterallyhuntedthepoorandmountedtheirheadsastrophies,butthattheirtreatmentofthepoorwasequallyasruthless.

Line A1f:Thecolon-marker isathnach and theconstraintsare:1predicator,2constituents,and3units.Aninclusionstructure,withthepredicating participle as the firstwordof the lineA1e and theverbיטו asthelastwordoflineA1f,suggeststhatthesetwolinesaretwoaspectsofasingleactionratherthanbeingsequentialorlogicallydistinct.

ים רך ענו -followtheofobjectdirectandchainconstructA .ודingverb.

isverbthisoftranslationThe.נטהofpmyiqtol 3Hiphil .יטוnotoriouslydifficult, as itsmeanings include “to stretchout, twist,bend, extend, spread out, steer away from, guide away, deceive, ordivert.”Job24:4,מדרך אביונים thefrompoortheturnthey“,יטו way,”meansthatthepoorareshovedoutoftheroadasasignofnorespectfortheirpersons.ButthisisafalseparalleltoAmos2:7;here,itisnotthepoorbuttheדרך itselfthatistheobjectoftheverb.Prob-ablyנטה herecombinestheideasof“extend”and“divert”or“twist,”andthemeaningisthatthepaththatthepoortakeismadelongandtwisted.Thismaycontinuethehuntingmetaphor; thepoor,as thequarryoftherich,mustfollowanextended,evasiveroutetoescape

Amos2:6-7 59


capture.Themetaphorsuggests that the livesof thepoorare filledwithcontinualharassmentanddangerfromtheupperclass.

2:7b-8: Second Strophe. Six lines. This unity of this strophe isthatitprimarilyfocusesuponreligiousoffenses,althoughitsecond-arilycontinuesthethemeoftheoppressionofthepoor.LinesA2b,A2d,andA2feachendwithreferencetoreligiousmatters( שם קדשי [A2b], מזבח[A2d],andבית אלהיהם[A2f].Furthermore,thesub-jectofיטו inA2c(2:8)isnotanundefined“they”butisthefatherandsonfromlineA2a.Thisfurtherindicatesthattheselinesareasinglestropheandshouldnotbefurtherdivided.

ה נער יו ילכו אל־ה יש ואב ואי׃ ם קדש ל את־ש ען חל למים חבלים יטו ועל־בגד

ח צל כל־מזב אויין ענושים ישתו

ם׃ ית אלהיה ב


יו יש ואב linetheinpositioninitialitssubject;compoundA .ואmakesprominentthefactthatthisisanentirelynewsubject,onethereaderhasnotseen inthis text,andthat it introducesanewtopic.Thus,thislinebeginsanewstrophe.Theconjunctiononואיש indi-catesthatitiscontinuingthepreviousseriesofaccusations.

toreferto הלך אלofuseThe.הלךofpmyiqtol 3Qal .ילכוsexualunionisodd,butthatisnodoubtthemeaninghere.SeePaul(1982)andBronznick(1985).Thephraseבוא אל isoftenusedidi-omatically for sexualunionwithawoman (e.g.,Gen16:2;30:3-4;38:8;Deut22:13),butitreferstosexualrelationswithawomanwhoispartofthehousehold(awife,concubine,domesticslave[asinGen

2:7b

2:8

A2aA2bA2cA2dA2eA2f

60 Amos2:7-8


16:2],orasister-in-lawinfulfillmentoflevirateduties).Thefactthatofoutsidegoingarementhethatindicatesprobablyhereusedis הלךtheirhousehold—toashrine—tohavesexualrelationswithawoman.ForamanandhissontohavesexualrelationswiththesamewomanviolatesthespiritifnottheletterofLev18:8.Theyiqtol hereimpliesthattheactioniscustomaryorrepeated.

ה נער The .אל־ה use ofנערה raises questions about the set-tingofthisoffense.נערה simplymeans“girl”or“youngwoman”andperhaps“servantgirl,”andthussomearguethatboththeheadofahouseholdandhisadultsonareusingoneoftheirdomesticslavegirlsforsexualpurposes.Thisisagainsttheviewthatthewomanhereisashrineprostitute.TheargumentisthatifAmoshadmeantshrineprostitute,hewouldhaveusedthewordקדשה.Butקדשה/קדש isactuallyquiterareintheHebrewBible(itoccurseleventimesinnineverses;threeoftheseoccurrencesaremasculine).It isusuallyfoundinnarrative; it appearsonlyonce in theLatterProphets (Hos4:14,wherethespecifiedoffenseisthatmenmakesacrificeswithהקדשות).In lightof theprominenceof religious language in this strophe (asdescribedinthestropheprofileabove),itseemsthatthisisaculticactandnotsimplymentakingadvantageofahouseholdslave.Asstatedabove,הלך אל stronglysuggeststhatthiswomanisnotpartofthehouseholdofthefatherandson.Atthesametime,theuseofהנערה issignificant.Theshrineprostituteisherenotportrayedasapowerfulpriestesswithcontroloverherowndestiny;sheisalowlywoman,nodoubta slavewhowaspurchased toperformthedutiesof aprosti-tuteforashrine.Thesinismanifoldinnature:(1)itisparticipationina fertilitycult; (2) it involves fatherandsonhaving sexwith thesamewoman;(3)itinvolvesthebrutaluseofanunfortunateyoungwoman.

Line A2b: The colon-marker is silluq and the constraints are: 0predicators,2constituents,and4units.

ען חלל Whileconstruct.infinitivepielais(חלל)verbThe .למ(“withclausefinalaforusedrarelyperhapsisinfinitiveanwith למען

Amos2:7-8 61


theresultthat”;Deuteronomy29:19couldbeanexample),itsuseforapurposeclause(“inorderto”)isoverwhelminglymorecommonandcertain.Thereisnobasisfortranslatingthisas“with the result that theyprofanemyholyname.”Rather,itshouldberendered,“inordertoprofanemyholyname,”buttheusageisironic.TheyintendthisasareligiousactandpersuadethemselvesthatitsanctifiesGod’sname,butinfactitdoestheopposite.Thisfurtherindicatesthatthesexualactisinthecontextofareligiousrite.

י ם קדש functionscommon,isaschain,constructThis .את־שadjectivally(“thenameofmyholiness”representing“myholyname”).Inthisironicsetting,thisexpressionisprobablyusedpreciselybecausetheprostitutiontakesplaceatashrine.

Line A2c:Thecolon-markeriszaqeph qaton andtheconstraintsare:1predicator,2constituents,and3units.Thiscouldbejoinedwiththefollowingphraseכל־מזבח zaqephthebutline,singleaas אצל qaton withitssubordinatepashta suggestsitisafullline.

ים חבלים The.עלlocativewithphrasePrepositional .ועל־בגדwordחבלים isaqalpassiveparticiplempofחבל;theverbimpliesthattheclotheshavebeenseizedfrompoorpeopleforfailuretopayadebt.Incontext,wherethereissexualactivityatashrine,theideamaybethatthemendonotwanttofoultheirownclothesbyusingthemassheetsonwhichtohavesex,andthustheyusethepoorman’scloak.Theaccusationisagainmulti-faceted:itiscultic,sexual,andinvolvesprofounddisrespectforpeopleofalowerclass.

Hiphil .יטו yiqtol 3 m p ofנטה. The verb is used reflexivelyhere,“tostretch(oneself)out,”thatis,tolayoneselfdown.Thisusagemayhavebeenavulgaridiomforhavingsex(cf.English“getlaid”).Whetherthatisthecaseornot,wearenottoassumethattheysimplylaydownandwenttosleepbesideanaltar.Theyiqtol againimpliesthattheactionisfrequent.

Line A2d:Thecolon-markerisathnach andtheconstraintsare:0predicators,1constituent,and2units.

62 Amos2:7-8


צל כל־מזבח -contheinserveshereside,”“,אצלnounThe .אstructasapreposition,anditcountsasaunit.Whileitistruethat“incubation,”sleepingatashrineinhopesofreceivingadreamfromagod,isattestedintheancientworld,context(sexualactivityinthepreviouslinesanddrunkennessinthefollowinglines)stronglyindi-catesthatthisisbacchanalianrevelryatashrine.

Line A2e:Thecolon-markeriszaqeph qaton andtheconstraintsare:1predicator,2constituents,and3units.Thiscouldbejoinedwiththe following phraseאלהיהם as בית a single line, but the zaqeph qaton withitssubordinatepashta suggestsitisafullline.

passiveqala,ענושיםwhichinchain,constructA .ויין ענושיםparticipleofענש,referstopeopleuponwhomafinancialpenaltyhasbeenimposed,whichtheyhavehadtopayinkind,withwine.Theuseofsuchwineindicatesthattherevelersareabletocarryonatnoexpensetothemselves,becausethewinewastakenfromothers.

Qal .ישתו yiqtol 3 m p. The yiqtol again implies customaryaction.

LineA2f:Thecolon-markerissilluqandtheconstraintsare:0pred-icators,1constituent,and2units.

ם אלהיה ית constructA .ב chain; thepreposition is ב oftenimpliedbutnotpresentinpoetry.Theambiguityof אלהיהם(“theirGod”or“theirgods”)suggeststhatthemenconsiderthisbehaviortobeinkeepingwithcovenantfidelitytoYHWHbutthatAmosseesitotherwise.

2:9-12: Second Stanza. Thisisformedfromfourstrophes,thefirstthreedescribingGod’sactsofmercytoIsraelandthefourthdescrib-ingtheirsubversionofGod’swork.

2:9: First Strophe. Five lines. The conquest of Canaan isdescribedunderthemetaphorofaforest.YHWHfirstdeclaresthathe destroyed (hiphil ofשמד) the Amorite (B1a), and then a rela-tiveclausedescribestheAmoritesastree-like(B1b-c).YHWHthendeclares thathedestroyed(hiphilofשמד) themfromfruit to root

Amos2:8-9 63


(B1d-e).Inshort,twopairsoflines(B1b-candB1d-e)metaphoricallyelaborateonB1a.

ם אמרי מפניה דתי את־ה י השמ נכ ואבה ארזים גבהו ר כג אש

אלונים ן הוא כ וחסעל יד פריו ממ ואשמ

חת׃ יו מת ושרש

Line B1a:Thecolon-markeriszaqeph qaton andtheconstraintsare:1predicator,4constituents,and4units.

י נכ .conjunctionawithsubject,The .ואדתי [qatal+X+ ו]patternThe.שמדofscqatal 1Hiphil .השמ

isoftencontrastive;here,previousactsbythesubject(“andI”)con-trastwith thepreviousbehaviorof the Israelitesdescribedabove instrophesoneandtwo.

אמרי The .את־ה direct object. The term “Amorite” is oftenusedbroadlyforthepre-Israeliteinhabitantsoftheland.Thechoiceoftheterm“Amorite”insteadof“Canaanite”hereandin2:10maybedrivenbyGenesis15:16,“theiniquityoftheAmoriteisnotyetcom-plete.”TheimplicationisthattheiniquityofIsrael,likethatoftheAmoritesbeforethem,wasmovingtowardacriticalpoint.

ם Literally .מפניה “from your face,” this depicts the inhabit-antsofthelandbeingdrivenbackfrombeforetheinvadingIsraelitesunderJoshua.

Line B1b:Thecolon-markeriszaqeph qaton andtheconstraintsare:0predicators,2constituents,and4units.

ר . . . גבהו is גבהוonsuffixsm3Theclause.relativeA .אשresumptiveoftherelativepronoun;thus,“whoseheight.”

ארזים בה withphrasePrepositional .כג comparative on כ aconstructchain.

2:9B1aB1bB1cB1dB1e

64 Amos2:9


Line B1c:Thecolon-marker isathnach and theconstraintsare:0predicators,3constituents,and3units.Thisisacopularclause;itisofflineandaddsaseconddescriptionoftheAmoriteafterlineB1b.

ן A .וחס predicate adjective. is חסן attested only twice in theOT (here and Isa 1:31). Its meaning (“strong”), however, is not indoubtascognatewordsarewellattestedinotherSemiticlanguages(see NIDOTTE חסן). It is striking that in both OT instances thewordisusedtodescribethestrengthofmenmetaphoricallydescribedastrees.Itmaybethat inordinaryconversation aasusedwas חסןclichédadjectiveforstrongtrees,suchasoaks.

.subjectThe .הואאלונים is אלוןThe.כcomparativewithphrasePrepositional .כ

anoak.Line B1d:Thecolon-markeriszaqeph qaton andtheconstraintsare:

1predicator,3constituents,and3units.יד Hiphil .ואשמ wayyiqtol 1 c s ofשמד. This continues the

small historical narrative begun in line B1a of this strophe withהשמדתי .ואנכי The wayyiqtol is genuinely sequential. The idea isthat YHWH first cut down the trees and then ensured that theywouldnevergrowagain,destroyingboththeirseedandtheirroots.

.suffixsm3withobjectDirect .פריועל ”.above“fromliterally,usage;Adverbial .ממLine B1e:Thecolon-marker is silluq and theconstraints are:0

predicators,2constituents,and2units.Thereisgapping,with־שאו.linesbothgoverningB1dlinefrom דימ

יו fruitofmerismThesuffix.sm3withobjectDirect .ושרשandrootdescribesthetwopartsofthetreethanmightgerminateorputforthnewgrowth.ContrastIsaiah6:13,whereafterthe“tree”ofJudahisdestroyed,astumpremainstosproutagain.

חת merismaandbelow”“fromliterally,usage;Adverbial .מתwithממעל.

Amos2:9 65


2:10: Second Strophe. Three lines.Twofactorssuggestthatthisshouldberegardedasasecondstropheandnotasacontinuationofthefirststrophebegunin2:9.First,thefactthatboth2:9and2:10beginwithואנכי followedbyahiphilqatal verbindicatesthattheyaretobethoughtofasparallelbutseparatestrophes.Second,thereischronologicalinversion,describingtheconquestin2:9buttheexo-dusin2:10,whichonewouldnotexpectifitwereasinglestrophe.Butwhyisthechronologicalsequenceinverted?ProbablyitisbecauseAmoswantstofocusontheconquestratherthantheexodusandwil-dernesssojourn,althoughthese,too,arebrieflymentionedaspartofthe standard recitation of Israel’s formative events. Notice that thereversalofsequenceallowsAmostobeginlineB1awith“theAmoritefrombeforeyou”andtoendlineB2cwith“thelandoftheAmorite,”creatingininclusionstructureframedbyreferencetotheexpulsionoftheAmorites.TheimplicationisthatIsrael,too,couldbeexpelled.

ים רץ מצר ם מא יתי אתכ י העל ואנכה ים שנ ם במדבר ארבע ך אתכ ואול

י׃ רץ האמר שת את־א לר

Line B2a:Thecolon-markerisathnach andtheconstraintsare:1predicator,4constituents,and5units.

י -secaintroducesthis2:9,in ואנכיofusethetoParallel .ואנכondmini-historicalnarrative.

יתי .עלהofscqatal 1Hiphil .העל.objectdirectThe .אתכםים מצר רץ Prepositional .מא phrase with on מן a construct

chain.Line B2b:Thecolon-markeriszaqeph qaton andtheconstraintsare:

1predicator,4constituents,and5units.ך sequentialwayyiqtol isThe.הלךofscwayyiqtol 1Hiphil .ואול

tothepreviousclauseinlineB2a.

2:10B2aB2bB2c

66 Amos2:10


.objectdirectThe .אתכם.בlocativewithphrasePrepositional .במדברה שנ ים 10overNumbersduration.ofexpressionAn .ארבע

typicallygovernsingularnouns;thenumberstwothroughtentypi-callygovernpluralnouns.

Line B2c:Thecolon-markerissilluq andtheconstraintsare:0pred-icators,2constituents,and3units.

שת expressinghere,לwith ירשofconstructinfinitiveQal .לרpurpose.

י רץ האמר ארץchainconstructTheobject.directThe .את־א-ReferB2a.linein מארץ מצריםtojuxtapositioninishere האמריencetotheAmoritesalsoprovidesalsoaninclusionwithamentionoftheAmoritesinlineB1a.

2:11: Third Strophe.Fourlines.Like2:9-10,thisstrophedescribesYHWH’sactsofgrace towardIsrael. Its subject-matter,however, isquite different from that of the prior two strophes. Also, it beginswithahiphilwayyiqtol insteadoftheואנכי +hiphilqatal patternseenin2:9-10.ItalsoincludesarhetoricalquestiondemandingthatIsraelconfess the validityofYHWH’s claim (lineB3c), and it concludeswithanoracleformula(lineB3d).

ים ים מבניכם לנביא ואקים ם לנזר ומבחוריכ

ל את בני ישרא ין־ז ף א האה׃ נאם־יהו

Line B3a:Thecolon-markeriszaqeph qaton andtheconstraintsare:1predicator,3constituents,and3units.

ים here קוםofhiphilThe.קוםofscwayyiqtol 1Hiphil .ואקmeanstochoosesomeoneforatask,asinJudges2:16.

2:11B3aB3bB3cB3d

Amos2:10-11 67


.herepartitiveiswhich,מןwithphrasePrepositional .מבניכםים theindicatesherewhich,לwithphrasePrepositional .לנביא

purposeforwhichtheywerechosen.Line B3b:Thecolon-markerisathnach andtheconstraintsare:1

predicator,2constituents,and2units.Thislinehasgappingwiththepreviousline,theverbואקים governingbothlines.

Prepositional .ומבחוריכם phrase with ,מן which is partitivehere.

ים theindicatesagainwhich,לwithphrasePrepositional .לנזרpurpose for which they were chosen. Nazirites are not commonlymentioned in the Old Testament; the Nazirite vow is described inNumbers6,andJudges13–16describestheNaziritecareerofSam-son.Whyaretheymentionedhere?ProbablytheNaziritesrepresentIsraelitesofexceptionaldevotiontoYHWH.TheimplicationisthatYHWHsentsuchpeopletothemasremindersoftheneedforalifeoftruepiety.TheNaziritewastheclosestthingancientIsraelhadtoamanunderamonasticvow,althoughtheoneNaziriteweknowwell,Samson,wasfarfromfulfillingtheidealofconsecrationtoYHWH.

Line B3c:Thecolon-markeristifha andtheconstraintsare:2predi-cators,3constituents,and3units.בני ישראל ishereapropernameandthusasingleunit.Ifהאף werecountedasaunit,thelinewouldstillbewithintheconstraints,butitprobablyshouldnotbecounted.WhydoesAmosintroducearhetoricalquestionhere?TheprobablereasonisthattheIsraeliteshadnotsubvertedtheconquestortheexo-dus narratives and that Amos’ audience would need no promptingtoconfess that theseeventshadbeengraciousworksofGod.Theyhad,however,underminedtheworkoftheNaziritesandprophets,asthesubsequentaccusationindicates.Beforemovingintotheaccusa-tion,therefore,AmosfirstdemandsthatIsraelacknowledgethattheappearanceofNaziritesandprophetsamongthemwasalsoamercifulactofGod.

68 Amos2:11


ין ף א .predicatoraasserves איןexistentialnegativeThe .האאת neutrumaisthisdemonstrative,feminineasubject;The .ז

thatstandsforprecedingcontent.Here,itsantecedentistheassertioninlinesB3a-b.

ל .vocativeaasusedchainconstructA .בני ישראLine B3d: The colon-marker is silluq and the constraints are: 0

predicators,1constituents,and2units..formulaoraclestandardaisthischain,constructA .נאם־יהוה

LinkstyingstropheB1tostropheB2havealreadybeennoted,andthediscussionbelowdescribeshow strophesB3 andB4 are boundtogether.Buttheoracleformulaנאם־יהוה alsohasthefunctionofseparatingthethreebenefitsdescribedinstrophesB1,B2andB3fromtheresponseofIsraelinstropheB4.

2:12: Fourth Strophe.Threelines.Like2:11,thisstrophebeginswithahiphilwayyiqtol.ItcontendsthattheIsraeliteshavesoughttosubvertGod’sworkbycorruptingorhinderinghisagents,theproph-etsandNazirites.Severalelementsbindthis strophetostropheB3.Together, theyhave an inversion structure in that linesB3a-bhavethe order prophets–Nazirites, whereas lines B4a-b have the orderNazirites–prophets.LineB3abeginswiththehiphilwayyiqtol ואקים (“andIraisedup”;Godisthesubject)andB4abeginswiththehiphilwayyiqtol ותשקו (“andyoumade[them]drink”;Israelisthesubject).Also,theoracularנאם־יהוה ofB3disansweredbythepeople’srejec-tionofthepropheticwordinB4c,לא תנבאו(“neverprophesy”).

ים יין ותשקו את־הנזרר ם לאמ ועל־הנביאים צוית

א תנבאו׃ ל


2:12B4aB4bB4c

Amos2:11-12 69


.שקהofpmwayyiqtol 2Hiphil .ותשקוים .objectdirectThe .את־הנזרwasthatsubstancetheindicatingobject,directsecondaryA .יין

drunk.Line B4b:Thecolon-markeriszaqeph qaton andtheconstraintsare:

1predicator,3constituents,and3units..עלwithphrasePrepositional .ועל־הנביאיםם עלpatternThe.צוהofpmqatal 2Piel .צוית + may צוה

occurwithaprohibition,asinGenesis2:16-17;28:6;Jeremiah35:6;Nahum1:14;Esther2:10.AnotherexampleisIsaiah5:6,ועל העבים sendingfromcloudstheforbidwillIand“,אצוה מהמטיר עליו מטרrainuponit.”Thereareotherpatternswithצוה andעל thatdonotinvolveprohibitions,asin2Samuel14:8,ואני אצוה עליך,“andIwillgiveordersconcerningyou.”

ר .לwith אמרofconstructinfinitiveQal .לאמLine B4c:Thecolon-markerissilluq andtheconstraintsare:1pred-

icator,1constituent,and1unit.Thisviolatestheconstraintsunless-howintroduction,theindescribedAsunit.aasregardedhereis לאever,theconstraintsarenotinviolable.Thislineisreportedspeech.

א תנבאו לאofuseThenegative.withpmyiqtol 2Niphal .לinsteadofאל forthenegationsuggeststhatthisisastandingorder,“neverprophesy.”Cp.Exod20:13-15.

2:13: Third Stanza. A single strophe of three lines, this has nocounterpartinthefirstsevenoraclesagainstthenation.Adescriptionofdivineexasperation,itistransitional,movingthereadertowardthejudgmentstanza(2:14-16).

ם יק תחתיכ י מע הנה אנכה ר תעיק העגל כאשיר׃ ה עמ ה ל מלא ה

2:13CaCbCc

70 Amos2:12-13


Line Ca: The colon-marker is athnach and the constraints are: 1predicator,4constituents,and4units.

-pronouncedramaticintroducesoftenwordfamiliarThis .הנהments,andsometimesthesearestatementsofdespairorcomplaint.Forexample,Genesis15:3(והנה בן־ביתי יורש אתי)couldbelooselytranslatedas,“Anddoyouknowwhat?Myhouseholdslavewillbemyheir!”

י whichsubjectexplicitanneedsfollowsthatparticipleThe .אנכishereprovidedbyאנכי.

יק -construcperiphrasticain עוקofsmparticipleHiphil .מעtion.Contrarytoanumberofinterpreters(e.g.,Hayes1988,118–19),itdoesnotmeanto“pressdown.”Itappearstobeusedofawagonwiththemeaning,“tomakearut”(seeHALOT )andfromthatmeans,“tobeweighteddown.”Itisintransitive/passive,amiddlevoice,anddoesnottakeadirectobject,astheusageinthenextlineclearlyshows.

This.תחתwithphrasePrepositional .תחתיכם is sometimestaken tomean“inyourplace” (as inExod16:29;2Sam2:23; Job40:12),withtheverbמעיק interpretedas“holddown”or“restrain,”andthus,“Iwillrestrainyouinyourplace.”Butthispassageisnottruly analogous to texts whereתחת means “in (your) place.” Forexample,Job40:12hasתחתם רשעים והדך (“andtreaddownthewicked in their place”), but note that the direct object,רשעים, isexplicit.Inי מעיק תחתיכם is“you”thatindicationnoisthere,אנכthedirectobjectofמעיק.Thus,תחתיכם hasitsnormalandfarmorecommonmeaning,“underyou.”

Line Cb:Thecolon-markeriszaqeph qaton andtheconstraintsare:1predicator,3constituents,and3units.

ר thissubordinateswordthisas,”“justMeaning .כאש linetotheprecedinglinetomakeacomparison.

-midclearlyishereusagethe;עוקofsfyiqtol 3Hiphil .תעיקdlevoiceandintransitive.Noteveryhiphilistransitive,andtheverbcannothavethetransitivemeaning“restrain”sincethecartisobvi-

Amos2:13 71


ouslynotrestraininganything.TakingthisoccurrenceoftheverbasintransitivebuttheoccurrenceinlineCaastransitive(asdoesPaul1991,94–95)ismostimplausible.

ה The .העגל subject.Thedefinite article represents a class ofobjectsandnotaspecificobject.

Line Cc:Thecolon-markerissilluq andtheconstraintsare:0predi-cators,3constituents,and3units.Thislineisadjectival,standinginappositiontoהעגלה.

ה מלא ,articledefinitewithsfAdjective .ה inagreementwithitsantecedentהעגלה.

Literallysuffix.sf3awith לprepositiontheofuseReflexive .לה“filledtoherself,”itmeans,“filledtothebrim.”

indicateto“with”assuchprepositionarequiresEnglish .עמירwithwhatthecartisfilled,butHebrewdoesnot.עמיר referstothesheaves,thecutstalksofgrainthathavenotyetbeenthreshed.SeeJer9:21(E22);Mic4:12.

2:14-16: Fourth Stanza. Ninelines.Inthefirstsevenoracles,everystanzaconcludeswithasinglejudgmentstrophe.Insomecasesthisstrophehasonlytherequisitetwo-lineformulabegunwithושלחתי,butinothersthereisalengthystrophedominatedbyweqatal verbs.Here,thetwo-lineושלחתי אש formulaismissingbutthejudgmentdoesbeginwithaweqatal verb(lineDa).Ofcourse,onecoulddividethisstanzaintoseveralstrophes,asinthenumberedverses,buttherearethreereasonsfortakingthisasasinglestrophe.

The first reason is the analogy to the lengthy judgment strophesagainst Damascus, Gaza, Ammon, and Moab. One would expectIsrael,theclimaxofthepoem,toalsohavealargejudgmentstrophe.

ThesecondreasonisthatlinesDb-haregrammaticallyboundtoDa.Aprophetictextcanbindtwolinestogether,indicatingthatthetwodescribeaspectsofasinglefutureevent,byusingthepatternweqatal +Xinthefirstlineandthepatternו +[X]+yiqtol inthesecondline.For

72 Amos2:13-16


example,Isaiah3:4readsונתתי נערים שריהם ותעלולים ימשלו־בם,“AndIwillmake(weqatal)boystheirofficials,andbabieswillgovern(yiqtol)them.”Governancebyboysandtoddlersarenottwoseparate,sequentialevents,butisasingleeventinwhichincompetentrulersaremetaphoricallydescribedintwoterms.Here,asingleweqatal +Xlineisfollowedbysevenlinesintheו +[X]+yiqtol pattern(therearesixyiqtol verbs,butthesixthyiqtol governsbothlinesDgandDh).Thissuggests that the whole of Da-Dh is portrayed as a single militaryactioninwhichdifferenttypesofsoldiersarementioned.Bycontrast,aninitialyiqtol followedbyaseriesofweqatal verbswouldsuggestasequentialseriesofdiscreteevents.Notealsothatwehaveaseriesoffiveלא +yiqtol verbsinlinesDb-f;thesixthyiqtol inDg-hbreaksthepattern,inthatitlacksthenegative,therebyconcludingthisstrophe.

Thethirdreasonforreadingthisasasinglestropheisthecontentof2:14-16;everylinedescribesthepanickedsoldiersofadefeatedarmy.Thesesoldiersaredifferentiatedeitherbytheirmilitaryspecialization(heavyinfantry,bowmen,lightinfantry,andcavalryinlinesDc-Df)orbytheirqualitiesassoldiers(physicallytough[Db]orexceptionallybrave[Dg]).Butthewholestrophedescribesasingleaction—aroutedarmyinflight.TheargumentoflinesDa-Dhisasfollows:

Da: No one in the army, however swift, will find escape. Thisincludes:

Db:thephysicallytough(adesirablemilitaryquality) Dc:theheavyinfantry(amilitaryspecialization)

Dd:thebowmen(amilitaryspecialization) De:thelightinfantry(amilitaryspecialization) Df:thecavalry(amilitaryspecialization)Dg-Dh:thecourageous(adesirablemilitaryquality).

TheinclusionstructureoflinesDbandDg-Dhsuggeststhatnomat-ter how tough or courageous any members of the four specializedunitsare,theywillallfleeinterror.

Amos2:14-16 73


ל ד מנוס מק ואבץ כחו וחזק לא־יאמ

ט נפשו׃ וגבור לא־ימלד א יעמ שת ל ש הק ותפא ימלט יו ל ל ברגל וק

ט נפשו׃ א ימל ב הסוס ל ורכים יץ לבו בגבור ואמ

ערום ינוס ביום־ההוא ה׃ פ נאם־יהו

Line Da:Thecolon-markeriszaqeph qaton andtheconstraintsare:1predicator,3constituents,and3units.

ד weqatal formallyinitialThe.אבדofsmweqatal 3Qal .ואבfollows the pattern of the previous seven judgment strophes in thepreviousoracles.

The .מנוס subject of the verb. Defined as either “flight” or“placeofrefuge,”itprobablysimplymeans“retreat”or“escape,”andtheusagehereportraysadefeatedarmythatwillnotbeabletoretreatingoodorder,resultinginatotalroutandtheensuingannihilationofthatarmy.

ל pausalinhere) קלisWhy.מןwithphrasePrepositional .מקform),the“swift,”specifiedinthefirstline,onlytoberepeatedinlineDe?TheexpressioninDeprobablyrefersspecificallytolightinfan-tryasaunitofthearmy.HereinDa,“swift”indicatesnotaspecificmilitary specialization but the trait most necessary for the impliedsituation,runningawayfromadefeatinbattle.Thepointisthatthewholearmywillfleeandthateventhemostswiftamongthemwillnotgetaway.Followingthisinitialsummary,linesDb-Dhdescribessixtypesofsoldierswhowillfindnoescape.

2:14

2:15

2:16

DaDbDcDdDeDfDgDhDi

74 Amos2:14-16


Line Db:The colon-marker isathnach and the constraints are: 1predicator,3constituents,and3units.

andsubstantively,usedis חזקadjectiveThesubject.The .וחזקitmeans“hard,strong,orsevere.”Itherereferstothemilitaryqualityoftoughness,includingtheabilitytofight,endurepain,andfunctionundersevereduress.

ץ .negativewithsmyiqtol 3Piel .לא־יאמ;objectdirectThe .כחו thenoun sm3with כח suffix.Used

withאמץ, it can refer to rallying one’s strength in the midst of amilitarycrisis(Nah2:1).

Line Dc:Thecolon-markerissilluq andtheconstraintsare:1predi-cator,3constituents,and3units.

or“hero”meansessentially גבורwordThesubject.The .וגבור“warrior,”and itcanrefer toanykindof soldier (2Chr14:8).Thetermcandescribeanexceptionallypowerful soldier, suchas awar-rior-king(Gen10:8;Isa9:5),anditisalsousedofelitetroops(2Sam23:9).Itoftenreferstothemainbodyofthearmy(2Sam20:7;2Chr17:13-14). In the IronAge, theheavy infantry composed theback-boneofthearmy.Itwascomposedofcitizenswhowereprosperousenough to afford the equipmentof aheavy infantryman; typically,thesesoldierswerefromthelandedyeomanfarmers.Byanalogy,yeo-manfarmersmadeuptheAthenianhoplitecorpsandthelegionsoftheRomanrepublic(seealsoABD,“MilitaryOrganizationinMeso-potamia).Poorercitizensoftenmadeupthelightinfantry,whoservedasskirmishersandpeltasts,andthetrulywell-offservedascavalry(astheycouldaffordhorses).Heavyinfantrystoodinranks,woreheavyarmor,andborethebruntoftheseriousfighting.Inthiscontext,setoppositethearchers,the“swiftoffoot,”andthecavalry,theגבור isprobablytheheavyinfantryman.

.negativewith מלטofsmyiqtol 3Piel .לא־ימלט.suffixsm3withobjectDirect .נפשו

Amos2:14-16 75


Line Dd:Thecolon-markeriszaqeph qaton andtheconstraintsare:1predicator,2constituents,and3units.

שת הק (”hold“) תפשofparticipleactiveQal .ותפש incon-structwithהקשת (anobjectivegenitiverelationship).Theparticipleisnotapredicatorhere.The“holderofthebow”is,ofcourse,anarcher.

ד א יעמ hereverbThenegative.with עמדofsmyiqtol 3Qal .לconnotesholdingone’spositioninthefaceofdangerduringbattle.

Line De: The colon-marker is athnach and the constraints are: 1predicator,3constituents,and3units.

ל .subjectThe .וקיו Prepositional .ברגל phrase with .ב The phrase “swift on his

feet”ofitselfonlyconnotessomeonewhocanrunfast,butinthiscon-textitisprobablynotthosewhoaregiftedrunnersbutthosewhosetaskinamilitaryformationinvolvesspeed.Thiswouldbethelightinfantry,whotypicallycarriedwickershields,hurledmissilesattheenemy,andwhowereusedforharassmentandswiftflankingattacksratherthanforfrontalassaults,whichwouldbethetaskoftheheavyinfantry.

ימלט א directThenegative.with מלטofsmyiqtol 3Piel .לobjectנפשו isimplied,asinlinesDcandDf.

Line Df:Thecolon-markerissilluq andtheconstraintsare:1predi-cator,3constituents,and4units.

used,רכבofparticipleactiveqalasubject,The .ורכב הסוסsubstantivelyinaconstructchainwithהסוס.Thesearethecavalry.

א ימלט .negativewith מלטofsmyiqtol 3Piel .ל.objectdirectThe .נפשו

Line Dg:The colon-marker isathnach and the constraints are: 0predicators,2constituents,and3units.Thislinedependsonthefol-lowinglineDh.

לבו יץ The .ואמ subject, a construct chain. A man who is“mightyofhisheart”isamanofexceptionalcourage,asintheEng-lishexpression,“stoutofheart.”

76 Amos2:14-16


ים ”.“amongmeaninghere,בwithphrasePrepositional .בגבורTheגבורים areagaintheheavyinfantrymen.Thesemen, inheavyarmor,presentingawallofshieldsandstandingshoulder-to-shoulderinthelineofbattle,wereexpectedtowithstandafrontalchargefromtheenemy,andthuswerethebravestofthebrave.Thelightinfantryandarchers,bycontrast,werenotexpectedtoholdtheirgroundinthismanner.

Line Dh:Thecolon-markeristifha andtheconstraintsare:1predi-cator,3constituents,and4units.AshappenssometimesinAmos,thetifha markstheendofalinebeforeanoracleformula.

asdescribedsoldiertheisantecedentwhoseadjectiveAn .ערוםinconditionthedescribinghere,adverbialisadjectiveThe.אמיץ לבוwhichthesoldierwillflee.“Naked”couldliterallymeanthathehaslostallofhisclothing,butitatleastreferstohishavingcastawayallhisheavyarmorandweapons.

.נוסofsmyiqtol 3Qal .ינוסwithphrasePrepositional .ביום־ההוא used ב fora temporal

phrase.Line Di:Thecolon-markerissilluq andtheconstraintsare:0predi-

cators,1constituent,and2units..formulaspeechdivineA .נאם־יהוה

3:1-15: The lion roarsThisdivisionisinthreeparts,withthreepoems(vv.4-6;9-11;13-15)eachheadedbyaprosesection(vv.1-3;7-8;12).Eachpoemisasinglestanzaandthusquiteshort.Thegoverningmetaphorofthisdivisionisthehuntinglion,whoappearsinthefirstbicolonofthefirstpoem(v.4)andinthesecondandthirdprosesections(vv.8and12).Essen-tially,3:1-15arguesagainstthemisguidedfaithoftheIsraelites,whoassume thatbecause they areYHWH’speople, they are inviolable.Thisattitudeisimpliedintheclaimofv.2andintheironyofv.12.Onthebasisofthispresupposition,moreover,theybelievethatAmos

Amos2:14-16 77


hasnorighttoprophesyashedoes.ThischapterthereforeisalsoanapologyforAmos’propheticministry.AgainstthemisguidedfaithofIsrael,Amosargues,(1)thestatusofbeingGod’speopleimpliesthattheywillbe judged,v.2; (2)Israel isno longerwalkingwithGod,v.3;(3)lookingattheevidence,commonsenseshowsthatGodhasturnedagainstIsrael,vv.4-6;(4)divinecompulsionrequiresAmostoprophesy,vv.7-8;(5)eventhepaganswouldbeappalledatwhathappensinSamaria,vv.9-11;and(6)the“deliverance”ofIsraelwillbeverydifferentfromwhattheyexpect,v.12.Followingthis,Amosdeliversastandardjudgmentoracleanalogoustothosegivenagainstthenations(vv.13-15).ForananalysisofAmosasadebatebetweentheprophetandhisopponents,seeMöller(2000).Ontherhetoricofthischapter,seeGitay(1980).

1Hear this word, which YHWH speaks against you, sons of Israel, against all the clan that I brought up from the land of Egypt: 2You only do I know of all the clans of the land. Therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities. 3Will two walk together unless they be agreed?

4Will the lion roar in the forest When he has no prey?Will the maned lion give his voice from his lair If he has not captured anything?5Will a bird swoop down on a trap on the earth If it has no bait?Will a trap spring up from the ground And not catch anything at all?6Will a shofar sound in a cityAnd a people not be terrified? Will there be disaster in a cityAnd YHWH has not done it?

7For the Lord YHWH does not do anything unless he reveals his secret plan to his servants, the prophets. 8The lion has roared! Who will not fear? The Lord YHWH has spoken! Who will not prophesy?

78 Amos3:1-15


9Make a proclamation at the citadels of AshdodAnd at the citadels in the land of Egypt!And say, Gather yourselves upon the hills of Samaria!And see many outrages in her midstAnd oppressive acts within her!10And (see that) they do not know how to do what is right—The oracle of YHWH—But treasure up violence and destruction in their citadels.11Therefore thus says Lord YHWH:An enemy, and all around the land!And he will bring your strength down from you,And your citadels will be plundered.

12Thus says YHWH: Just as a shepherd might “rescue” from a lion’s mouth two legs or a piece of an ear, so shall the people of Israel, who sit in Samaria at the corner of a bed and by a footstool of a couch, be “rescued.”

13Hear and give testimony against the house of Jacob—An oracle of Lord YHWH, God of Sabaoth!14For in the day that I punish the transgressions of IsraelThen I will punish the altars of Bethel.And the horns of the altar will be chopped offAnd will fall to the earth.15And I will strike the winter house in addition to the summer house,And the ivory houses will be lost, And many houses will be swept away.The oracle of YHWH.

3:1-3: Prose Exordium:Thisisasingleproseparagraph.Thecalltohear(v.1)isfollowedbytwosentencesthatexplainwhyYHWHisabouttogiveanoracleagainstIsrael(vv.2-3).

ם בני ר יהוה עליכ ר דב ה אש ר הז שמעו את־הדברץ יתי מא ר העל ה אש ל כל־המשפח ל ע ישרא

ר׃ ים לאמ מצר

Amos3:1-15 79

3:1


This sentence is governed by an initial imperative and thus isvolitiveinnature.Tworelativeclausesandtwoappositionalphrasesexpanduponelementsinthesentence,asdescribedbelow.

Prose Clause:ר ה . . . לאמ ר הז שמעו את־הדבTheinitialimperative(שמעו,aqalimperativempofשמע)sets

thissentenceasanexhortation.Themainclauseincludesלאמר,theqal infinitive construct ofאמר with preposition ,ל and it is inter-ruptedby a series of parenthetical relative and appositional expres-sions.את־הדבר הזה isthedirectobject,andלאמר isepexegeticalof.quotationaintroducesnormal,isasand, הדבר הזה

Prose Clause:ל ם בני ישרא ר יהוה עליכ ר דב אשThisrelativeclausewithאשר hasהדבר הזה asitsantecedent.

.subjecttheasserving יהוהwith דברofsmqatal 3pielais דבר יהוה-“concernmeancanwhich,עלwithphraseprepositionalais עליכםing”buthereundoubtedlymeans“against.”Ithasa2mpsuffix.בני .עליכםonsuffixpm2thetoappositioninvocativeais ישראל

Prose Clause:ה ל כל־המשפח עPrepositionalphrasewithעל.Itisinappositiontoעליכם.The

useofמשפחה,“clan,”todesignatethewholenationofIsraelissome-whatodd,asמשפחה isoftenunderstoodtobeasub-unitofשבט,“tribe.”ButAmosdesignatesallthenationsofearthasמשפחות inv.3,andthushedoesnotseemtohaveanyderogatoryintentindesig-natingIsraelasaמשפחה.

Prose Clause:ים רץ מצר יתי מא ר העל אשArelativeclauseinappositiontoכל־המשפחה.Aftertherelative

finallyand,(עלהofscqatal 1hiphil) העליתיverbthecomes אשר.chainconstructaon מןwithphraseprepositionala,מארץ מצרים

ה על־כן ל משפחות האדמ עתי מכ ם יד ק אתכ רם׃ תיכ ת כל־עונ ם א ד עליכ אפק

3:2

80 Amos3:1-2


This sentence, although lacking any transitional particle suchas ,כי is explanatory, telling the audiencewhyYHWHis speakingagainst them. The lack of transition is more forceful because thesentenceisnotformallysubordinated.Thesecondclause,headedby.explanatoryassentencethemarkswhy,”isthat“,על־כן

Prose Clause:ה ל משפחות האדמ עתי מכ ק אתכם יד רThematrixclauseofthissentence,ithastheorderobject-verb,

makingtheobjectthemostprominentfeatureoftheclause.Inaddi-tiontohavingthefrontposition,thedirectobjectאתכם hasthepar-ticleרק,“only,”fixingthereader’sattentionontheuniquestatusofIsrael.ידעתי isaqalqatal 1csofידע.Theprepositionalphraseמכל beenhasIsraelthatindicating,מןpartitiveahas משפחות האדמהchosenfromamongthenationsofearth.

Prose Clause:ם תיכ ת כל־עונ ם א ד עליכ על־כן אפקThis clause is formally the logical conclusionof thepreceding

clause, but it is paradoxical. One would expect that Israel’s specialstatus as the people of God would insulate it from judgment, butthat istheveryfallacythatAmosisseekingtoexpose.על־כן, liter-ally“uponthus,”isidiomaticfor“thatiswhy”or“forthatreason.”Theverbאפקד (qalyiqtol 1csofפקד)hasanenormoussemanticrange, including“inspect,”“visit,”“muster (troops),”“takecareof,”and“punish.”Here,itconnotespunishingIsraelfortheirsins,asinExodus32:34;20:5;Jeremiah6:15;etc.עליכם aprepositionalphrasewithעל and2mpsuffix,repeatsעליכם fromv.1,suggestingthatthisexplainsGod’sspeechagainstIsraelannouncedthere.Thisuseofforsinthewithand,עלbydesignatedpunishedpersonthewith) פקדwhichpunishmentcomesbeingthedirectobject)isquitecommon,asinNumbers14:18andIsaiah13:11.

דו׃ י אם־נוע ו בלת ים יחד הילכו שנ

Thissentenceisarhetoricalquestionwithaninvertedstructureofapodosisbeforeprotasis.Thepresenceofaninversionisindicated

Amos3:2-3 81

3:3


byבלתי אם inthesecondclause,whichmeans“ifnot”or“unless”andmarks that clause as theprotasis. If itwere adeclarative state-mentinsteadofarhetoricalquestion,itwouldread,“Unlesstheyareagreed,twowillnotwalktogether.”Inform,thisverseisidenticaltothebicolaof3:4-6,andthusitisuniversallyassumedthatthisisthefirstbicolonofapoemofsevenbicola.Therearetworeasonsthatthisisnotcorrect.First,thereisnothingpoeticaboutthissentence.Itisof itselfasimplerhetoricalquestion; inisolation,there isnoreasonanyonewouldregarditaspoetry;itisinfactaproverb.In3:4-6,bycontrast, this rhetorical question pattern is converted into poetry byvirtueof the repeatedparallelism, therebeing threematchedpairs.Second,although3:3servesasalead-inforthepoemof3:4-6,itisisolatedfromthatpoembyformandcontent.Formally,itlacksasec-ond,matchingbicolon.OftenAmos,likeotherprophets,willtermi-natearepeatedpatternwithanelementthatbreaksfromthepattern,butitisoddtobeginapoemwithanelementthatdoesnotconformto thepattern.More significantly, the content is completelydiffer-ent.Verse3speaksoftwopeoplewalkingtogether,butthebicolonpairsofvv.4-6allconcernactsofviolententrapment:alioncapturesitsprey, a snare traps abird, andcity is entrappedbyanenemyorYHWH.Verse3looksbacktovv.1-2,explaininghowitisthatIsrael,YHWH’schosenpeople,willespeciallyexperiencehispunishment.Verses4-6lookforwardtovv.7ff.,explainingthatbecauseYHWHhasspoken,Amosmustprophesyanddestructionmustcome.Rhe-torically,thestructureofv.3leadsintothepoemofvv.4-6,butitisnotpartofthatpoem.

Prose Clause:ו ים יחד הילכו שנThisistheapodosisoftherhetoricalquestion.הילכו isaqalyiqtol

3mpofהלך withinterrogativeה.Thesenseofהלך hereisprobablynot“walktogether”inthesenseofacasualstrollbut“gotogether”in the sense of having a common purpose and destination, and oflookingupononeanotheraspartnersinametaphoricaljourney.Thesubject(שנים)isfollowedbyanadverb(יחדו)modifyingהלך.

82 Amos3:3


Prose Clause:דו י אם־נוע בלתThis,asdescribedabove,istheprotasisinarhetoricalquestion.

Thephraseבלתי אם isadverbial,meaning“unless.”Theverbנועדו isaniphalqatal 3cpofיעד.Thisverbisthecrux oftheverse.ShalomPaul argues that it “heremeansmerely ‘tomeet’without anyover-tonesofbyplanorbydesign”(Paul1991,109).Hearguesthatpeopleoften walk together when they have met by chance, and that it isnotcorrecttosaythatpeopleneverwalktogetherexceptbyappoint-ment.Againstthis,theNiphalofיעד doessignifycomingtogetheratadesignatedplaceandtime(asinNum10:3;14:35;16:11;Ps48:4[E=5];Neh6:2),andnooccurrenceoftheverbconnotesachancemeeting.Also,asmentionedabove,thesenseofהלך hereisalmostcertainlynotof twopeoplewhoaccidentallymeetandwalk in thesamedirectionforafewminutesbeforeparting.Itistruethat“theyhavemadeanappointment”isnotthebesttranslationforthisverbhere,ifbythatoneimaginessomethinganalogoustosynchronizingappointmentbooksforaplannedmeeting.Inthiscontext,theverbconnotesametaphoricalcomingtogetherbydesign,andthusactu-allymeansthattheyhavecometotermswithoneanotherandcanconsider themselves tobe in apartnership.Thepoint, therefore, isthat two will not be partners if they have not come to terms witheachother. Inaddition, theverbal rootיעד recalls theמועד ,אהל the“tentofmeeting”ofIsrael’swildernesssojourn.ThisistheplacewhereYHWHwouldcometogether (Niphalofיעד)withIsraelastheyjourneyedtogether(seeExod25:22;29:42-43;30:6).Theimpli-cation is that fundamental differences now exist between YHWHandIsrael,suchthathecannolongerjourneywiththemandmustturnagainstthem.Thus,theversefurtherexplains3:1,thatYHWHisnowissuinganoracleagainstthem.

3:4-6: first Poem (An Epigram): This is a short epigram (onestanza)inthreestrophes,witheachstrophecontainingfourlines(con-sistingoftworhetoricalquestionsoftwolineseach).Everyrhetoricalquestionintroducedbyaninterrogativeparticle(ה in3:4-5andאם in3:6),withthefirstlineofeachquestionbeinganapodosisandthe

Amos3:3-6 83


secondlinebeingaprotasis,asin3:3.Theprotasisisalwaysnegated(withאין in1band2b,בלתי in1d,andלא in2d,3b,and3d).Eachrhetoricalquestionisanimplieddeclarative.Theimplieddeclarativeforthefirstquestion(3:4a),forexample,is:“Unlessthelionhasprey,hewillnotroar,”orconversely,“Sincethe lionhasroared,hemusthaveprey.”Sinceeverystrophefollowsthesamepattern,theyarenotgivenseparateintroductionsbelow.

AnepigraminHebrewpoetryisashortwisdompoemtypicallyemployingasinglepoeticdeviceandgivingseveralexamplesofasin-glelesson.Proverbs6:16-19,anepigramgivingthethingsGodhates,illustratesthepattern.HereinAmos,thefirststropheconcernsthehuntinglion,thesecondstropheconcernstheentrapmentofabird,andthethirdconcernscalamityinacity.Thequestion-and-answermotifisinkeepingwiththerootsoftheepigraminwisdomliterature.Theclimaxofthissequenceisthesixthquestion(3:6b).ThepointisthatrecentdisastersthathaveovertakenSamaria,suchasdescribedin4:6-11,areproofthatYHWHisagainstSamaria.ThisinturnforcesYHWH’sprophet,Amos,toprophesyagainstSamaria,asindicatedinthefollowingtext,3:7-8.Thefunctionoftheepigramistovindi-cateAmos’claimsagainstIsrael,arguingthat,givenallthathashap-pened,itisonlycommonsensethattoconcludethatGodhasturnedagainstIsrael.

ער ג אריה בי הישאין לו רף א וט

נתו יר קולו ממע ן כפ היתד׃ י אם־לכ בלת

Line 1a:Thecolon-markeriszaqeph qaton andtheconstraintsare:1predicator,3constituents,and3units.

ג bemayIt.הinterrogativewith שאגofsmyiqtol 3Qal .הישאthatthelionisroaringintheforesttoparalyzeitspreywithfear.

3:41a1b1c1d

84 Amos3:4


YHWHprophetstheinelsewhereand3:7Insubject.The .אריהismetaphoricallyalion(Amos1:2;Hos5:14).Beginningtheepigramwith this metaphor already suggests that YHWH is roaring withangerandisabouttokill.

ער .articledefiniteand בlocativewithphrasePrepositional .ביThe definite article represents forest as a representative example; itdoesnotrefertosomespecificforest.

Line 1b: The colon-marker is athnach and the constraints are: 1predicator,3constituents,and3units.

רף .subjectThe .וטין .predicatortheasservingparticleexistentialNegative .א.possessionforusedhere,לwithphrasePrepositional .לו

Line 1c:Thecolon-markeriszaqeph qaton andtheconstraintsare:1predicator,4constituents,and4units.

ן .הinterrogativewith נתןofsmyiqtol 3Qal .היתיר waywhatinorwhetherknowtodifficultisItsubject.The .כפ

theכפיר isdifferentfromtheאריה,theארי,andtheלביא.Allmean“lion”;כפיר istraditionallytranslatedas“younglion,”butthatmaywellbeincorrect.AccordingtoNIDOTTE (atארי),boththeארי and כפיר HALOTlion.Asiaticanis לביאthebutlions,Africanare אריהsuggeststhatכפיר is“distinguishablebyhismane”andthuswouldindicateamalelionthathasreachedmaturity.

.1:2inYHWHofusedis נתן קול.objectdirectThe .קולונתו withphrasePrepositional .ממע is מענהA.מן adwelling

place,primarilythedenorlairofawildbeast(Nah2:13[E12];Ps104:22;Job37:8).Itmaybethatthelionheregivesagrowlofsatisfac-tionfromhisden,havingkilledandeatenprey.

Line 1d:Thecolon-markerissilluq andtheconstraintsare:1predi-cator,2constituents,and2units.

י אם־ ”.“unlessmeaningAdverbial, .בלתד .impliedis“prey,”object,The.לכדofsmqatal 3Qal .לכ

Amos3:4 85


רץ ח הא ל צפור על־פ התפה ין ל ש א ומוק

ה אדמ עלה־פח מן־ה היא ילכוד׃ ולכוד ל


ל hereverbThe.הinterrogativewith נפלofsfyiqtol 3Qal .התפhasthesenseof“swoopdownupon”somethinginordertoeatit.

.subjectThe .צפוררץ הא ח The.עלwithphrasePrepositional .על־פ construct

chainפח הארץ referstoatrapthatisonthegroundasopposedto,forexample,onelocatedinatree.TheimageofthetrapmaysuggestthatIsraelisentrappingherselfduetohersenselessgreed.


ש The .ומוק subject. The word here clearly does not mean“snare,”whichmakesnosenseincontext,but“bait.”

ין .predicatortheasservingparticleexistentialNegative .א.possessionforusedhere,לwithphrasePrepositional.לה


עלה verbThe.הinterrogativewith עלהofsmyiqtol 3Qal .היrepresentsatrapspringinguptocatchabird.Themotionofthetrap.(נפל)birdtheofmotionthewithcontrasts(עלה)

.subjectThe .פחה אדמ .מןwithphrasePrepositional .מן־ה

Line 2d:Thecolon-markerissilluq andtheconstraintsare:1predi-cator,1constituent,and2units.

3:52a2b2c2d

86 Amos3:5


א ילכוד withadverbiallyusedabsoluteinfinitiveQal .ולכוד לnegatedqalyiqtol 3msofלכד.Themeaningofa finiteverbwithcognateinfinitiveabsolutevariesbycontext.Here,itmeans,“andnotcatchanythingatall.”

יר ע שופר בע אם־יתקדו א יחר ם ל וע

יר אם־תהיה רעה בעה׃ א עש ויהוה ל


ע -parinterrogativewith תקעofsmyiqtol 3Niphal .אם־יתקticleאם.Thechangeofparticleindicatesthatthisisthelaststrophe.

The .שופר subject.The shofarwasused forvariouspurposes(suchastosignaltheonsetofaholyseason),buthereitisanalarm.

יר .בlocativewithphrasePrepositional .בעLine 3b: The colon-marker is athnach and the constraints are: 1

predicator,2constituents,and2units.ם thetorefersheretermTheconjunction.withsubject,The .וע

wholepopulationofacity.דו יחר א ,חרדofpmyiqtol 3qalNegated .ל to“tremble”or

“befrantic.”Althoughformallymerelyanotherexampleintheseriesofrhetoricalquestionsmakingthepointthat“ifAistrue,thenBistrue,”thisexampleinvokesthejudgmentthatAmoshasalreadypro-nouncedin2:14-16,thatIsraelwillsuffercalamitousmilitarydefeat.


Qal .אם־תהיה yiqtol 3 f s ofהיה with interrogative particle.אם

3:63a3b3c3d

Amos3:5-6 87


adjectivetheofsingularfemininetheisThissubject.The .רעהwayThething.”bad“ameantosubstantivelyusedisitbutbad,”“,רעinwhichsomethingis“bad”variesbycontext.Itmaybemoralbad-ness(“wickedness”),butoftenitisabadsituation(“distress,calamity,disaster”etc.).Ithasthelattersensehere,andmorespecificallyreferstoacitybeingpillagedbyanenemy.

יר .בlocativewithphrasePrepositional .בעLine 3d:Thecolon-markerissilluq andtheconstraintsare:1predi-

cator,2constituents,and2units..subjectThe .ויהוהה א עש shynotdoesAmos.עשהofsmqatal 3qalNegated .ל

awayfromtheimplicationsofdivinesovereignty,specificallyfromtheideathatifGodisall-powerful,heisultimatelyresponsibleforalthathappensintheworld.Inthiscase,however,Amos’mainconcernisnottodealwithissuesoftheodicybuttoassertthatrecentcalamitiesinIsrael(see4:6-11)areproofthatYHWHisactingagainstIsrael.Thislastquestionisthemainpointoftheentireepigram;theotherquestionssimplymakethatpoint thatcertainevidencerenderscer-tainconclusionsunavoidable.Inaddition,theviolentnatureofallsixquestionsnaturallysuggeststhatGodhasturnedagainstIsrael.

3:7-8: first Prose Commentary:Thisprosecommentarybothcon-cludesthefirstpoemandleadsintothesecond,thusservingasatran-sition.Thefirstsentence(3:7)containstwoclausesinthepatternofanotherinvertedprotasis-apodosisstatement(i.e.,theapodosiscomesfirst).Thisisfollowedin3:8bytwobriefassertions(twowordseachinHebrew),eachfollowedbyashort,one-clauserhetoricalquestionintroducedbyמי.Aswith3:3,3:8iswidelybelievedtobepoetry,andit isgenerallyassumedtobetheendoftheprecedingpoem(widelyconsidered to be 3:3-8). Reasons for believing 3:3 to be prose, andseparatefrom3:4-6,aredescribedabove.Here,thereisanenormousproblemconfrontingthosewhowishtoconnect3:8to3:4-6:verse7isindisputablyprose,andscanningitaspoetrywouldbeforcedandunpersuasive.But it ishighlypeculiar tohave apoemwith aprose

88 Amos3:6


sentenceinsertedinsideit.Indeed,thatevidencealoneissufficienttodemonstratethat3:8cannotbepartoftheepigramin3:4-6.H.W.Wolffavoids thisproblembyarguingthatv.7 isa laterredactionalinsertionwithinapoemthatwasoriginally3:3–6:8(Wolff1977,180–81),butthatonlyremovesthedifficultybypostulatingtheexistenceofaredactorwhowassoineptthatheinsertedalineofproseinsideofapoem.Inaddition,thereislittlecompellingevidenceforreadingv.8aspoetry.Itdoescontainparallelism,butparallelismwithinsuchashorttextisscarcelycompelling.ParallelismisneithertheessentialfeatureofHebrewpoetrynorabsentfromHebrewprose.Thereisnoreasontothinkthatv.8cannotbeacontinuationoftheproseof3:7,towhichitisobviouslyconnected.

Verse7commentson3:6b,whichspokeofYHWHacting(עשה)injudgment,andarguesthatYHWHwillnotact(עשה)withouttell-ingtheprophets.Verse8,withitsassertionthatthelionhasroared,commentsonthebeginningoftheepigram(אריה שאג;cf.הישאג On3:4-6.tobackrefers3:7-8thatcorrectisitThus,3:2).in אריהtheotherhand,3:7-8alsolooksforwardtothepropheticmessagein3:9-11.Verse7assertsthatdivinejudgmentisprecededbyprophecy.In3:8b,iftheversewereonlyaconclusionto3:4-6,wemightexpecttoreadsomethinglike,יהוה עשה מי לא יחרדו (“YHWHhasacted,whowillnotbeterrified?”).Instead,weread,“YHWHhasspoken,whowillnotprophesy?”Thisplainlylooksforwardtothepropheticproclamationof3:9-11thatbeginswithהשמיעו,“Makeitheard!”

י אם־גלה סודו אל־ ר כ ה דב ה אדני יהו א יעש י ל כים׃ יו הנביא עבד

Prose Clause:ר ה דב ה אדני יהו א יעש י ל כThisistheapodosisofthesentence;theconditionisinthenext

clause,“unlesshereveals....”Theinversionofthenormalorderfol-lowsthepatternsetinvv.3-6andheremakestheapodosismoreprom-inent.כי ishereexplanatory,meaning“because.”לא יעשה isanegated

Amos3:6-7 89

3:7


qalyiqtol3msofעשה,withאדני יהוה asthesubject.דבר,thedirectobject,heremeansa“thing”andwiththenegative,“anything.”

Prose Clause:ים יו הנביא י אם־גלה סודו אל־עבד כTheprotasis,thisassertsthatpropheticwarningsareanessential

precursortodivine judgment.כי אם,“unless,”givesthecondition.hasobject,directthe,סודוnounThe.גלהofsm3qatalqalais גלהa3ms suffix. It refers to secretplansoraconfidentialdiscussion.-indithemarkinghere,אלwithphraseprepositionalais אל־עבדיוrectobject.הנביאים isinappositiontoעבדיו.ItappearsthatAmosisdefendinghispropheticcredentialsinmuchthesamemannerasPauldefendedhisapostoliccredentials.

א י ל ר מ א אדני יהוה דב א ייר י ל ג מ אריה שאא׃ ינב

Prose Clause:ג אריה שאThefrontingof thesubject (אריה) insteadof theverb(שאג,a

qalqatal 3msofשאג)makesthesubjectmoreprominent.Theqatal clauseishereisoffline.Itisthesettingorbackgroundinformationforthequestionthatfollows.Althoughtheroaringlionobviouslyrelatesto3:4,thefunctionhereisdifferent.Intheformercase,itwasevidenceforthelion’scaptureofprey;here,itisasoundthatprovokesterror.

Prose Clause:א א ייר י ל מThewordorderhere,interrogative+negative+verb,isfixedinbib-

licalHebrewandinvariable;thus,nothingsignificantisimpliedbyit.Prose Clause:ר אדני יהוה דבTheverb(דבר)isapielqatal 3msofדבר.Theclausestructure

isthesameasinאריה שאג.Theroaringofthelionisthustheana-logue todivine speech.This suggests that thepropheticmessage isitselfterrifying.

Prose Clause:א א ינב י ל מ

3:8

90 Amos3:7-8


Theverb(ינבא)isaniphalyiqtol 3msofנבא.Theclausestruc-tureisthesameasinמי לא יירא.

3:9-11: second Poem: A Prophetic Accusation: This poem, like3:4-6,isasinglestanzaintwelvelines.Ithasfourstrophes.Inform,this is an accusation inwhichwitnesses are called in to adjudicate.Against3:2,thesignificanceofcallinginpagannationsasthejuryisclear:IsraelisrelyingonherspecialstatusasYHWH’schosenpeopletoprotectandvindicateher,butinfactheroffensesaresoextremethatevenGentilesare(metaphorically)qualifiedtositinjudgmentonher.

3:9a: First Strophe.Twolines,withtheverbהשמיעו governsbothlines(gapping).Thestropheisacallforheraldstogoouttopaganlands and summon them to witness the moral chaos within Israel.This is a rhetoricaldevice;Amos isnot literally sendingheralds totheselands.

יעו על־ארמנות באשדוד השמים רץ מצר ל־ארמנות בא וע


יעו .שמעofpmimperativeHiphil .השמ-prepositheHere,.עלwithphrasePrepositional .על־ארמנות

tionisalocative“at”anddoesnotmean“against,”asitdoesin3:1.readsLXXThe.בlocativewithphrasePrepositional .באשדוד

0Assuri /ov, “Assyria,” here for “Ashdod.” The argument in favor ofthisreadingisthat itseemsoddtopairthePhilistinecitywiththegreatnationofEgypt;Assyriawouldseemtobeabettercounterpart.Againstthis,bothAshdod(asarepresentativeofPhilistia)andEgypthadalreadybeenmajoroppressorsofIsrael,butAssyriaasofyethadnot.ReferencetoAssyriaisinfactconspicuouslyabsentfromAmos.Also,itisdifficulttoseehowlaterscribes,afterthefallofSamariatoAssyria,wouldsubstituteAshdodforAssyria.ItmaybethatEgypt’s

3:9a1a1b

Amos3:8-9 91


andAshdod’shistoryofoppressingIsraelironicallymakesthemexpertwitnesses(Paul1991,115).Snyman(1994)arguesthatAshdodrepre-sentstheconquestandEgyptrepresentstheexodus.Itisalsopossiblethatאשדוד ishereawordplayonשד (“destruction”)in3:10.

Line 1b:Thecolon-markerisathnach andtheconstraintsare:0predicators,2constituents,and3units.Thislineemploysbothgap-ping(withtheverb)andmatching(withtheprepositions).

ל־ארמנות Prepositional .וע phrase withעל. Here again, theprepositionisalocativeanddoesnotmean“against.”

ים רץ מצר bemayIt.בlocativewithphrasePrepositional .באthatמצרים isawordplayonהאוצרים in3:10.

3:9b: Second Strophe. Three lines. Instead of a separate divinespeechformula,thereisaone-wordimperative(ואמרו,analogoustotheofrestthewithheralds,impliedtheatdirected1a)linein השמיעוstrophebeingthecontentofwhattheheraldsaretosaytothenations.Theheralds’speechtothenationsgoesatleastthroughline2c,butitprobablyincludeslines3a-4daswell.

י שמרון ספו על־הר ואמרו האה ת רבות בתוכ וראו מהומ

ה׃ ים בקרב ועשוק

Line 2a:Thecolon-markeriszaqeph qaton andtheconstraintsare:2predicators,3constituents,and4units.

-subTheconjunction.with אמרofpmimperativeQal.ואמרוjectistheimpliedheraldswhoaddressthenations.

ספו Niphal .הא imperative m p of .אסף The subject is thenations,whoarecommandedtogathertogether.

י שמרון ahasimageThe.עלwithphrasePrepositional .על־הרdoublepurpose.OntheonehanditsuggestsagatheringofarmiesincampspreparingtolaysiegetoSamaria,butontheotherhand,within

3:9b2a2b2c

92 Amos3:9


therhetoricalmetaphor,thenationsareseatedasjurymembersuponthehills,observingtheevidenceandpreparingtogiveaverdict.

Line 2b:Thecolon-markeriszaqeph qaton andtheconstraintsare:1predicator,3constituents,and4units.

.conjunctionwith ראהofpmimperativeQal .וראורבות ת The .מהומ direct object. The wordמהומה implies

panicorturmoil,andagainthereisadoublemeaning.ThepanicisthecomingpanicofSamariawhenitisundersiege,butitisalsothemoralturmoilbroughtaboutbywidespreadoppressionwithinthecity.Itisthelatterthatthenationsaretoobserveandrenderaverdicton.

ה used) בwithphrasePrepositional .בתוכ ina locativesense)anda3fssuffix(theantecedentisSamaria).Acityisunderstoodtobefeminine.

Line 2c:Thecolon-markerissilluq andtheconstraintsare:0predi-cators,2constituents,and2units.Thereisgapping,withוראו gov-erningthisline.

ים -oppresofacts“) עשוקיםnounTheobject.directThe .ועשוקsion”)isfoundonlyhereandinJob35:9.Itisrelatedtotheabstractnounעשק (“extortion,oppression”).

ה (senselocativeainused) בwithphrasePrepositional .בקרבanda3fssuffix.

3:10: Third Strophe. Threelines.Theselineshaveasinglemainclause(3a)followedbyadivinespeechformula(3b)andparticipialrelativeclause(3c).

ה א־ידעו עשות־נכח ולנאם־יהוה

ם׃ פ ד בארמנותיה ס וש ים חמ האוצר

Line 3a:Thecolon-markeristifha andtheconstraintsare:1predi-cator,3constituents,and3units.

Amos3:9-10 93

3:103a3b3c


א־ידעו Theconjunction.with ידעofpcqatal 3qalNegated .ולsubjectistheIsraelitepeople,andtheconjunctionrelatestothetur-moilandoppressionthatthenationsarecalledontowitness.Thus,the implication is that the command for thenations to “see” whathappensinIsraelgovernsthislinealso.

complementaasused עשהofconstructinfinitiveQal .עשותtoידעו. It isnotapredicator.The idiomידע +infinitivenormallymeansto“knowhowtodo”athing.

ה -meanadjectiveanbetoappears נכח.objectdirectThe .נכחing“straight,”butitisroutinelyusedsubstantivelytomean“properbehavior”or“uprightness.”Thewordoftenhasafeminineform,butthesingular,ashere,isusedmoreabstractly,whiletheplural,asinIsa30:10,seemstorefermoreconcretelyto“rightthings.”

Line 3b: The colon-marker is athnach and the constraints are: 0predicators,1constituent,and2units.

.formulaspeechdivineA .נאם־יהוהLine 3c:Thecolon-markerissilluq andtheconstraintsare:1predi-

cator,3constituents,and4units.ים -artidefinitewith אצרofpmparticipleactiveQal .האוצר

cle.Theparticipleservesasarelativeclausewhoseantecedentistheimpliedsubjectofידעו,thepeopleofSamaria.AselsewhereinAmos,thepluralparticipleisjoinedtoafiniteverbinaprecedinglinewithinthesamestrophe.

ד ס וש byjoinednounstwoofobjectdirectcompoundA .חמthe conjunction. It may be thatחמס, “violence,” speaks especiallyofcrimesagainstpersonswhileשד,“destruction,”speaksofcrimesagainst property and property rights, but both include the idea ofviolence.

ם -locaainhereused) בwithphrasePrepositional .בארמנותיהtivesense).

3:11: Fourth Strophe.Fourlines.Thisisajudgmentstrophe,pro-claimingthepunishmentthatwillcometoIsraelforalltheoutrages

94 Amos3:10


thatoccurwithinher.The language is reminiscentof theminimaljudgmentstrophesagainstTyre(1:10),Edom(1:12),andJudah(2:5)inthatitspeaksofdestructioncominguponthecitadels(ארמנות)ofSamaria.

ה ה אמר אדני יהו ן כ לכרץ יב הא ר וסב צך ד ממך עז והוריך׃ זו ארמנות ונב

Line 4a:Thecolon-markeriszaqeph qaton andtheconstraintsare:1predicator,3constituents,and4units.Inform,thiscouldbeprose(asanumberofdivine speech formulasappear tobe),but3:11 isacontinuationofthepoemandthis line, therefore,mustbescannedaspoetry.

ן threeandtwostrophesindescribedsinsthereferencesThis .לכasthereasonsforthepunishmentdescribedhere.

ה אמר .adverbanwithsmqatal 3Qal .כה .subjectThe .אדני יהו

Line 4b: The colon-marker is athnach and the constraints are: 0predicators,2constituents,and3units.AsitstandsintheMT,thisline is an exclamation rather than a declarative statement. Thus,thereisnopredicator,althoughapredicatedsentenceisimplied.“Anenemy! And all around the land!” implies, “There is an enemy allaroundtheland!”

ר This .צ noun may mean “distress,” as in Job 15:24, but itoftenmeans“enemy.”Eitherispossiblehere,butline4cimpliesthat“enemy”isthemeaninghere.TheLXXhasTu /rov,“Tyre(צר),”whichiscertainlywrong.

רץ הא יב Prepositional .וסב phrase withסביב and the con-junction.Manyemendtoיסובב,thepolalyiqtol 3msofסבב,“an

3:114a4b4c4d

Amos3:10-11 95


enemyshallsurroundtheland,”onthebasisoftheVulgate(seeBHSapparatus).ButthefullVulgatereadingistribulabitur et circumietur terra, “the land shallbedistressedand surrounded,”making itdif-ficulttoassesswhattheVulgate’sVorlage wasandwhetheritactuallysupportstheproposedemendation.TheMTisintelligibleandshouldbeleftasis.


ד .4bfrom צרissubjectThe.ירדofsmweqatal 3Hiphil .והורAsinearlierjudgmentstrophes,theweqatal formistheprimaryfiniteverb conjugation employed todescribe a seriesofpendingdisastersthatwillcomeasdivinejudgmentonanation.

-anteThesuffix.sf2aand מןwithphrasePrepositional .ממךcedentofthesuffixisthecityofSamaria,metaphoricallyawoman.

ך .suffixsf2awithobjectdirectThe .עזLine 4d:Thecolon-markerissilluq andtheconstraintsare:1predi-

cator,2constituents,and2units.זו onjudgmentspriortheUnlike.בזזofpcweqatal 3Niphal .ונב

thenations,wherethecitadelswereburneddown,heretheyareplun-dered.Thisisapropos,consideringthatamajorcrimeoftheIsraeliteleadershipwasaplunderingoftheirownpeople.

יך .suffixsf2awithobjectdirectThe .ארמנות3:12: Second Prose Commentary: This commentary serves as

a transitionbetweenthe secondandthirdpoems.Lookingback, itcomments on 3:11 by describing with the illustration of the lambhowthoroughthedestructionofSamariawillbe.Lookingforward,itanticipatesthedescriptionofthearrogantluxuryoftheupperclassesinSamariain3:14-15.

י י שת י האר ה מפ יל הרע ר יהוה כאשר יצ כה אמשבים ל הי ן ינצלו בני ישרא זן כ ים או בדל־א כרע

רש׃ שק ע ה ובדמ ת מט מרון בפא בש

3:12

96 Amos3:11-12


Prose Clause:ר יהוה כה אמAdivinespeechformulawithaqalqatal 3msofאמר andthe

particleכה.Prose Clause:ים י כרע י שת י האר ה מפ יל הרע כאשר יצ

זן או בדל־אintroduces .כאשר the firstpartofa two-partcomparison, in

whichכאשר markstheprotasisandisequivalentto“justas”andכן,markingtheapodosis,isequivalentto“evenso.”יציל isahiphilyiqtol 3msofנצל.Theyiqtol representspossibleactivityandcouldberen-dered“mightsnatch.”However,thisverboftenhastheconnotationofdeliverance,anditishereusedironically,asisclearfromtheuseof-defiThesubject.theis הרעה.versethisofclausesecondthein נצלnitearticlerepresentsaclassratherthanaspecificexample,andthusitcouldbetranslatedas“ashepherd”ratherthan“theshepherd.”מפי .chainconstructaonfrom,”“,מןwithphraseprepositionalais האריAgain,thedefinitearticlerepresentsaclass,andsoitcouldbetrans-latedas“fromalion’smouth.”Thephraseשתי כרעים או בדל־אזן istwodirectobjectsseparatedbyאו,“or.”Itmeans,“twolegsorapieceofanear.”Theכרע isthebonylowerlegofananimal.Thesnatchingofthelowerlegsorofapieceofearfromalion’smouthisindicativeofhowthoroughlythelambhasbeendestroyed.Someinterpretersseehereanallusiontothelegalrequirementthatahiredshepherdsnatchapieceofaslainsheepfromabeastsothathemightshowthepiecetotheownerasevidencethatthesheepwasslainbyananimalandthatthe shepherddidnot simply lose the sheep(Exod22:12[E13]; seePaul1991,119).Butevenifsuchalegaltraditionmightexplaintouswhyashepherdwouldgrabapieceofalambfromalion’smouth,weshouldnotmaketoomuchofthatininterpretingthistext.Thenotionofsnatchingbitsofthelambawaytoprovideevidenceexoneratingashepherd isneverdeveloped in the text.There isnocounterpart tothehiredshepherdinthepassage,andthereisnoreasontosupposeAmoswantshis reader to thinkthatexonerationof theshepherd isthepointofthepassage.Inshort,focusingonthissupposedcultural

Amos3:12 97


backgroundtotheshepherd’sactiondoesmoretocloudthemeaningofthepassagethantoilluminateit.Themainpointoftheimagehereisthatthesheephasbeenabsolutelydestroyed.

Prose Clause:ל ן ינצלו בני ישרא כThisistheapodosisofthecomparisonbeguninthepriorclause.

Theparticleכן markstheapodosiswithינצלו,aniphalyiqtol 3mpofofpeopletheofconfidencecasualthecounteractshereironyThe.נצלSamariathatiftheyareattacked,YHWHwill“deliver”(נצל)them.ישראל nationIsraelitetherepresentsphraseThesubject.theis בני and,inthemetaphoroftheprotasis,themainpointisthatthenationwill be utterly destroyed. There is no idea of a remnant here. Themetaphorofsnatchingapieceofanearfroma lion’smouthmeansthatthesheepisdead,notthatparthassurvived.

Prose Clause:שק ובדמ ה מט ת בפא מרון בש שבים הירש ע

Thisisparticipialexpressionusedasarelativeclauseinapposi-tiontoבני ישראל.Thewordהישבים isaqalactiveparticipleofישב mpwiththedefinitearticleusedasarelativeclause;theantecedentisבני ישראל.

רש שק ע ת מטה ובדמ מרון בפא -prepcoordinatedthreeareבשositionalphrases,eachwithב anddependentonישב.Thesewordsarenotoriouslydifficult,butattemptstoresolvethedifficultyofthistext by cutting the Gordian Knot and emending (e.g., Rabinowitz1961;Zalcman2002)aretoospeculativetobecompelling.Thefirstissueisthemeaningofישב withב.ShalomPaulvigorouslydeniesthatב canbeusedwithישב tomean“on,”andsohearguesthatthepeoplearenotsitting“on”beds.Hethus,likemanyothers,arguesthatratherbut הישביםtorelationshipnohasfollowingand בפאת מטהmodifiesינצלו.Thewholesentencethereforemeansthat“thosewhodwell” (הישבים) “in” ”away“rescued/snatchedbewillSamaria(ב)andrefugeesbewilltheyis,Thatbed.aofpieces(ב)”with“(ינצלו)theonlypossessionstheywillbeabletoretrievefromtheruinsoftheircitywillbepartsoftheirbeds(Paul1991,120).Thisinterpretation

98 Amos3:12


isreflectedinanumberofversions,suchastheESV,whichhas,“soshallthepeopleofIsraelwhodwellinSamariaberescued,withthecornerofacouchandpartofabed.”Thismisunderstandsthetextonseverallevels.

First,itassumesthatthemainpointoftheverseisthatsomeIsra-eliteswill“berescued”fromslaughterandsurviveasrefugees.Tothecontrary,asarguedabove,thepointoftheanalogyisnotthesurvivalofsomebuttheutterdestructionofthenation.

Second,itimpliesthatthepiecesoffurniturearesnatchedawayinamanneranalogoustothesnatchingawayofthepiecesoftheslainlamb.Tothecontrary,theanalogyisnotbetweenthelegsandearofthelambandthepiecesofIsraelitefurniture,itisbetweenthelambitselfandthewholepopulation, theישראל ,Again.בני itdoesnotassertthatsomerefugeeswillgetawayalivebutthenationasawholewillbekilled.

Third,itistruethatישב withב normallymeanstoresideorsit“at”alocationratherthan“on”anobject.However,theuseofב inusethetoattractionbybemay ובדמשק ערשinand בפאת מטהofב inבשמרון.Moreimportantly,wereallyhavelittleideawhatthenounsפאה andדמשק inthiscontextmeanandwearethusinnopositiontoassertthattheexpressionישב בפאת מטה ובדמשק ערש isimpossible.פאה normallymeans“corner”or“edge,”andthatmaybeitsmeaninghere(Paul[1991,121]suggeststhatitisthe“headofthebed,”likeaheadboard,butthatisspeculative).דמשק hasbeentakentomeansomethinglike“sheets”ora“footstool”inthiscontext(seeHALOT דמשק;Paul[1991,121–22]arguesthatitisthe“foot”ofabed,butthisisalsospeculative).Theimportantpointisthatב with.bedorcoucha“on”sittomeannotneedbutlocativebestillcan ישבItcouldmeantosit“at”thecornerofabedand“with”afootstoolofacouch.

Fourth, the absurdity of this interpretation speaks against it (cf.Hammershaimb1970,62).Weareaskedtosupposethatrefugeesflee-ingtheircityasitgoesupinflamesbeforeaninvadingenemywould,ofallthings,grabaheadboardorsomeotherpartofabedastheone

Amos3:12 99


itemtheysnatchfromtheflames.Thisisfar-fetched.Peopleinsuchasituationmightgrabtheirchildren,gold,orjewels,butwouldnotburdenthemselveswithbrokenpiecesoffurniture.

Fifth,Amos6:4-7indicatesthatIsraelitesloungingoncouchesandbedsisexactlywhattheprophethasinmind.

3:13-15: Third Poem:This two-strophepoem(one stanza)pro-nouncesthedivinejudgmentonIsrael.Thefirststropheintwolinesisacalltolisten,andthesecondineightlinesgivesthedetailsofthejudgment.

3:13: First Strophe. Two lines. Line 1a is unusual in Amos forhavingtwopredicators,andline1bisanunusuallyfulsomeformulaof divine speech. This is therefore an exaggerated call to listen; itsextravagance isaccountedforbythe fact that it introducesamajorjudgmentspeechinthefollowingstrophe.

ב עק ית י ידו בב שמעו והעי הצבאות׃ ה אלה נאם־אדני יהו

Line 1a: The colon-marker is athnach and the constraints are:2 predicators, 3 constituents, and 4 units (3 units if יעקב is בית regardedasapropername).

jurytheareaddresseesThe.שמעofpmimperativeQal .שמעוimaginedtobegatheredfromEgyptandAshdod.

ידו eithermeancanverbThe.עודofpmimperativeHiphil .והעtogivetestimonyortoadmonish;thepaganjuryiscalledtoinformSamaria that the charges that YHWH brings against the city arejust.

ב עק ית י -adverhereiswhich,בwithphrasePrepositional .בבsative(“against”),onaconstructchain.

Line 1b:Thecolon-markerissilluq andtheconstraintsare:0predi-cators,1constituent,and5units.

י הצבאות ה אלה describedhereisYHWH .נאם־אדני יהו

3:131a1b

100 Amos3:12-13


as the sovereign aasserves אדני) title)andasGodof theheavenlyassembly(אלהי הצבאות isinappositiontoיהוה).

3:14-15: Second Strophe.Eightlines.Ajudgmentspeech,describ-ing the punishment due to Israel, it is modeled on the judgmentspeeches against Damascus (1:4-5), Gaza (1:7-8), Ammon (1:14-15)andMoab(2:2-3).Afterline2a,whichintroducesthejudgments,likethoseoraclesithassevenlines,isdominatedbytheweqatal verb,andendsinadivinespeechformula.Structurally,thisstropheisinthreeparts: a protasis (line 2a), an apodosis (lines 2b-g), and the divinespeechformula(line2h).Amosgivesthreelinestothepunishmentupontheshrines(2b-d)andthreelinestopunishmentupontheluxu-rioushousesoftherich(2e-g).Inthis,heneatlysummarizesthetwomainobjectsofGod’swrath:areligiouszealwithouttruefearofGodandthearrogant,oppressivebehaviorofthewealthy.

יו ל על י־ישרא י פשע י ביום פקד כל ית־א קדתי על־מזבחות ב ופ

ח ונגדעו קרנות המזברץ׃ ונפלו לא

יץ ית הק רף על־ב י בית־הח והכיתן י הש ואבדו בתים ים רב וספו בת

ה׃ ס נאם־יהו

Line 2a: The colon-marker is athnach and the constraints are: 1predicator,3constituents,and5units.

י י ביום פקד thebyfollowed כיparticlesubordinatingThe .כtemporalprepositionalphraseביום attachedtotheQalinfinitivecon-structofפקד witha1cssuffix.Thiscreatesatemporalclausewhichistheprotasisforlines2b-g.

3:142a2b2c2d2e

Amos3:13-15 101

3:152f2g2h


ל י־ישרא .verbtheofobjectdirectthechain,constructA .פשעיו idiomThesuffix.sm3aand עלwithphrasePrepositional .על

“tovisit(פקד)Xupon(על)Y”meansto“punishYforX.”Line 2b:Thecolon-markeriszaqeph qaton andtheconstraintsare:

1predicator,2constituents,and3units.קדתי markingbothweqatal isThe.פקדofscweqatal 1Qal .ופ

anapodosisandindicatingfutureevents.ל ית־א -conaon עלwithphrasePrepositional .על־מזבחות ב

structchain.ThealtarsaresynecdochefortheshrineofBethel,andthepointisthattheshrinewillcomeunderespeciallyseverepunish-ment.


“choptomeansverbThe.גדעofpcweqatal 3Niphal .ונגדעוoff.”

ח “thechain,constructaisItobject.directThe.קרנות המזבhornsofthealtar.”Thehornswerethelocusofthealtar’sholiness;theywerewherethebloodofatonementwassmeared.Also,arefugeewouldseeksanctuarybyclingingtothehornsofanaltar.Thepointisthatsacrednessofthelocationwouldbedestroyed.

Line 2d:Thecolon-markerissilluq andtheconstraintsare:1predi-cator,2constituents,and2units.

in קרנות המזבחissubjectThe.נפלofpcweqatal 3Qal .ונפלוthepreviousline.

רץ Prepositional .לא phrase with indicating ל direction. Theimageofthehornsofthealtarfallingintothedirtbespeakstheprofa-nationofthesite.

Line 2e: The colon-marker is athnach and the constraints are: 1predicator,3constituents,and5units.Here,Amos turns fromthedestructionofholysitestothedestructionofplacesthatdisplaythewealthoftheupperclasses,theirhomes.

102 Amos3:14-15


י .נכהofscweqatal 1Hiphil .והכיתרף .chainconstructaobject;directThe .בית־החיץ ית הק -introherewhich,עלwithphrasePrepositional .על־ב

ducesaseconddirectobjectandmeans“inadditionto”(seeHALOT definition6b,c,d).Theexistenceofbothsummerandwinterhomesforverywealthypeople isdocumentedintheBible(Jer36:22)andelsewhere(Paul1991,125–26).

Line 2f:Thecolon-markerisrevia andtheconstraintsare:1predi-cator,2constituents,and3units.

betomeanshereverbThe.אבדofpcweqatal 3Qal.ואבדו“lost”or“ruined.”

ן הש י objectdirectAnother .בת construct chain.Thephraseof coursedoesnotmean that thehouseswere constructedof ivorybut that theywere amplydecoratedwith ivorypiecesof art.ManyexamplesofsuchpieceshavesurvivedfromSamariaitself(mostofitfromtheninthcenturyB.C.),butotherpieceshavebeenfoundfromlatebronzeMegiddoandfromastashofivoryworks(someapparentlytakenfromIsrael)fromAssyrianNimrud.

Line 2g:Thecolon-markeristifha andtheconstraintsare:1predi-cator,2constituents,and3units.

The.ספהofpcweqatal 3Qal .וספו thirdplural formhere,althoughitimpliesthatsomeunnamedpeoplewillsweepawaythesehouses,isreallyusedimpersonallyandcanbetranslatedasapassive.

ים ים רב becanThisadjective.anwithobjectdirectThe .בתtranslatedasthesubjectofapassiveverb.

Line 2h:Thecolon-markerissilluq andtheconstraintsare:0predi-cators,1constituents,and2units.

.formulaspeechdivineThe .נאם־יהוה

Amos3:14-15 103


4:1-13: Cruelty and Hollow religion IThisdivisionisthefirstoftwolargeindictmentsagainstIsrael(4:1-13;5:1–6:14)thatfocusontheoppressivecrueltyandhollowreligionofthepeopleandespeciallyofitsleaders.Amos4:1-13isitselfintwomajorsections,andeachoftheseareintwoparts.Thefirstsection,4:1–5,isapoeticoracleagainstthewomenofSamaria(4:1-3),towhichanironicbenedictionisadded(4:4-5).Thesecondsection,4:6-13,isaproserecitationofYHWH’sfutileattemptstobringIsraelrepentance(4:6-12),towhichadoxologyisadded(4:13).Thereligiouslanguageofvv.4-5and13binds thisdivision togetherandmakes thepointthat Israel’s sin is fundamentally theological.TheywronglyassumethatanactivereligiouslifeissufficienttoappeaseGod,andtheyfailtocomprehendthesignificanceofthedivinemajestyandthuswhatanencounterwithactuallyGodentails.

1Hear this word,Cows of Bashan who are on the hill of Samaria,Who oppress the poor, Who crush the impoverished,Who say to their lords, “Bring us something to drink!”2Lord YHWH has sworn by his holiness:Behold, days are coming upon youWhen you people shall be hoisted up with (meat) hooks,And the rest of you women (shall be hoisted up) with hooks.3And you shall go out by the breaches one after another,And you shall be cast on the dunghill. <emended text>The oracle of YHWH.

4Go to Bethel in order to transgress!At (go) to Gilgal in order to multiply transgression!And offer your morning sacrificesand your three-day tithes!5Send up a leavened thanksgiving offering in smoke!

104 Amos4:1-13


And proclaim (your) freewill offerings! Make them heard!For that is what you love to do, sons of Israel.An oracle of Lord YHWH.

6And even though I gave you cleanness of teeth in all your cities and a lack of food in all your locales, yet you have not returned to me. The oracle of YHWH.

7And even though I withheld the rain from you while it was still three months until the harvest—although I would send rain on a given city, but on another city I would not send rain; a certain field would get rain, but a field on which it did not rain would dry up. 8And two or three cities would wander to one city to drink water but were not satisfied. Yet you have not returned to me. The oracle of YHWH.

9I struck you with blight and rust in abundance; locusts have been eat-ing your gardens, your vineyards, your fig trees and your olive trees. Yet you have not returned to me. The oracle of YHWH.

10I sent against you plagues of the Egyptian sort. I slew your young men by the sword as your horses were captured, and I raised up the stench of your army, and that right in your nose! Yet you have not returned to me. The oracle of YHWH.

11I overturned some of you in the way God overturned Sodom and Gomorrah, and you were like a burning stick snatched from a fire. Yet you have not returned to me. The oracle of YHWH.

12Therefore, I will continue to do the same to you, Israel! Because I will do this to you, prepare to meet your God, Israel! 13For consider:

He fashions mountains and creates the wind!And he declares to humans what is his grievance! He makes dawn into darkness,And treads upon the high places of earth!His name is YHWH God of Sabaoth!

4:1-5: The Women of Samaria and an Ironic BenedictionThispoemisintwostanzas.Thefirststanzahastwostrophes(4:1and4:2-3),andthesecond,theironicblessing,hasone(4:4-5).

Amos4:1-15 105


4:1-3: First Stanza. Thisfollowsthenormalpatternofaccusationandjudgmentsetinchapters1–2.Here,thewomenofSamariaareaccusedinthefirststrophe(4:1),andtheirjudgmentispronouncedinthesecond(4:2-3).Thejudgmentstrophe,likethoseagainstDamas-cus,Gaza,Ammon,andMoab,isinsevenlines.

4:1: First Strophe. Six lines.After the initial call tohear (A1a),theaddresseesarenamed(A1b)anddescribedinfourrelativeclauses.The first relativeclause (A1b) is introducedbyאשר and theotherthree (A1c-e) are participles. This strophe is similar to the accusa-tions against thenations except that these accusations arenotgov-ernedbyעל.ThereischiasticassonancebetweenA1aandA1bwithqalwithbeginA1c-einlinesthreeAll.בהר שמרוןandשמעו הדברactiveparticiples,andthestrophebeginsandendswithlinesheadedbyimperatives.

ה ר הז שמעו הדבמרון ר ש פרות הבשן אשר בה

ים העשקות דלהרצצות אביונים ם ניה ת לאד האמרה׃ יאה ונשת הב

Line A1a:Thecolon-markerisrevia andtheconstraintsare:1pred-icator,2constituents,and3units.

.שמעofpmimperativeQal .שמעוה ר הז -demonstrawithnoundefiniteaobject,directThe .הדב

tivepronoun.Line A1b:Thecolon-markeriszaqeph qaton andtheconstraintsare:

1predicator,3constituents,and5units.Thelinecontainsavocative(thepredicator)andamodifyingrelativeclause.

4:1A1aA1bA1cA1dA1eA1f

106 Amos4:1-3


הבשן A .פרות construct chain vocative; Hebrew vocativesaregenerallydefinite,as is thecasehere (GKC §126e).BashanwastheareatothenorthoftheYarmukRiver,eastandnortheastoftheSeaofGalilee; thenamealwayshas thedefinitearticle inHebrew.Ithadlushpasturelandandthusfamouslyraisedhealthycattleandsheep(Deut32:14;Ezek39:18).Theepithet“cowsofBashan”herereferstotheupper-classwomenofSamariawho,likethosecows,liveamonggreat abundance.But the term isnotnecessarilyderisiveofitself.Ancientpoetsregularlyemployedpastoral imagerytorefertobeautifulwomen,asSong4:1does indescribingawoman’shairaslikeaflockofgoats.InGreektexts,aregularepithetforHeraisthe“cow-eyed(bow~piv)goddess.”

.פרותisantecedentthepronoun;Relative .אשרמרון ש ר Prepositional .בה phrasewith used ב as a locative.

Thewomencalled“cowsofBashan”arenotactually fromBashan;theyarefromSamaria.

Line A1c:Thecolon-markeriszaqeph qaton andtheconstraintsare:1predicator,2 constituents, and2units.Theparticiple serves as arelativeclauseandaspredicator.

Qal .העשקות activeparticiple f pofעשק with thedefinitearticle.Theverbmeansto“oppress”orfinancially“exploit.”Itsmean-ing iswell-illustratedby the apologia of Samuel in 1 Samuel 12:3:“WhoseoxhaveItaken?OrwhosedonkeyhaveItaken?OrwhomhaveIexploited?(ואת־מי עשקתי).”

ים .participleprecedingtheofobjectdirectThe .דלLine A1d:Thecolon-marker isathnach andtheconstraintsare:1

predicator,2constituents,and2units.Theparticipleservesasarela-tiveclauseandaspredicator.

-artidefinitethewith רצץofpfparticipleactiveQal .הרצצותcle.רצץ meansto“mistreat”or,inthePiel,to“strikedown,”buttheverbsעשק andרצץ regularlyappeartogetherasakindofhendiadys(seeDeut28:33;Hos5:11). In1Samuel12:3,afterasking ואת־מי

Amos4:1 107


”.(את־מי רצותי)?mistreatedIhave“Whomasks,Samuel,עשקתי.participleprecedingtheofobjectdirectThe .אביונים

Line A1d:Thecolon-markeristifha andtheconstraintsare:1predi-cator,2constituents,and2units.LinesA1dandA1eshouldnotbejoinedasasingleline,sincethatwouldcreatealineofthreepredica-tors and a noun. As a rule, a line with three predicators will havenothingelse.

ת Qal .האמר active participle f p ofאמר with the definitearticle.

ם ניה pm3thewith אדוןnountheobject;indirectThe .לאדsuffix and the preposition .ל Because of the masculine suffix, onemightarguethatthe“cowsofBashan”areactuallymenandthatAmosisnotspecificallyattackingthewomenofSamaria.ButHebrewisnotconsistent about using the feminine plural pronominal suffixes forfeminineantecedents(cf.Ruth1:8).Thenounאדון heremustmean“husband”(asinGen18:12),becausenootherinterpretationmakessense.The“cowsofBashan”arethereforewomen.Thenounאדון ishereusedfor“husband”insteadofthemorecommonאיש orבעל asanironiccounterpointtothetitleאדני,whichisappliedtoYHWHinlineA2ainthenextstrophe.TheSamarianwomenarrogantlytreattheir“lords”ashouseholdslavesandcommandthemtobringdrinks,but“LordYHWH”hassworntobringdestructionuponthem.

Line A1e:Thecolon-markerissilluq andtheconstraintsare:2pred-icators,2constituents,and2units.

יאה .הparagogicwith בואofsmimperativeHiphil .הבה impliesweyiqtol hereThe.שתהofpcweyiqtol 1Qal .ונשת

purpose,“sothatwemaydrink.”4:2-3: Second Strophe.LikethejudgmentstropheonDamascus

(1:3-5) and others, it has seven lines and employs weqatal verbs todescribeacomingpunishment.

108 Amos4:1


ע אדני יהוה בקדשו נשבם ים עליכ ים בא י הנה ימ כ

א אתכם בצנות ונשה׃ ן בסירות דוג ואחריתכ

ה ה נגד אנה אש ים תצ ופרצנה ההרמונה והשלכת

ה׃ נאם־יהו


ע .שבעofsmqatal 3Niphal .נשב.subjectThe .אדני יהוה-foroathaninusedhere,בwithphrasePrepositional .בקדשו

mulatosignifythatbywhichtheoathistaken.קדוש herehasthe3mssuffixandisprobablybothrepresentativeofGod’scharacterasthebasisforhisoathandalsometonymyforhiswholebeing;thatis,Godswearsbyhimself,thesupremelyholybeing.

Line A2b:Thecolon-markerisathnach andtheconstraintsare:1predicator,4constituents,and4units.

י הנה oaththeofcontenttheindicateshere כיparticleThe .כandהנה indicatesthatadivinedecreeisbeinggiven,asinGenesis1:29.

ים .subjectThe .ימים Qal .בא active participle m p ofבוא and the predicate of

.ימיםpm2aand(”against“) עלwithphrasePrepositional .עליכם

suffix.Line A2c:Thecolon-markeriszaqeph qaton andtheconstraintsare:

1predicator,3constituents,and3units.

4:2

4:3

A2aA2bA2cA2dA2eA2fA2g

Amos4;2-3 109


א impersonallyusedisformThe.נשאofsmweqatal 3Piel .ונשandisherevirtuallypassiveinmeaning.Theweqatal istheapodosistothepreviousline.Throughgapping,theverbgovernslineA2daswell.Thepiel literallymeans to“raiseup” (2Sam5:12). Itusuallyhasapositivemeaning,to“support”or“supply,”asin1Kings9:11;Isaiah63:9;Esther5:11;Ezra1:4.Here,however,theliteralmeaningof“raiseup”ismoreprobable.

wellasherepronounmasculineTheobject.directThe .אתכםasinlineA2bmayimplythatthejudgmentdescribedherepertainstoallthepeopleandnottothewomenalone.

-interpreThe.בinstrumentalwithphrasePrepositional .בצנותtationofצן hereismuchdebated;seethediscussionofסירה inthenextline.

Line A2d: The colon-marker is silluq and the constraints are: 0predicators,2constituents,and3units.Thereisgapping,withthislinegovernedbyונשא inA2c.

ן 2withhere) אחריתnounThe .ואחריתכ fp suffix)means“end.”Fromthat,itcanmean“destiny”or“fate,”orconversely,the“remainder”ofapreviouslylargergroup.Withasuffix,itoftenmeans“fate,”asinNumbers20:25,ואחריתו עדי אבד (“andhisfate[moves]towardruin”).SimilarusageappearsinDeuteronomy32:20,29;Isa-iah41:22;Jeremiah5:31;12:4;Psalm73:17;etc.Ifthatwerethesensehere,thelinewouldmean,“Yourfatewillbeinסירות דוגה,”butthatisunlikely.Thesuffixedformofאחרית isusedalsofordescribingthe slaughtering of what is left of a people (Ezek 23:25 and Amos9:1).InProverbsitoftenreferstothefinaloutcomeofanactionorwayoflife(Prov5:4,11;14:12,13;16:25;etc.).TheusageinAmos-“outthewhereProverbs,inusagethetosimilaris(ואחריתה)8:10come”oftheIsraelitefeastingwillbeabitterday.HereinAmos4:2,itcouldrefertothebacksidesofthemetaphoricalcows(assuggestedinHALOT,“אחרית”),butonewouldexpecttoseeאחר ifthatwerethemeaning.WithinAmos,theclosestanalogytotheusagehereisin

110 Amos4:2-3


9:1,whereGodkills“therestofthem”(ואחריתם)withasword.Thisisprobablythemeaninghere.

דוגה Prepositional .בסירות phrase with instrumental on בaconstructchain.Thephraseiscommonlytranslatedas“withfish-hooks,”butitisnotclearthatfishhookswerewidelyusedineighthcenturyB.C.IsraelorMesopotamia(fishingwascommonlydoneatthistimewithnetsorgigs).Wedonotknowwhataסירת דוגה isorhowitgotitsname.Althoughדוגה possiblyisrelatedtothewordדג,“fish,”thisdoesnotmeanthatסירות דוגה aretoolsusedinfishing,whether itbe fishhooks, fishingpoles,or fishbaskets, allofwhichhavebeensuggested.Intheterminologyofatrade,athingmaybenamedforsomesuperficialreason,suchasitsappearance,andnotlit-erallyaccordingtofunction.Byanalogy,ifatruckdriversaysthathebeganto“fishtail,”heisnotdescribinganythingthathastodowithliteralfishorfishing.Anenormousrangeofinterpretationshasbeenappliedtothewordsצנות andסירות דוגה inA2candA2d(seePaul1978andPaul1991,130–35).Briefly,theyareasfollows:

Interpretation 1: Shields,oralternativelyboats,onwhichthewomenare carried away. The Aramaic Targum has this interpretation (seeCathcartandGordon1989,82).Thisislexicographicallyandhistori-callyunlikely.

Interpretation 2: PotsorbasketsinwhichfisharecarriedtomarkettakingeitherrepresentmayThis.(cookingfor“pot”ameancan סיר)thewomenintocaptivity(Paul1991,134)orcartingoffthedeadbod-ieslikefishinbasketsafteraslaughter(Hayes1988,140–41).Neitherispersuasivebecausethechangeinmetaphoristooabrupt.Uptothispoint,thewomenaremetaphoricallycattle;nothinghaspreparedthereaderforthinkingofthemasfish.Tosuddenlyintroducethisimagewithout telling the reader that the women are like caught fish is apoeticnon-sequitur,andthereaderisleftwithabewilderingpictureofwomen(orcattle!)beingcarriedinpotsandfish-baskets.

Interpretation 3: צנות hasbeen interpretedas “ropes,”but this islinguisticallyimplausible(Paul1991,131).

Amos4:2-3 111


Interpretation 4: Thorns,probablyheremeaninghooks,andfish-hooks(סירות דוגה),whicharehookedintothewomentopullthemalong. This is a common interpretation (e.g., Markert 1977, 106;Hammershaimb 1970, 66; de Waard and Smalley 1979, 79). Per-hapsthewomenare literallytobepulledintoexilewithfishhooks,orperhapstheyaremetaphoricalcattlebeingpulledwithfishhooks,Whateverthecase,thisinterpretationhassignificantproblems.First,itisunlikelythatthepielofנשא (“raisehigh,carryaloft”)wouldbeusedforpullingcattle(orpeople).Second,asmentionedabove,useoffishhooksappearstohavebeenlittlepracticedintheLevantatthistime(seePaul1991,132–33).Third,ifthewomenarestillthoughtofasmetaphoricalcattle,itwouldbedangeroustobothownerandbeast,andverystrange,totrytopullcattlewithfishhooks.2Kings19:28doesspeakofleadingawayAssyriawithwhatisoftentranslatedas “hooks,” but the word there (חח) is more properly taken to bethenose-rings, suchasareusedwithcattle, rather thanas“hooks”(cf. Exod is חח.(35:22 never used in parallel with eitherצנות oraswomentherepresentstextthethatimpossiblenotisIt.סירות דוגהbeingledintocaptivitylikecattlewithringsthroughtheirnoses(thusKleven1996),but linguisticsupportforthis interpretationisweak,andtheverbנשא seemstoruleitout.

Interpretation 5: Thewordsצנות andסירות דוגה mayrefertofish-hooks,andthewomenareconceivedofasfishcaughtwithhooks.Ifso,itisagainanabruptandunannouncedchangeofmetaphorfromcattle to fish. And again, it may be anachronistic to take this as ametaphorofangling.

Interpretation 6: Itispossiblethatצנות andסירות דוגה aretechni-caltermsusedbyshepherdsandranchersfortoolsoftheirtrade.Ifso,thenצנות andסירות דוגה areperhapssomekindofprodsfordrivingcattle.OnthebasisofProverbs22:5,itappearsthatצן referstosomekindofspikedobject(inthattextthenounismasculineandmaybeeitherbriarsorakindofspikedtrap).Here,itmaybebarbedprods.Themainproblemwiththisinterpretationisthatthepielofנשא is

112 Amos4:2-3


anoddverbtousefordrivingcattle(althoughofcoursetherecouldhavebeenanidiomaticusageofנשא amongcattlemen).

Interpretation 7: Itispossiblethat“hooks”isthemeaningofצנות andסירות דוגה ifthemetaphorisoneofbutcheredcattle,withthemeathangingonhooks(cf.Stuart1987,327).Thisrequirestakingand אתכם to ואחריתכן refer the meat of slaughtered, metaphori-cal cattle.Given the limitationsofourknowledge, interpretation7maybethebest.TheAssyrianpracticeofactuallyimpalingpeopleonhooksgivessomecredibilitytothisview.

Line A2e:Thecolon-marker isathnach andtheconstraintsare:1predicator,4constituents,and4units.

ים prepositionA .ופרצ is ב implied.Thus, itmeans“(bythe)breaches”(thatareinthewalls)afterthecityhasfallen.Hayes(1988,141)takesפרץ heretorefertobloatedcorpsesthatarecarriedoutofthe city.His evidence for this interpretation isweak,however, andtheverbתצאנה wouldseemtorefertopeoplewholeaveundertheirownpower.

אנה .יצאofpfyiqtol 2Qal .תצה ”.“eachmeantodistributivelyusedhereisnounThe .אשה ,Literallysuffix.sf3aand נגדwithphrasePrepositional .נגד

“eachwomanbeforeher,”itheremeans,“onebehindtheother,”asinJoshua6:20.

Line A2f:Thecolon-markeristifha andtheconstraintsare:1predi-cator,2constituents,and2units.

נה A.הparagogicwith שלך ofpfweqatal 2Hiphil .והשלכתparagogicה onaweqatal isoddandmaybeascribalerror—perhapsdittographyfromthefollowingword.Thehiphil,to“throw,”isdiffi-culttomakesenseofhere.OnthebasisoftheLXX(a )porrifh /sesqe),onemightemendtothehophalוהשלכתן,“andyoushallbethrown.”

The .ההרמונה meaning of this word is entirely lost to us,althoughitpossiblyendswithadirectiveה.Itmaybeapropername(“toHarmon,”orifrepointedtoread,“toHermon,”itcouldreferto

Amos4:2-3 113


themountainnortheastofDanandrefergenerallytoanexiletothenorth[Wolff1977,207;seealsoWilliams1979]).Itmaybeapropername withהר (such as “to the mountain of Remman” [LXX: ei 0v to \ o 1rov to \ Remman],perhapsreferringtoArmenia?).Oritmaybeacommonnoun(suchas“tothecitadel”[emendingtoארמון]or“tothedung”[emendingtoדמן].Itmaybethattheunemendedlineisanotheridiomfromthevocabularyoftheshepherdandrancher.Alloftheseinterpretationsarehighlyspeculative.Amosdoes,however,tendtorepeathimselfagooddeal,andat8:3השליך clearlyreferstodeadbodiesbeingcastaway.Thus,onemaysuggestthattheemendationto.docanwebesttheis דמן

Line A2g:Thecolon-marker is silluq andtheconstraintsare:0predicators,1constituent,and2units.

.formulaspeechdivinechainconstructA .נאם־יהוה4:4-5: Second Stanza. This stanza (one strophe) is an ironic

pilgrimage benediction in eight lines (cf. Dell 1995, 55–56). It isappendedtotheoracleagainstthewomenofSamariaasaparalleltothedoxologyof4:13,which isappendedtoaproserecitation.ThisironicbenedictiondoesnotdirectlyrelatetothewomenofSamariaortotheirsin,exceptforthefactthatallthepeopleofSamariaareguiltyofsupposingthatanactivereligiouslife,herecharacterizedbyregularpilgrimages, vindicates their lives. Itmaybe,however, thatthe upper class women were especially zealous aboutmaking thesepilgrimages.Amorepositiveillustrationoftheidealofthepilgrim-agefortheIsraelitewomanisfoundinthereligiouslifeofHannah,motherofSamuel(1Sam1).

ית־אל ופשעו או ב בע הגלגל הרבו לפש

ם קר זבחיכ יאו לב והבם׃ תיכ ים מעשר לשלשת ימ

ה חמץ תוד ר מ וקט

4:4

4:5

BaBbBcBdBe

114 Amos4:3-5


יעו וקראו נדבות השמל ן אהבתם בני ישרא י כ כ

ה׃ ם אדני יהו נא

Line Ba:Thecolon-markeriszaqeph qaton andtheconstraintsare:2predicators,3constituents,and3units.Whentherearetwoimpera-tivesinaline,andthesecondhastheconjunction,thesecondimpera-tiveoftentosomedegreeconnotespurpose.

או .בואofpmimperativeQal.בית־אל assuchparticle,directionalA“Bethel.”name,properA .ב

theprepositionאל orthedirectionalה,isoftenomittedinpoetry..conjunctionwith פשעofpmimperativeQal .ופשעו

Line Bb: The colon-marker is athnach and the constraints are: 1predicator,2constituents,and3units.Thereisgappingofאו from בlineBa.

Gilgalarticle.definitewith“Gilgal,”name,properA .הגלגל isusuallybutnoalwayswrittenwiththearticle.Alocativemarker,suchastheprepositionב orthedirectionalה,isagainomittedbutimplied.

ע infinitiveqalwith רבהofpmimperativeHiphil .הרבו לפשconstructofפשע (withל)asanauxiliary.Literally,“Makeabundanttosin,”thismustberenderedwithsomethinglike,“Sinabundantly!”Itisobviouslysarcasm.


יאו -bringtheforusedhere,בואofpmimperativeHiphil.והבingofasacrifice,withconjunction.

קר Prepositional .לב phrasewith used ל for reference, as “forthemorning.”

ם directThe .זבחיכ objectwith a 2mp suffix.Withלבקר,thismeans,“yourmorningsacrifices.”Aזבח isablood-sacrifice(ananimalofferingratherthanagrainoffering).

Amos4:4-5 115

BfBgBh


Line Bd:Thecolon-markerissilluq andtheconstraintsare:0predi-cators,2constituents,and3units.Thereisgappingofיאו from והבthepreviousline.

ים -refaisthisBc,linein לבקרwithparallelIn .לשלשת ימerentialuseoftheprepositionל meaning“forathree-dayperiod”or“afterthreedays.”

ם תיכ parallelInsuffix.pm2awithobjectdirectThe .מעשרwithlineBcandwithלשלשת ימים,thismustmean,“yourthree-daytithes.”Perhapspilgrimswere expected tomake a tithe gift on thethirdday(twodaysaftertheirarrivalatashrine).Wehavenoevidenceelsewhereforsuchapractice,butourknowledgeofculticworshipattheseshrinesisverysparse.Thereisaprovisionforathree-yeartitheinDeuternomy14:28,butthisisprobablynotmeanthere.

Line Be:Thecolon-marker iszaqeph qaton and theconstraintsare:1predicator,3constituents,and3units.

ר tomeansverbTheconjunction.withpmimperativePiel .וקטsendanofferingupinsmoke,whetheritistheburningofincenseorofsomeotheroffering.

חמץ -offerAnpartitively.used מןwithphrasePrepositional .מingwithleavenedbreadwasforbiddeninTorahforcertainsacrifices,butitcouldbeofferedwiththethankoffering(Lev7:12).Elsewhereinthistext,Amosisattackingfaithintheautomaticefficacyofpil-grimagestotheshrinesratherthanillicitpracticesattheshrines,soitisdoubtfulthathereheisassertingthattheofferingsareunlawful.

ה 7:12LeviticusofofferingthankTheobject.directThe .תודiscalledהתודה.

Line Bf: The colon-marker is athnach and the constraints are: 2predicators,3constituents,and3units.

.conjunctionwith קראofpmimperativeQal .וקראו-probewouldofferingsfreewillTheobject.directThe .נדבות

claimedaloudbecausetheyweregiveninfulfillmentofvows.

116 Amos4:4-5


יעו withasyndetonThe.שמעofpmimperativeHiphil .השמthissecond,redundantimperativegivesitthesenseofironicencour-agement.

Line Bg:Thecolon-markeriszaqeph qaton andtheconstraintsare:2predicators(includingthevocative),2constituents,and2units.

ן אהבתם י כ aninused) כיparticlesthewithpmqatal 2Qal .כexplanatorysense)andכן (usedadverbially,“thatishow”).

ל .vocativechainconstructA .בני ישראLine Bh:Thecolon-markerissilluq andtheconstraintsare:0predi-

cators,1constituent,and3units.ה ם אדני יהו .formulaspeechdivineA .נא

4:6-13: Blindness to YHWH's Warnings and a Doxology of DreadThis section, like the previous, is in two parts except that the firstpart(vv.6-12)isprose.Justas4:4-5isanironicbenedictiononthepilgrimstotheshrines,soalsov.13isironicinthatitisadoxologybutitpromptsonlyterrorandnotjoyorworship.Inaddition,theconstantcomplaintofthistext,thattheIsraeliteshavenotreturnedtoYHWH,issetagainstthesarcasticencouragementtogototheshrines.

4:6-12: Unheeded Warnings: ThisisalengthyprosetextinwhichYHWHdetailshisvaineffortstobringIsraeltorepentancebymeansofvariousafflictions.BehindthispassagestandthewarningsofDeu-teronomy28:15-68,whichtelltheIsraelitesthatiftheyrefusetoobeythe laws of the covenant, they will be beset with disease, drought,cropfailure,andmilitarydefeatinincreasingseverity.Althoughsomeclausescouldbescannedaspoetry,otherclausesaretoolongandthegrammarofthesentencesistoocomplextoanalyzethistextconvinc-inglyasapoem.

סר ם וח ריכ ים בכל־ע ם נקיון שנ תי לכ וגם־אני נתה׃ י נאם־יהו ם עד א־שבת ם ול תיכ ל מקומ חם בכ ל

Amos4:4-13 117

4:6


Thisverseisasentenceofthreeclauses,thefirstbeingaconces-siveprotasisandthesecondbeingtheapodosis.Thethirdclauseisthedivinespeechformula.

Prose Clause:ם ריכ ים בכל־ע ם נקיון שנ תי לכ וגם־אני נתתיכם ל מקומ חם בכ סר ל וח

Aconcessiveclause(introducedbyוגם)servingasaprotasis,ithasatransitiveverb(נתתי,aqalqatal 1csofנתן)andtwoconjoinedandparallelconstructchaindirectobjects(נקיון שנים [“cleannessofteeth”]andוחסר לחם [“andlackofbread”]).Eachdirectobjecthasaphrasewithlocativeב appendedtoit(בכל־עריכם andבכל מקומתיכם).Par-allelismisafeatureofrhetoric;itisnotuniquetopoetry.“Cleannessofteeth”(נקיון שנים)obviouslyreferstoafoodshortage.

Prose Clause:י ם עד א־שבת ולThe conjunction on marks ולא the apodosis.שבתם is a qal

qatal 2mpofשוב,whichsignifiesrepentancewhenusedofpersons“returning”toGod.Theqatal couldbetranslatedwithapasttenseoraperfectorevenpresenttense.

Prose Clause:נאם־יהוהAdivinespeechformula.

ה שם בעוד שלש ם את־הג עתי מכ וגם אנכי מניר ת ועל־ע יר אח יר והמטרתי על־ע חדשים לקצה ר וחלק ה אחת תמט יר חלק א אמט ת ל אח

ש׃ יה תיב יר על א־תמט ר־ל אש

Thisverseisaseriesofsixclauses,allofwhicharepartofacon-cessiveprotasistotheapodosisattheendof4:8.

Prose Clause:בעוד שם את־הג ם מכ עתי מנ אנכי וגם יר ה חדשים לקצ שלש

4:7

118 Amos4:6-7


amarksagain(מנעofscqatal 1qal) מנעתיverbthewith וגםconcessiveprotasis.מכם (theprepositionמן [“from”]witha2mpsuffix)isanindirectobjectcomplementto מנעתי (thedirectobjectbeingאת־הגשם [“the rain”]).Theprepositionalphrasewith on בtheadverbעוד isidiomaticfor“whilestill.”Theל onלקציר (“totheharvest”)illustrateshowsometimesthisprepositioncanbetranslatedas“from”or“until.”Tohavenorainsolongbeforeharvestwasobvi-ouslyacalamity.

Prose Clause:ת יר אח והמטרתי על־ע-imperfunctionshere מטרofscweqatal 1hiphila,והמטרתי

fectively,“andIwouldsendrain,”incontrasttothesimplepastmean-ing awayyiqtol would convey.This clause is epexegetical of “and Iwithheldrain”inthefirstclause(itisofflinerelativetocontext;itisalsoconcessivehereandcouldberenderedas“although”).Thewordin אחת the prepositional phraseאחת upon“) על־עיר one city”)functionsindefinitelylike“agiven”or“acertain.”

Prose Clause:יר א אמט ת ל יר אח ועל־עThe + ו [x]+ yiqtol pattern (withאמטיר, ahiphil yiqtol 1 c s

ofמטר), followingthepreviousweqatal,binds the twocontrastingclausestogetherandindicatesthattheactionofthetwoisconceptu-allysimultaneous.

Prose Clause:ר ה אחת תמט חלקThislinehasØconjunction(asyndeton),indicatingthatitisan

offlinecommentaryonthepreviousclauses.תמטר (niphalyiqtol 3fsofמטר)isimperfective.חלקה,literallya“share,”herereferstoaplotofarableland.

Prose Clause:ש ה . . . תיב וחלקThisclauseisinterruptedbyarelativeclause(thustheellipsis).

Theו +[x]+yiqtol joinsthisclausetothepreviousofflineclauseasaparallelbutcontrastingevent.

Prose Clause:יה יר על א־תמט ר־ל אש

Amos4:7 119


Thisisarelativeclauseinsertedinthepreviousclause;itsante-cedentisוחלקה.Thereisaresumptivepronounpatternin. . . אשר yiqtolhiphil) תמטירinyiqtol verbThewhich.”“uponmeaning,עליה3fs)isimperfective,implyingaprolongedperiodwithnorain.The3fsissurprising;somemanuscripts,withtheLXXandVulgate,havea1cs.Butthe3fsmaybeimpersonal,liketheEnglish,“itrained.”

ים ת לשתות מ יר אח ים אל־ע ונעו שתים שלש ערה׃ י נאם־יהו ם עד א־שבת עו ול א ישב ול

Thisverseismadeoffourclauses.Thefirsttwocontinuethepro-tasisfromv.7,thethirdistheapodosis,andthefourthistheoracleformula.

Prose Clause: ת אח יר אל־ע ים ער שלש שתים ונעו ים לשתות מ

The weqatal ונעו (qal weqatal 3 c p ofנוע) resumes the seriesofconcessiveclausesthatmakeuptheprotasis.Theasyndetonwith-synecdohereis(”cities“) ערים”.threeor“twomeans, שתים שלשcheforthepeopleofthosecities.לשתות,aqal infinitiveconstructofשתה withל,hereexpressespurposeasacomplementtothemainverb.מים isthedirectobject.

Prose Clause:עו א ישב ולThe ו + + לא yiqtol (ישבעו, a qal yiqtol 3 m p ofשבע) here

impliesanegationofaresultonemighthavedesiredorexpectedonthebasisofthepreviousclause.Itcouldbetranslatedas“butwerenotsatisfied.”Cf.the ו+לא +yiqtol inGenesis2:25:ויהיו שניהם ערומים hisandmanthethem,oftwotheand“) האדם ואשתו ולא יתבששוwoman,werenakedbutnotashamed”).

Prose Clause:י ם עד א־שבת ולThe ו+לא +yiqtol (שבתם,aqalyiqtol 2mpofשוב)isherethe

apodosisoftheprecedinglengthyprotasis.Noticethatinstructureitisidenticaltotheprecedingclause,butthatitservesanentirelydiffer-

4:8

120 Amos4:7-8


entsyntacticalfunction.Thechangeinsubjectfromthirdtosecondpersonistheonlysignalthatthisclauseplaysadifferentroleinthesentence-levelstructure.

Prose Clause:נאם־יהוהAdivinespeechformula.

ם יתי אתכם בשדפון ובירקון הרבות גנותיכ הכם א־שבת ל הגזם ול ם יאכ ם וזיתיכ ם ותאניכ וכרמיכ

ה׃ ס י נאם־יהו עד

This verse ismadeof four clauses. The first three are anotherconcessiveprotasis-apodosispatternandthefourthistheoraclefor-mula.

Prose Clause:יתי אתכם בשדפון ובירקון הרבות הכ,4:6-7unlikeclause,This.נכהofscqatal 1hiphilais הכיתי

lackstheparticleוגם,butthesimilaritiestothoseversesindicatethatthesyntaxofthesentenceisthesame.Havingtheqatal alone(wherethe previous verses have the particle and a pronoun) is rhetoricallymoredramatic.שדפון,oftentranslated“blight,”isliterallyadryingoutor scorching (seeHALOT, .(שדפון ,ירקון literally “paleness,” isaplantafflictionandisoftentranslatedas“rust”or“mildew.”Thetwotermsregularlyappearasapair(Deut28:22;2Chr6:28;Hag2:17)andmaybehendiadys.ThisclauseperhapsalludestoDeuter-onomy28:22(יככה יהוה בשחפת . . . ובשדפון ובירקון [“YHWHwillstrikeyouwithconsumption...andwithblightandmildew”]).,הרבות the hiphil infinitive absolute ofרבה, here as elsewhere isadverbial(“much”or“abundantly”).TheMTgivesthewordthecon-junctiveazla,apparentlylinkingittothefollowingwords,butthatisprobablyincorrect.

Prose Clause:יאכל ם וזיתיכ ם ותאניכ וכרמיכם ם גנותיכהגזם

4:9

Amos4:8-9 121


TheØ+[x]+yiqtol patternindicatesthatthisisanoffline,imper-fectiveclausehereservingasepexegesisforthepreviousclause.Thatis,theconditionsthatfavoredthedevelopmentofblightandmildewalso favored thedevelopmentof insectvermin.The frontingof thedirectobjectinacompoundphraseoffournouns(גנותיכם וכרמיכם וזיתיכם (ותאניכם indicates thatdestructionof thegardens—espe-cially the variety andquantityofwhatwas lost—is the focushere.Theagentofdestruction,thelocusts,isnotthefocus.Theverbיאכל (qalyiqtol 3msofאכל)isimperfectiveandcouldberendered,“havebeeneating.”

Prose Clause:י ם עד א־שבת ולSee4:6,8.Prose Clause:נאם־יהוהAdivinespeechformula.

רב גתי בח ים הר רך מצר בר בד ם ד חתי בכ שלש מחניכם ה בא ם ואעל י סוסיכ ם שב ם ע בחוריכ

ה׃ י נאם־יהו ם עד א־שבת ם ול ובאפכ

Thisverseismadeoffiveclauses.Thefirstfourareanothercon-cessiveprotasis-apodosispatternandthefifthistheoracleformula.Incontrastto4:7-8,theverbsinthefirsttwoclauseshereareqatal,indicatingthattheyaretwodistinctactionsandarenotimperfectiveinaspect.

Prose Clause:ים רך מצר בר בד ם ד חתי בכ שלAgain,וגם isimpliedonthebasisof4:6,7,andfrontingofthe

qatal verb(שלחתי,apielqatal 1csofשלח)isrhetoricallydramatic.Theprepositionב inבכם mayeithermean“among”orbeusedinahostilesense,“against”(seetheuseofשלח ב inGen37:22).דבר (“plague”) is the direct object, andדרך inבדרך means “way” or“manner,” as in Genesis 31:35, and it here refers to the manner in

4:10

122 Amos4:9-10


whichGodstruckEgyptwithplagues.Israelhadevidentlyrecentlygone througha seriesofnatural calamities analogous to those thatbefellEgyptattheexodus.

Prose Clause:י סוסיכם ם שב ם ע רב בחוריכ גתי בח הרAsecondprotasisclauseheadedbyqatal,thisisasecondexample

inthisseries;itisanalogoustotheactionofthefirstclausebutissepa-rateanddistinct.Hereהרגתי בחרב indicatesdeathinbattle.הרגתי isaqalqatal 1cs.בחוריכם,“youryoungmen,”isthedirectobjectandreferstotherankandfilesoldiers.עם שבי סוסיכם,“withthecaptivityofyourhorses,”issometimesemendedtoreadצבי (“pomp”)insteadofשבי onthegroundsthatשבי normallyreferstothecaptureofhumans(e.g.,Wolff1977,210noteq).Butthisisunnecessary.ThepointisthattheIsraeliteshavesufferedthedoublelossofhavingtheirtroopskilledinbattleandtheirwar-horsescaptured.

Prose Clause:ם ש מחניכם ובאפכ ה בא ואעלThewayyiqtol verb(ואעלה,hiphilwayyiqtol 1csofעלה)joins

thisclausetothepreviousandindicatesthatthetworefertoasequenceofeventswithinasingleepisode,thedefeatofanIsraelitearmyandsubsequentrottingofthedeadbodies.באש,“stench,”issometimesemendedtoבאש,“withfire,”onthebasisoftheLXXe 0n puri \,butthisdoesnotyieldabettersense.ובאפכם (“andinyournose”)isalsoconsideredsuspect,oratleastsurprising,forhavingtheconjunction.Thisisthewaw explicativum (GKC§154a,note1b).Itmightberen-dered,“andrightinyournose!”Thepointisthatthedefeatdidnotoccurfaraway,wheretheycouldonlyhearnewsofitfromadistance,butrightintheirmidst,wheretheycouldsmellit.AmosmayherebereferringtodefeatssufferedunderHazael.


Amos4:10 123


ם ואת־ ת אלהים את־סד ם כמהפכ כתי בכ הפי ם עד א־שבת ה ול ל משרפ ה ותהיו כאוד מצ עמר

ה׃ ס נאם־יהו

This verse ismadeof four clauses. The first three are anotherconcessiveprotasis-apodosispatternandthefourthistheoraclefor-mula.SodomandGomorrahrepresentGod’sultimatejudgment,thecompleteeradicationofapeople,andthusthisisthelastinthisseriesofreferences torecentcalamities.ThefirstclauseseemstosaythatIsraelsufferedthisjudgment(which,iftrue,wouldmeanthatAmoswouldhaveno Israel to address),but the secondclausedrawsbackfromthisinference,assertingthatIsraeljustbarelysurvivedthisexpe-rience.ItprobablyreferstothenearcollapseofIsraelpriortotheriseofJeroboamII.

Prose Clause:ם את־סד אלהים ת כמהפכ ם בכ כתי הפה ואת־עמר

Again,וגם isimplied,andfrontingoftheqatal verb(הפכתי,aqalqatal 1csofהפך)isrhetoricallydramatic.Theprepositionב inallnotbutsomethatindicatingyou,”of“somepartitive,bemay בכםofthecitiesofIsraelwereannihilatedinthemannerofSodom.Theprepositionalphraseכמהפכת אלהים,whereכ andthenounמהפכה (an“overturning”)functionlikeaninfinitiveconstructphraseusedasafiniteverb.Thusittakesthedirectobjectsאת־סדם ואת־עמרה.

Prose Clause:ה ל משרפ ותהיו כאוד מצThewayyiqtol verb(ותהיו,qalwayyiqtol 2mpofהיה)joinsthis

clausetothepreviousandindicatesthatthetworefertoasingleepi-sode, the near annihilation but subsequent survival of Israel. Rhe-torically, theprepositional phrasewith in כמהפכתparallels כ thepreviousclauseandsetsupacontrast.אוד isaburningstickinabon-fire;cf.Zech3:2.מצל isahophalparticiplemsfromנצל,“snatched.”Aשרפה is a veryhot firemeant to eitherharden something (like

4:11

124 Amos4:11


firingclay inakiln;Gen11:3)or incinerate it (suchas the fire forincineratingtheredheifer;Num19:6).


עשה־ את א י־ז קב כ ל ע ה אעשה־לך ישרא ן כ לכל׃ יך ישרא ך הכון לקראת־אלה ל

Thisverseconcludestheproserecitation.It ispregnantinthatjudgmentisthreatenedbutnotexpresslyorspecificallydescribed;thereaderislefttoimaginewhatmaycomenext.Inlightofhowtheseriesofjudgmentshasprogressedtothispoint,thereasonableconclusionisthattheultimatedecreeofjudgment,theannihilationofIsrael,iscoming. A number of scholars believe that the first two clauses fittogetherawkwardlyandthatthepresenttextisaconflationofvariantreadings (seePaul 1991,150).This is unnecessary; the two clauseshaveentirelydifferentfunctionsandareinfactindifferentsentences,asdescribedbelow.

Prose Clause:ל ה אעשה־לך ישרא ן כ לכis,(actionfutureforhereused) עשהofscyiqtol 1qala,אעשה

followedbyanindirectobject(לך)andavocative(ישראל).Thekeytounderstandingtheclauseistheparticleכה,whichheremeans,“inthe samemanner.”ShalomPaul appropriately compares this to theoathformulain1Kings2:23,כה יעשה־לי אלהים וכה יוסיף,“MayGoddothesametomeandmayhedomoreofthesame!”(Paul1991,150).Thisclausetherefore looksbackoveralloftheprecedingandassertsthatGodwillcontinuetoafflictIsraelinthesamemanner.

Prose Clause:ך עשה־ל את א י־ז קב כ ע

4:12

Amos4:11-12 125


means עקב “back, end,” and from that means “result” or“wages,”withכי theis זאת”.“becausemeaningidiomatically עקב directobjectofאעשה (qalyiqtol 1csofעשה),anditsantecedentistheimpliedjudgmentofthepreviousclause.Thisclauseisthecausalprotasisofthenextclause.Itinfactbeginsanentirelynewsentenceandisseparatefromtheprecedingclause.

Prose Clause:ל יך ישרא הכון לקראת־אלהThisistheapodosisofthepreviousclause.הכון isaniphalimper-

ativemsof where38:7,Ezekcf.) כון theniphal imperative impliespreparationforcombat).לקראת isaqalinfinitiveconstructofקרא II(“meet”)and,againstYoungblood(1971),notקרא I(“call”).אלהיך isthedirectobject.Therepetitionofthevocativeישראל (alsofoundinthefirstclause),indicatesagainthattherearetwosentencesinthisverse(sinceitispeculiartorepeatavocativeintwoseparateplacesinonesentence).

4:13: Doxology:Thispoemisadoxologyinfivelines(onestanzaandone strophe).Thedoxologyconcludes this sectionandappearsabruptly; the reader is not expecting such language. Its presenceheightens the suspense created by the pregnant threat of judgmentinv.12.ThedoxologydescribesthekindofGodthatIsraelmustbereadytomeet(viz.,anall-powerfulGod).ItmayalsobeadaptedfromoneofthehymnssungattheIsraeliteshrines.ThedoxologyconsistsoffourlinesgivingdescriptionsofYHWH’spower,withthefifthlinenaminghim.Thewholedoxologyisthusakindofimpliedquestionandanswer,withlinesa-dimplicitlyasking,“Whoisthefashionerofhillsandcreatorofwind...?”andlineegivingtheanswer.ThelogicofthefirstfourlinesisthatYHWHisfirstmakerofheavenandearth(hererepresentedbymountainsandwind;linea),hesecondlyisjudgeofalltheearth,bringingaccusationsagainsthumanity(lineb),andhethirdlycomesinapocalypticterror(linesc-d).

י הנה כ

126 Amos4:12-13

4:13a


Thefirsttwowords(כי הנה)areaproseintroductiontothedox-ology.Theycallthereader’sattentiontothedoxologyandencouragemeditationoveritssignificance.

א רוח ים ובר ר הר יוצומגיד לאדם מה־שחו

ה חר עיפ ה ש עשרץ מתי א ך על־ב ודר

י־צבאות שמו׃ ס ה אלה יהו

Line a:Thecolon-markerisrevia andtheconstraintsare:2predi-cators,2constituents,and4units.

ים ר הר mparticipleactiveqalthewithchainconstructA .יוצsofיצר usedinaperiphrasticconstructionwiththeimpliedsubject“he”(הוא).הרים isanobjectivegenitive.

א רוח -partiactiveqalthewithchain,constructAnother .וברciplemsofברא usedperiphrasticallybeforeanobjectivegenitive.

Line b:Thecolon-markeriszaqeph qaton andtheconstraintsare:1predicator,4constituents,and4units.

-periainconjunctionwith נגדofsmparticipleHiphil .ומגידphrasticconstruction.

.addresseeindicating לwithphrasePrepositional .לאדםanintroducesand ומגידofobjectdirecttheispronounThe .מה

indirectquestion.translatedoftenis שח.hapax legomenonis שחnounThe .שחו

as “thought” in Amos, but there is confusion regarding the 3 m ssuffix. IsGoddeclaringhisownthoughts,or ishetellingthemanwhat the man is thinking? There are no grounds for translating itas“plan,”asissometimesdone(Stuart1987,335).שח isapparentlyaby-formofשיח II,“meditation,lament”(“InSamariadiphthongs

4:13babcde

Amos4:13 127


were monophthongized”; Paul 1991, 254). In 1 Kings 18:27 ElijahmockinglysaysthatBaalhasaשיח,butthemeaningofשיח inthattext isdisputed.שיח appears anumberof times in theHebrewofSirach, as at 13:11: שיחו לרב תאמן notdoand“) ואל believehisabundantspeech”).Elsewhere,שיח isalmostalwaysusedforacom-plaint(1Sam1:16;Ps55:3[E=2];142:3[E=2];Job7:13;9:27;10:1;etc.).Normally,ofcourse,apersonpoursouthiscomplainttoGod.Here,however,itisverystrangetotreatthe3mssuffixasreferringtotheman,asthatwouldmeanthatGodwastellingamanwhatisthatman’scomplaint.Thus,thesuffixmustrefertoGod.Theuseoforcomplaintformalaisitwhere,שיחofuseJob’stocloseishere שחaccusation,analogoustoריב.Sirach11:8,inacontextofadjudicat-ingadispute,hasובתוך שיחה אל תדבר (“anddonotspeakwhile[another]makeshiscase”).Thus,Godismakingknownhischargeorgrievanceagainstaman,or,moreprobably,againsthumanity(sounderstandingאדם).

Line c:Thecolon-markeriszaqeph qaton andtheconstraintsare:1predicator,2constituents,and3units.

חר ה ש עשהofparticipleactiveqalwithchainconstructA .עשandanobjectivegenitive.

ה ofmakesGodwhatofoutcometheobject,secondaryA .עיפ-darkintodawnthemakes“whotranslated,oftenislineThis.שחרness,”withtheunderstandingthatthisisanapocalypticdarkeningoftheheavens.ShalomPaul,however,understandsthemeaningofthewordstobereversed,sothatitactuallymeans,“whomakesgloomintoshiningdawn”(Paul1991,155).Atissueiswhetherעיפה isderivedfromעוף,tobedark,orיעף,toshine.OnbalanceandagainstPaul,itismorelikelythatitisderivedfromעוף (seeNIDOTTE עוף II).

Line d:Thecolon-markerisathnach andtheconstraintsare:1pred-icator,2constituents,and3units.

ך .conjunctionwith דרךofparticipleactiveQal .ודררץ א מתי Prepositional .על־ב phrase with locative .על The

languageofthisversehasseveralanalogies intheBible.InDeuter-

128 Amos4:13


onomy33:29Israeltreadson(דרך על)thebacks(במה)oftheirene-mies.InHabakkuk3:19thepsalmistassertsthatGodmadehisfeetasswiftasadeer’s,sothathecantreadon(דרך על)hills(במה).InMicah1:3,YHWHcomesforthasawarriorandtramples(דרך על)thehills(במה)sothattheymeltunderhim,andinJob9:8Godstepsacross(דרך על)thewaves(במה)ofthesea.Thesignificanceofבמה hereisdebated.Interpretationsinclude:(1)YHWHislikeagiganticfiguresteppingfromhilltoptohilltop.(2)YHWHislikeavigorousmanwhowalksupanddownhillswithease.(3)YHWHistreadingon(i.e.,crushing)thecultichighplacesofCanaan.Amosprobablyimpliesacombinationofideas,thatYHWHisvigorous,thatheisacosmicfiguresteppingacrosstheearth,andthatheisawarriorbeforewhomnothing can stand (theparallel toMic1:3 is especially tell-ing).ThenotionofGodstampingoncultichighplacesmayalsobeimpliedasareflectionon4:4-5.(SeealsoCrenshaw1972,42–44).

Line e:Thecolon-markerissilluq andtheconstraintsare:0predica-tors,2constituents,and4units.

י־צבאות .clauseverblessainpredicateThe .יהוה אלה.subjectthesuffix;sm3withNoun .שמו

5:1–6:14: Cruelty and Hollow religion IIWith4:1-13,thisisthesecondoftwoindictmentsagainstIsraelforitsoppressionanditsemptyreligion.TheopeningcallforIsraeltolistentoalament(5:1)misleadssomereaderstosupposethattheentiresec-tionthatfollows,oftendefinedasincludingatleastallofchapter5,isformallyalamentation.Thisisnotcorrect.Thelamentproperisonly5:2;versessubsequenttothatareamixtureoforaclesandexhortationsofvariouskinds inbothprose andpoetry.On theotherhand, thelamentationmotifdoesprovideimportantstructureforthispassage.Threetimesthemotifoflamentationisprominent:first,inalamentpoem(5:2);second,inapredictionthatpeoplewillcallformourn-ers(5:16-17);andthird,inanaccountofasceneinwhichtypicallytherewouldbewailingandlamentationbutironicallylamentationis

Amos4:13–6:14 129


absent(6:9-10).Thefulltextof5:1–6:14isboundedbyaninclusion(seediscussionat6:14).Instructure,thisdivisionhasanintroduction(5:1-3) followedbya seriesofaccusationsandwarnings (5:4–6:8a),afterwhichthereisajudgmentoracleintroducedbyalongandsol-emndivinespeechformula(6:8b-11).Finally,thereisasummarizingconclusion(6:12-14).Therearenumerousparallelelements,especiallyinsectionsI,IIandIII,asisapparentintheoutlinebelow.Amotifofthistext,broughtoutclearlyintheproverbthatopenstheconcludingsummary(6:12a),isIsrael’sperversity,theideathatthenationbehavesinawaythatisabsurdlywrongheaded.Thestructureis:

I.Introduction:(5:1-3) A:TheCalltoHear(5:1) B:TheLamentPoem(5:2) C:TheOracleofDoom(5:3)II:Accusations,Warnings,andExhortations(5:4–6:8a) A:FirstSeries(5:4-15) 1:Accusation:ReligiousArrogance(5:4-7) 2:Doxology:YHWHMadetheHeavens(5:8-9) 3:Accusation:NoRespectforPoor(5:10-15) B:DoomOraclePredictingLamentation(5:16-17) A’:SecondSeries(5:18–6:8a) 1’:Accusation:ReligiousArrogance(5:18-24) 2’:QuestionandOracle:SkyGods(5:25-27) 3’:Accusation:ArrogantLuxuries(6:1-8a)III.JudgmentontheHousesofSamaria(6:8b-11) A:OracleofDoom(6:8b) B:AMass-FuneralwithoutLamentation(6:9-10) A’:OracleofDoom:(6:11)

130 Amos5:1–6:14


IV.Summary(6:12-14) A:Proverb(6:12a) B:ProverbExpositionandAccusation(6:12b-13) C:OracleofDoom(6:14)Lookingatthedatainaslightlydifferentmanner,thistextcan

be seen as a pair of linked chiastic structures with a summarizingconclusion.Thefirstchiasmusis5:1-17(A:doom[1-3],B:accusation[4-7],C:doxology[8-9],B’:accusation[10-15],A’:doom[16-17]),andthesecondchiasmusis5:16–6:11(A:doom[5:16-17],B:accusation[5:18-24],C:skygods[5:25-27],B’:accusation[6:1-8a],andA’:doom[6:8b-11]).Onthechiasmusof5:1-17,seealsodeWaard(1977).

1Hear this word that I am raising against you as a lament, house of Israel!

2She has fallen never to rise again—The Virgin Israel—She is abandoned on her land with no one to raise her!

3For thus says the Lord YHWH: The city that sends out a thousand will have a hundred left, And the one that sends out a hundred will have ten left in the house

of Israel.

4For thus says YHWH to the house of Israel:Seek me that you may live!5Do not seek Bethel!And do not go to Gilgal!And do not cross over to Beersheba!For Gilgal will certainly go into exile,And Bethel will become a disaster!6Seek YHWH that you may live!Lest he rush upon the House of Joseph like a fire, And it consume without anyone at Bethel to put it out,

Amos5:1–6:14 131


7Where they turn justice to wormwoodAnd lay righteousness in the dirt.

8He is the maker of Pleiades and Orion!And he turns deep darkness to morningAnd darkens daylight at night!He calls to the waters of the seaAnd then pours them out on the surface of the earth!His name is YHWH!9He smiles destruction upon the strongAnd destruction comes upon the fortress!

10At the gate, they hate a reprover And they abhor an honest speaker.11Therefore, because you impose a grain tax upon the poorAnd you take a grain-duty from them,You build houses of ashlarBut you will not dwell in them.You build pleasant vineyards But you will not drink their wine.12For I know that your transgressions are many,(I know) that your sins are strong.They attack a righteous man! They take bribes!And they turn aside poor people at the gate.13Therefore the prudent man is silent in such a time as this; It is indeed an evil time.14Seek good and not evilSo that you may liveAnd it may be true: ‘YHWH, God of Sabaoth be with you!’Just as you say.15 Hate evil and love good,And establish justice at the gate!Perhaps YHWH, God of Sabaoth, will favorThe remnant of Joseph.

132 Amos5:1–6:14


16 Therefore, thus says YHWH, God of Sabaoth, the Lord:In all plazas, (there will be) lamentation!And in all streets, they will say, “Woe! Woe!”And they will call farmers to mourningAnd (will call for) lamentation to those skilled in wailing!17 And in all vineyards there will be lamentation!For I will pass over in the midst of you,Says YHWH.

18Woe to those who desire the day of YHWH!Why is the day of YHWH this to you?It will be darkness and not light!19 Just as though a man were to flee from a lionAnd a bear met him.Or he went homeAnd leaned his hand on the wall,And a snake bit him.20 Isn’t the day of YHWH darkness—not light —And gloom without any brightness in it?21 I hate, I despise your festivals,And I will not show favor to your assemblies.22For even if you were to offer whole offerings to me,I would neither be pleased with your giftsNor would I favorably look upon your peace offerings of fatted calves.23 Get the noise of your songs away from me!And I will not listen to the music of your lyres.24 But let justice roll like water,And (let) righteousness (roll) like a perennial stream!

25Did you bring me sacrifices and offering for forty years in the wilder-ness, house of Israel, 26while you were carrying Sikkuth, your king, and Kiyyun—your images, your astral deities that you made for yourselves?

Amos5:1–6:14 133


27But I shall exile you beyond Damascus, Says YHWH, whose name is “God of the Heavenly Hosts.”

6:1 Alas! The carefree in Zion,And those confident in the acropolis of Samaria!They are marked as “the best of the nations”And the house of Israel comes to them.2 Cross over to Calneh and see!And go from there to Great Hamath! And go down to Gath of the Philistines!Are you better than these kingdoms,Or is their territory bigger than your territory?3 They push away the evil dayAnd bring near the habitation of violence.4 They lie on beds of ivoryAnd recline on their couchesAnd eat lambs from the flockAnd calves from the midst of the stall!5 They strum at the mouth of the lyre;Like David they improvise for themselves upon musical instruments!6 They drink with wine-bowlsAnd anoint (themselves) with the best of oils.And they feel no distress over the breakup of Joseph. 7 Therefore, they will now go into exile at the head of the exilesAnd the symposium of the reclining (revelers) will come to an end,8 Swears the Lord YHWH by himself.

The oracle of YHWH, God of Sabaoth.I abhor the pride of JacobAnd I hate his citadels,And I will hand the city and the people who fill it over (to exile).9 And it shall be that if ten persons are left in one household, they will

die. 10 And their Uncle Undertaker will take them up to remove the bodies from the household, and he will say to the one who is in the back chamber

134 Amos5:1–6:14


of the house, “Any more with you?” And (the one at the back) will say, “That’s it!” And (Uncle Undertaker) will say, “Hush! For it is not right to invoke YHWH’s name!”

11 For behold YHWH is issuing a command,And he will knock the great house to piecesAnd the small house to rubble.

12 Do horses run upon a rocky crag?Or does one plow (a rocky crag) with oxen?Well, you turn justice into the poisonous Rosh plant, And the “righteousness plant” into bitter wormwood.13 (You, who) rejoice at Lo-debar And say,“Didn’t we take Karnaim for ourselves by our own strength?”14 For behold, House of Israel, I am raising up against you—the oracle

of YHWH, God of Sabaoth—a nation, and it will push you out (of the land that stretches) from Lebo-Hamath to the Brook of the Arabah.

5:1-3: IntroductionThistextbeginswithaprosecalltolistentoalament(v.1),followedbythelamentitselfinv.2.Thelament,asiscustomary,ispoeticinform.Ithasonestropheofthreelines.Thisisfollowedbyanoraclethatexplainswhatpromptsthislament.

5:1: Call to Hear: A formal summons for Israel to listen to theprophet,inprose,announcesalament.

ם א עליכ י נש ר אנכ ה אש ר הז שמעו את־הדבל׃ ית ישרא קינה ב

Prose Clause:ל ית ישרא ה . . . ב ר הז שמעו את־הדב.שמעו theqal imperativempofשמע,opensmajordivisions

Amos5:1-3 135

5:1


ofAmosat3:1;4:1;hereat5:1;and8:4.את־הדבר הזה isthedirectobjectandבית ישראל isavocativeconstructchain.

Prose Clause:א עליכם קינה י נש ר אנכ אשA relative clause headed byאשר, this interrupts the previous

clause.Theantecedentofאשר isהדבר הזה,andtherelativeisthedirectobjectofנשא (qalactiveparticipleofנשא with as אנכי thesubject).Theprepositionalphraseעליכם isacomplementmeaning“concerningyou”or“againstyou.”קינה,“lament,” is inappositiontoאשר.

5:2: The Lament Poem: The lament proper is made of a singlestanza(onestropheofthreelines).Itservestointroducetheaccusa-tion,exhortations,andjudgmentsthatfollow.Thereisaninclusionconstructioninthatlinesaandcbothbeginwithaqatal 3fsandbothstartwithנ,andbothlinesendwiththerootקום.

יף קום א־תוס פלה ל נל ת ישרא בתול

ה׃ ין מקימ ה א ה על־אדמת נטש

Line a:Thecolon-markeriszaqeph qaton andtheconstraintsare:2predicators,2constituents,and3units.

פלה .נפלofsfqatal 3Qal .נקום יף א־תוס Negated .ל hiphil yiqtol 3 f s ofיסף with qal

infinitiveconstructofקום asanauxiliary.Theverbיסף(hiphilstem),whennegated,oftentakesaninfinitiveasitsauxiliarytomean,“shallnot do (X) anymore.” The asyndeton with a negated yiqtol after aqatal alsomakesthisclauseeffectivelyadverbialafterנפלה;itcouldbetranslatedas“nevertoriseagain.”

Line b:Thecolon-markerisathnach andtheconstraintsare:0pred-icators,1constituents,and2units.

5:2abc

136 Amos5:1-2


ל namednotisverbspriortwotheofsubjectThe .בתולת ישראuntilthesecondlineandissetbyitselfbetweenthetwolinesoftheinclusion.Thismakes thenamingof Israel as theobjectof lamentmore prominent. Describing a nation as a “virgin” suggests that itoughttobeimpregnable;itisnotastatementaboutthemoralqualityofthecitizens.

Line c:Thecolon-markerissilluq andtheconstraintsare:2predica-tors,4constituents,and4units.Likelinea,thislinehastwoclauseswithasyndeton.

ה -someleavetomeansrootThe.נטשofsfqatal 3Niphal .נטשthingalone(suchasleavinggroundfallow,Exod23:11),ortoaban-donsomething.Thatwhichisabandonedinthismanner(niphalstemofנטש) may run rampant, as there is nothing to restrain it (Judg15:9;Isa16:8),oritmaybeleftdesolateandwithouthelp,asisthecasehere.

ה Prepositional .על־אדמת phrase with locative on על thenounאדמה witha3fssuffix(בתולת ישראל istheantecedentofthesuffix).

ין qatalaafterasyndetonisthereAgainpredicator.secondThe .אform,andagainthiscouldberenderedadverbially,“withoutanyonetoraiseher.”

ה ,איןWithsuffix.sf3with קוםofsmparticipleHiphil .מקימthisformsonepredicator,aperiphrasticconstruction.

5:3: Oracle: A prophecy of military disaster explains why thelamentisnecessary.Afteraprosedivinespeechformulaintroducingtheoracle,theoracleitselfisatwo-linepoem.TheoracleassertsthatIsraelwillsufferveryhighcasualties(90percentiftakenliterally)inacomingconflict.

ה ה אמר אדני יהו י כ כ

Amos5:2-3 137

5:3a


Theaboveisadivinespeechformulainprosewithאמר,aqalqatal 3msofאמר.

5:3b: Judgment Poem:Twolines.Thiscouldbecalledanoracleofdoom,describing as it does amilitarydisaster (oracular statementscanbeveryshortpoems).ItlooksbacktotheinitialjudgmentagainstIsraelin2:14-16.

ה יר מא לף תשא את א יר היצ העל׃ ס ית ישרא ה לב יר עשר ה תשא את מא והיוצ

Line a:Thecolon-markerisathnach andtheconstraintsare:2pred-icators,3constituents,and5units.

לף א את היצ יר ofsfparticipleactiveqal) היצאתBoth .העhere“city”The.העירtoappositioninare אלףnumeraltheand(יצאbysynecdocherepresentsthemilitarymenofthatcity.Theparticipleformsarelativeclause.

יר simpleaisyiqtol hereThe.שארofsfyiqtol 3Hiphil .תשאfutureindicative;thisisapredictivetext.

ה is .מא a complement to the verb and has the phraseהעיר .antecedentitsas היצאת אלף

Line b:Thecolon-markerissilluq andtheconstraintsare:2predica-tors,4constituents,and5units(asapropername,בית ישראל canbecountedasasingleunit).

ה מא את There .והיוצ is gappingofהעיר from line a.Thisparticiplephraseservesasanotherrelativeclause.

יר .שארofsfyiqtol 3Hiphil .תשאה .alinein מאהassamethefunctions .עשרל ית ישרא -prophereiswhich,לwithphrasePrepositional .לב

erlypossessive inmeaning although itmightbe translated, “in thehouseofIsrael.”

5:3bab

138 Amos5:3


5:4-15: First Series of Accusations, Warnings, and ExhortationsThisseries,asdescribedabove, is inthreeparts:anaccusationthatfocusesonreligiousarrogance(5:4-7);adoxologytoYHWH,makerandgovernoroftheHeavens(5:8-9);andasecondaccusationfocusingonhowthepoorareabusedbeforethecourts(5:10-15).Theoverallmessageisthatthisisatopsy-turvyworld,inwhichwrongbehaviorandconceptsaboutGodaresubstitutedforwhatisright.

5:4-7: Accusation Concerning Religious Arrogance: Thepoem,afteraprosedivinespeechformula,isintwostrophes.Thereisachi-asticstructureinthefirststrophe,asfollows:

A:Seekandlive(line1a) B:Bethel(line1b) C:Gilgal(line1c) D:Beersheba(line1d) C’:Gilgal(line1e) B’:Bethel(line1f)A’:Seekandlive(line1g).Thischiasmusisfollowedbyasecondstrophe,awarningintro-

ducedby פן(lines2a-2d).

ל ית ישרא ר יהוה לב ה אמ י כ כ

A prose divine speech formula preceded by ,כי which here isprobablyexplanatory (“for”),withאמר, aqalqatal 3msofאמר.Theprepositionalphraseלבית ישראל namesthepoem’saddressee.

5:4b-6a: First Strophe.Sevenlines.Theinitialimperativemarksthis as adirective text-type, as thepoemuses commands,purposeclauses, prohibitions, and explanatory clauses to make its exhorta-tion.

Amos5:4-15 139

5:4a


חיו׃ דרשוני ול ית־א ל־תדרשו ב ואאו א תב והגלגל ל

רו א תעב בע ל ר ש ובאה י הגלגל גלה יגל כון׃ ל יהיה לא ית־א ובחיו ה ו דרשו את־יהו

Line 1a:Thecolon-markerissilluq andtheconstraintsare:2predi-cators,2constituents,and2units.

-enerandsuffixsc1with דרשofpmimperativeQal .דרשוניgicנ.SeeGKC§58i.

חיו translatedbemayitAlthough.חיהofpmimperativeQal .וsimplyas“andlive,”itprobablyisimplyingpurpose(“sothatyoumaylive”).SeetheparalleltothisverbinAmos5:14,למען תחיו,andcf..12:2Genesisin(”blessingabemayyouthatso“) והיה ברכה


ל־תדרשו -proaforused) דרשofpmyiqtol 2qalNegated .ואhibition).Thenegativeאל ratherthanלא mayhavebeenusedhereasaplayonthenameבית־אל.Contrasttheuseofלא inlines1cand1d,andnotetheinclusionstructureformedbyאל atthebeginningandendofthisline.

ל ית־א hereshrineTheobject.directThe .ב issynecdocheforthereligiousleadershipthere.SetupasarivalshrinetotheJerusalemtemple,itisalsoimplicitlyarivaltoGod.

Line 1c:Thecolon-markeriszaqeph qaton andtheconstraintsare:1predicator,2constituents,and2units.Thislinehasachiasticstruc-turewithline1b.

5:4b5:5

5:6a

1a1b1c1d1e1f1g

140 Amos5:4-6


,here אלprepositionor הdirectiveaexpectmightOne .והגלגלbutomittingitmakesforabetterparalleltoבית־אל.GilgalwasonthewestsideoftheJordannearJericho(Josh4:19).AsthefirstgroundoccupiedbyIsraelwestoftheJordanandasthespotwherethedis-graceofanuncircumcisedgenerationwasremoved(Josh5:2-9),Gil-galbecameamajorculticsite.Samuelvisiteditannually,alongwithBethelandMizpah,inthecircuitofhisministry(1Sam7:16),andthesiteappearsrepeatedlyintheSamuelnarrative.

או א תב -prohibiaforused בואofpmyiqtol 2qalNegated .לtion.Asageneralrule,אל oftenmarksatemporaryorspecificpro-hibitionwhileלא marksapermanentorgeneralone,butthisisnotalwaysthecase,asitclearlyisnothere.AmosisnotsayingthatnooneshouldevergotoGilgal.

Line 1d: The colon-marker is athnach and the constraints are: 1predicator,2constituents,and2units.Thislineissyntacticallyparal-lelto1c,andthusit,too,isboundto1b.Lines1b-darethusasinglesetofprohibitions.

בע ר ש wouldSamariaofpeoplethethatsurprisingisIt .ובאcrossJudahtomakeapilgrimagetoBeersheba,butthesiteisimpor-tantinthestoriesofAbraham.AdismantledaltarwasfoundinlayerIII–IIofBeersheba (Tell es-Seba), suggesting that a cult flourishedtheirduringthedividedmonarchyperiod.Thealtarmayhavebeendismantled as part of the reforms of Hezekiah (see ABD, “Beer-Sheba”).

רו א תעב -prohibiaforused עברofpmyiqtol 2qalNegated .לtion.Theuseofעבר reflects the fact that thepilgrimshadtocrossthroughJudahiteterritory.Thereisassonanceofובאר atthebegin-ningofthelinewithתעברו attheendwiththerepetitionofב andר.

Line 1e:Thecolon-markeriszaqeph qaton andtheconstraintsare:1predicator,2constituents,and3units.

י הגלגל assonanceobviouslyisThereexplanatory.is כיThe .כbetweenהגלגל andthefollowingגלה יגלה.

Amos5:4-6 141


ה myiqtol 3qalthewith גלהofabsoluteinfinitiveQal .גלה יגלsofthesameroothereexpressescertainty.

Line 1f:Thecolon-markerissilluq andtheconstraintsare:1predi-cator,3constituents,and3units.

ל ית־א concludesandheadsBethelstructure,chiastictheIn .ובthe list of towns, attesting to its prominence in the religious life ofIsrael.

Qal .יהיה yiqtol 3 m s ofהיה. Used with ,ל it often means“become”(HALOT היה Qal7c).

ון ;”“nothingnessor“disaster”meaninghere) אוןofuseThe .לאcf.Paul1991,164)asawordplayonthenameבית־אל istakenupinHosea4:15;5:8.Thatis,insteadofbeingthe“HouseofGod”(אל)itisthe“HouseofNothingness”(און).

Line 1g: The colon-marker is athnach and the constraints are: 2predicators,3constituents,and3units.

.דרשofpmimperativeQal .דרשו-paraltheme,”“seekhaswhich1a,linetocontrastIn .את־יהוה

lelherehasthedivinename.חיו qaltheAgain, .ו imperativempofחיה probablyconnotes

purpose(seeline1a).5:6b-7: Second Strophe.Fourlinesintwobicola.Becauseofthe

closeconnectionbetweenההפכים in2candלבית־אל in2b,theselines shouldnotbe separated into twodifferent strophes (see com-mentsonline2cbelow).

ף ית יוס ח כאש ב פן־יצלל׃ ית־א ה לב ה ואין־מכב ואכל

ט ים ללענה משפ ההפכיחו׃ רץ הנ ה לא וצדק

5:6b

5:7

2a2b2c2d

142 Amos5:4-7


Line 2a:Thecolon-markeriszaqeph qaton andtheconstraintsare:1predicator,3constituents,and3units.This treatsיוסף aas בית propernameandthereforeasingleunit.

,unusualseemmaystropheabeginto פןofuseThe .פן־יצלחbutcf.Ps7:3(E2);Job32:13;Prov5:9.פן alsobeginsasentenceatDeuteronomy8:12.Theqalyiqtol 3msofצלח is somewhatenig-matic,asthatrootoftenmeansto“besuccessful”(Isa54:17)or“beuseful” (Jer13:10;Ezek15:4).However, theverbcanalsomeanto“rushupon” (Judg14:6),where the subject is theיהוה ,Here.רוח YHWHrushesupontheHouseofJosephasanenemy.

thatNotesimile.aforused כwithphrasePrepositional .כאשYHWH,notthefire,istheactualsubjectoftheverbיצלח.

ף ית יוס .objectdirectchainconstructA .בLine 2b:Thecolon-markerissilluq andtheconstraintsare:2predi-

cators,4constituents,and4units.ה Qal .ואכל weqatal 3 f s of .אכל The simile of the fire is

extendedhere.-gramHebrewtheinpredicatorsecondais איןAlthough .ואין

marof this line, itcanbetranslatedadverbiallyasacircumstantialclause,“withouttherebeing.”

ה -periphrastiusedhereis כבהofsmparticiplepielThe .מכבcallywithואין.

ל ית־א (“foradvantageeitherexpressmay לprepositionThe .לבthesakeof”)orpossession.The latter isprobablypreferable,anditherecouldbetranslatedas“at.”

Line 2c: The colon-marker is athnach and the constraints are: 1predicator,3constituents,and3units.

ים herearticle,definitewith הפךofpmparticipleQal .ההפכservingasarelativeclause.Whatistheantecedentofthisparticiple?Clearly this cannotbe linked to the followingverse, adoxology toYHWH.Theverbהניחו inline2disthirdperson(andlines2cand

Amos5:6-7 143


2dareobviouslyboundtogether),whichindicatesthattheanteced-ent toההפכים is not the implied second person “you” of דרשוinline1g.Thismeansthatthecommontranslation,“youthatturnjusticetowormwood”(thustheNRSV;theESVandNIVaresimilar)cannotbecorrect.TheantecedentcanonlybetheimpliedpeopleatBethelfromline2b,andismostlikelythepriestsandotherofficialsofthatshrine.Theparticipleisthereforeimplicitlyexplanatory,assert-ingthatIsraelshouldnotgotoBethelbecausetheprieststhereturnjustice to wormwood. To bring out this connection to Bethel, onecanrendertheparticipleas“wheretheyturn,”asisdoneintheabovetranslation.

,הפךAfter .ללענה thepreposition points ל to thething intowhichsomethingischanged.

ט -offiandprieststhethatispointTheobject.directThe .משפcialsatBethelandtheothershrinesgiveteachingsandrulingsthatareperverse.

Line 2d: The colon-marker is silluq and the constraints are: 1predicator,3constituents, and3units.This line isbound to2c ina chiasmus, indicating that the two linesdescribe a single eventorcircumstance.

ה bindsconjunctionTheobject.directThe .וצדק this line totheprevious.צדקה herestandsforthepreceptsofrightreligion.

רץ betterhereis ארץ.directionalhereis לprepositionThe .לאtranslatedas“dirt”than“land”or“earth.”

יחו twohasrootthisofhiphilThe.נוחofpcqatal 3Hiphil .הנdifferent forms,withtheone(הניח)generallyhavingameaningof“givingrepose”tosomethingor“satisfying”it,andtheother(הניח)meaningto“laydown”or“leavebehind”(seeHALOT ).Thisisthesecondform.

5:8-9: Doxology: YHWH, Ruler of the Skies: The followingpoemisonestanzaintwostrophes.Ithasoneunusualfeature:thenominalclauseיהוה שמו inline1fsuggeststhatthedoxologyendshere(see4:13;9:6).However,lines2a-bseemtofunctionasadark

144 Amos5:6-7


and unexpected afterthought; the cosmic deity YHWH, who con-trolsdaysandseasonsandrains,isbringinghispoweragainsthumaninstitutions.ItmaybethatAmoshasadded5:9toanalreadyfamiliardoxology in5:8.The insertionof thisdoxologyat thispoint seemsarbitrary,butitservestwopurposes.First,byproclaimingthecosmicpowerofYHWH,itrebukestheattemptstodomesticatehim,treat-inghimasagodoftheshrineswhocanbeappeasedbypilgrimagesandofferings.Second,itsetsupacontrasttotheIsraeliteadorationofskydeitiesin5:25-27.

5:8: First Strophe. Sixlines.Thereisaninclusionwithanominalclauseateachendofthepoem(lines1aand1f).Withinthat,thereare two couplets (1b-c and 1d-e), each having a periphrastic parti-cipleinthefirstlineandafiniteverbinthesecondline.ThefocusisonYHWH’spowersovertheskyandseas,asheisbothmakerandgovernoroftheheavenlybodiesandtheonewhosendsrain.ThereisnothingthreateninginthispictureofYHWH;itismadethreateningbyaddedsecondstrophe.

יל ה וכס ה כימ עשות קר צלמ ך לב והפיך ילה החש ויום לם י־הי א למ הקור

רץ ם על־פני הא ישפכ וה שמו׃ ס יהו

Line 1a:Thecolon-markerisrevia andtheconstraintsare:0predi-cators,2constituents,and3units.

ה syntaxtheOn.עשהofconstructsmparticipleactiveQal .עשoftheparticiple,seeline1b.

יל ה וכס -PletherespectivelyasregardedwidelyareThese .כימiades and Orion. These constellations are associated with the New

Amos5:8 145

5:81a1b1c1d1e1f


Yearandthechangefromwintertosummer,andthustheirmentionhereimpliesthatYHWHgovernstheseasons(Paul1991,168).


-periaasfunctioning הפךofsmparticipleactiveQal .והפךphrastic predicator. There are two possible interpretations of thisand the previous participle. They could be substantival in verblessclauses,asin“(heis)makerofthePleiadesandOrion.”Or,theycouldperiphrastic,asin,“and(he)turnsdarknesstomorning.”Infact,itappearsthat,notwithstandingtheformalsimilaritybetweenlines1aand1b,עשה issubstantivalandוהפך isperiphrastic.Line1areferstoasingleeventinthepastandnottoongoingactivity,butline1brefers to ongoing activity. Also, line 1b is bound in a chiasmus tothefiniteverbinline1c,whichimpliesthatוהפך isverbalandnotsubstantival.

קר repetitiontheinironyintendedsomeprobablyisThere .לבoftheidiomהפך ל hereafteritsusagein5:7.

ות .objectdirectThe .צלמLine 1c: The colon-marker is athnach and the constraints are: 1

predicator,3constituents,and3units..objectdirectThe .ויוםילה “intomeaning,לprepositiontheexpectedhavemightWe .ל

night.”The lackof thepreposition suggests thatלילה ishere tem-poral,“atnight.”Butitshouldnotbetakenapocalyptically(as,“hemakesdayasdarkasnight”)sinceeverythingelseinlinesa-frelatestothenormalfunctioningofthecosmosandnottoanapocalypticcalamity.

יך participlefromchangeThe.חשךofsmqatal 3Hiphil .החשinline1btothepatternו +[X]+qatal herecreatescontrastivematch-ingforthetwolines(i.e., it isconceptuallyasingleeventthatgoesthroughcyclesofdayandnight).

Line 1d:Thecolon-markerisrevia andtheconstraintsare:1predi-cator,2constituents,and3units.

146 Amos5:8


א articledefinitewith קראofsmparticipleactiveQal .הקורandformingaperiphrasticrelativeclause.

ם י־הי .addresseethemarkshere לprepositionThe .למLine 1e:Thecolon-markeristifha andtheconstraintsare:1predi-

cator,2constituents,and3units.ישפכם Thesuffix.pm3with שפךofsmwayyiqtol 3Qal .ו

wayyiqtol isusedherebecausethewayyiqtol moreclearlysuggeststheideaof sequentialaction(rather thanthecyclicpatternof lines1b-c).TheideaofsequencemaybeincludedinthetranslationwiththeEnglishword“then,”asisdoneabove.

רץ הא Prepositional .על־פני phrase withעל on a constructchain.Theprepositionisdirectional,markingmotionfromabove.

Line 1f:Thecolon-markerissilluq andtheconstraintsare:0predi-cators,2constituents, and2units. It is impossible to tellwithcer-taintywhichnoun in thisnominal clause is the subject andwhichis the predicate. Probably the suffixed noun is the subject and thepredicate,יהוה,isfrontedasthefocusoftheclause.

.subject)(orpredicateasnameProper .יהוה.predicate)(orsubjectasnounSuffixed .שמו

5:9: Second Strophe. Twolines.Asdescribedabove,thiscomesasanunexpectedamendment to thedoxologyafter line1f.Praisedasadeityofskyandsea,YHWHseemssafelydistant.Suddenly,heisthreateninglyclose.

ז ד על־ע יג ש המבלר יבוא׃ ד על־מבצ וש

Line 2a: The colon-marker is athnach and the constraints are: 1predicator,3constituents,and3units.

יג Thearticle.definitewith בלגofsmparticipleHiphil .המבלhiphilofבלג elsewheremeansto“smile”(Ps39:14[E=13];Job9:27;

Amos5:8-9 147

5:92a2b


10:20).Someresolve theproblembyemending the text (e.g.,Mays1969,95, readsהמפיל. “who sendsdown”;Wolff1977,229, reads,המבדיל supposedly “who appoints,” on the basis of the LXX (o ( diairw~n). For discussion of other proposed emendations, see Zalc-man(1981).Butsuchemendationisguessworkandhardlypersuasive.Sometake“smile”toconnoteashiningorflashingcountenance,andthustranslatethewordhereas“flashforth,”butothersaredubiousofthis(e.g.,Paul1991,169).Itmaybethatהמבליג connotesmock-ingor laughingat, asdoשחק andלעג inPsalm2:4.Thebenefi-centmanagementof the cosmos in lines1a-f is therefore ironicallyreversed.God’spowerovertheworldissuchthathesmiles,butnotbenevolently,onthehumanpowerthatopposeshim,andheuseshiscosmicpowertobringdestructionuponthem.

ד Although .ש the hiphil of is בלג elsewhere intransitive (Ps39:14[E13];Job9:27;10:20),שד appearstobeadirectobject.Theresultantoxymoron,“hesmilesdestruction,”isprobablyaspeculiarinHebrewasitisinEnglish,butitisintelligibleincontext.

ז speakmayprepositionthehere,usedverbtheoflightIn .על־עofapotentialorimminentdestructionhangingabovethestrong,andtheadjectiveisusedsubstantively.

Line 2b:Thecolon-markerissilluq andtheconstraintsare:1predi-cator,3constituents,and3units.

ד beshould שדofoccurrencepreviousthenorthisNeither .ושemended,astherepetitionconnotesthefulfillmentofaprocess:Godconceivesofand“smilesdestruction”uponthemighty,andthenthatdestructiondoesinfactcome.Notethatthepatternofline3ais:par-ticiple+שד +prepositionעל,whilethepatternofline3bis:שד +prepositionעל +yiqtol.Thatis,thetwolinesarepairedinamanneranalogoustothatoflines1b-candlines2a-b,onlyherethepatternisoneofanticipationandfulfillment.Thatis,line3asuggestsdivineintent,andline3bsuggeststhefulfillment,inanegativecounterparttotheword-creationsequenceseeninGenesis1.Thusitishere,andnotinstrophe1,thatthereisanapocalypticelement.Thebenevolent

148 Amos5:9


creatorGodof strophe1becomesthedestructive,apocalypticGodinstrophe2.

ר The .על־מבצ prepositionעל again is directional, markingmotionfromabove.

.בואofsmyiqtol 3Qal .יבוא5:10-15: Accusation: No Respect for the Poor: Thefundamental

accusationhereisthatthepowerfulclassexploitsthepoorbyimpos-ingseveretaxesontheirgrainharvestsandthen,bymeansofitscon-trolofthecourtsystem,thwartsanyeffortsbythepoortogetjustice.Sinceitscontrolofthecourtsisthekeytoitsabilitytofleecethepoor,thearistocracyisopenlyhostiletoanyonewhofeelsobligedtodealhonestlyandfairlywith legalcases.Thus,honestmenaresilenced.Thestructureofthispoemisas follows.Thefirsttwostrophesareboundbyachiasticpattern(thirdperson/secondperson//secondperson/thirdperson).Thethirdstropheisanexhortationthatfol-lowsfromtheaccusations.

Stanza 1:Firstaccusationpair(5:10-11)Strophe 1:Accusationinthirdperson(5:10)Strophe 2: Protasis-Apodosis;accusationand judgment in sec-

ondperson(5:11)Stanza 2:Secondaccusationpair(5:12-13)Strophe 1:Accusationinsecondperson(5:12a)Strophe 2:Protasis-Apodosis;accusationandsocialconsequence

inthirdperson(5:12b-13)Stanza 3:Exhortation(5:14-15)Strophe 1: “Seekgoodandnotevil”(5:14)Strophe 2:“Hateevilandlovegood”(5:12b-13)

5:10-11: First Stanza. Two strophes respectively of two and sixlines.Thefirststrophemakesageneralaccusationabouttheantago-nismdisplayed towardhonestpeoplewho takepart in judicialpro-ceedings.Byitself,thisisdifficultforthereadertounderstandasithas

Amos5:9-15 149


nocontext.However,thesecondstropheexplainswhymenofintegrityareunwelcomeatcourt.

5:10: First Strophe. Twolinesinchiasticparallelism.

יח ער מוכ שנאו בשבו׃ ים יתע ר תמ ודב

Line A1a:Thecolon-marker isathnach andtheconstraintsare:1predicator,3constituents,and3units.

gnomicconnotesqatal hereThe.שנאofpcqatal 3Qal .שנאוortypicalaction.

ער therepresentsgatetheandlocative,is בprepositionThe .בשlawcourts.

יח notandsubstantivelyused) יכחofsmparticipleHiphil .מוכasapredicatorhere).This isapersonwhoopenlycriticizescorruptpracticesduringcourtproceedings.Amoderncounterpartwouldbea“whistle-blower.”

Line A1b:Thecolon-markerissilluq andtheconstraintsare:1pred-icator,2constituents,and3units.

ים ר תמ conjunctionwith דברofsmparticipleactiveQal .ודבandtheadjectiveתמים.Thisisapersonwhotestifieshonestlyinacourtcase.Theparticipleissubstantival.

בו yiqtoltheqatal andtheBoth.תעבofpmyiqtol 3Piel .יתעcanbeusedforgnomicaction.

5:11: Second Strophe. Six lines, including aprotasis (linesA2a-b)andanapodosis(linesA2c-f).TheapodosisisaloosecitationofDeuteronomy28:30.Thepunishment fits thecrimes,butbeinganallusiontoDeuteronomy28:30,italsoimpliesthatthecursesofDeu-teronomy28havefallenuponIsrael.Thisapodosis,moreover,isitselfmadeoftwobicola(A2c-dandA2e-f),eachoneaprotasis-apodosisconstruction.Thusthetexthasacomplexprotasis-apodosisstructure,asfollows:

150 Amos5:10-11

5:10A1aA1b


MajorprotasisLineA2a

LineA2b

Majorapodosis

LineA2c Minorprotasis1

LineA2d Minorapodosis1

LineA2e Minorprotasis2

LineA2f Minorapodosis2

ל ם על־ד לכן יען בושסכנו ומשאת־בר תקחו ממ

ם ית בנית י גז בתם שבו ב ולא־ת

ם מד נטעת כרמי־חם׃ א תשתו את־יינ ול

Line A1a:Thecolon-markerisrevia andtheconstraintsare:1pred-icator,3constituents,and3units.

awayandprotasistheintoupmovedbeenhas לכןwordThe .לכןfromitsnormalplaceintheapodosis.Thisplacingofלכן makestheapodosisrhetoricallystronger,asitdoesnotbeginwithatransitionaladverb.

ם whereBibleHebrewtheinplaceonlytheisThis .יען בושסכlinethismarksthat יעןisit;לכןfollowsimmediately(”because“) יעןastheprotasis.Theverbבושסכם isoftenregardedasapoelinfini-tiveconstructofבוס,to“trample,”butitmoreprobablyisacognateofAkkadiansabasu sibsa,“toextractagraintax”(HALOT בשס).InHebrew,theש andב metathesized(Paul1991,173,suggeststhatitshouldherebepointedasaQalinfinitiveconstructwith2mpsuffixasבשסכם).Officialsoftheroyalgovernmentapparentlytaxedthe

Amos5:11 151

5:11A2aA2bA2cA2dA2eA2f


peasantsexorbitantlyfortheircropsandalsoskimmedoffsomeforthemselves.

ל suggestsprepositionThe.עלwithphrasePrepositional .על־דthatthetaxisaburdenuponthepoor.

Line A1b:Thecolon-markeriszaqeph qaton andtheconstraintsare:1predicator,3constituents,and4units.

Thisobject.directtheasusedchainconstructA .ומשאת־ברisanothertaxordutyimposedontheyeomenandpaidinkindwithgrain.

Qal .תקחו yiqtol 2mp fromלקח.The shift from themoreabstract thirdperson inA1a-b to themoredirect secondperson inA2a-fisstriking;thefirstbicolonisageneralstatementaboutthecur-rentstateofmoralperversityintheland,whilethesecondisadirectaccusationandleadsintoapronouncementofdoom.

נו .antecedentitsasA2ain דלhas מןonsuffixsm3The .ממLine A2c:Thecolon-markeristifha andtheconstraintsare:1predi-

cator,2constituents,and3units.Thisisthefirstminorprotasis(hav-ingA2dasitsapodosis),butitisunmarked,havingnoparticlesuchas,suspensemomentarycreatesThisprotasis.aisitthatindicateto יעןasthereaderdoesnotyetknowwhyAmosmentionsthattheybuildashlarhouses.

י גזית -hightheofbewouldstone)(cutashlarofbuiltHouses .בתestqualityandextremelyexpensive.Becausetheaccusedenrichedthem-selvesbyexploitingthefarmerstheycanaffordsuchextravagance.

ם astranslatedbenotshouldThis.בנהofpmqatal 2Qal .בניתapasttensebutapresent,sinceitwouldnotmakesensetosupposethattheyhadalreadybuiltsuchhousesbutwerenotinhabitingthem.

Line A2d:Thecolon-markerisathnach andtheconstraintsare:1predicator,2constituents,and2units.

שבו Qal .ולא־ת yiqtol 2 m p ofישב with and לא conjunc-tionservingtomarkthefirstminorapodosis.Theconjunctionhereisadversative.

152 Amos5:11


ם .בתיisantecedentthesuffix;pm3with בPreposition .בLine A2e:Thecolon-markeriszaqeph qaton andtheconstraintsare:

1predicator,2 constituents, and3units.This is the secondminorprotasis,andit,too,isunmarked.

מד -absothewhichinobjectdirectchainconstructA .כרמי־חlutenoun isused adjectivally.Thus, “vineyardsofpleasure”means“pleasantvineyards.”

ם .נטעofpmqatal 2Qal .נטעתLine A2f:Thecolon-markerissilluq andtheconstraintsare:1pred-

icator,2constituents,and2units.א תשתו conjunctionand לאwith שתהofpmyiqtol 2Qal .ול

servingtomarkthesecondminorapodosis.as כרמי־חמדhassuffixpm3theobject;directThe .את־יינם

itsantecedent.5:12-13:SecondStanza. Two strophesof two and four lines. It

mirrorsthefirststanza,exceptthatithasthefirststropheinthesec-ondpersonandthesecondstropheinthethird.

5:12a: First Strophe.Twolines.Anotheraccusation,inwhichthecrimes of Israel are grammatically governed by ,ידעתי rhetoricallyimplyingthatthesecrimesareundeniablebyvirtueofbeingobjectsofdivineknowledge.

ם ים פשעיכ עתי רב י יד כם אתיכ ים חט ועצמ

Line B1a:Thecolon-markeriszaqeph qaton andtheconstraintsare: 1 predicator, 3 constituents, and 3 units. After the predicator,ידעתי the wordsפשעיכם are רבים a subordinate verbless clausedescribingthecontentofwhatYHWHknows.

עתי י יד -indicat,כיexplanatoryanwith ידעofscqatal 1Qal .כingthatthisisjustificationfortheaforementionedpunishment.

Amos5:11-12 153

5:12aB1aB1b


ים .adjectivepredicateA .רבם theisthissuffix,pronountheofvirtuebyDefinite .פשעיכ

subjectofthetwo-wordverblessclauseרבים פשעיכם.Line B1b:Thecolon-marker isathnach andtheconstraintsare:0

predicators,2constituents,and2units.Thereisgapping,withידעתי inlineB1agoverningbothlines.

ים .adjectivepredicateA .ועצמאתיכם theisthissuffix,pronountheofvirtuebyDefinite .חט

subjectofanothertwo-wordverblessclause.5:12b-13: Second Strophe. Four lines. The two lines of 5:12b

belong with 5:13 and not with 5:12a. This is because, first, theabstractaccusationof5:12acontrastswiththespecificdetailsof5:12binamanneranalogoustothetwostrophesof5:10-11.Second,5:12aisinsecondperson,while5:12bisthirdperson(seeהטו inlineB2b).Third,themutedresponseoftheprudentmanin5:13makessenseinthecontextoftheperversionofjusticegoingoninthecourtproceed-ingsatthegate.

פר י צדיק לקחי כ צררער הטו׃ ים בש ואביונ

ם יא יד ת הה יל בע ן המשכ לכיא׃ ה ה ת רע י ע כ

Line B2a:Thecolon-markeriszaqeph qaton andtheconstraintsare:2predicators,2constituents,and4units.Thetwoparticiplesareinconstructform.TheyarepredicatorsbyvirtueofbeingcoordinatedwiththefiniteverboflineB2b.Thispattern,oneormoreparticiplesin a series of clauses that concludes in a finite verb, is frequent inAmos.ThetwoparticiplesherearepredicatestotheimpliedsubjectinlineB2bandthereforeshouldbetranslatedasthirdpersonverbs.

י צדיק (“attack”)II צררofconstructpmparticipleQal .צרר

5:12b

5:13

B2aB2bB2cB2d

154 Amos5:12-13


withtheabsolutenounצדיק servingasanobjectivegenitive.Inthiscontext,aצדיק isamanwhosecasebeforethecourtisright.

פר -absothewith לקחofconstructpmparticipleQal .לקחי כlutenounכפר servingasanobjectivegenitive.

Line B2b: The colon-marker is silluq and the constraints are: 1predicator,3constituents,and3units.Whenthepoorgotocourttocomplainoftheinjusticedonetothem,theyareturnedaway.

derivedispoor,”“,אביוןwordTheobject.directThe .ואביוניםfromאבה,to“need,”andoftenconnotesfinancialpoverty.InPsalm49:3(E2),itisthepolaroppositeof“rich”(עשיר ואביון)inamerism.

ער .בlocativewithphrasePrepositional .בש“turntomeanshereverbThe.נטהofpmqatal 3Hiphil .הטו

away.”Similarusage is found,forexample, inPsalm27:9,אל־תט־.(”angerinawayservantyourawayturnnotDo“) באף עבדך

Line B2c:Thecolon-marker isathnach andtheconstraintsare:1predicator,4constituents,and5units.

ן theofconsequencetheintoleads(“therefore”)particleThe .לכaforementioned situation. The widespread corruption in the courtshassilencedmenofintegrity;theycannotopenlyopposesuchasys-temforfearofreprisalandbecausenooneinpowerwilllisten.

יל isitarticle;definitewith שכלofsmparticipleHiphil .המשכsubstantiveandisnotapredicator.Thehiphilparticipleofשכל (usedeitherasasubstantive,המשכיל,orwithoutthearticleasanattribu-tiveorpredicateadjective)regularlyimpliespositivemoralqualities.ApersonsodescribedisprudentandseeksGod(Ps14:2;53:3[E2]),givesthoughttothepoor(Ps41:2[E1]),isdiligent(Prov10:5),con-trolshistongue(Prov10:19),andisintelligentandofgoodcharacter(Dan1:4).Evenwherethepersoncalledמשכיל isdescribedashavingsuccess,theimplicationthathehasprudenceorpietyisalsopresent(1Sam18:14-15;Prov14:35;17:2).AgainstSmith(1988),theworddoesnotrefertowealthybutunscrupulousindividualswhobytheirsilencejoinintheoppressionofthepoor.

Amos5:12-13 155


יא ת הה -analexpression,This.בwithphrasePrepositional .בעogoustotheEnglish“insuchatimeasthis,”marksexasperationoverthecurrentmoralclimate.

ם qalgeminateManysilent.”be“,דמםofsmyiqtol 3Qal .ידyiqtol verbshaveamorphologythatseemstofollowthatoftherootI-נ (suchasנפל,withtheyiqtol יפל).

Line B2d: The colon-marker is silluq and the constraints are: 0predicators,2constituents,and3units.

ה רע ת ע י bymodifiedis עתpredicateThe .כ the adjectivenaturetheoncommentsecondthisintroduces כיparticleThe.רעהofthetime,thatsocietyissocorruptthatthiseracansimplybecalled“evil.”

יא thisofclausenominaltheofsubjecttheisthisneutrum,A .הline.

5:14-15:ThirdStanza. This stanza ismadeupof two strophesthatrecall5:4b-7andalsocloselyreflectoneanother.Eachisinfourlines,andinbothaprotasisexhortsIsraeltoseekgoodandnotevil,andthenanapodosisoffersapotentialbenefittothemfordoingso.

5:14: First Strophe.Fourlinesinprotasis-apodosisstructure,withC1abeingtheprotasis,andC1b-cbeingtheapodosis.LineC1dcom-ments on the apodosis, declaring that the condition it describes iswhatIsraeldesires.

ע דרשו־טוב ואל־רחיו ען ת למ

ם י־צבאות אתכ ן יהוה אלה ויהי־כם׃ ר אמרת כאש

Line C1a:Thecolon-markeristifha andtheconstraintsare:1predi-cator,3constituents,and3units.

5:14C1aC1bC1cC1d

156 Amos5:13-14


.דרשofpmimperativeQal .דרשוdirectThe .טוב object.Onemaywonder towhat specifically

(asreligion”“trueorbehavior,rightorhimself,GoditIsrefers. טובdescribedinJames1:26-27)?Itprobablyincludesallofthese.

ע Negated .ואל־ר direct object. The specific content of רעwouldbethereverseofטוב above.

Line C1b:Thecolon-markerisathnach andtheconstraintsare:1predicator,1constituents,and2units.

חיו ת ען חיהofpmyiqtol 2qalawithclausepurposeA .למgivingtheexpectedresultoffollowingthecommandinC1a,thepro-tasis.חיה includesavoidanceofthemilitarycalamitypredictedin5:3andmorebroadlyinvokesalltheblessingspromisedinDeuteronomy(e.g.,4:1;5:33;8:1;16:20;30:16).

Line C1c:Thecolon-markeristifha andtheconstraintsare:1predi-cator,3constituents,and5units.Theparticleכן isnotaunit.Theverblessclauseיהוה אלהי־צבאות אתכם isapparentlyaconventionalblessingusedattheshrines,whichAmosciteswiththehopethatitmayonedaycometrue.

ן which,כןwithpurpose,expressingsmweyiqtol 3Qal .ויהי־כheremeans“true.”

י־צבאות onewithgivenhereisYHWHnameThe .יהוה אלהofhistitles,asisappropriateforaformalbenediction.

.benedictiontheofpredicateThe .אתכםLine C1d:Thecolon-markerissilluq andtheconstraintsare:1pred-

icator,1constituent,and2units.ם אמרת ר just“,כאשרwith אמרofpmqatal 2Qal .כאש

as.”Thecontextinwhichthisissaidisprobablyinbenedictionsattheshrines.

5:15: Second Strophe.Fourlines.Thisparallelsthepreviousstro-phe,indicatingagainthatgoodwillcomeiftheyrepent.

Amos5:14 157


הבו טוב שנאו־רע ואט ער משפ יגו בש והצ

י־צבאות ה אלה ן יהו חנ י י אולף׃ ס ית יוס שאר

Line C2a:Thecolon-markeriszaqeph qaton andtheconstraintsare:2predicator,4constituents,and4units.

.שנאofpmimperativeQal .שנאוis“evil”and“good”oforderThe.שנאוofobjectdirectThe .רע

herereversedoveragainstlineC1a.הבו Qal .וא imperative m p of with אהב conjunction. An

imperativemaybefollowedbyaweqatal withimperativalforcewhentheyconstituteasequenceofactions.Here,thetwoimperativesindi-catenotasequencebutamerismwith“hateevil”and“lovegood,”asintheso-called“antitheticalparallelism”ofProverbs.

.ואהבוofobjectdirectThe .טובLine C2b:Thecolon-markerisathnach andtheconstraintsare:1

predicator,3constituents,and3units.יגו י-IrootsOnestablish.”“,יצגofpmimperativeHiphil .והצ

withי assimilated,seeGKC §71.ער toreferringhere שערwith,בwithphrasePrepositional .בש

thecourtroomsetting.ט verdictrightatorefershere“Justice”object.directThe .משפ

in thecourts,andspecifically toone that respects the rightsof thepoor.

Line C2c:Thecolon-markeristifha andtheconstraintsare:1predi-cator,3constituents,and5units.

י Introducing .אול the apodosis with ,אולי “perhaps,” impliesthatthesuppliantcannotpresumeupondivinegrace.Itoftenappearsincontextsofrepentanceandsupplication,asinIsaiah37:4;Jeremiah21:2;Jeremiah36:7;Jonah1:6;Zephaniah2:3.

5:15C2aC2bC2cC2d

158 Amos5:15


ן ”.graciousbe“,חנןofsmyiqtol 3Qal .יחני־צבאות followsdeliberatelyhereGodfortitleThe .יהוה אלה

thepleonasticformulausedintheshrinebenedictioncitedinC1c.Line C2d: The colon-marker is silluq and the constraints are: 0

predicators,1constituent,and2units.ThislineisthedirectobjectoftheverboflineC2c.Thereisdramaticpowerinendingthestanzawiththewords,“theremnantofJoseph.”Itimpliesthatdestructionisallbutcertainbutthatthereisyethope.

ף ית יוס .BibleHebrewtheinhereonlyoccursphraseThis .שארItisalsooneofthefewplaceswherearemnanttheologyappearsinAmos,anditsuggeststhatAmosisthinkingmoreofafuturerestora-tionthanofanavoidanceofthedestructioncurrentlyloomingoverIsrael.Otherwise,itisoddthathewoulddescribeJeroboamII’sIsrael,attheheightofitspowers,asa“remnant.”

5:16-17: Lamentation PredictedThe themeof lamentation is resumednotwitha lamentpoembutwithapredictionoflamentationtocome.

י י צבאות אדנ ה אלה ר יהו ה־אמ לכן כ

The above prose divine quotation formula introduces the fol-lowingpoem.Theclausehastoomanyunitsforittobeconsideredpoetry.The title forGod isgivenas extravagantly aspossible, sug-gestingthatwhatfollowsisandivineoracleorcursegivenwithfullsolemnity.Also,ifthepleonastictitleisalsousedintheshrinebene-dictions(5:14),thetexttellsthereaderthattheGodbywhosetitletheypronounceblessingsisinfactcursingIsrael.

5:16b-17: Oracle:Sevenlines.Thepoemisnotproperlyalamentbutaprophecythatatimeoflamentationiscoming.Itisclearlyanoracle,beingboundedbyaninclusionformedbyה יהו ר ה־אמ in כtheproseintroductionat5:16aandאמר יהוה inlineg.Itthustakes

Amos5:15-16 159

5:16a


up the pattern of the long judgment stanzas in the oracles on thenations(e.g.,1:4-5).Repetitionofבכל inlinesa,b,andedominatesthepoem,withlinescanddgivingexpositiononthenatureofthelamentationthatwillcome,andlinefgivingthereasonforthelam-entation.Thisoracleparallelsthatgiven5:3.

ד בכל־רחבות מספו ובכל־חוצות יאמרו הו־ה

בל וקראו אכר אל־אהי׃ ד אל־יודעי נ ומספד ים מספ ובכל־כרמר בקרבך י־אעב כ

ה׃ ס ר יהו אמ

Line a:Thecolon-markeriszaqeph qaton andtheconstraintsare:0predicators,2constituents,and2units.Thisisanominal(verb-less)clause;subsequentverbs indicatethat it shouldberegardedaspredictive.

Prepositional .בכל־רחבות phrase with locative serving ב asthepredicate.Theplazas referred tohere are thosewithinSamariaandtheothercitiesofIsrael.

ד ofoutpouringantorefers מספדtermThesubject.The .מספgriefandmayrefertoafuneralceremony.Isaiah22:12,ויקרא אדני thatIn“) יהוה צבאות ביום ההוא לבכי ולמספד ולקרחה ולחגר שקdayYHWHGODofSabaothcalledtoweepingandmourning,tobaldnessandputtingonsackcloth”), illustratesthefouractsassoci-atedwithapublicdisplayofgrief.

Line b:Thecolon-markerisathnach andtheconstraintsare:1pred-icator,3constituents,and4units.

Matching .ובכל־חוצות theprevious line, this beginswith a

5:16b

5:17

abcdefg

160 Amos5:16-17


prepositionalphrasewithlocativeב.Here,however,theprepositionalphrasemodifiesafiniteverb.

tense)(futurepredictiveain אמרofpmyiqtol 3Qal .יאמרוtext.

ו .saywillpeoplethewhatofcontentthespeech;Reported .הו־הLine c:Thecolon-markeriszaqeph qaton andtheconstraintsare:1

predicator,3constituents,and3units..קראofpcweqatal 3Qal .וקראוdirectThe .אכר object indicating which person is addressed.

Apparentlyamassivecropfailureisbehindthelamentation,andthusthefarmeriscalledupontomourn.

בל thepurpose,indicating אלwithphrasePrepositional .אל־אtasktowhichthefarmeriscalled.אבל,likeמספד,refersgenerallytomourning,butאבל sometimesrefersmorespecificallytoatimeorceremonyofmourning.Seetheusageofאבל andמספד inGenesis50:10.

Line d:Thecolon-markerissilluq andtheconstraintsare:0predi-cators,2constituents,and3units.Thereisgapping,withוקראו fromlinecgoverningthis lineaswell.Amos’skillsasapoetareevidenthere.Formally,thetwolinesparalleleachotherveryclosely,witheachhaving a anarthrous noun followed by a prepositional phrase with,rolesreversedhaveslotsgrammaticalthehowever,Functionally,.אלwiththeanarthrousnounbeingtheaddresseeinlinecbutthetasktowhichheiscalledinlined,butwiththeאל phrasebeingthetaskinlinecbuttheaddresseeinlined.

ד .objectdirectThe .ומספain ידעofconstructpmparticipleactiveQal .אל־יודעי נהי

constructchainwithנהי (inpausalform)andprepositionאל.Here,lamentationofactanis נהי.addressedarepersonswhichindicates אלassociatedwithweepingandbitterwailing;seeJeremiah9:17(E18);Micah2:4.

Amos5:16-17 161


Line e:Thecolon-markerisathnach andtheconstraintsare:0pred-icators,2constituents, and2units.This is averbless clausewithaprepositionalphraseasthepredicate.

ים theAgain,.בlocativewithphrasePrepositional .ובכל־כרמtextindicatesthatthefocusofthemourningisanagriculturalcalam-ity.

.subjectThe .מספדLine f:Thecolon-markeristifha andtheconstraintsare:1predica-

tor,2constituents,and2units.ר י־אעב .כיexplanatorywith עברofscyiqtol 1Qal .כThe .בקרבך verb occurs בקרבwith עבר five times in the

HebrewBible(Deut29:15[E16];Josh1:11;3:2;24:17;andhere).Inallothercases,itreferstoapersonorgrouppassingthroughanothergroup of people (in Deut 29:15 and Josh 24:17 it refers to Israel’smarchduringtheexodus).InExod12:12(withב,butnotבקרב)thewordעבר describesYHWHmovingthroughEgypttoslaythefirst-born.Exodusalsospeaksofagreatoutcry(צעקה)goingupfromtheEgyptiansovertheirdead;Amosusesאבל andמספד,butnotצעקה.Itisprobable,butnotcertain,thatAmosisalludingtotheExodus12event,assertingthattheGodofthePassoverwasnowcreatingdevas-tationinIsraelitself.

Line g:Thecolon-markerissilluq andtheconstraintsare:1predica-tor,2constituents,and2units.Thisisanotherdivinespeechformula.


5:18–6:8: Second Series of Accusations, Warnings and Exhortations

Parallelto5:4-15,thissectionisinthreemajorparts:anaccusationagainstperversereligion(5:18-24;compare5:4-7);aquestionconcern-ingtheskygods(5:25-27;contrast5:8-9);anaccusationagainsttheupperclasses(6:1-8a;compare5:10-15).Inaddition,allthreepartsof

162 Amos5:17


thissectionbeginwithrhetoricalquestions(5:18,25-26;6:2-3),andthetwoaccusatorypoems,5:18-24and6:1-8a,bothbeginwithהוי.

5:18-24: Accusation: Perverse Religion.Thissectionbeginswithgeneralainidentifyto6:1,inashere,usedbutwoeofoutcryan,הויwaythoseagainstwhomYHWHhasanaccusation.Theaccusationisintwostanzas(vv.18-20and21-24)thatdescribehowIsrael’sreligionisperverselymisguided.

5:18-20:FirstStanza. Thisstanzaisinthreestrophes.Thereisachiasticstructurehere,asstrophes1(v.18)and3(v.20)bothspeakofthedayofYHWHasdarknessandnotlight,andbothemployrhe-toricalquestions.TheessenceofthereligiousperversityofIsraelhereistheassumptionthatthedayofYHWHissalvationforthemwhenitisinfactinescapabledoom.

5:18: First Strophe. Three lines. The initial cry of lament, ,הויconnectsthistothelamenttextthatprecedesthis,butthisisnotalamentation,asthesubsequentcontentmakesclear.

ום יהוה ים את־י הוי המתאום יום יהוה ה לכ למה־זשך ולא־אור׃ הוא־ח

Line A1a:Thecolon-marker isathnach andtheconstraintsare:1predicator,3constituents,and4units.

whenprophetstheinusedcommonlyisItinterjection.An .הויcallingouttoanevilpeopleonwhomdisasterissoontocome(e.g.,Isa1:4;5:8,11;10:5;29:15;45:9;Jer23:1;48:1;Ezek13:18;Mic2:1;Hab2:12;Zeph2:5),althoughitsometimesisusedofmourninggen-erallywithoutmoralcondemnation(e.g., Jer34:5).An interjection,itisdistinctfromthewordאוי,whichappearstobeproperlyanounmeaning“grief”(cf.Prov23:29,למי אוי [“Whohasgrief?”]).Whenusedtomean“woeto,”אוי almostalwayshastheprepositionל (e.g.,Num21:29;1Sam4:7;Isa3:9;Ezek16:23);butהוי,asimpleparticle,

Amos5:18 163

5:18A1aA1bA1c


neverdoes(Ezek13:18beingtheexceptionthatprovestherule).Inanextensivediscussion,Wolff(1977,242–45)arguesthatthe“woesaying”(withהוי)aroseincirclesofclanwisdomandwasadoptedbyAmos,butthisisneitherpersuasivenorhelpful.

ים participleThisarticle.withpmparticipleHithpael .המתאוisaperiphrasticrelativeclauseandisalsovocative,asindicatedbothbythesecondpersonpronounsuffixinlineA1bandbythefactthatthesearethepeopletowhom“woe”isaddressed.

יהוה The .את־יום direct object of the participle. It wouldappearthateageranticipationofthedayofYHWHhadbecomeastandardfeatureoftheIsraeliteshrines.TheyprobablythoughtthatYHWHwouldappearasawarriortodefeatIsrael’senemiesonthatday.

Line A1b:Thecolon-markeristifha andtheconstraintsare:0predi-cators,4constituents,and5units.

.pronounInterrogative .למהThe .זה ,למהdaghesh forte afterhasoften זהof ז as inGen-

esis25:22.Also,thereisdoublingofthefirstletterofamonosyllableclosely connected to a preceding word accented on the penult; seeGKC §20f.Apparentlyלמה hereistobeconsideredasaccentedonthepenult.Normallywhenademonstrativeheadsaverblessclause,the nominative that forms the other part of the clause will be thepredicate,asinזה יום יהוה,“ThisisthedayofYHWH.”Inthiscase,however,thedemonstrativeisthepredicate.Grammaticalclinesthatdescribegreaterdegreesofdefinitenessinordertodeterminepredica-tionarenotinviolable.Theimpliedantecedentforזה,fromA1a,is“anobjectofdesire.”

dativeThesuffix.pm2and לwithphrasePrepositional .לכםexpression “to you” here means, “in your estimation.” That is, itmeans,“WhydoyouregardthedayofYHWHasthis(athingtobedesired)?”

.chainconstructaclause;verblessofSubject .יום יהוה

164 Amos5:18


Line A1c:Thecolon-markerissilluq andtheconstraintsare:0pred-icators,3constituents,and3units.

.יום יהוהisantecedentThesubject.The .הואשך .clauseverblessainpredicateThe .חsignificancepreciseThepredicate.negatedsecond,A .ולא־אור

ofthemetaphors“darkness”and“light”isnotmadeclear,butprob-ablytheyrespectivelyrepresentdisasterandsalvation.

5:19: Second Strophe. Five linesdescribingahypothetical flightfromwildbeastsasananalogytohowinescapableisthedoomofthedayofYHWH.

י ר ינוס איש מפני האר כאשב ופגעו הדית א הב וב

יר ך ידו על־הק וסמש׃ ונשכו הנח


ר meansandverbfiniteabeforestandsgenerallywordThis .כאש“justas.”Itcanbeusedinatemporalsense(Gen12:11;Jer38:28),oritcandescribesomekindofcorrespondence,usuallyeitherbetweenwhatwassaidandwhatwasdone,orbetweentwoactionsthoughttobeequivalent(Gen17:23;21:4;26:29;41:13;Exod1:12;7:20;1Kgs1:30;Isa14:24;Ezek16:59).Here,itisusedtointroduceananalogy(seeIsa9:2;29:8;65:8;Jer13:11;43:12;Ezek1:16;15:6;Amos2:13).

The.נוסofsmyiqtol 3Qal .ינוס issueof flight fromdangerrecallsAmos’initialstatementofjudgmentonIsrael(2:16).Theyiq-tol hereisusedforthesubjunctivemood,heresettingupanunreal,hypotheticalcondition.

.manhypotheticalaheresubject,The .איש

Amos5:18-19 165

5:19A2aA2bA2cA2dA2e


י timesecondaFor.מפניwithphrasePrepositional .מפני הארAmosusesthelion(ארי)asananalogyforthedisasterabouttoover-takeIsrael;seeAmos3:12.


Thesuffix.sm3with(”meet“) פגעofsmweqatal 3Qal .ופגעוweqatal marks theapodosis after thepreceding line, ahypotheticalsituationthatformstheprotasis.

ב This .הד is the only place where Amos refers to the bear,althoughHosea13:8usesitforametaphorofdivinewrath.Here,itillustratesfutility;apersonescapesonedisasteronlytorunheadlongintoanother.

Line A2c:Thecolon-markeriszaqeph qaton andtheconstraintsare:1predicator,2constituents,and2units.

Qal .ובא weqatal 3 m s ofבוא. The weqatal here could besequential to thepreviousepisode,as in,“andthenhe,”or itcouldmarkanalternativeapodosis,using“or”fortheconjunction.

ית and“home”EnglishthetoequivalentisherenounThe .הבneedsnoprepositionordirectiveה.

Line A2d:Thecolon-markeriszaqeph qaton andtheconstraintsare:1predicator,3constituents,and3units.

ך Qal .וסמ weqatal 3 m s ofסמך. This is another sequentialweqatal.

.objectdirectThe .ידויר -implicaThe.עלlocativewithphrasePrepositional .על־הק

tionisthathethinkshehasescapedandcanrestamoment.Line A2e:Thecolon-marker is silluq andtheconstraintsare:1

predicator,2constituents,and2units.alsoisitsequential,Although.נשךofsmweqatal 3Qal .ונשכו

theapodosistolinesA2c-d;notealsothatitismorphologicallyidenti-caltoופגעו inlineA2b.

166 Amos5:19


ש usedis(נשךverbtheand נחש)snaketheofbitingThe .הנחhereandin9:3todescribethefutilityoftryingtoescapeGod’swrath.Thereismorethanfutilityhere;thereisalsoirony.Themanwhotriestoescapea lionruns straight toabearor findshimselfbittenbyasnake.TheironyrelatestotheabsurdityofIsraelgoingtotheshrinesandthinkingthatthereandinthedayofYHWHtheyhavesafety.

5:20: Third Strophe.Twolines.Repetitionofthehomophone lo(twiceinA3aasלא,andtwiceA3basלא andלו)dominatestheselines.

ור שך יום יהוה ולא־א הלא־חה לו׃ ג ל ולא־נ ואפ

Line A3a:Thecolon-markerisathnach andtheconstraintsare:0predicators,3constituents,and4units.Thisisaverblessclausewithacompoundpredicate.

שך introducedisonethisquestion,rhetoricalAnother .הלא־חbyהלא,implyingthattheanswershouldbeself-evident.Thus,long-ingforthedayofYHWHisaformofself-delusion.

.predicatethebeing חשךwithsubject,The .יום יהוה.predicatenegatedsecond,A .ולא־אור

Line A3b: The colon-marker is silluq and the constraints are: 0predicators,3constituents,and3units.There isgapping,withthesubjectיום יהוה fromlineA3agoverningthisline.

ל The.חשךtoparalleland יום יהוהforpredicateAnother .ואפformאפל isfoundonlyhere;elsewherethewordisאפל (whichitselfoccursonlyeighttimes[fivetimes inJob]).Anothercognatenoun,All2:2).Joel8:22;Isa(e.g.,prophetstheincommonmoreis,אפלהthreecognatesmean“darkness.”

גה parallelinandpredicate,secondarynegated,Another .ולא נwithולא־אור.

Amos5:19-20 167

5:20A3aA3b


makesactuallyThis.לpossessivewithphrasePrepositional .לוforamuchstrongerstatement;lineA3ahadmerelysaidthatitwasdarknessandnotlight.Withthisprepositionalphrase,thislinesaysthatthedayofYHWHpossessesnolightatall.Thissuggestshope-lessness,analogoustoDante’s“Abandonallhopeyewhoenterhere”(Inferno III.9).

5:21-24:SecondStanza. Fourstrophesatvv.21,22,23,and24.In these strophesYHWHrespectively rejects their feasts, sacrificesandsacredmusic,butthencallsonthemtofillthelandwithjustice.Eachstropheisofadistinctgrammaticaltype:strophe1isdeclarative,strophe2isaprotasis-apodosisconstruction,strophe3hasasecondpersonimperativeandanemphaticfirstpersonyiqtol,andstrophe4isathirdpersonjussive.

5:21: First Strophe. Twolines.ThisstrophedescribesGod’sdis-dainforIsrael’sfestivals.

ם סתי חגיכ שנאתי מאם׃ תיכ יח בעצר א אר ול

Line B1a:Thecolon-marker isathnach andtheconstraintsare:2predicators,3constituents,and3units.

”.hate“,שנאofscqatal 1Qal .שנאתיסתי -secanarthrousThereject.”“,מאסofscqatal 1Qal .מא

onding of the first verb with another, near-synonymous verb elo-quentlyexpressesthedisgustofsomeonewhoiswearyofsomethingtediousandirksome.

ofwereFestivalssuffix.pm2awithobjectdirectThe .חגיכםcourseintendedtobeoccasionsofcelebration,andthetriumphalistassumptionoftheparticipantsisthatGodisaspleasedwiththewor-shipasthepeoplethemselvesare.ThesuffixsubtlysuggeststhatGodhasnothingtodowithreligiousceremoniesthatbelongto“you”andnottoGod.

5:21B1aB1b

168 Amos5:20-21


Line B1b:Thecolon-markerissilluq andtheconstraintsare:1pred-icator,2constituents,and2units.

יח א אר meansproperlyverbThe.רוחofscyiqtol 1Hiphil .ולto“smell,”buthereitconnotesGod’sapprovingacceptanceofsacri-fices(cf.Gen8:21).InLeviticus26:31,theverbhastheprepositiontoattached ב itsobject:ניחחכם בריח אריח notwillIand“) ולא inhaleyourpleasingaromas”).Buttheusagehereseemsdifferent(seebelow).

ם תיכ ;10:20Kgs(2“assembly”means עצרהnounThe .בעצר2Chr7:9),whichseemsanoddobjectfortheverbאריח.However,“sacrifices”maybe implied aswhat takesplace “in” (ב) the sacredassemblies.Notethecloseassociationbetweenofferings,incense,andtheעצרה inIsaiah1:13.

5:22: Second Strophe. Threelines.NoamountofextravaganceorexpenseinreligiousofferingswillmoveYHWHtoshowthemfavor.

י עלות י אם־תעלו־ל כה א ארצ ם ל ומנחתיכ

יט׃ א אב ם ל לם מריאיכ וש

Line B2a:Thecolon-markeristevir andtheconstraintsare:1predi-cator,3constituents,and3units.Theuseofthetevir foracolon-markerisunusual;bythecantillationmarksalonewewouldtreatB2aandB2btogetherasoneline.Here,however,thisispeculiar.First,asoneline,therewouldbefiveconstituents.Second,עלות andומנחתיכם donotfitwelltogetheronasinglelineasthecompounddirectobjectofתעלו.Thisisbecauseעלות hasnosuffixbutומנחתיכם does.Note,however,thatinthecolometryproposedabovelineB2bissyntacticallyparalleltoB2c(adirectobjectwith2mpsuffixfollowedbyanegatedyiqtol).Thus,weproposethatlineB2aistheprotasisandlinesB2bandB2careaparallel,two-lineapodosis.

Amos5:21-22 169

5:22B2aB2bB2c


י אם־תעלו כי אםbypreceded,עלהofpmyiqtol 2Hiphil .כ(nottheexceptivemeanings“unless”or“instead”[GKC §163]butthemoreliteral“forif”).

י .objectindirectThe .לbeastofferedthewhichinsacrificeaAsobject.directThe .עלות

isentirelyconsumedinfire,withnothingleftfortheparticipants,thewholeofferingisthemostextravagant(andexpensive)culticdisplayofdevotiontoGod.Thissuggeststhatthislineisreallyaconcessiveprotasis:“even if youweretoofferwholeofferingstome.”

Line B2b:Thecolon-markerisathnach andtheconstraintsare:1predicator,2constituents,and2units.

The .ומנחתיכם direct object. The noun is מנחה here themostgeneralandbroadtermforofferingsmadetoGod,includingallkindsofsacrifices,libations,andgrainofferings.Itthusincludesbutisnotlimitedtothewholeofferingsofthepreviousline.Itisoddforanegatedapodosistobeginwithaconjunctionandnoun,butthisispreciselywhatAmosdoestwicein3:6(אם־יתקע שופר בעיר ועם לא [”?terrifiedbenotpeopleaAnd/cityainsoundshofaraWill“] יחרדוandאם־תהיה רעה בעיר ויהוה לא עשה [“Willtherebedisasterinacity/AndYHWHhasnotdoneit?”]).Granted,3:6containsrhetori-calquestionsandthepresentversedoesnot.Ontheotherhand,thefrontingofthetwoconjoinednounphrasesinB2b-c(ומנחתיכם andמריאיכם prominentmadeareitemstwothesethatsuggests(ושלם inordertosetthemincontrastwithעלות in lineB2a.Theidea isthatGodwouldnotaccepttheirgiftsandpeaceofferingseveniftheyincludedwholeburntsacrifices.

א ארצה .רצהofscyiqtol 1qalNegated .לLine B2c:Thecolon-markerissilluq andtheconstraintsare:1pred-

icator,2constituents,and3units.לם מריאיכם withchainconstructainobjectdirectThe .וש

theconjunction.יט א אב verbthisofuseThe.נבטofscyiqtol 1hiphilNegated .ל

170 Amos5:22


inaculticsettingwiththemeaning“lookfavorablyupon”isunusual,buttheword,whenGodisthesubject,canhavesuchameaning.Cf.Isaiah66:2:ואל־זה אביט אל־עני ונכה־רוח (“andtothisoneIwilllook[withfavor],tothehumbleandbroken-hearted”).

5:23: Third Strophe.Twolines.ThisstrophedescribesGod’sdis-dainforIsrael’ssacredmusic.

יך י המון שר ר מעל הסע׃ א אשמ יך ל ת נבל וזמר


ר .סורofsmimperativeHiphil .הסי Thesuffix.sc1aon עלand מןwithphrasePrepositional .מעל

prepositionעל suggeststhatthemusicofIsraelhasbecomeanunbear-ableburdenuponYHWH.ItisdifficulttoconveythisinEnglish.

יך שר sm2withchainconstructaobject;directThe .המון suffix.Here,theabsolutenoun(“yoursongs”)isadjectival,describingwhattheconstructnoun(“noise”)consistsof.Theredoesnotappeartobeanysignificancetothechangefrompluralsuffixesintheprevi-ousstrophetothesingularsuffixesusedhere,exceptthatperhapsithelpstodelineatestrophicdivisions.Thenounהמון generallyreferseithertoamobofpeople(Isa5:13)ortothediscordantnoisetheycre-ate(1Sam14:19;Isa31:4).Thus,theworshipsongsofIsrael’ssingersareregardedasthecacophonyofamob.

Line B3b: The colon-marker is silluq and the constraints are: 1predicator,2constituents,and3units.

יך נבל ת m2withchainconstructaobject;directThe .וזמרssuffix.Thisisformallyparalleltoהמון שריך inthepreviousline.Thenounוזמרת,however,doesnotcarryanynegativeconnotations(seePs81:3[E2]).TheimportantpointisthatitisnotthequalityoftheirplayingthatmakestheirsongsdiscordantinGod’sears,but

Amos5:22-23 171

5:23B3aB3b


their moral and spiritual lives. Theנבל (“lyre”) is associated withworshipinvariouscontexts(e.g.,Ps144:9).Forfurtherdiscussiononthenatureoftheinstrument,seethecommentson6:5.

ע א אשמ The.לאnegativetheand שמעofscyiqtol 1Qal .לfirstpersonyiqtol hereisnotasimplestatementofthefuturebutanemphaticrefusaltolisten,aswhenanEnglishspeakersays,“Iwillnotgo!”asanemphaticrefusaltogo.

5:24: Fourth Strophe. Two lines. YHWH here gives Israel analternativetotryingtopleasehimwithsacrificeandsong.

ט ים משפ ל כמ ויגן׃ חל אית ה כנ וצדק


forcejussiveweyiqtol hasThe.גללofsmweyiqtol 3Niphal .ויגלand isherecontrastive, suggestingthat theIsraelites shoulddothisrather than sing their praise-songs.גלל is not elsewhere used with,34:4Isaiahplace,otheroneonlyinappears גללofniphalThe.מיםwhereheavenis“rolleduplikeascroll.”Thustheverbhereseemstorefertohowwaterrollsoveritselfinwaves.Thissuggestswatersthatmovewithspeedandinabundance.Justiceshouldcomeforthplente-ouslyandnot,asitwere,inasmalltrickle.

ים Wateranalogy.anforming,כwithphrasePrepositional .כמisrefreshingandcleansing,andsoisanaptmetaphorforjustice.

ט -puttoreferwouldthiscontext,Inobject.directThe .משפtinganendtotheoppressionofthepoor.

Line B4b:Thecolon-marker is silluq andtheconstraintsare:0predicators,2constituents,and3units.Thereisgapping,withויגל governingthisline.

ה Parallel .וצדק toמשפט, thisagainrefers tohonesty in thecourtsandconcernfortheneedsofthepoor.

5:24B4aB4b

172 Amos5:23-24


ן .כמיםtoparalleland כwithphrasePrepositional .כנחל איתTheadjectiveאיתן means“permanent,perennial”andsoherereferstoastreamthatdoesnotrundry.

5:25-27: Question and Oracle: Sky Gods: This text, a proserhetoricalquestion(5:25-26)withanoraclefromYHWH(5:27),isironicallyjuxtaposedwith5:8-9,adoxologythatassertsthatYHWHisrulerof theheavens(notealsothatשמו 5:8in יהוה isansweredbyיהוה אלהי־צבאות שמו rulesYHWHAlthough5:27).in אמר heavenandearth,Israelworshipsminorastraldeities!Theonlypos-sibleresponsetothisperverseapostasyisforIsraeltogointoexile.

5:25-26:Thisisaproserhetoricalquestion;itisasinglesentenceinthreeclauses.

ים ר ארבע י במדב גשתם־ל ה ה ים ומנח הזבחם ם את סכות מלככ ל׃ ונשאת ית ישרא שנה בם ר עשית ם אש ם כוכב אלהיכ ת כיון צלמיכ וא

ם׃ לכ

ProseClause:ים ר ארבע י במדב גשתם־ל ה ה ים ומנח הזבחל׃ ית ישרא שנה ב

Theabove,5:25,isasingleclause.Itsverb,הגשתם (hiphilqatal 2mpofנגש),hereindicatesthatthetextperspectiveishistorical(pasttense).Thesentencebeginswithtwodirectobjects(הזבחים ומנחה [“sacrifices andoffering”]) pointing to the focus of this paragraph,the religiousobservancesof Israel.Formally, theprefixonהזבחים hasallthecharacteristicsofadefinitearticle,butitiswidelytakentobeaninterrogativeה (cf.thepathach anddaghesh forte beforeshewa intheinterrogativeה ofNumbers13:19,הבמחנים).Iftheprefixonים were הזבח the article, it would be anomalous thatומנחה doesnothavethearticle.Allinall,itappearscertainthattheprefixisinfactaninterrogativeה.Thefirstpersonindirectobject(לי)indicates

Amos5:24-27 173

5:25-26


therecipientofthesacrifices,YHWH.Thelocativephrase(במדבר)and the temporalphrase שנה) (ארבעים together indicate that thesettingforthequestionisthefortyyearsinthewilderness.Avoca-tive ישראל) (בית concludes the clause. The real problem here, ofcourse,isnotthegrammarofthetextbuttheastonishinginferenceonedrawsfromit,thatAmoshereclaimsthatIsraelmadenosacri-ficestoGodforfortyyearsinthewilderness.Acommoninterpreta-tion is thatAmos5:25,alongwithJeremiah7:22-23,either followsJEagainstP (Paul1991,194)or reflectsDeuteronomistic thinking(Wolff1977,264–65)whenitassertsthattheIsraelitesreceivedlittleifanyculticinstructioninthewilderness.Mays(1974,111–12)sug-gests that Amos’ words reflect a somewhat strident attitude on hispart as a spokesman for the anti-sacrifice party. See also the viewsexpressed inSmith(1998,253–54);Cripps (1929,338–48);Ander-senandFreedman(1989,531–37).Iamonrecordforrejectingthedocumentaryhypothesis(Garrett1991),butthisisnottheplaceforentering into sucha far-reachingdiscussion,nor is there roomherefordealingeitherwithJeremiah7:22-23orwiththereconstructionofIsrael’sreligioushistorythatassertsthattheprophetsrejectedthecult.Inmyview,theentirediscussionofAmos5:25ismisguidedsinceitfailstoreckonwiththeconnectionbetween5:25and5:26(Andersenand Freedman do see a connection between these verses, but theyarenotabletoworkthisintoanintelligibleinterpretationandtheirdiscussionflounders).

Prose Clause: כיון ת וא ם מלככ סכות את ם ונשאתם צלמיכם כוכב אלהיכ

Thesinglemostimportantgrammaticalfeatureofthistextistheverbונשאתם, aqalweqatal 2mpofנשא.Whyistheweqatal used?It cannothave one of itsmore common functionshere (such as anapodosis,afinalclause,oramainlineverbinapredictiveordirectivetext),sinceallofthese interpretationsdisregardthecontext.Rather,thisisacasewheretheweqatal hasimperfectiveforceinapasttensecontext.Thisismostoftenseenwherethepasttensecontextissetbya

174 Amos5:25-26


priorwayyiqtol verb(Gen30:40-41;1Sam7:15-16;seeIBHS §32.2.3),butinthiscasethecontextisarhetoricalquestion,whichisnaturallyheadedbyaqatal ratherthanawayyiqtol.Translatingliterally,there-fore,ונשאתם heremeans,“andyouwerecarrying”or“andyouwouldcarry,”butputtingitintonormalEnglishinthecontextofapasttenserhetoricalquestion,itmeans,“whileyouwerecarrying.”AmosisnotsimplyaskingiftheymadesacrificestoYHWHduringthefortyyears,butwhether they made sacrifices while also carrying images of the sky gods from place to place.HeisnotdenyingthatIsraelsacrificedtoYHWHinthewilderness.He is sayingthatsacrificingtoYHWHis funda-mentallyincompatiblewithgivingreverencetotheskygods,andheispointingouthowabsurd it is to imagine thewilderness IsraelitesunderMosesdoingsuchathing.Also,the“carrying”oftheskygodsmayalludetofestiveprocessions,inwhichimagesofastraldeitieswereparadedabout,thattookplaceattheshrinesinAmos’time.Thealter-nativeinterpretation,takingונשאתם asafuturetensethatreferstothe Israelites carrying theirgods into exile, isbothgrammatically anonsequiturandhistoricallyimplausible.Thegrammaroftherestofthesentenceissomewhatdifficultforhavingsomanynounsoneafteranother.Emendingthetext,asisproposedbyIsbell(1978)onthebasisoftheLXX,ishighlyspeculativeandnotpersuasive.Thebestsolutionistotakeסכות andכיון,bothpropernames,asthedirectobjectsoftheverb.Paul(1991,195–96)hasdemonstratedthatSikkuthandKiyyunwereancientdeitiesknowninMesopotamiaandUgaritandthatnoemendationisnecessary.מלככם isacommonnouninappositiontotoappositioninstandboth כוכב אלהיכםand צלמיכםwhile,סכותbothpropernames.Thesingularnounכוכב inאלהיכם here כוכב referstoapluralityandshouldberenderedas,“thestarsofyourgods”ormoresimply,“yourastralgods”(cf.theanalogousconstructioninGen32:17, in“] ביד־עבדיו thehands (singularnoun representingaplural)ofhisservants”]).Thephrasingכיון ואת מלככם את סכות .rhymemockingaasconstructeddeliberatelybemay צלמיכם

Prose Clause: ם ם לכ ר עשית אש

Amos5:25-26 175


Theisarelativeclause;theantecedentofאשר isthetwopropernamesSikkuthandKiyyun.עשיתם,aqalqatal 2mpofעשה,and,לכם “for yourselves,” point out that these deities are man-madeandarenoveltiesasfarasIsrael’sreligioustraditionsgo.Thewordsלכם עשיתם -epicalfgoldenthetoalludealsomay אלהיכם אשר sode,suggestingthatIsraelisfulfillingthatoneunsavoryaspectoftheexodusstory(cf.Exod32:1,עשה־לנו אלהים [“makegodsforus!”]).

5:27: Oracle.Twolines.Thisisconnectedtotheprecedingtextbytheverb(weqatal),butitsignalsachangebyaswitchtothefirstpersonsingularoveragainstthepriorsecondpluralverbs.Thissec-tionscansasapoem,unlikethepriortext,andasisappropriatetoanoracleithasadivinespeechformula.

שק לאה לדמ ם מה י אתכ והגליתו׃ פ י־צבאות שמ ה אלה ר יהו אמ

Line a:Thecolon-markerisathnach andtheconstraintsare:1pred-icator,3constituents,and4units.

י -preaasfunctioninghere,גלהofscweqatal 1Hiphil .והגליתdictivetext.Asindicatedabove,thisverbfallswithinaseparatesectionofthetextfromthepreviousweqatal,ונשאתם,anditisalsomarkedbyachangeinsubject.Apartfromthat,itisnotatallunusualfortwocon-secutiveweqatal verbstohaveentirelydifferentsyntacticalfunctions.

.objectdirectThe .אתכםשק לאה לדמ combines(”thereover“) הלאהpronounThe .מה

with and מן to ל formthepreposition ל .(”beyond“) מהלאה It isfoundinGenesis35:21;Jeremiah22:19;andhere.“BeyondDamascus”suggestsAssyriandomainsinnorthernMesopotamia.ThisremovestheIsraelitesbeyondtheexpandeddomainIsraelhadachievedunderJeroboamII(see2Kgs14:28).

Line b:Thecolon-markerissilluq andtheconstraintsare:1predi-cator,4constituents,and5units.Therearetwoclauses:אמר יהוה

5:27ab

176 Amos5:26-27


and שמו .אלהי־צבאות The conjunctive merka inיהוה should bedisregarded;itmakesthelineungrammatical.Thesecondclauseisarelativeclausewithimpliedאשר.

ר .אמרofsmqatal 3Qal .אמ.אמר יהוהformulaspeechdivinetheinsubjectThe .יהוהי־צבאות -relatheofpredicatetheischainconstructThis .אלה

tiveclauseאלהי־צבאות שמו(אשר).This .שמו is the subject (with implied (אשר of the relative

clause.Itmeans,“whosename(is).”6:1-8a: Accusation: Perverse Behavior: Four stanzas. Like the

firstpoemofthesecondcomplaint(5:18-24),thispoembeginswiththelamentcryהוי.Itisacomplextextofseveralparts.Aftertheini-tialcryofwoe,identifyingtheaccused(6:1),thetextcommandstheaccusedtotakenoteofnationsthatarecomparabletotheirownanddrawtherelevantlesson(6:2).Afterthis,itpresentsthearistocratsinSamariawithadetailedlistofaccusations(6:3-6)andconcludeswithanoracleofjudgment(6:7-8a).

6:1:FirstStanza. Thisstanzaisinonestropheoffourlines.TheHebrewissomewhatdifficult,butneitheremending(asinHolladay1972)norremovinglineAcasaDeuteronomisticgloss(asinWolff1977,270–71)ispersuasive.Thisstanzaistwoparts.Thefirst,linesAa-b, isaninterjection,acryofwoeagainsttheupperclasses.Thesecond,linesAc-d,isasentenceintwoclausesdescribingthehonorsgiventothoseclasses.

ון הוי השאננים בציר שמרון ים בה והבטחם ית הגוי נקבי ראש

ל׃ ית ישרא ם ב או לה וב

Amos5:27–6:8 177

6:1AaAbAcAd


Line Aa:Thecolon-markeriszaqeph qaton andtheconstraintsare:0predicators,3constituents,and3units.Thislineisanexclamationandlacksanypredication.

.Aa-blinesgovernswoeofcryinitialThe .הויwith(”carefreeself-confident,“) שאנןadjectiveThe .השאננים

adefinitearticle.withphrasePrepositional .בציון locative .ב It is peculiar that

Amos, who devotes almost the whole of his book to castigatingSamariaandthenorthernkingdom,shouldinthisbriefinstanceandcontrarytocontextspeakagainsttheJerusalemaristocracy.TheLXXhereisquitedifferent,takingitasanattackonthosewhorejectZiontheology(ou 0ai \ toi ~v e 0couqenou~sin Siwn[“WoetothosewhodespiseZion”]).ButtheLXXshouldnotbefollowedhere(itisunreliableasawitnesstotheHebrewUrtext;seeGelston2002).Scholarsroutinelytreatthislineasaninterpolationorseektoemendthetext(seeWolff1977,269–70).ItisbettertoseethisasaplacewherethehumanityofAmoscomesthrough.AmoscouldnothavebeenunawareoffactthatmostofthearistocratsinhishomelandwerenobetterthanthoseofSamaria,andheprobablyfeltgreaterbitternesstowardsthecorruptsnobswhomistreatedhisownpeople.HiscommissionwastoIsrael,butheinsertsawordofcondemnationagainstsimilarsinnersinZion.Theauthenticityof“Zion”hereisalsoattestedtobyAmos’obliquereferencetoJerusalem’sdominationoverGathin6:2(seethediscus-sionat6:2b).

Line Ab:Thecolon-markerisathnach andtheconstraintsare:0predicators,2constituents,and3units.

ים Qal .והבטח active participle ofבטח with conjunction. Itfunctionsadjectivallyinparallelwithהשאננים inlineAa.

שמרון ר withphrasePrepositional .בה locative The.ב term-fortifiitsextensionbyandcitytheofacropolisthetorefershere הרcationsandculticsitesinwhichpeopleplacedtheirhopesformilitaryanddivineprotection.

178 Amos6:1


Line Ac:Thecolon-markeriszaqeph qaton andtheconstraintsare:1predicator,1constituent,and3units.

ם הגוי ית ראש A .נקבי construct chain with a qal passiveparticiplempconstructofנקב (“designate,mark”).Itisnotgram-maticallyconnectedtotheprevioustwolines(notethelackofacon-junction),but it is joinedtothenext line(indicatedbytheweqatal thatbeginslineAd).Forthisreason,thislineshouldbetranslatedasaperiphrasticclausewiththesubject(“they,”fromלהם inthenextline)implied.ראשית isanappositionalgenitiveandהגוים isapar-titive genitive. It ironically speaks to the conceit of the aristocracyofSamaria,who thinkof themselves as thebestpeopleof thebestcountryintheworld.

Line Ad:Thecolon-markerissilluq andtheconstraintsare:1predi-cator,3constituents,and3units(countingבית ישראל asapropernameandthereforeoneunit).ThislineisexpositiononlineAc.

או -imperfecweqatal functionsThe.בואofpcweqatal 3Qal .ובtivelytodescribeafrequentevent.

ם .suffixpm3aand לdirectionalwithphrasePrepositional .להל ישרא ית herephraseThesubject.The .ב stands forall the

peopleofIsrael,andthusthethirdpluralverb.Themeaningisthatthearistocracybasksinthegloryofhavingpeoplefromalloverthenationcometothemforadvice,help,ortopayhomage.

6:2:SecondStanza. This stanza is in twostrophes.The first isatricolonofimperativesandthesecondisapairofalternativeques-tions.ItpointstoothernationsinordertodemonstratethefollyofSamaria’sconfidenceandpride.

6:2a: First Strophe. Threelines,eachbeginningwithanimpera-tive.

לנה וראו עברו כה ת רב ם חמ ולכו מש

ורדו גת־פלשתים

Amos6:1-2 179

6:2aB1aB1bB1c


Line B1a:Thecolon-markeriszaqeph qaton andtheconstraintsare:2predicators,3constituents,and3units.

-crosssignifieshereverbThe.עברofmpimperativeQal .עברוingintoanothernation’sterritory.

לנה ,Calneh .כ also calledCalno,was located inSyria, in thelowerOrontesvalley(itisalsomentionedinIsa10:9).Onthesignifi-canceofmentioningCalnehhere,seethediscussionbelowat6:2b.

-imperatheconjunction;with ראהofpmimperativeQal .וראוtivewithconjunctionsometimesimpliespurpose.

Line B1b:Thecolon-marker isathnach andtheconstraintsare:1predicator,3constituents,and3units(takingחמת רבה asapropernameandthereforeoneunit).

.conjunctionwith הלךofpmimperativeQal .ולכום .מןwithphrasePrepositional .משה רב ת Great“ .חמ Hamath,” so-called because it contained

varioussmallerstateswithinit.InthetextoftheEponymChronicle,whereTiglath-pileserIIImentionshisdefeatofCalneh,healsoreferstothe“nineteendistrictsofHamath.”ItwaslocatedontheOrontesinSyria.

Line B1c:Thecolon-markerisrevia andtheconstraintsare:1predi-cator,2constituents,and2units.

.conjunctionwith רדהofmpimperativeQal .ורדוtheof“GathchainconstructnameproperThe .גת־פלשתים

Philistines.” A directive particle such as a prepositionאל or direc-tiveה is implied.Gathwasalmostcertainly locatedatTelles-Safi.Accordingto2Kings12:18(E17),HazaelofDamascusseizedGathinthelateninthcentury.UzziahofJudah,withinwhosereignAmosprophesied(Amos1:1),pulleddownthewallsofGathintheearly8thcentury according to2Chronicles26:6.Amajordestruction level,togetherwithamajorsiegetrench,datingtoIronAgeIIAhasbeenfoundatTelles-Safi.Evidenceindicatesthatthissiegewascarriedout

180 Amos6:2


byHazael;UzziahprobablyfurtherreducedGathaftertheHazael’sdeparturefromthearea.Forfurtherdiscussion,seeMaeir(2004).

6:2b: Second Strophe.Twolines,eachcontainingadirectques-tion.

לה ות הא הטובים מן־הממלכם׃ ם מגבלכ ב גבול אם־ר

Line B2a:Thecolon-markeriszaqeph qaton andtheconstraintsare:0predicators,2constituents,and3units.Thisisaverblessclause,butthesubjectisnotexplicit;itisimpliedtobe“you”bythe2mpsuffixinlineB2b.

Adjective .הטובים with interrogative .ה In the comparativecontext,thismeans“better,”whichhereimpliesricher,morepower-ful,orhavingalargerterritory.

לה הא Prepositional .מן־הממלכות phrase with compara-tive wordThepronoun.demonstrativewithnounabyfollowed מן.kingaofpowerroyalorreigndomain,thetorefers ממלכה

Line B2b: The colon-marker is silluq and the constraints are: 0predicators,3constituents,and3units.

ב The .אם־ר wordאם here means “or.” The adjectiveרב inconjunctionwiththefollowing comparativeis מן inforceandthusmeans“larger”or“greater.”

pm3withsubject,The .גבולם suffix.Thiswordmaymean“boundary”or“territory”,anditherefocusesonthesizeofaking-dom’sterritoryasameasureofitsgreatness.

ם -terThese.מןcomparativewithphrasePrepositional .מגבלכritories,Calneh,GreatHamath,andGath,areheldupasexamplesbefore the arrogant people of Samaria. Calneh and Hamath suf-fered eitherdestructionor subjugation c.738B.C. at thehandsofTiglath-pileserIII.SeeABD,“Calneh,”andalsoRaineyandNotley

Amos6:2 181

6:2bB2aB2b


(2006,226–27).Hamathwas listedamong statesgiving tribute toTiglath-pileser III in that year, and its territorywas reduced (Paul1991,202).Theproblem,however,isthattheconquestofCalnehbyTiglath-pileserIIIwassometwentyyearsaftertheministryofAmos,but the text here indicates that the subjugation of these states hasalreadytakenplace.AnumberofscholarsthereforearguethatthissectionisalaterinterpolationbyadiscipleofAmosfromtheperiodafterTiglath-pileserIII’scampaign(seeWolff1977,274).Therearetwopossiblealternativestothisanalysis.(1)ItmaybethatAmosisnot at all suggesting that these nations have already been broughtdownbut in fact asserting that theywere equally asprosperous asIsrael (Paul1991,203).Thequestionof lineB2b(“Or is their ter-ritorybigger thanyours?”) indicates that inAmos’day thesecitieswerestillstandingandstillfairlyrobust.Againstthisinterpretation,however,isthementionofGath,whichhadlostitspowerandpres-tigebythetimeofAmos(seethediscussionat1:6-8).(2)AbettersolutionisthatthesethreestatesarementionedneitherbecausetheyhadbeenalreadyobliteratedbyAssyrianorbecausetheywerestillasprosperousasIsraelbutbecausetheywereunderIsraeliteorJudahitedomination. JeroboamIIhimselfhad forcedHamath into submis-sionearlierinhisreign(2Kgs14:28),andGathwasruledbyUzziahofJudah(2Chr26:6).NothingcertainisknownofthesituationofCalnehduringAmos’ministry.Ontheotherhand,sinceJeroboamIIhadbecomedominantintheregion,itisreasonabletoassumethatCalneh,too,wasinsomemeasuresubordinatetoIsrael.Thesmug-nessofthearistocraciesinSamariaandZionwasinpartduetotheirdominationofthesethreekingdoms.

6:3-6: Third Stanza. This stanza, giving the details of theaccusationsagainstthearistocrats,haselevenlinesdividedintothreestrophes.Thekey to the strophicdivision is inAmos’ tendency tomatchaparticipleinanopeninglineorlineswithafiniteverbinaclosinglineorlines.Thispatterngovernsthesethreestrophes(C1awithC1b;C2a-ewithC2f;C3awithC3b-c).Throughoutthestanza,theparticiplesthatleadlinesmustberegardedaspredicators,asin

182 Amos6:2


every case they are joined by a conjunction to a concluding finiteverb.Thestanzaendsin6:6withtwolinesgovernedbyfiniteverbs.The lengthysecondstrophe,describing thecarefreeattitudeof thearistocrats, is the heart of the stanza. The first strophe introducesthethemebynotingthattheypushbackanythoughtthatdisastermaybecoming,andthethirdstanzaconcludesitwithapictureofanself-indulgentdrinkingparty.Anumberofscholarscallthistexta“woe”passage(seediscussionoflineC1b).Theyseemtothinkthatthegrammarofhavingaparticipleinonelinefollowedbyaconjunc-tionandfiniteverbinthenext,thepatternusedthroughoutthistext,means that the text is a “woe.”This isplainlywrong; in6:8b thispatternisusedwithGodasthesubject,andGodisnotpronouncingawoeonhimself.

6:3: First Strophe.Two linesdescribinghow thewickedhave akindof cognitivedissonance, on theonehand scoffing at the ideathatdisasterisnearbutontheotherpromotingtheconditionsthatguaranteeitwillcome.

ע ים ליום ר מנד הס׃ בת חמ ותגישון ש

Line C1a:Thecolon-marker isathnach andtheconstraintsare:1predicator,2constituents,and3units.

ים מנד Thearticle.definitewith נדהofpmparticiplePiel .הrootנדה occursonlyinthePielandtwiceintheHebrewBible(hereandIsaiah66:5:אחיכם שנאיכם מנדיכם,“yourbrothers[who]hateyou [and] push you away”). This interpretation of the verb is sup-ported by the Hebrew of Sirach 6:10 (concerning the false friend):himselfseparateshetroubleinareyouwhen“) ברעתך יתנדה ממךfromyou”),using theHithpael.Stuart (1987,357)argues that thisis theAkkadiannadû, to“forecast.”But,apart fromtheaforemen-tionedevidence, theantithesisof thepielנדה in this linewith thehiphilהגיש (“bringnear”)inthenextiscompelling,andanalterna-

Amos6:2-3 183

6:3C1aC1b


tivemeaningforנדה isnotpersuasive.Also,theideathatthey“pushawaytheevilday”(i.e.,dismissthenotionthattroubleisnear)leadsintothenextstrophe,wheretheyliveincarelessindulgence.

ע ר Prepositional .ליום phrasewith useThe.ל of markto לanaccusative iswell-attested(IBHS §11.2.10g),butwedonothaveanydataforנדה ל apartfromthisexample.יום רע onlyoccurshere,althoughwedohaveימי רע inPsalm49:6(E5)andPsalm94:13.Itreferstoatimeofdisaster.ThearistocratsofSamariarejecttheideathatsuchacrisisiscoming,asillustratedbytheirwordsin9:10.

Line C1b:Thecolon-markerissilluq andtheconstraintsare:1pred-icator,2constituents,and3units.

andconjunctionwith נגשofpmwayyiqtol 2Hiphil .ותגישוןparagogicנ.Theparagogicנ maymarkcontrast(seeIBHS §31.7.1b),andcontrastisapparenthere.Thenormalmeaningofthisverbisto“bring close.”Stuart (1987,357) suggests that the verbheremeans“produceviadivination,”butsuchameaningisunparalleledforthisverb.Anumberof scholarshavestatedthat thesecondpersonverblooks peculiar here; Wolff has proposed emending to third person(Wolff1977,271–72).Thisisfoundedonthenotionsthatthisstro-pheisa“woe”statement,whichshouldbeinthethirdperson.Butinfactthisisaseriesofaccusations;itisnotgovernedbytheהוי of6:1;thesecondstanza(6:2)between6:1and6:3precludesthispossibility(contrary,e.g.,toAndersenandFreedman[1989,544–46,559–60],whoarbitrarilyaddהוי sixtimesin6:1-6tocreateaseriesofsevenwoes).

ס חמ בת here שבתofmeaningTheobject.directThe .ש isdebated.Itappearstobeanoun(orinfinitiveconstruct)oftheroot”.violenceofhabitation/“seatmeaningthegivewouldwhich,ישבThisiscomparedtoPsalm94:20,היחברך כסא הוות (“Canathroneofdestructionbejoinedtoyou?”i.e.,“Canviolentrulersbealliedwithyou,[YHWH]?”).Or,שבת couldbederivedfromtherootשבת andtaken tomean “cessation.”But “cessationof violence” is surelynotthemeaninghere.Occurrencesofשבת inExodus21:19;2Samuel

184 Amos6:3


23:7;Isaiah30:7arethemselvesquiteobscure,butin1Kings10:19(||2Chr9:18);Obadiah3;Lamentations3:63itclearlymeans“seat”or“sitting.”InProverbs20:3either“sitting”or“cessation” ispossi-ble.Stuart (1987,357)emendsשבת toשבת and so translates theverse,“Thosewhoareforecastingabadday/Anddiviningaharmfulweek,”butthisbuildsspeculationonspeculationandcannotbefol-lowed.Forotherproposed emendationsor interpretationsofשבת,seeWolff1977,272.Onthewhole,“habitationofviolence”remainsthemostpersuasiveoption.Thebicolonmeansthattheyscoffatthenotionthatdisaster isnearbutmakeSamariaaplacewhereviolentoppressionhasahome.

6:4-5: Second Strophe.Sixlinesfollowingthepatternofaparti-ciple(linesC2a-e)followedbyafiniteverb(C2f).TranslatingtheseparticiplesintoEnglish,itisappropriatetousefiniteverbs(e.g.,“Theylieonbedsofivory”).

ן כבים על־מטות ש השם ים על־ערשות וסרחאן ים כרים מצ ואכלק׃ ים מתוך מרב ועגלי הנבל ים על־פ הפרט

יר׃ ם כלי־ש יד חשבו לה כדו


כבים -artidefinitewith שכבofpmparticipleactiveQal .השcle.Incontext,theyarenotlyingdowntosleepbutrecliningatfeasts.ThedefinitearticleappearswiththeparticiplehereandinC2ebutnotinC2bandC2c.Thisgroupsthestropheintotwoparts,C2a-dandC2e-f;seethetranslationabove.

ן ש Prepositional .על־מטות phrase with on על a construct

Amos6:3-5 185

6:4

6:5

C2aC2bC2cC2dC2eC2f


chain(anadjectivalgenitive).Thisofcoursedoesnotmeanthattheentirebedismadeofivorybutthatitisdecoratedwithivoryinlay.

Line C2b:Thecolon-markerisathnach andtheconstraintsare:1predicator,2constituents,and2units.Thelineissemanticallyparal-leltoC2a.

ים .conjunctionwith סרחofpmparticiplepassiveQal .וסרחThe verbסרח appears in the qal yiqtol in Exodus 26:12 (תסרח)where it refers to an excess of tent fabric that hangs over the backofthetent.Inthenextverse,Exodus26:13,יהיה סרוח (“itshallbeoverhung”),withthepassiveparticiple,isusedinaparallelmanner.SeealsoEzekiel23:15.Usedofpeople, this refers to loungingonacouch(drapingone’sbodyoverit)inacarefreemannerthatsuggestsluxuryandarrogance.

ם .עלlocativewithphrasePrepositional .על־ערשותLine C2c:Thecolon-markeriszaqeph qaton andtheconstraintsare:

1predicator,3constituents,and3units.ים Qal .ואכל active participle m p ofאכל with conjunction,

implyingthattheloungingoncouchesandeatingarepartofasingleevent(i.e.,amealwhilereclining).

The .כרים direct object. The word refers to young rams orlambs,themeatofwhichwouldbetenderandpresumablyexpensive.In1Samuel15:9,הכרים arelistedamongthebestoftheflockthatthepeoplerefusedtodestroyintheherem ofAgag’spossessions.

אן .מןpartitivewithphrasePrepositional .מצLine C2d: The colon-marker is silluq and the constraints are: 0

predicators,2constituents,and3units.Thereisgappingofים ואכלfromthepreviousline.

ים whichfrombullyoungais עגלAnobject.directThe .ועגלtendercutsofvealwouldcome.

ק .origintoreferring,מןwithphrasePrepositional .מתוך מרבCattlewereconfinedtostallsinordertofattenthem;theywouldofcoursebeveryexpensive.

186 Amos6:4-5


Line C2e:Thecolon-markerisathnach andtheconstraintsare:1predicator,2constituents,and3units.

ים -artidefinitewith פרטofpmparticipleactiveQal .הפרטcle.Therootishapax legomenon;itisprobablyonomatopoeicforthesoundofstrummingonstrings.

י הנבל -conaon עלlocativewithphrasePrepositional .על־פstructchain.Theנבל isgenerallytranslated“harp”whiletheכנור isgenerally translated“lyre.”The lyre isbow-shapedwitha cross-baracrossthetopofthebow;stringsextendparalleltoeachotherfromthebartothebow,andthelongeststringsarethoseatthecenter.Artisticdepictions of symposia on Greek pottery routinely show celebrantsholdinglyres.Theharp,bycontrast,isbowedbutthestringsrunpar-alleltooneanotherfromoneendofthebowtotheotherend(likethestringonabowforarrows),andtheygetprogressivelylongernearertothetwoendsofthebow.Aharpmayhaveacross-bartostrengthenthebow,butstringswillnotbestrungfromit.Largeharps,suchasstandonapedestal(likethemodernharp),areattestedintheancientworld.Wecannotbesure,however,thatthesedefinitionsforlyreandharpapplytotheכנור andנבל.TheBiblespeaksofbothaנבל andofaכנור whichwashand-heldandthusrelativelysmall(e.g.,1Sam10:5;Isa23:16;1Chr13:8).Josephus,Antiq.7:306(7.12.3.306)saysthattheכנור (kinu /ra)hadten“strings”(xordh /)andwasplayedwithaplectrumbutthat theנבל (na &bla)hadtwelve“notes”(fqo /ggov)andwasplayedwiththefingers.IfJosephusiscorrectabouthowtheinstrumentswereplayed, and if analogies fromclassicalGreece areappropriate,thentheנבל wasactuallyalyre.Classicaldepictionsofsymposia generally have the participants playing the lyre (with thefingers,notaplectrum)andnottheharp.The“mouth”(פה)ofthelyrewouldbetheopenspaceinthecenterwherethefingerspluckedthestrings.

Line C2f:Thecolon-markerissilluq andtheconstraintsare:1pred-icator,4constituents,and5units.

יד .כcomparativewithphrasePrepositional .כדו

Amos6:4-5 187


as“devise,”meanshereverbThe.חשבofpcqatal 3Qal .חשבוinExodus31:4.Incontext,itcouldbetranslatedas“improvise.”

ם .suffixpm3aand לwithobjectIndirect .להיר objectdirectthebetoappearschainconstructThis .כלי־ש

andtomean“musicalinstruments,”sinceכלי normallyreferstosomeobject,suchaspottery,atool,oraweapon.Seealsoכלי־שיר inNehe-miah12:36;1Chronicles15:16;16:42;2Chronicles7:6;34:12;whereitalwaysmeans“musical instruments.”It seemsodd,however, thatrevelersrecliningoncouchesatasymposiumwouldbebusyinventingnewmusicalinstruments,anditcontradictsthepreviousline,wheretheyareplaying instrumentsandnotmakingthem.Itisbesttoassumethatכלי־שיר isnotthedirectobjectbutisinstrumental;itmaybethattheעל fromlineC2eimplicitlygovernsthisphrase.Thedirectobject,impliedbythetermכלי־שיר,isanunstatedשיר (“song”).Seealsothenext line,C3a,whichspeaksofthevesselwithwhichtheydrinkbutdoesnotexplicitlystatewhattheydrinksincetheimplieddirectobjectwithבמזרקי יין (“withbowlsofwine”)isיין.

6:6: Third Strophe.Threelines.Theendofthisstanzaismarkedbyendingthestrophewithtwofiniteverbsinsteadofjustone.

ין ים במזרקי י השתחו ים ימש ית שמנ וראשף׃ בר יוס א נחלו על־ש ול


ים Qal .השת active participle mpofשתה with thedefinitearticle.

ין י Prepositional .במזרקי phrase with instrumental .ב The-libaoutpouringandwinedrinkingforusedbowlshallowais מזרקtions. In Greece, participants in a symposium might drink from a

6:6C3aC3bC3c

188 Amos6:5-6


largebowlcalledafia/lh,whichtheypassedfromonetotheother(Plato,Symposium 223c:pi /nein e 0k fia/lhv mega/lhv[“todrinkfromalargebowl”]).Artworkalsodepictscelebrantsdrinking fromsmall,shallow,cup-sizedbowlsheldinonehand.Intheconstructchain,יין isanadjectivalgenitive.


ית שמנים isthisconjunction,withchainconstructA .וראשanaccusativephrasedescribingthesubstancewithwhichtheywereanointed.Thegenitiverelationshipintheconstructchainispartitive;theyusethebestofallavailableoils.

חו connotesusuallyverbThe.משחofpmyiqtol 3Qal .ימשsomekindofritualanointing,butitcanbeusedfornon-ritualpur-poses(Isa21:5;Jer22:14).Peoplegenerallyanointedthemselveswithoilsatdinnersandparties;cf.Luke7:46.

Line C3c:Thecolon-marker is silluq andtheconstraintsare:1predicator,2constituents,and3units.א נחלו orsickbetomeansverbThe.חלהofpcqatal 3Niphal .ול

feelpain,andhereitreferstoemotionaldistress.ף יוס בר -“conmeaning עלwithphrasePrepositional .על־ש

cerning.”Theconstructchainhereproperlymeansthe“breakupofJoseph.”Theuseof“Joseph”assynecdocheforthenorthernkingdomisfairlyrare;itisalsofoundinEzekiel37:16,19;Psalm80:2(E1).(Jerentityoutsideanbynationaofdestructionthetorefercan שבר4:6). This could be the meaning here, but Amos implies that thisis something the leaders of society shouldperceive around thematthepresent;itisnotsomethinginthefuturethatonlyaprophetcansee.Itmayrefertothesplitofthenationintofactionsanddivisions.Ontheonehand,divisionsbetweeneconomicandsocialclasseswerewidening,andontheother,factionswithinthearistocracymusthavealreadybeenapparent.WiththedeathofJeroboamII,Israelwouldfallintopoliticalchaosifnotoutrightcivilwar.

Amos6:6 189


6:7-8a:FourthStanza. Thisstanzaisinonestropheandhasthreelines.InterpretersnormallytakelineDc(thebeginningofv.8)withtherestofv.8inaccordancewiththeparagraphdivisionoftheMT.However,itisbettertoreadlineDcwithv.7fortworeasons.First,adivineoathnormallyshouldbeattachedtoasolemnstatementinwhichGoddeclareswhathewillorwillnotdointhefuture,asintheotherinstancesofנשבע inAmos(4:2and8:7).ItispeculiarthatGodwould,takinglineDcwithv.8,swearanoaththathehatessomething. Itmakesmore sense to take theoathwith6:7,aprom-isethattheleadingmenofSamariawillheadoffintoexile.Second,beginningthenextsectionin6:8bwithנאם־יהוה אלהי צבאות,asis proposedbelow, creates an inclusion structure for6:8with6:14,wherewehaveנאם־יהוה אלהי הצבאות.

ים אש גל ה יגלו בר ן עת לכים׃ פ ר מרזח סרוח וס

ה בנפשו י יהו נשבע אדנ

Line Da:The colon-marker isathnach and the constraints are: 1predicator,4constituents,and5units.

ן ”.Therefore“ .לכ The previous accusations conclude with thejudgmentthatmustlogicallyfollow.

ה ”“nowmeaningliteralthefiller;merelynotiswordThis .עתindicatesthatthejudgmentisimminent.

.tensefutureforused גלהofpmyiqtol 3Qal .יגלוים גל אש withphrasePrepositional .בר locative qaltheon ב

activeparticiplemsofגלה.Theirpriorposition,according to6:1,hadbeenastheנקבי ראשית הגוים;nowtheygooffבראש גלים,attheheadofthelineofexiles.

Line Db:Thecolon-markerissilluq andtheconstraintsare:1predi-cator,2constituents,and3units.

6:7

6:8a

DaDbDc

190 Amos6:7-8


ר ”aside“turnmeaningNormally.סורofsmweqatal 3Qal .וסor“goaway,”itheremeans,“cometoanend.”

ים participlepassiveqalawithchainconstructA .מרזח סרוחmpofסרח (see6:4)usedsubstantivelyas theabsolutenoun.Thesumpoaclearlyis מרזח /sion(“symposium”;lit.,“drinkingtogether”)suchas is familiar fromclassicalGreece.Allof themajor elementsfamiliar from the classical world are present: revelers reclining oncouches,musicmaking,feasting,anddrinkingwinefrombowls.

Line Dc: The colon-marker is revia and the constraints are: 1predicator,3constituents,and4units.

.שבעofsmqatal 3Niphal.נשבעה י יהו .subjectThe .אדנPrepositional .בנפשו phrase with for ב that by which one

swears.נפש heremeans“self.”Godisswearingbyhisownperson.6:8b-11: Judgment on the Houses of Samaria:Thistextiscom-

posed of two judgment oracles (6:8, 11), between which is a prosedescription of a grisly funerary scene (6:9-10), ironically makingthepointthat,owingtotheextentofthedisaster,nolamentationisheard.

6:8b:OracleagainsttheCitadelsofSamaria. Thisisasinglestropheoffourlines.Itservesthreefunctions.First,itusesalengthyformula of divine speech (line a) to introduce a pronouncement ofdivinedispleasureinlinesc-d.Second,itlinksthisdispleasuretotheoraclesagainstthenationsinAmos1–2andsotreatsIsraelasoneofthenations.Godhatesthe“citadels”(ארמון)ofSamaria,andארמון isusedinthejudgmentsagainstallofthefirstsevennations.Also,Israelwillbe“handedover”(הסגיר)toitsenemies(הסגיר isusedinAmos1:6,9forcarryingoffcaptivesintoslavery).Third,itprovidesalead-intothefollowingprosetext,6:9-10,inthatlinedspeaksofthewholeofthecitybeingremoved,andvv.9-10describealargehouseholdthatisentirelywipedout.

Amos6:7-8 191


י צבאות נאם־יהוה אלהב עק נכי את־גאון י ב א מתא

יו שנאתי וארמנתה׃ יר ומלא י ע והסגרת

Line a:Thecolon-markeriszaqeph qaton andtheconstraintsare:0predicators,1constituent,and4units.

צבאות י אלה This .נאם־יהוה isanotherdivineoracle for-mula,butitismademoresolemnbythepleonasticdivinetitle.


ב Thisperiphrastically.usedII, תאבofsmparticiplePiel .מתאrootishapax legomenon withthemeaning“abhor”(itisclearlymeanttobetheparallelofשנאתי inlinec).InPsalm119:40,174,aroot,stemsdifferenttheNotwithstandingfor.”“longtomeans(qal) תאבit isastonishingthat twohomonymscouldhavesuchdiametricallyoppositemeanings.Itispossiblethatascribehasdeliberatelyaltered-simisabhor,”“,תאבthatoreuphemismofsakethefor תאבto תעבplyaby-formforתעב.Anotherpossibilityisthatthereisadeliberatewordplayhere.God“abhors”theprideofJacob(theirwealth,citadels,etc.)butalso“longsfor”itinthesensethatGodhimselfoughttobetheirpride.ThelikelihoodofsuchaninterpretationisenhancedbythefactthatGodreferstohimselfasthe“prideofJacob”in8:7.Itisimpossibletobringthisoutintranslation,however.

נכי verbthebecauseexplicitbetohassubjectpersonfirstThe .אisaparticiple.

ב עק torefercan גאוןnounTheobject.directThe .את־גאון יanykindofarrogance,buthereitseemstoreferspecificallytotheirconfidence in theirmilitarypower andhighwalls, as thenext lineindicates.

Line c:Thecolon-markerisathnach andtheconstraintsare:1pred-icator,2constituents,and2units.

6:8babcd

192 Amos6:8


יו andthisofstructurechiasticTheobject.directThe .וארמנתthepreviouslinestronglysuggeststhatthefortificationsofSamariaarethebasisfortheirpride(גאון).

participleaagainherethatNote.שנאofscqatal 1Qal .שנאתיinonelineisfollowedbyaconjunctionandfiniteverbinthenext.

Line d:Thecolon-markerissilluq andtheconstraintsare:1predi-cator,3constituents,and3units.

י thesendingtorefersThis.סגרofscweqatal 1Hiphil .והסגרתpeopleintoexileandslavery,asinAmos1:6,9.

יר peopletheforsynecdochehereis“City”object.directThe .עofthecity.

ה antecedent(thesuffixsf3awithobjectdirectsecondA .ומלאisעיר).The“fullness”ofthecityiseverythingthatenrichesit,includ-ingitspeople,itstreasures,anditsprestige.

6:9-10:AMass-FuneralwithoutLamentation:Thistextisnotpoetry.Itisakindofone-actplay,apictureofthetraumathatwillovertakethearrogantnation,inwhichtheonlylivingandspeakingcharactersare twogravediggers.Thescene isgrotesque, ironic,andnotmeanttobefullyrealistic.Itportraysalandinwhichthenormalconventionsofmourninghavebeenabandoned.

תו׃ ד ומ ית אח ים בב ה אנש תרו עשר ה אם־יו והי

Prose Clause:ה והיThe qal weqatal 3 m s ofהיה serves as a discourse marker to

introduceananticipatory(futureoriented)narrative.Onthepattern.7:2atdiscussionthesee,והיה אם

Prose Clause:ד ית אח ים בב ה אנש תרו עשר אם־יוAprotasiswithיותרו,aniphalyiqtol 3mpofיתר,aspredicate.

Theimpliedsettingissomefuturecalamityinwhichthepopulationof thenorthernkingdomhasbeen all but eradicated.An extended

Amos6:8-9 193

6:9


familymayhaveoncehadfiftyorevenonehundredpeopleinit(בית hereisprobablynotasinglestructurebutaבית־אב,asmallinterre-latedcommunitybuiltaroundalocalpatriarch).Afterthedevastationoftheland,almostallwillhavebeentakenawayorkilled.But,theprotasisasks,whatiftenpersonssurvive?(אנשים hereis“persons”ofeithergenderoranyage.)

Prose Clause:תו ומTheqalweqatal 3cpofמות istheapodosis,anditrespondsto

theindirectquestionwithastartling,one-wordanswer:theywilldie.Thepointisthattherewillbenoescapefromthefurytocome.

יא עצמים מן־הבית ו להוצ ו ומסרפ ונשאו דודפס ר א ך ואמ ית העוד עמ י הב ר בירכת ר לאש ואמ

ה׃ ם יהו יר בש א להזכ י ל ס כ ר ה ואמ

Prose Clause: מן־ עצמים יא להוצ ו ומסרפ ו דוד ונשאו הבית

continuessuffix,sm3awith נשאofsmweqatal 3qala.ונשאוtheapodosiswitha secondmainlineclause. ומסרפו -hendiis דודו adysforapersonwhoisresponsibleforthedisposalofadeadbody.Thebasicmeaningofדוד isprobably“uncle,”butbyextensionitisa term of endearment and could probably be applied to a nonrela-tiveperformingthedutiesofarelative.Indeed,דוד maybeaddedtothisman’stitleasaeuphemisminlightofhowunpleasanthistaskisandbecauseideallyitoughttobedonebyafamilymember.ומסרפו appearstobeapielparticiplemswitha3mssuffixandconjunction.Therootiseitherשרף I(“burn”)orשרף II(“embalm”).Ineithercaseitreferstosomeonedesignatedthetaskoftakingcareofadeadbody,butitisprobablyfromשרף II.ImmolationnotattestedasafuneraryriteinIronAgeIsrael,andסרף isaknownvariantforשרף IIbutnotforשרף I(Paul1991,215–16).Thus,inourtermsandmaintainingtheeuphemism,דודו ומסרפו is“hisUncleUndertaker.”The3ms

6:10

194 Amos6:9-10


suffixontheverb(andthetwonouns)referstoanydeceasedpersonthat the “undertaker” must deal with; the suffix can be translatedintoEnglishas“their.”להוציא,ahiphil infinitiveconstructofיצא with ,ל expressespurpose.עצמים, “bones,” is synecdoche fordeadbodies(thisversedoesnotrefertotheritualprocessofdesiccatingthebones,althoughthatprocessmaybebehindreferringtoadeadbodyas“bones”).

Prose Clause:ית י הב ר בירכת ר לאש ואמmainlinethecontinues,אמרofsmweqatal 3qalanother.ואמר

predictivediscourse.Thesubjectistheundertaker,דודו ומסרפו,andhespeakstosomeslaveorsubordinatewhoishelpinghimfindandremovebodies,herecalledאשר בירכתי הבית (thisperson,“whoisinthebackpartsofthehouse,”shouldnotberegardedasoneoftheoriginalinhabitants;heisinthehouseonlybecauseheislookingfordeadbodies). In the Israelite“three-room”or“four-room”houseoftheIronAge,ירכתי הבית wouldprobablybethestoreroomthatgoesacrossthebackpartofthegroundfloorofthebuilding(seeKingandStager2001,28–30).Thus,theinnermostrecessesofthehousesarebeingsearched.

Prose Clause:ך העוד עמReportedspeech;averblessclausewithaprepositionalphraseas

thepredicateandthesubjectunstated.Theparticleעוד hasaninter-rogativeה;thus,“(Are)therestill(anybodies)withyou?”Thisiscol-loquial speech; it could be accurately rendered as, “Any more withyou?”or“Stillgotany?”

Prose Clause:ר ואמ-mainthecontinues,אמרofsmweqatal 3qalAnother.ואמר

line predictive discourse. The assistant “who is in the back of thehouse”responds.

Prose Clause:פס אReported speech. Literally “end,”אפס (in pausal form in this

text)heremeans,“that’sit”or“therearenomore.”

Amos6:10 195


Prose Clause:ר ואמ-mainthecontinues,אמרofsmweqatal 3qalAnother.ואמר

linepredictivediscourse.Theundertakerspeaks.Prose Clause:ס הReportedspeech.LiketheEnglish“Hush!”thisisanindeclinable

imperativethatcallsforsilence.Prose Clause:ם יהוה יר בש א להזכ י ל כThereportedspeechoftheundertakercontinues.Thepatternכי

.1:19Judgesinandhereappearsconstructinfinitiveanand לwith לאInJudges,itmeans“although(theywere)not(able)to.”Here,however,itmustmean,“for(itis)not(permissible)to.”Thehiphilofזכר,whenusedwithבשם andthenameofadeity,meansto“makeaninvoca-tion”inthedeity’sname(Josh23:7;Ps20:8[E7];seealsoW.Smelik1999).The“undertaker”isconcernedthatthe“assistant”maycasu-ally,inhisdistressoverthescene,invokeYHWH’snameinsomeway(perhapsusingsomethinganalogoustotheEnglish“Lordblessus!”asanapotropaicinvocation).ButwhydoestheundertakerdeclarethatitisnotpermissibletomakeaninvocationinYHWH’sname?Therea-sonisthatthelandhasbecomesodefiledwithdeath,bloodshedandgorethatitwouldbeblasphemingGod’snametoinvokeitinsuchaplace.Inthecontextofthebook,thishastwofunctions.First,afterthehollowexuberanceofpraise foundat the shrines (5:21-23), thetraumaanddefilementwillmake it impossible to invokeYHWH’snameinanymanner,beittheformalliturgyoftheshrinesoracasualexclamationbyanundertaker’sassistant.Second,it ironicallyreferstothethemeoflamentationthatappearsat5:1-2;5:16-17;andintheuseofהוי at5:18and6:1.Thatis,whenlamentismostcalledfor,anylamentthatinvokesthenameofYHWHwillbeforbiddenbecauseoftheexcessivedefilementpresent.ThelandofIsraelwilltrulybeGod-forsaken,andonewillnotbeallowedtocalluponthenameofGodinanymannerthere.

6:11:JudgmentOracle:Asecondjudgmentoracleinonestropheconcludes6:8-11.Thisprophecy,introducedbyכי הנה,isexplana-

196 Amos6:10


toryofthepreviousprosetext.Godwillcrusheveryhouseholdintheland.

ה י־הנה יהוה מצו כים ית הגדול רסיס ה הב והכ

ים׃ ן בקע ית הקט והב


י־הנה onlyoccurs כי הנהexpressiontheexception,oneWith .כintheLatterProphets(theoneexceptionisJudges13:5,inwhichanangelicvisitormakesaprophecy).Italmostalwaysoccursinaproph-ecywhichisexplanatoryofapriortext.Forexample,Jeremiah30:10reads,“Butasforyou,Jacobmyservant,donotfear—theoracleofYHWH—norbedismayed,OIsrael;forbehold(כי הנה),Iwillsaveyoufromfaraway....”Seealso,e.g.,Isa26:20-21;60:1-2;65:16-17;Jer1:14-15;25:28-29;50:8-9;Ezek36:8-9;Mic1:2-3.Thisnotonlyexplainsthesyntacticalfunctionofthislinebutalsoindicatesthattheoracleof6:11isattachedto6:9-10inthestructureofthissection.

.participlefollowingtheofsubjectThe .יהוהה -Unusuperiphrastically.used צוהofsmparticiplePiel .מצו

ally,noreportedspeechfollowsthisverb—wearenottoldwhatthecommandofYHWHis.TheverbisusedabsolutelyandmeansthatYHWHismakingadecreeabouthowthingsshouldtranspire.


anasweqatal functionsThe.נכהofsmweqatal 3Hiphil .והכהapodosistothepreviouslinetoindicatewhatwillhappenasaresultofYHWH’sdecree.

ית הגדול aeitherishouse”large“Theobject.directThe .הבhouseholdofanaristocratorahouseholdthathasmanypeopleinit.

Amos6:11 197

6:111a1b


oflightinbutpeople,powerfulandimportanttorefersregularly גדולtheprecedingprosetext,wecannotexcludethepossibilitythatalargefamilymayequallybeimplied.

ים These .רסיס are the fragments or pieces that remain aftersomethinghasbeensmashed.Thisword,רסיס II,ishapax legomenon unlessרסיס I (“drop”;usedonly inSong5:2) is actually the sameword.Butitsmeaningisnotindoubt;cf.HALOT.

Line 1c:Thecolon-markerissilluq andtheconstraintsare:0predi-cators,2constituents,and3units.Thereisgappingoftheverbוהכה fromthepreviousline.

ן ית הקט thefrom הבית הגדולwithmerismaformsThis .והבpreviousline.Itisthuseitherthehomeofthecommonerorahomewithasmallfamilyinit.

ים infissurestorefersthis“split,”to,בקעroottheFrom .בקעwallsandthenalsototherubblethatisleftafterawallisbreached.

6:12-14: Summary: The full series of accusations, exhortationsandjudgmentsin5:1–6:11isheresummarizedundertheheadingofaproverb.

6:12a:AProverb: Thisisasinglebicolon,anditspeaksofabsurdorirrationalbehavior(contrarytoCooper1988).Itisappropriateheresince throughout 5:1–6:14 Amos has decried the Israelite behaviorasfundamentallyperverse.Theholyshrinesareplacesthatthetrulypious should avoid (5:5). The people worship God without payingattention to his demands (5:21-24), honor the sky gods instead ofYHWH,ruleroftheheavens(5:8,26),androutinelyturnrightintowrong(5:7).Theyrefusetodrawtherightlessonsfromhistory(6:2)andplacetheirfaithinfortificationsratherthanGod(6:3,8).

ים לע סוס הירצון בסים ם־יחרוש בבקר א

198 Amos6:11-12

6:12aab


Line a:Thecolon-markeriszaqeph qaton andtheconstraintsare:1predicator,3constituents,and3units.

and הinterrogativewithrun,”“,רוץofpmyiqtol 3Qal .הירצוןparagogicנ.Iftheparagogicנ markscontrast(seeIBHS §31.7.1bandcommentsat6:3),thecontrasthereisnotwiththenextlinebutwithreality.Inotherwords,thesituationdescribedinthislineisinherentlyimplausible.

לע .articledefiniteand בlocativewithphrasePrepositional .בס.stonelargeabecanitandcrag,rockyorcliffatorefersnormally סלעTherhetoricalquestion,whichexpectsananswerof“Obviouslynot,”couldbewhetherhorsesrunupthefaceofacliff.Probably,however,thewordhere refers to rockygroundthat isbadlybrokenwith fis-sures,largestones,andsheerdrops,suchthatahorsecouldnotrunonitwithoutbreakinghisleg.

ים .subjectThe .סוסLine b:Thecolon-markerisathnach andtheconstraintsare:1pred-

icator,2constituents,and2units.ם־יחרוש .אםwith(”plowto“) חרשofsmyiqtol 3Qal .אים withphrasePrepositional .בבקר instrumental This.ב line

gaverisetoafamousbutmisguidedemendation.Thinkingthat“Ordoesoneplowwithoxen”incontextmakesnosense(becausepeopleobviouslydoplowwithoxen,andcontextrequiresanegativeanswer),thishasbeenemendedtoבבקר ים (“Doesoneplowwithanox[the]sea?”).ThiswasfollowedbytheRSVandNJB,forexample.Inreality,-quesThe“double-duty”).does(i.e.,heregappedisalinefrom בסלעtionis,“Doesoneplowstonewithoxen?”Obviously,onedoesnot.

6:12b-13:ProverbExpositionandAccusation:TheexpositionoftheaboveproverbconstitutesasummaryaccusationagainstIsrael.Itisasinglestropheinfivelines.Thestartingpointfortheaccusation,lines a-b, is a metaphor of transforming as if by magic wholesomeplantsintonoxiousandpoisonousplants.Thissummarizesthethemeofmoralperversitythatdominates5:1–6:14.Afterthis,inlinesc-e,

Amos6:12 199


thetextreturnstoIsrael’sprideandjoyovertheirmilitarypower(cf.5:3;6:2,8.

ט ם לראש משפ י־הפכת כה׃ ה ללענ י צדק ופרר א דב ים לל השמח

ים מר האים׃ נו קרנ חנו ל נו לק הלוא בחזק


ם י־הפכת (”“changeor“turn”to) הפךofpmqatal 2Qal .כwithכי.Theparticleכי isatthesametimeexplanatory(asin,“Isaythisbecause”)andadversative(asin,“Horsesandoxenarenotsofool-ish,butyouare”).

-variaII, ראשisnounThe.לwithphrasePrepositional .לראשetyofpoisonousplant,notראש I,“head.”Withהפך,thepreposition.changedissomethingwhichintothatis ל

ט .objectdirectThe .משפLine b:Thecolon-markerissilluq andtheconstraintsare:0predi-

cators, 2 constituents, and 3 units. There is gapping of the verb.הפכתם

ה י צדק constructInobject.directtheaschainconstructA .ופרwithanothernoun,thenounפרי (“fruit”)isalmostalwaysboundtoagenitiveofsource(“andthefruitofyourground”[ופרי אדמתך],Deuteronomy28:42;“likethefruitofhisdeeds”[כפרי מעלליו],Jer-emiah17:10;“fromthefruitofyourgenitals”[בטנך Psalm,[מפרי 132:11,etc.).Therelationshiphere,however,isprobablynotagenitiveof source, as “the fruit that comes from righteousness.” It is prob-ablyappositionalordescriptiveofthenatureofthefruit,analogous

6:12b

6:13

abcde

200 Amos6:12-13


toSong4:13,פרי מגדים,“choicefruits.”Thus,itisthe“fruit(thatis)righteousness.”

withphrasePrepositional .ללענה -worm“,לענהplantThe.לwood,”isastereotypedmetaphorforbitternessintheOTanditoftenappearswithראש (seeDeut29:18;Jer23:15;Lam3:19).Inthesetwolines,theIsraelitesaresomethinglikedemonicmagiciansorwhotakethegoodcreationofGod,justiceandrighteousness,heremetaphori-callyportrayedaswholesomefruit,andtransformit intobitterandpoisonousplants.Specifically,theytakeTorah,theworshipofGod,andthejusticesystemandturnthemintomeansofexploitation.

Line c:Thecolon-markerisathnach andtheconstraintsare:1pred-icator,2constituents,and2units,takingלא דבר asapropername.

ים -artidefinitewith שמחofpmparticipleactiveQal .השמחcle.Thisservesasarelativeclausewith“you”(thesuffixoftheverb.antecedentitsas(הפכתם

ר א דב wasLo-debar.לcausativewithphrasePrepositional .ללin the Transjordan near the Yarmuk River and in the area of Gil-ead.Thiswasahotlycontestedterritory,withDamascusandSamariabothseekingtomaintaincontrolover it.UnderJeroboamII,IsraelwasascendantoverSyriaandthuscouldclaimthisareaforitself.ThejoyofthepeopleovertheirvictoriesagainstSyrianenemiesisreflectedalsoin6:2.Butthereisanobviouswordplayhere;לא דבר alsomeans“nothing.”Thus,theyarerejoicingovernothing.

Line d:Thecolon-markeriszaqeph qaton andtheconstraintsare:1predicator,1constituents,and1unit.Thiscolometryviolatesthenormalconstraints,anditszaqeph qaton,beingprecededbyanathn-ach andhavingnosubordinatedisjunctiveaccent,doesnotnormallyconstitute a colon-break. But lines d-e together are too long to bejoinedasoneline,andthisseemsthebestsolution.Seealso9:10.

ים מר -artidefinitewith רוץofpm3participleactiveQal .האcle.

Amos6:12-13 201


Line e:Thecolon-markerissilluq andtheconstraintsare:1predi-cator,4constituents,and4units.Thislineisreportedspeech.Thethreefoldrepetitionoftheendingנו (“we,our,us”)isironic,mockinghowpleasedthepeoplearewiththemselves.

נו -sufa,בinstrumentalwithphrasePrepositional .הלוא בחזקfix1cp,andprecededbytherhetoricalquestionmarkerהלוא.Thenounחזק appearsonlyhereandinExodus13:3,14,16;Haggai2:22,butitisfromthewell-attestedrootחזק anditsmeaning,“strength,”isnotindoubt.

חנו .לקחofpcqatal 3Qal .לקנו 1andadvantageofdativeaas לwithphrasePrepositional .ל

cpsuffix.ים itsandTransjordantheinwasLo-debar,likeKarnaim, .קרנ

capture reflects the triumphof Israelover theirSyrian enemy.Thedualformofthewordקרן,itliterallymeans“twohorns.”Sinceahorncouldrepresentpower,thiscouldsoundlikeaworthyboast.Takenliterally,however(“Wehavecapturedtwohorns!”),itisabsurd.

6:14:OracleofDoom: AsummaryofthejudgmentagainstIsraelconcludes5:1–6:14.It ismarkedbyanexpandedformulaofdivinespeech,and(unusuallyforajudgmentoracle)isinprose.Theconclu-sionformsaninclusionwiththeintroductionin5:1-3.Like5:3,thisverseisaprophecyofdoomintroducedbyכי.Also,6:14looksbackironicallyto5:2,which lamentedthattherewasnoonetoraiseup(hiphilparticipleofקום)fallenIsrael.Inthisverse,Godwillraiseup(hiphilparticipleofקום)anationagainstIsrael.Inaddition,thereisaconceptualinclusion.Amos5:3hadspokenofcalamitousmilitarydefeat, and here Israel suffers oppression at the hands of a Gentilenation.Finally,נאם־יהוה אלהי הצבאות hereandin6:8bformsaninclusion todemarcate thisdivision’s final sections, inwhich judg-mentsaregiveninresponsetotheaccusationsof5:4–6:8a.

202 Amos6:13


י ל נאם־יהוה אלה ית ישרא ם ב ים עליכ י הנני מק כחל ת עד־נ וא חמ ם מלב וי ולחצו אתכ הצבאות ג

ה׃ הערב

Prose Clause:ם . . . גוי ים עליכ י הנני מק כThe1cssuffixonהנני functionsasthesubjectofמקים,apiel

participlempofקום.Thedirectobjectisגוי,andtheclauseisinter-ruptedbyadivinespeechformula.עליכם hasadversativeforce,andל ית ישרא .vocativeis ב

Prose Clause:י הצבאות נאם־יהוה אלהAdivinespeechformulawithapleonasticdivinetitle.Itgivesthe

prophecysuitablesolemnityandindicatescertaintyoffulfillment.Prose Clause: עד־נחל ת חמ מלבוא אתכם ולחצו

ה הערבTheweqatal 3cpofלחץ continuesthemainlineofthispredictive

textandindeedmakesthefinalandconcludingprophecyof5:1–6:14.Theverbלחץ isusedfortheoppressiondonetotheHebrewslavesbytheEgyptians(Exod3:9;22:20)andforthemaltreatmentofIsraelbyforeignersduringtheJudgesperiod(Judg2:18;4:3;6:9;10:12).Buttheverbliterallymeansto“push,”anditherespeaksofdrivingIsraelintodiaspora.Lebo-Hamath(לבוא חמת,“EntranceofHamath”)isatraditionalnorthernborderofIsrael(Num34:7-9;Josh13:5;Ezek47:16).ItsmentionhereisappropriatebecauseHamathwasoneofthekingdomsIsraelgloatedover(6:2).Thelocationoftheנחל הערבה (“the Brook of the Arabah”) is unknown, but it clearly was in thefarsouthandishereinamerismwithLebo-Hamath.Itthusrepre-sentsthesouthernborderofgreaterIsrael.Normally,theOTusesthe“BrookofEgypt” מצרים) aas(נחל traditionaldesignation for thesouthernborder(Josh15:4;Ezek47:19).Amos’language,however,isdeliberatelyshapedtoreversetheprophecyspokenbyJonahthesonofAmittaioverJeroboamII,thathewouldrestore“theterritoryofIsraelfrom(מן)Lebo-hamathto(עד)theSeaoftheArabah”(2Kgs14:25).

Amos6:14 203

6:14


ThegloryofJeroboam’sreignwouldsoonendandthepeoplewouldbedrivenoutoftheland.Inthistext,מלבוא חמת עד־נחל הערבה doesnotmeanthattheywouldbedrivenfrom Lebo-Hamathto theBrookoftheArabah;heusesמן andעד toparodyJonah.ThepointisthatIsraelwouldbeexpelledfromallthelandwithinthoselimits.

7:1–8:3: Amos the seer Thisisacollectionoffourvisions(7:1-3,4-6,7-9;8:1-3)interruptedbyanaccountofAmos’encounterwithAmaziahthepriestofBethel(7:10-17).Somescholarsconsidervv.10-17tobealaterredactionalinsertion,althoughothersarguefortheoriginalunityofthetext(e.g.,Noble1998,althoughaspectsofhispresentationarenotpersuasive).Theentiretextisinproseexceptforfouroraclesofjudgmentappendedto,respectively,Amaziah’scomplaint(7:11b),theAmos’responsetoAmaziah (7:17), and the third and fourth visions (7:8b-9; 8:2b-3).BecauseYHWHrelentsinvisionsoneandtwo,thesesectionshavenooraclesofjudgment.

7:1 This is what Lord YHWH showed me: Behold, (he was) forming a locust swarm at the beginning of the sprouting of the latter crop —now it was the latter crop that is after the king’s cut. 2And it would happen, whenever it finished eating the vegetation of the earth, that I said, “Lord YHWH, forgive! How will Jacob stand? After all, he is small.” 3YHWH relented about this. “It will not happen,” YHWH said.

4 This is what Lord YHWH showed me: Behold, Lord YHWH was calling for a judgment with fire, and it consumed the great deep and was consuming the fields. 5And I said, “Lord YHWH, desist! How will Jacob stand? After all, he is small.” 6 YHWH relented about this. “It will not happen,” Lord YHWH said.

7 This is what he showed me: Behold, the Lord was standing at a wall of anak, and anak was in his hand. 8 And YHWH said to me, “What do you see, Amos?” And I said, “Anak.” And the Lord said,

Behold, I am setting anakIn the midst of my people, Israel.

204 Amos6:14–8:3


I will no longer pass by him.9 And the high places of Isaac will be laid desolate,And the sanctuaries of Israel will be laid waste.And I will arise against the house of Jeroboam with a sword.

10 And Amaziah, the priest of Bethel, sent (a message) to Jeroboam, the king of Israel, as follows:

“Amos has conspired against you right in the middle of the house of Israel. The land is not able to contain all his words! 11 For thus says Amos:

‘Jeroboam will die by the swordAnd Israel will wholly go from its land into exile!’”12 And Amaziah said to Amos, “Seer, go on and flee to the land of

Judah! So eat bread there and prophesy there! 13But never again prophesy at Bethel! For it is a royal shrine, and it is a national structure.”

14 And Amos answered and said to Amaziah, “I am (was) not a prophet and I am (was) not a son of a prophet. Rather, I am (was) a herdsman and a cutter of sycamore figs. 15 And YHWH took me from behind the flock. And YHWH said to me, ‘Go, prophesy to my people Israel!’ 16 Now listen to the word of YHWH! You are saying, ‘Do not prophesy against Israel and do not preach against the house of Isaac!’ 17Therefore, thus says YHWH:

Your wife will be used as a prostitute in the cityAnd your sons and your daughters will fall by the sword.And your ground will be divided with a measuring lineAnd you will die on unclean ground.And Israel will wholly go from its land into exile!’ ”

8:1 This is what Lord YHWH showed me: Behold, a basket of summer produce. 2 And YHWH said to me, “What do you see, Amos?” And I said, “A basket of summer produce.” And the Lord said to me,

The end has come upon my people Israel.I will no longer pass by him.3 And they shall wail temple songs on that day—An oracle of the Lord YHWH:“An abundance of corpses! They are thrown everywhere!Hush!”

Amos7:1–8:3 205


7:1-3: The Vision of Locusts

ת עלות י בתחל ר גב ה והנה יוצ ני אדני יהו ה הרא כלך׃ י המ ר גז קש אח נה־ל קש וה הל

Prose Clause:ה ני אדני יהו ה הרא כHiphilqatal 3msofראה with1cssuffix.אדני יהוה isthesub-

ject.Thisclause,headedbyכה,introducesavisionaccountinaman-neranalogoustohowכה אמר יהוה introducesapropheticspeech.

Prose Clause:י בתחלת עלות הלקש והנה יוצר גבThe particle gives והנה the reader Amos’ perspective on the

vision.יוצר is a qal active participle m s ofיצר. The verbיצר (to“form”)maybeadeliberatecatchwordwithיצר inthedoxologyof4:13;soalsoקרא occursinthesecondvisionat7:4andintheseconddoxologyat5:8(seePaas2002).Afterהנה,aparticipialphrase(ratherthanafiniteverb)oftenservesaspredicate,althoughapronounsuffixisoftenaddedtoהנה toindicatethesubject.Here,a3mspronoun(withYHWHasantecedent)isimpliedasthesubjectoftheverb.Thenoun refers גבי tosomevarietyof locustorgrasshopper. Itappearsin only one otherOTpassage,Nahum 3:17,where it is parallel toqala,עלות)clauseinfinitiveThe.(”“locustmeansalsowhich) ארבהinfinitiveconstructofעלה)headedbyבתחלת functionstemporally,tellingthereaderwhenthevisiontookplace.Theverbעלה referstothesproutingofyoungplants.Thetermלקש (“lattercrop”)appearsinthesecondlineofthetenthcenturyB.C.GezerCalendarandonlyhereintheOT.

Prose Clause:לך׃ י המ ר גז קש אח נה־ל והtheforspecifyinginformation,pertinentintroduceshere .והנה

readerwhenthisvisionoccurredsothatthereadermayfullyappreci-atewhatathreatthiswastotheharvest.גזי isthepluralconstructofthemasculinenounגז,whichcanmeaneitherthefleeceofsheep,asinDeuteronomy18:4,orthecuttingofgrassorofagraincrop.Ithere

7:1

206 Amos7:1


referstothe“cut”oftheharvestthattheroyalhousetakesforitself(thekindofgraintaxthatiscondemnedinAmos5:11).Onthesur-face,thisclauseisonlyatemporalmarker.Butitmayalsobeasubtleattackontheroyaltaxationsystem.Notehowsimilarthisclauseistotheprevious,andespeciallyhowsimilararetheconsonantsofגבי,“locusts,”andגזי “(theking’s)cuttings,”implyingthatthekingwasalocusttotheyeomanfarmers.Amos’choiceofthesewordsmaynothavebeenaccidental.

ר אדני רץ ואמ שב הא אכול את־ע ה אם־כלה ל והין הוא׃ י קט ב כ עק י יקום י א מ ח־נ ל יהוה ס

Prose Clause:רץ שב הא אכול את־ע ה אם־כלה ל והיTheqalweqatal 3msofהיה isfollowedbyאם,whichintroduces

aprotasis.Thepatternוהיה אם occursfivetimesintheHebrewBible(Jer12:16;17:24;Amos6:9;7:2;Zech6:15).Ineveryothercasebutthisone,thepatternintroducesafuturecontingencyinapropheticcontext(withthemeaning,“anditshallhappen,if...”).Here,thismeaningisnotpossible,andscholarshavesuggestedvariousemenda-tions(seePaul1991,228n.20).Buttakingthetextasitstands,onecantreattheweqatal asapastimperfective,suggestingthatthevisionwasrepeatedseveraltimes(suchascenarioforvisionsisnotunlikely;cf. Acts 10:9-16). We should note that Stuart creatively translatesthisas,“Itseemedasiftheywouldcompletelydevour”(Stuart1987,370),buthegivesnoevidencetosupportthisrendition.Ifthatwerethemeaning, theHebrewwouldprobablyhavesomething like ויהיfollowed כלהofpielThe.(13:33Num19:14;Gensee) כמכלה לאכולbyל andaninfinitiveconstructmeansto“complete”theverboftheinfinitive,asinGenesis24:45,אני טרם אכלה לדבר (“beforeIfin-ishedspeaking”).את־עשב הארץ referstoanykindofvegetationandiswhatthelocustplagueconsumedduringtheexodus(Exod10:12).

Prose Clause:ר ואמ

Amos7:1-2 207

7:2


Thewayyiqtol 1csofאמר introducestheapodosis(beingpasttense,theapodosisisawayyiqtol andnotaweqatal).

Prose Clause:א ח־נ ל אדני יהוה סAfterthevocativeאדני יהוה,theqalimperativemsofסלח with

-argumerelybeingfollowswhatrequest,Amos’ofwholethegives אנmentthatstrengthenshisappeal.Theimperativeofסלח alsoappearsin the intercessionsofMoses (Num14:19) andDaniel (Dan9:19).Theparallel toMoses isparticularlynotable asAmos’ imitationofMoseshelpstoauthenticatehisclaimtobeingatrueprophet.

Prose Clause:ב עק י יקום י מ-curiThesubject.as יעקבwith קוםofsmyiqtol 3qalais יקום

ousfeatureisמי,whichhereseemstomean,“how.”Italsoseemstomean“how”inRuth3:16.HereinAmos,theclauseprobablyimplies,“WhoisJacobthatheshouldstandinthefaceofsuchacalamity?”But“HowwillJacobstand?”isaccurate.קום,literallyto“arise,”mayconnoterecoveryafteradisaster.

Prose Clause:ן הוא י קט כAnominal(verbless)clauseintroducedbyexplanatoryכי.Israel

isקטן (“small”)inthesensethatitistooweaktowithstandadivineassault.DuringthereignofJeroboamII,ofcourse,Israel’spowerwasthegreatestithadeverbeen,butbeforeYHWHthatisinsignificant.

ה׃ ר יהו א תהיה אמ את ל ם יהוה על־ז נח

Prose Clause:את ם יהוה על־ז נח,נחםofsmqatal 3pielorniphalaeithermorphologically,נחם

isheretheniphal,to“regret”or“changeone’smind.”TheverbalsoappearsinExodus32:14,themostfamousinstanceofGodrelentingoveranintendedjudgment,settingupanotherparallelbetweenAmosandMoses.Theprepositionעל heremeans,“concerning.”Thechoiceofaqatal overawayyiqtol hereisnoteworthy.ItfocusesmoreonthefactthatYHWHrelentedthanonthehistoricalsequence.

7:3

208 Amos7:2-3


Prose Clause:א תהיה לReportedspeech.Theqalyiqtol 3fsofהיה.Theverbisfemi-

nine,asispronoun abstractlyindicatetoclause,previousthein תאזthehypotheticaleventofalocustplague.

Prose Clause:ר יהוה אמAdivinespeechformulawiththeqalqatal 3msofאמר.

7:4-6: The Vision of Drought

ש אדני ב בא א לר ה והנה קר ני אדני יהו ה הרא כלק׃ ה את־הח ה ואכל אכל את־תהום רב ה ות יהו

Prose Clause:ה ני אדני יהו ה הרא כSee7:1.Prose Clause:ש אדני יהוה ב בא א לר והנה קרThegrammarofקרא is והנה like that of באש.7:1 has לרב

theqalinfinitiveconstructofריב (writtendefectively)headedbytheprepositionל followedbyaprepositionalphrasewithב.Thiscouldbetakentobesomethinglikea“trialbyfire,”butריב isnotusedforajudicialordeal.Adifficultywiththisphraseisthatintheformulaריב Genesisinasparty,opposingthesignifiesusually בprepositionthe ב31:36;Judges6:32,andwiththenounריב,Jeremiah25:31(כי ריב -Obvinations”).thewithcontentionahasYHWHfor“;ליהוה בגויםouslythefireisnottheopposingparty.Thus,anumberofscholarsreconfigurethetextasלרביב אש,“forarainoffire”(Wolff1977,292–93).ElsewhereintheHebrewBible,thewordרביב appearsonlyinthepluralasרביבים,butasingularformisattestedinUgaritic.Ifthis emendation is correct, itprobably alludes to the fire thatGodrained down on Sodom according to Genesis 19:24. On the otherhand,Limburg(1973)arguesthatריב heremeansto“judge,”sincein ריב Jeremiah 25:31 is paralleled by the niphal participleנשפט (“initiate a judgment”). Compare also Isaiah יהוה,66:16 באש כי

Amos7:3-4 209

7:4


In.(”firethewithjudgmentaaboutbringingisYHWHfor“) נשפטshort,thepointisthatfireispunishmentimposedafterajudgment.Thus,itisbesttoleavethetextunemended.

Prose Clause:ה אכל את־תהום רב ותupburningfireforusedofteniss,fwayyiqtol 3qalahere,אכל

itsfuel.Here,however,itappearsthatthetextdoesnotmeanaliteralfirebutadrought.Theרבה (”deepgreat“) תהום isnot theMedi-terraneanSeabuttheprimevaloceanundertheearththatfeedsallthespringsandotherperennialwatersources.Inotherwords,allthespringsandstreamsdriedup.

Prose Clause:לק ואכלה את־הח-previtheIns.fweqatal 3qalaisitherebutagain,appears אכל

ousclause,thewayyiqtol isusedperfectivelyandsimplymeansthatthe springsdriedupandhadnowater.Here, theweqatal is imper-fective and means that the fields were getting progressively moreparched,crackedandbarren.חלק,“portion,”herereferstothearablelandapportionedoutamongthepeople.

ן י קט ב כ י יקום יעק א מ ר אדני יהוה חדל־נ ואמהוא׃

Prose Clause:ר ואמTheqalwayyiqtol 1csofאמר resumesthemainlineofthenar-

rative.Prose Clause:א אדני יהוה חדל־נAfterthevocativeאדני יהוה,theqalimperativemsofחדל calls

onGodtodesist.Thisisnotimplyingthatthesituationin7:4-6issomehowdifferentfromthatin7:1-3,whereAmoscalledout,סלח־נא (“forgive!”).Inbothcases,AmoswantsGodtoforgiveJacobandstopravagingtheland.

Prose Clause:ב י יקום יעק מSee7:2.

7:5

210 Amos7:4-5


Prose Clause:ן הוא י קט כSee7:2.

ר אדני ה אמ הי א ת את גם־היא ל ם יהוה על־ז נחה׃ ס יהו

Prose Clause:את ם יהוה על־ז נחSee7:3.Prose Clause:ה הי א ת גם־היא לSee7:3.Prose Clause:ה ר אדני יהו אמAdivinespeechformula.

7:7-9: The Vision of YHWH at the WallThepriorvisionnarrativeswereinproseonly.Thisoneandthenext(8:1-3)areeachintwoparts,withaprosevisionnarrativefollowedbyapoeticoracleofdoom.

7:7-8a: Prose Narrative: Achangeissignaledbyaformalchangeinthenarrative.Here,unlikethepriortwovisionnarratives,YHWHquestionsAmosaboutthecontentofthevisionbeforepronouncingdoom.Amos,inturn,doesnotmakeintercessionforIsrael.

ך ובידו ת אנ ב על־חומ ני והנה אדני נצ ה הרא כך׃ אנ

Prose Clause:ני ה הרא כSee7:1.Prose Clause:ת אנך ב על־חומ והנה אדני נצThegrammarhere is similar to thatof7:1,withנצב,aniphal

participlem s ofנצב, “to stand.”Theprepositionעל may literally

7:6

Amos7:5-8 211

7:7


mean“upon”awallorsimply“at”or“beside”awall.Intheconstructchainחומת אנך,thewallisqualifiedasbeing“ofאנך,”whichmaymeanthatאנך wasthematerialofwhichitwasmade,orthatitwassomehowcharacterizedormadebyאנך.

Prose Clause:ך ובידו אנAverblessclausewithאנך asthesubjectandובידו asthepredi-

cate.YHWHheldאנך “inhishand,”suggestingthatאנך wasasub-stanceorobjectthatcouldbeheld.Whetherahumancouldholdit,oronlyGodcould,isunclear.

ך ר אנ ה ראה עמוס ואמ ה־את י מ ה אל אמר יהו ויי אמר אדנ וי

Prose Clause:י ה אל אמר יהו ויThemainlineofthenarrativecontinueswiththeqalwayyiqtol 3

msofאמר,whichintroducesreportedspeech.Theexpressmentionofthesubjectindicatesthatthisisanewsentence.

Prose Clause:ה ראה עמוס ה־את מReportedspeech.Theinterrogativeמה isusedhereforthefirst

timeinthevisions,sincepreviouslyAmoshadsimplyinterpretedthevisionsforhimselfandonhisownintercededwithYHWH.Thenewpattern, adivine interrogation, suggests anewdevelopment, and itmayimplythatAmos,thoughherecognizedtheאנך forwhatitwas,didnotunderstanditssignificance.Theqalactiveparticiplemsof-lookwasprophetthewhileAmosquestionedGodthatsuggests ראהingattheאנך.

Prose Clause:ר ואמSee7:5.Prose Clause:אנךAmos’answerisshortandtothepoint.אנך wasobviouslysome-

thingthatAmoscouldeasilyrecognize;itisalsonoteworthythathe

7:8a

212 Amos7:7-8


doesnotspeakoftheחומת אנך butsimplytheאנך itself;itistheאנך inYHWH’shand,notthewall,thatisthefocus.Theotherclueabout.judgmentaasIsraelofmidstthein אנךplacesGod7:8binthatis אנךThus,therewasawallofאנך,butאנך couldbeheldinthehand(atleast in God’s hand), and Amos knewאנך when he saw it, and itcouldbesetinIsraelasamarkofjudgment.Butwhatisאנך?Optionsinclude:(1)אנך isaplumbline.Thisisamedievalviewandisbasedontheideathatאנך isliterallythemetalleadbutthatbymetonymyitisaplumbline,andthisviewuntilrecentlywaswidelyfollowed(e.g.,Maag1951,44–45,66;Hammershaimb1970,111).Thisinterpreta-tionfitsalltheaboveconditions;aחומת אנך wouldbeawallmadewithaplumbline(i.e.,awallthatisplumb),itissomethingthatcanbeheldinthehandandthatAmoswouldrecognize,itsignifiesjudg-ment,sincesettingitinthemidstofIsraelwouldimplyareckoningagainstadivinerule.Againstthis,recentanalysisisfairlyconclusivethatאנך doesnotmean“lead”andthereforethatitdoesnotsignifyaplumbline(Paul1991,233–34;seealsoNIDOTTE אנך).Inaddition,noancientversionrendersitas“plumbline,”indicatingthatifiteverhadthatmeaning,itwasentirelylostontheearliesttranslatorsofthetext.Thisisnotafatalobjectiontothetranslation“plumbline,”butitdoesrenderitlesslikely.(2)אנך means“tin.”ThisisbasedontheAkkadianannaku,“tin.”Theproblemisthatthismeaningfailseveryaspectof the context inAmos.First, “wall of tin”makesno sense.Somesaythatitmightbemetaphoricalforweakdefenses,justas“wallofiron”couldbemetaphoricalforastrongarmyinheavyarmor.Onemightwellhavesuchaverbalmetaphor,butit isdoubtfulthatonewouldsee awalloftininavision.Whatwouldsuchawalllooklike?Howcouldonemakesenseofitorevenrecognizeit?Second,woulditbemeaningfulforGodtoholdalumpoftininhishand,andwouldAmosrecognizeit?Inparallelvisions,thethingobservedisanevery-dayobjectandeasilyrecognized(analmondbranchinJeremiah1:11;abasketofsummerfruitinAmos8:1-2).Alumpoftinishardlythesame.Third,itisdifficulttoseehowsettingtininthemidstofIsrael

Amos7:8 213


signifiesjudgment.Somesuggestthatאנך mightmean“tin”butalsobeawordplayonאנקה,“moaning,”meaningthatGodintendstoset“moaning”inIsrael(e.g.,Stuart1987,373).Butintheparallelvisionsthewordplayisexplicit(thesignificanceofthesummerfruit[קיץ]isexplicitlythattheend[קץ]hascomeinAmos8:2;thesignificanceof the almond [שקד] is explicitly that God is watching [שקד] inJer1:11-12).This isnotthecasehere.Fourth,thenormalwordfor“tin” inbiblicalHebrew isבדיל, and thus it is likely thatאנך hassomeothermeaning.(3)Ancientinterpretationsincludethattheאנך is “adamant” (LXX: a)damantinov and a)da &mav), or “plaster” and a“trowel”(Vulgate:litum andtrulla),or“judgment”(Targum:דין).Alloftheseappeartobeguessworkandnonesuitsthefullcontextwell.(4)Cripps(1929),workingfromtheLXX,suggeststhata)da &mavmayreferto“iron”andbymetonymymeana“sword”or“war-hammer.”Rudolph (1971,234–35) similarly, rendered it asBrecheisen (“crow-bar”).This is rather far-fetchedand lacks support in theGreekuseofa)da &mav, and few scholars follow it. (5)AndersenandFreedman(1989,754)actuallytakeאנך tobefirstawallof“plaster,”then“tin”inYHWH’shand,andthen“grief”thatYHWHwillsetinthemidstof Israel. This is altogether unsatisfactory. (5) On the other hand,Aquilaherereadsganw &ta(“shining”)andTheodotionhasthko &menon(“molten”).Bothsuggestsomethinglikeaglowing,moltenmetal,andthisinterpretationdoesmakesomesenseincontext:amelting,burn-ingwallcouldsuggestacollapseofIsrael’sdefenses,Godcouldholdamoltenmetal inhishand(cf. Isa6:6)andAmoscouldrecognizeit,andsettingsuchasubstanceinIsraelcouldsignifyjudgmentanddestruction.Unfortunately,wehavenogroundsonwhichtosustainthis interpretation. (6) Another wordplay-based interpretation sug-geststhatwhateverאנך originallymeant,itisusedasawordplayfor”,I“,אנכי inv.8,whereGoddeclares thathe is settingאנך inthemidstofIsrael(seeLandy2001,165–66).Theideaisthatheisset-tinghimselfinthemidstofIsrael.Thisisgrammaticallypeculiarandquitefar-fetched.Inshort,themeaningofאנך islost.

Prose Clause:י אמר אדנ וי

214 Amos7:8


Adivinespeechformulawithaqalwayyiqtol 3msofאמר.7:8b-9: Oracle of Doom: Apoemofsixlines.YHWHinterprets

thevisionwithanoraclepredictingthedestructionofIsrael.Inthiscase,hemakesclear,thereisnopossibilitythathewillrelent.

ם אנך י ש הננל י ישרא רב עמ בק

יף עוד עבור לו׃ א־אוס לק מו במות ישח ונש

בו ל יחר י ישרא ומקדשרב׃ פ ם בח ית ירבע י על־ב וקמת

Line a:Thecolon-markerispashta andtheconstraintsare:1predi-cator,3constituents,and3units.Itisrarebutnotunknowntohavealine-breakinAmosaccentedwithpashta.Ifabreakisnotplacedhere,theresultinglinewouldviolatetheconstraintsforbothconstituentsandunits.Butendingthe linehere isprobablycorrectbecausethisendsthefirstlinewithanounthatisobviouslyveryimportanthere,.אנך

י הנה.participleofsubjectassuffixsc1with הנהParticle .הננcanintroduceasolemndivinedisclosure.

ם .שיםofsmparticipleactiveQal .ש.objectdirectThe .אנך

Line b:Thecolon-markeriszaqeph qaton andtheconstraintsare:0predicators,2constituents,and3units.

י רב עמ constructaon בlocativewithphrasePrepositional .בקchain.

ל .עמיtoappositioninisThis .ישראLine c:Thecolon-markerissilluq andtheconstraintsare:1predica-

tor,2constituents,and4units.

Amos7:8-9 215

7:8b

7:9

abcdef


יף עוד עבור א־אוס The.יסףofscyiqtol 1hiphilNegated .לexpressionלא עוד means,“nolonger.”עבור,theqalinfinitivecon-structofעבר,isusedasanauxiliarytothefiniteverb.

meantoappearsItby.”“passtomeans עבר לexpressionThe .לוtopassbywithouttakingaction(i.e.,tooverlookIsrael’scrimes).Theexpressionעל־פשע ,עבר to “overlook anoffense” (Mic7:18;Prov19:11)isillustrative.

Line d:Thecolon-markeriszaqeph qaton andtheconstraintsare:1predicator,2constituents,and3units.

מו thatsuggestsniphalThe.שמםofpcweqatal 3Niphal .ונשtheshrinesaretheobjectsofviolentaction.

ק ישח The .במות subject (a construct chain). The unusualspelling for “Isaac” instead ישחק) ofיצחק) occurs here and in v.16, and also in Jeremiah 33:26. The use of “Isaac” to refer to thenationandinparallelwith“Israel”isquitepeculiar,butinAmositoccurshereandagainin7:16.Thelatteroccurrenceismostsignifi-cant,becauseitappearsthereonthelipsofAmaziah.Thissuggeststhattheuseofישחק todesignatethenorthernkingdom,andperhapsalsotheunusualspelling,isalocalphenomenonattheBethelshrine.Seefurtherdiscussionatv.16.

Line e:Thecolon-markerisathnach andtheconstraintsare:1pred-icator,2constituents,and3units.This lineformsachiasmuswiththepreviousline.

ל י ישרא aasheresetchain),construct(asubjectThe .ומקדשparalleltoבמות ישחק.

בו Thewasted.”ruined,beto“,חרבofpmyiqtol 3Qal .יחרyiqtol isoffline, and is joined to theprecedingweqatal in lined tospeakofonesingleeventandnottwoseparateevents.Thethirdpluralisimpersonalandcanberenderedasapassive.Thechoiceofthisverbmaybedrivenbyadesiretocreateawordplaywithחרב inlinef.

Line f:Thecolon-markerissilluq andtheconstraintsare:1predica-tor,3constituents,and4units.

216 Amos7:8-9


י andmainlineweqatal isThe.קוםofscweqatal 1Qal .וקמתhereintroducesaprophecythatisseparatefromtheonegiveninlinesd-e.

ם ירבע ית meaninghere,עלwithphrasePrepositional .על־ב“against.”Severalinterpretationsfor“thehouseofJeroboam”arepos-sible.(1)Hisdynasty.Butifthatwerethemeaning,onewouldexpectittobethe“houseofJehu”afterthefounderofthedynasty,asinHos1:4.Ontheotherhand,JeroboamIIwassospectacularlysuccessfulthedynastyherecouldbenamedforhim.(2)AroyalpalacelocatedatBethel.Thisinterpretationispossibleifat7:13ובית ממלכה istakentomean“andaroyalpalace,”butthatseemsunlikely.(3)TheBethelshrineitself,whichwassponsoredbytheking.Amos7:13doesseemtodescribeBethelasa“royalshrine,”butonbalanceitisbettertotake“houseofJeroboam”tobeareferencetothedynasty.

רב Prepositional .בח phrase with instrumental .ב The swordhererepresentscomingtoaviolentend.Ontheendofthedynasty,see2Kings15:8-10.

7:10-17: An Encounter with Amaziah:AbiographicalaccountofAmos’encounterwiththechiefpriestofBethelisabruptlyinsertedhere. Calling this insertion “redactional” really does nothing toexplain why it is here; it simply makes us ask questions about theredactorinsteadoftheauthor.Atminimum,thisepisodeisinsertedheretoforceustoreckonwiththisencounterinthecontextofAmos’fourvisions.Also,thearroganceofAmaziahenablesthereadertoseethejusticeintheverdictsthataregiveninthethirdandfourthvisions.Moresignificantly,thisepisodeishighlyironicwhensetagainstthevisions.AmaziahderisivelycallsAmosa“seer”(v.12),andthereaderknowsfromthevisionaccountsthatthisispreciselywhatAmosis.Inaddition,AmaziahseesAmosasanenemyofIsrael,butthefirsttwovisionsshowhimintercedingwithYHWHtopardonIsrael.Finally,thissectionisprobablyputherebecausetheprophecyofdoomagainstthehouse of Jeroboamat the endof 7:9 is thebasis forAmaziah’saccusationin7:11.

Amos7:9-17 217


7:10-17a: Prose Narrative: ThestoryofAmos’encounterwithAmaziahisinprose,butitconcludeswithanoracleinpoeticform.

לך־ ם מ ל אל־ירבע ית־א ן ב ח אמציה כה וישלל ית ישרא רב ב יך עמוס בק ר על ר קש ל לאמ ישרא

יו׃ יל את־כל־דבר רץ להכ ל הא לא־תוכ

Prose Clause: ם אל־ירבע ל ית־א ב ן כה אמציה ח וישלר ל לאמ לך־ישרא מ

Theuseoftheqalwayyiqtol 3msofשלח setsthestoryoftheencounterwithAmaziahinthecontextofthevisions,althoughitdoesnotnecessarilymean that the encounter actuallyoccurredbetweentheAmos’receptionofthethirdandfourthvisions.כהן בית־אל,inappositiontoאמציה,suggeststhathewasahigh-rankingpriestattheshrine.לאמר,theqalinfinitiveconstructofאמר withל,introducesthecontentoftheimpliedlettertotheking.

Prose Clause:ל ית ישרא רב ב יך עמוס בק ר על קשThe qal qatal 3 m s ofקשר introduces a factual summation

(fromAmaziah’sperspective)ofthesituation.Thisisanabbreviatedversionoftheletter;nodoubtthefulloriginalwouldhavecontaineda suitable salutation. The idiomעל can קשר literally mean to tiesomethingontosomething(Jer51:63),butoftenitmeansto“conspireagainst”(1Sam22:8;1Kgs15:27;2Kgs10:9).ישראל בקרב בית probablyconnotes,“rightinthemiddleofthehouseofIsrael,”sug-gestingthatAmoswasadangertotheroyalhouseandwasguiltyofgreateffrontery.The“houseofIsrael”mayrefertothenationortotheBethelshrine.

Prose Clause:יו׃ יל את־כל־דבר רץ להכ לא־תוכל האThe negated qal yiqtol 3 f s ofיכל with its auxiliary, a hiphil

infinitiveconstructofכול, literally says that the landcannot“con-tain” all hiswords (see1Kgs7:26;1Kgs8:64;Ezek23:32).This

7:10

218 Amos7:10-17


couldmeansomeorallofthefollowing:(1)Amos’wordsaresomanythattheyfilltheland;thatis,hewon’tstoppreaching.(2)Hismes-sageisspreadingthroughallIsraelandevenspillingoverintoothernations,makingthemwonderwhatishappeninghere.(3)Theland(referringtothepeople)cannotbearhispreaching;inotherwords,heisdiscouragingandfrighteningthem.(4)Amos’messageisabouttoburstthelandopenlikeanoverstuffedbag;thatis,aviolentreaction,possiblydirectedagainsttheking,willsoonerupt.

ר עמוס כי־כה אמ

Theaboveclauseisprose,butAmaziah’scitationofAmosbelowispoetry.Amaziah’sintroductionofAmos’wordsisstrikinglysimilartooneofAmos’divinespeechformulas,כה אמר יהוה(,1:3,68,etc.).Infact,thispatternisalmostalwaysusedofGod,andtheexceptionscitethespeechofakingoraking’srepresentative(Isa36:4;14,16;37:3).Thisisironic;whetherhehasintendedtoornot,AmaziahhascitedAmosasarepresentativeofGod.

ם רב ימות ירבע בחל אדמתו׃ ס ה מע ל גלה יגל שרא וי

Line a:Thecolon-markerisathnach andtheconstraintsare:1pred-icator,3constituents,and3units.Thechiasticrelationshipoflinea(prepositionalphrase/verb/subject)tolineb(subject/verb/prepo-sitionalphrase)indicatesthatJeroboam’sdeathandIsrael’sexilewillbeasingleeventtakingplaceataboutthesametime.ButwehavenoevidencethatAmosactuallysaidthis;thewordsoflineasubtlybutcriticallydistortlinefin7:9.

רב Prepositional .בח phrase with instrumental .ב The front-ingofthisphrasemakestheviolentnatureofJeroboam’sdeaththefocus.

Amos7:10-11 219

7:11a

7:11bab


.מותofsmyiqtol 3Qal .ימותם .subjectasnameProper .ירבע

Line b:Thecolon-markerissilluq andtheconstraintsare:1predi-cator,3constituents,and4units.Thislineiscitedverbatimin7:17,andsimilarstatementsappearin5:5and6:7.

ל שרא .conjunctionwithsubjectasnameProper .וי.גלהofsmyiqtol 3qalandabsoluteinfinitiveQal .גלה יגלה

Theinfinitiveabsolutemayimplycertaintyortotality.ל אדמתו .עלand מןlocativewithphrasePrepositional .מע

ך ברח־לך אל־ ה ל אמר אמציה אל־עמוס חז ויא׃ ם תנב חם וש ם ל ה ואכל־ש רץ יהוד א

Prose Clause:אמר אמציה אל־עמוס ויאמר narrativemainlineaheads,אמרofsmwayyiqtol 3qala,וי

clause and initiates the second episode of Amaziah’s dealings withAmos;italsointroducesAmaziah’sreportedspeech.

Prose Clause:ה רץ יהוד ך ברח־לך אל־א ה ל חזThisisreportedspeech.חזה,aqalactiveparticiplemsofחזה,

ishereavocativesubstantive.TheuseofthistitleisunintendedironyonAmaziah’spart;hehasderisivelycalledAmosa“seerofvisions,”butthecontextindicatesthatthisispreciselywhatAmosis.לך ברח (qalimperativesmsofהלך andברח),althoughtwoverbs,isreallyasyndetichendiadysandnottwoseparateclauses.Notetheconjunc-tivemerka withלך.Theprepositionalphraseלך isanidiomaticverbalcomplement (the “ethical dative”) and need not be translated. Theprepositionalphraseאל־ארץ יהודה isdirective,givingtheplacetowhichAmosshouldflee.

Prose Clause:חם ם ל ואכל־ש-previthetosubordinatehere,וwithsmimperativeqalais ואכל

ousclauseandfunctioningasanimplicitpurposeclause,givingthe

220 Amos7:11-12

7:12


reasonAmosshouldfleethere.Theantecedentofשם isיהודה inthepreviousclause.לחם isthedirectobject.Idiomatically,eatingbreadreferstoearningaliving.

Prose Clause:א ם תנב וש+[x]+ וThemodally.functioningsmyiqtol 2niphalais תנבא

yiqtol hereiscoordinatedtotheimperativeואכל inthepreviousline,implying that the twoactionsarebound togetherasone.Note thechiasticstructureofthetwoclauses:

א ם תנב חם וש ם ל ואכל־ש(verb+שם + לחם + שם +verb)

ThelinesmeanthatAmosshouldearnhislivingbyperforminghisservicesasaprofessionalprophetinJudah.

לך י מקדש־מ א כ יף עוד להנב א־תוס ל ל ית־א ובה הוא׃ ס ית ממלכ הוא וב

Prose Clause:יף עוד להנבא א־תוס ל ל ית־א ובHeadingthenextclausewiththelocativeובית־אל indicatesthat

AmaziahdoesnotcarewhetherorwhereAmosprophesies, so longashedoesnotdoithere.Thehiphilmodalyiqtol 2msofיסף withitsauxiliary,theniphalinfinitiveconstructofנבא,togetherwiththestrongnegative and לא the temporal adverbעוד, imply thatAmosmustneverprophesythereagain.

Prose Clause:לך הוא י מקדש־מ כThe explanation, introduced by ,כי is that Bethel is a מקדש־

.מלך The construct chain probably designates a royally sponsoredshrine.Itisindefinite,suggestingthatitisoneofseveral(therewasalsooneatDan,andalmostcertainlyoneatSamariaaswell).

Prose Clause:ה הוא ית ממלכ ובThe phraseממלכה could בית be taken to mean that Bethel

Amos7:12-13 221

7:13


wasalsoaroyalresidence,butthisisunlikely.Thephraseisprobablysimplyaparalleltotheprecedingclauseandmaymean,“anationaltemple”(seePaul1991,243).

א כי ול יא אנ ה לא־נב אמר אל־אמצי ויען עמוס ויים׃ ס שקמ כי ובול ר אנ י־בוק כי כ יא אנ בן־נב

Prose Clause:ויען עמוסThewayyiqtol carriesthemainlinenarrativeforward.ויען isaqal

wayyiqtol 3msofענה.Prose Clause:ה אמר אל־אמצי ויEpexegesisofויען fromthepreviousclause,introducingthecon-

tentofAmos’words.ויאמר isaqalwayyiqtol 3msofאמר andאל־.addresseetheindicating אלwithphraseprepositionalais אמציה

Prose Clause:כי יא אנ לא־נבNegated verbless clause. As such, it is impossible to determine

whether it is apresentorpast tense.Somepreferpast tenseon thegrounds thatAmos at this point obviously is a prophet andwouldnotdenybeingsuch(seev.15,whichseemstoestablishthepasttensemeaning).ButAmosmaymorepreciselymeanthatheisnotaprofes-sional prophet.Inotherwords,hedoesnotearnmoneybyprophesy-ing,incontrasttoAmaziah’ssarcasticandimpliedaccusationinv.12.ProbablyAmoshereandinthenextclauseisdeliberatelyexploitingthetemporalambiguityoftheverblessclauses:heis not aprofessionalprophetbutcontinues toearnhislivingasaherdsman;hewas not aprophetbutwas aherdsmanuntilGodchosehimtobeaprophet.Englishcannotadequatelyconveythis.

Prose Clause:כי יא אנ א בן־נב ולAnothernegatedverblessclause.Aבן־נביא isamemberofapro-

pheticguild,notaprophet’sbiologicalson(2Kgs2:3,7;6:1).Prose Clause:ים׃ ס שקמ כי ובול ר אנ י־בוק כ

7:14

222 Amos7:13-14


A verbless clause with a compound predicate בולסand בוקר)meansoften בקרSinceadversative.hereis כיparticleThe.(שקמים“cattle,”thiswouldmeansomethinglike“cattleman,”butitisanach-ronistic to suppose that thisprecludeshisalsobeinga shepherd,asheindicatesheisinv.15.Probably“herdsman”isabetterrendition,indicatinghemanagedsheep,goatsandcattle.Anotherpossibilityisthatבקר shouldbeemendedtoדקר,givingthemeaning“piercer.”So emended, itwouldgowithשקמים and בולס refer to someonewhopierces sycamore figs (asproposedbyZalcman1980).Aבולס figsycamoretheofhuskthecutwhopersonaapparentlyis שקמיםtree to enable the figs to ripenproperly to an edible state.בולס, aqalactiveparticiplemsconstructofבלס,isusedsubstantively;בלס appearsonlyhereintheHebrewBiblebutthereisfairlystrongcon-sensus about its meaning (for an alternative view, see Rosenbaum1990,47–50).Theproblemwiththeemendationofבקר toדקר isthat,becauseofthewordorder,דקר cannotbeinconstructandcon-joinedtoובולס (togivethesense,“Iamapiercerandcutterofsyca-morefigs”).Forthattobethemeaning,thewordorderwouldhavetobeאנכי דוקר ובולס שקמים.Also,דקר iselsewhereusedforthepiercingofpeople,generallybytheswordorinsomeactofviolence.Thus,thetextshouldnotbeemended.WecannottellfromthesejobdescriptionshowwealthyorpoorAmoswas,butclearlyheidentifiedhimselfwiththosewhoworkedinthefields(seeGiles1992).

ך ה ל אמר אלי יהו אן וי י הצ ה מאחר ני יהו ויקחל׃ י ישרא א אל־עמ הנב

Prose Clause:אן י הצ ה מאחר ני יהו ויקחTheprecedingnominalclausesarebackgroundinformationand

presented the setting forAmos’ smallnarrative; this clause,headedbyויקחני,aqalwayyiqtol 3msofלקח witha1cssuffix,isthefirsteventofhisnarrative.Theprepositionalphraseהצאן -com מאחרי binesמן,indicatingthesituationfromwhichGodtookhim,andthe

Amos7:14-15 223

7:15


constructpluralofאחר,indicatinghispositionrelativetotheflockthathewatchedover(hewalkedbehindhisherdsandflocks).

Prose Clause:ה אמר אלי יהו ויThewayyiqtol 3msofאמר continuesthemainlinesequenceof

Amos’ narrative and introduces another reported speech. The sub-jectofויאמר isofcourseיהוה,butthepositionoftheprepositionalphrase andverbbetween אלי subject is slightlyunusual. Itmaybethatthepositionofיהוה attheendoftheclauseisstrongerthanifinthemiddle(itcannothavethefirstpositionbecauseofthewayy-iqtol).Thus,whatYHWHsaidtoAmoshere(“Prophesy!”)issetincontrasttowhatAmaziahsaid(“Donotprophesy!”),asnotedinthenextverse.Bethatasitmay,theimportanceofthisasadivinespeechisnotunderstated;thenameYHWHisgiventwiceinthisverseasthesubjectofthetwoverbsויקחני andויאמר;thisisadivinecom-missioning.

Prose Clause:ך לAqalimperativemsofהלך;comingfromJudah,Amosnaturally

hadto“go”toIsraelbeforehecouldprophesythere.Amaziah’scom-mandtoAmosalsobeganwithלך.

Prose Clause:ל י ישרא א אל־עמ הנבThissingleclauseisthewholeofAmos’defenseandexplanation

forhisactivity;heisprophesyinginIsraelbecauseYHWHtoldhimtodoso.ContrastAmaziah’scommandinv.12,whichusesvirtuallyidenticallanguage(לך . . . אל־ארץ יהודה . . . ושם תנבא).Thewordהנבא,aniphalimperativemsofנבא,impliesthatAmoshasthetitleofנביא entirelybydivinecommissionratherthanbytrainingorpersonalpreference.Theprepositionalphraseאל־עמי ישראל fur-thermoredemonstratesthathisareaofpropheticactivity,IsraelratherthanJudah,isbyGod’scommandincontrasttoAmaziah’sorder.

א תנבא על־ ר ל ה אמ ע דבר־יהוה את ה שמ ועתק׃ ית ישח יף על־ב א תט ל ול ישרא

224 Amos7:15-16

7:16


Prose Clause:ע דבר־יהוה ה שמ ועת,ועתה literally “and now,” is an inference marker that brings

theprevioushistoricaldiscoursequicklytothepresentanddescribestheramificationsofprioreventsforthecurrentsituation.Inanotherironictouch,Amos,whohadbeenforbiddentoprophesy,respondsto thecommandwithanotherprophecy introducedbyשמע, aqalimperativemsofשמע,anditsobject,דבר־יהוה.

Prose Clause:ר ה אמ אתRather thanusinga finiteverb(suchas theqatal אמר),Amos

employs aperiphrasticqal activeparticiplem s inאמר.ThisneednotbetakentomeanthatAmaziahisrepeatinghimselforspeakingconstantly; itonly implies that this is thedemand thatAmaziah iscurrentlyputtingforth.

Prose Clause:ל א תנבא על־ישרא לAmaziah’sprohibition,לא תנבא (withaniphalyiqtol 2msof

.verseprevioustheincommissionYHWH’swithcontrastshere,(נבאThenegativeלא (incontrasttoאל)islegislativeinnature(seeIBHS 34.2.1b) and suggests a permanent injunction. The prepositionעל probablyhasthesenseof“against.”

Prose Clause:ק ית ישח יף על־ב א תט ולThisclauseisparalleltotheprevious,withanotherprohibitive

adversativeanotherand,נטףofsmyiqtol 2hiphilthe,תטיףwith לאuseofעל.Theverbנטף (qalandhiphilstems)meansto“secrete”or“drip,”butitreferstopropheticpreachinghereandinEzekel21:2,7;Micah2:6.Thetermisnotof itselfderisive,asGoduses thewordtodirectEzekieltoprophesy.Hereagain,“Isaac”issetasaparallelto“Israel,”butitmaybenoteworthythatAmaziahalsoreferstothe“houseofIsaac.”Whilethismaybenomorethananalternativenameforthekingdom,thetermmayhavespecialsignificanceattheBethelshrine.Ofcourse,theGenesisstoriesprimarilyassociateBethelwithJacob,butthisdoesnotmeanthatthenameIsaacwasnotusedattheshrine.

Amos7:16 225


ה ר יהו ן כה־אמ לכ

Theaboveisadivinespeechformulainprose;itintroducesthepoeticoraclethatfollows.

7:17b: Oracle of Doom: Amosheregivesaone-strophe,five-lineoracleinwhichhepredictspersonaldisasterforAmaziahontopofthegeneralcalamitycomingtoIsrael.Everylinebeginswiththesubject,thenhasaprepositionalphrase(withב inlinesa-candעל inlinesd-e),andthenhasayiqtol predicateattheendoftheline(exceptforlinee,whichbreaksthepatternbyinvertingtheorderoftheverbandprepositionalphrase).Also,eachof the subjects in linesa-chas the2mssuffix(theothersubjectsobviouslycannothavesuchasuffix),andlinesc-eeachhavethenounאדמה.Theselineshavenumerousinterconnectionsandareineffectalistofcomingdisasters.Thesefivelinesaregroupedintotwocouplets(linesa-b:wifeandchildren;linesc-d:yourgroundanduncleanground)concludingwithafinal linethatcastsAmaziah’sreporttoJeroboambackintohisface(comparelineetothesecondlineof7:11b).

יר תזנה אשתך בעלו רב יפ יך בח ובניך ובנתק בל תחל ואדמתך בח

ה טמאה תמות ה על־אדמ ואתל אדמתו׃ ס ה מע ל גלה יגל שרא וי

Line a:Thecolon-markerispashta andtheconstraintsare:1predi-cator,3constituents,and3units.

forcalltreatiesAkkadianthatnotesWolffsubject.The .אשתךthesexualhumiliationofthewivesofcovenantviolators(Wolff1977,315n.59).

יר citythePresumably.בlocativewithphrasePrepositional .בע

7:17a

226 Amos7:17

7:17babcde


meanthereisthecityofAmaziah’sresidence,Bethel.Thephrasemayimplythatwhatshedoes,orwhathappenstoher,willbeamatterofpublicknowledge(cf.Deut22:23–24).

usuallyverbThe.זנהofsfyiqtol 3Qal .תזנה implieswillfulpromiscuity. It seems veryodd,however, thatAmos should in thiscontextpredictthatAmaziah’swifewouldbecomelustfullyimmoral.EveryotherlinespeaksofviolenceforciblycarriedoutagainstIsrael,Amaziah and his children and possessions.זנה here probably con-notes not willful promiscuity but sexual defilement either throughrapeorsellingherselfoutofdesperationtosurvive.Asthewifeofapriest,suchdefilementisparticularlyheinous.Herruinmaybesym-bolicofthedesecrationofthesanctityoftheBethelshrine.


יך -Amaassumetonecessarynotisitsubjects;The .ובניך ובנתziah’ssonsanddaughterswouldbechildrenatthetimethispredic-tionwasfulfilled.

רב Prepositional .בח phrase with instrumental .ב Falling “bythesword”representsaviolentdeath.Amaziah’ssonsmayhavebeencombatantswhilehisdaughtersmayhavebeenkilledinthesackofthecity.

לו .נפלofpmyiqtol 3Qal .יפLine c:Thecolon-markerisathnach andtheconstraintsare:1pred-

icator,3constituents,and3units.heresubject;The .ואדמתך it seems tobe landthatAmaziah

privatelyowned.בל -distribuThe.בinstrumentalwithphrasePrepositional .בח

tionofhislandviaa“measuringline”indicatesthathislandisbrokenupinanofficialprocessbyanewadministrationthathasnoregardforhispriorclaimtotheland.Inotherwords,itisnotsimplyoccu-piedbysquatters.ThisimpliesthefallofthegovernmentofJeroboamII,Amaziah’spatron.Also,itisfittingthatmembersoftheelite,who

Amos7:17 227


usedjudicialmeanstotakethelandofthepoor,shouldhavethesamedonetothem.

-apparAmaziahdivided.”be“,חלקofsfyiqtol 3Pual .תחלקentlyownedanestate large enough for it tobedividedandappor-tionedoutbytheconquerors.ThissuggeststhatAmaziahhimselfwasoneofthewealthyaristocratsthatAmosinveighsagainst.

Line d:Thecolon-markeriszaqeph qaton andtheconstraintsare:1predicator,3constituents,and4units.

ה .subjectThe .ואתה טמאה The.עלlocativewithphrasePrepositional .על־אדמ

“uncleanland”isaGentile landwhereIsraeliteconcernsforkosherfoods,sabbathregulations,andsoforthwerenotobserved.Wesome-times imagine that theprophets’opponentswere sopaganized thatthey had no regard for Torah requirements, and sometimes this isso(cf.8:5).ButAmaziahappearstohavetakensomeaspectsofhispriesthoodseriously.

.מותofsmyiqtol 2Qal .תמותLine e:Thecolon-markerissilluq andtheconstraintsare:1predica-

tor,3 constituents, and5units.This line repeatsAmaziah’s chargeaboutthecontentofAmos’prophecies(see7:11),implyingthatAmosisassertingbacktoAmaziahthathisprophecywillinfactcometrue.

ל שרא ,722c.placetookIsraelofexilefinalthesubject;The .ויanditappearsthatAmos’ministrywasnolaterthanc.755B.C.Weneednotassume,however,thatallaspectsofthisoraclewerefulfilledatthesametime.Hischildren’sdeathandwife’shumiliation,andhisowndeath,couldhaveoccurredearlierandatdifferenttimes.

The.גלהofsmyiqtol 3andabsoluteinfinitiveQal .גלה יגלהinfinitiveabsolutehereimpliescertaintyandisincontrasttoAmazi-ah’srefusaltolistenandimplieddenial.

ל אדמתו implying,עלand מןwithphrasePrepositional .מעremovalfromtheirhomeland.

228 Amos7:17


8:1-3: A Basket of Summer FruitThisvisionisstructurallyparalleltotheenigmaticthirdvision,butitsmeaningismuchmoreclear.

8:1-2a: Prose Narrative: Asbefore,Amosnarratestheessentialdetailsofthevisioninprose.

יץ׃ ה והנה כלוב ק ני אדני יהו ה הרא כ

Prose Clause:ני אדני יהוה ה הרא כSee7:1.Prose Clause:יץ והנה כלוב קThis is aclausewithan impliedהיה, “therewas.”והנה intro-

ducesAmos’perspectiveonthevisionandprovidesthesettingforthenarratedconversationthatfollows.Intheconstructchainכלוב קיץ,the termקיץ, literally “summer,” connotes theproduceof summer(cf.Jer40:10).Thelatesummerharvestwouldbefigsandalategrapeharvest(Mic7:1).קיץ isalsofoundintheseventhandlastlineoftheGezerCalendar(spelledasקץ;seealsoRhatjen1964).

יץ ר כלוב ק ה ראה עמוס ואמ ה־את אמר מ ויי ה אל אמר יהו וי

Therearefiveproseclauseshere;see7:8aforadiscussionofthegrammar.Closelyparallelingthethirdvisionreport,thisintroducesaneworacle.

8:2b-3: Oracle of Doom: Sixlinesinonestrophe.Theseriesofvisionsendswithanoraclethatforetellstheendofthekingdom.Afterageneral statement to theeffect thatdisaster is sure tocome(linesa-b),thereisaprophecyofwailinglamentationattheshrines(linec)and,afteraparentheticaldivinespeechformula(lined),thelyricsofthelamentsongsaregiven(linese-f).

Amos8:1-3 229

8:1

8:2a


ל י ישרא א הקץ אל־עמ ביף עוד עבור לו׃ לא־אוס

ילו שירות היכל ביום ההוא והילה ם אדני יהו נא

יך גר בכל־מקום השל ב הפ רס׃ פ ה


א .בואofsmqatal 3Qal .ב,קיץonword-playaobviouslyisend,”“thesubject,The .הקץ

“summerproduce.”Thetwowordsarefromdifferentroots(קיץ frombeenhavewouldtheybut254)1991,Paul;קצץfrom קץand,קיץpronouncedthesameinSamariaand, if theGezerCalendar isanyindicationandunlessmatres lectionis werealreadyemployedinAmos’day,theywerespelledthesame(seealsoWolters1988).Also,thefactthatthetimeofקיץ isattheendoftheagriculturalyearisapropostothewordplay.

ל י ישרא .אלwithphrasePrepositional .אל־עמLine b:See7:8.Line c:Thecolon-markeriszaqeph qaton andtheconstraintsare:1

predicator,3constituents,and5units.ילו (mainlinetensefuturefor,יללofpmweqatal 3Hiphil .והיל

clauseinananticipatorytext).Theverbisgenerallyintransitive,liketheEnglish“wail,”buthere itseemstobetransitive, takingשירות ironically as its direct object. But just as the English counterpart,“theyshallwailtemplesongs,”isunusualbutnotunintelligible,thesameistrueoftheHebrew.

היכל objectdirectThe .שירות in a construct chain.שירה,“song,”occurstwelvetimesintheMTbutonlyhereintheplural(the

8:2b

8:3

abcdef

230 Amos8:2-3


masculine pluralשירים occurs seven times), but that is no reasonto emend.Many interpreters (e.g.,Noble1998,432–33)doemendtheofsingersfemale“thethus,singers”;[female]“) שרותto שירותtempleshallwail”),butthisisunpersuasive,anditistypicalofhowemendation often flattens the vivid language of the prophets. Thephraseשירות היכל is,asdescribedabove,anironicdirectobjecttotheverb.Themeaning,ofcourse,isthatinsteadofharmonioussing-ingthereshallbewailing.

.phrasetemporalain בwithphrasePrepositional .ביום ההואLine d:Thecolon-markerisathnach andtheconstraintsare:0pred-

icators,3constituents,and3units.יהוה אדני ם divineA .נא speech formulausing a construct

chain.Line e:Thisline,asproposedhere,doesnotfollowtheMTcantil-

lation.Theconstraintsare:1predicator,4constituents,and4units.Therearetwoclauses,רב הפגר andיך .בכל־מקום השל

ב .predicateaasusedAdjective .רגר .pluralityarepresentsitnoun,collectiveasubject;The .הפconstructaon בlocativewithphrasePrepositional .בכל־מקום

chain.יך גרisobjectimpliedThe.שלךofsmyiqtol 3Hiphil .השל .הפ

ThesubjectcouldbeYHWH,but it ismore likely that theverb isusedimpersonallyandisavirtualpassive.

Line f:Thecolon-markerissilluq andtheconstraintsare:1predica-tor,1constituent,and1unit.Thisviolatestheconstraintsforhavingaone-unit line,but it isadramaticendtotheoracle.Mostsignifi-cantly,settingthiswordbyitselfdramaticallyrecallsthegrimscenein6:10.

ס -concepsamethepreciselyherehas“Hush!”imperativeThe .הtualcontextasinitsusein6:10:Samariaisfilledwithcorpsesandthusacityundertaboo;itissodefiledthatGod’snamemustnotevenbementionedthere.

Amos8:2-3 231


8:4–9:15: final Condemnation and redemptionTheconclusionofAmosisapairoflengthypoems(8:4-12;9:1b-15).Thesepoemsare separatedbyaprose conclusion to the firstpoem(8:13-14)andaproseintroductiontothesecondpoem(9:1a).Butthetextdividesintothreemajorparts,asfollows.

1. 8:4-6 is an introduction describing briefly the sins of thepeople. The offenses described here are the basis for theappropriatepunishmentGoddecreesinsubsequentverses.

2. 8:7–9:6givesYHWH’sfinaljudgmentagainstIsrael.Thisisintwoparts,8:7-14and9:1-6.

3. 9:7-15 predicts Israel’s diaspora and recovery. It comparesIsraeltothenations,indicatingthatIsraelisnotreallydif-ferent fromtheminGod’seyes (9:7-10).Butthenthetextpredicts the redemptionof Israel andalsodraws theGen-tilesintothatredemption,assertingthatGodwillbringthenations into Israel (9:11-12).Thebook endswith aprom-iseofagreatharvestandarobustpopulationforthenation(9:13-15).

Severalrepeatedthemesbindthistexttogether.

A. There is focus on what may be called the fate of the Isra-elites.First, thefateof impoverishedIsraelites isabuseandsuffering.Themorewell-offmembersofsocietyhuntthemdownand sell them into slavery (8:4,6). Second, and as afittingjudgment,GodwillhuntdowntheentirenationandslaughterIsraeliteswherevertheyhide(9:1b-4),andtheywillwander among the nations and face slaughter everywhere(9:9-10).Third,however, these judgmentswillbe reversedandIsraelwillbesecureinitslandforever(9:14-15).

B. Anotherthemeofthetextmaybebroadlydefinedasfood.First,themerchantscheatpeoplewhentheysellgrain(8:5).Second,thejudgmentonIsraelisdescribedasa“famine”forthewordofGod(8:11-13).Intherestoration,however,Israelwillexperienceamiraculouslygreatharvest(9:13).

232 Amos8:4–9:15


C. The matter of oaths appears three times. First, YHWHswearsanoathbytheprideofJacobin8:7.Second,thepeo-pleswearbytheirshrinesin8:14.Third,YHWHmakesasolemndecree against Israelwhile standingby an altar in9:1,anactthatisimplicitlyanoath.

D. Theupheavalofthelandlike the Nile istwotimesasignofthedayoftheYHWH(8:8;9:5c).

E. The theme of YHWH’s cosmic power appears three times:in his darkening of the daytime sky (8:9), in his causingtheearthtomelt(9:5a),andinthefactthathisdominionextendsfromheaventoearth(9:6).

F. Themourning ofthepeopleismentionedtwice,in8:10and9:5b.

G. Finally, the themeof Israel and the Gentiles is takenup in9:7-8, 11-12. First, Israel is declared to be no better thanthe pagan nations (9:7-8). Second, however, the ancientpromise that David’s dynasty will have dominion over allthenations is reaffirmed,andevenGentilesarecalled thepeopleofYHWH(9:11-12).This theme is also importantforthestructureofthewholebook,asitcreatesaninclusion.ThebookbeginswithIsraelnobetterthantheGentilesandlikethemfacingYHWH’swrath(1:3–2:16).ThebookalsoendswithIsraelnobetterthantheGentiles,butitincludestheGentilesintheblessingsofYHWH’ssalvationofIsrael(9:11-12).

Thetablebelowlaysoutthestructureofthispassage.Ontheleftside,onecanseehowthetwopoemsaredividedintostanzasaswellaswheretheproseboundarytextsareplaced.Ontherightside,thetextisdividedaccordingtocontent,showingthemajorpartsofthisfinaldivisionofthebook.Thethematiclinksdescribedabovearealsopre-sentedhere.Theselinksarelaidouttoshowwherethevariousthemesare locatedandtoprovideamapforfollowinghowAmosdevelopsthesethemes,asdescribedabove.Onecansee,infact,thatthethemesofPartI(the“fateoftheIsraelites”and“food”)aretakenupagainin

Amos8:4–9:15 233


PartIII(withtheadditionof“IsraelandtheGentiles”).Also,everythemePartIIaistakenupagaininPartIIb,exceptthatPartIIadealswiththethemeof“food”butPartIIbdoesnot,whereasPartIIbgivesattentiontothe“fateoftheIsraelites”in9:1b-4.Thus,oneseessome-thingofaninclusionpatternorchiasmusinthisdivision,withPartImirroredbyPartIIIandPartIIamirroredbyPartIIb.

Stanza1(8:4-6)

A.FateofIsraelites(8:4)

B.Food(8:5)

A.FateofIsraelites(8:6)Stanza2(8:7) C.Oath(8:7)

Stanza3(8:8) D.LandlikeNile(8:8)

Stanza4(8:9-10) E.YHWH’sCosmicpower(8:9)

F.Mourning(8:10)Stanza5(8:11-12) B.Food(8:11-13)

Prose(8:13-14) C.Oath(8:14)

Prose(9:1a) C.Oath(9:1a)

Stanza1(9:1b-4) A.FateofIsraelites(9:1b-4)

Stanza2(9:5-6)

E.YHWH’sCosmicpower(9:5a)

F.Mourning(9:5b)

D.LandlikeNile(9:5c)

E.YHWH’sCosmicpower(9:6)

Stanza3(9:7-8) G.IsraelandGentiles(9:7-8)

Stanza4(9:9-10) A.FateofIsraelites(9:9-10)

Stanza5(9:11-12) G.IsraelandGentiles(9:11-12)

Stanza6(9:13-15)B.Food(9:13)

A.FateofIsraelites(9:14-15)

Firs

tPoe

m(8

:4-1

4) I.Si

n(8

:4-6

)II

a.Ju

dgm

ent(

8:7-

14)

234 Amos8:4–9:15

Seco

ndP

oem

(9:1

-15)

IIb.

Judg

men

t2(9

:1-6

)II

I.R

ecov

ery

(9:7

-15)


8:4 Hear this, you who sniff after the poorAnd who annihilate the impoverished in the land, 5 while saying:“When will the new moon be overSo that we may sell grain, And the Sabbath, so that we may open up the grain business —By shrinking the ephah and enlarging the shekel, By making twisted balance scales that deceive, 6 For obtaining poor people because of silverAnd a poor man because of sandals—And so that we may sell the bottom-of-the-barrel grain?”

7 YHWH has sworn by the pride of Jacob,“I will never forget all their deeds!”8 Isn’t it for this reason that the earth will shakeAnd all who dwell on it will mourn,And all of it will rise like the Nile,And it will overflow and subside like the Egyptian Nile?

9 And it shall be on that day—An oracle of Lord YHWH—That I shall bring down the sun at noonAnd I shall bring darkness to earth on a bright day.10 And I will turn your festivals into mourningAnd all your songs into lamentation.And I shall bring sackcloth up around every waistAnd baldness on every head.And I shall make it as the mourning for an only sonAnd (I shall make) its outcome into a truly bitter day.”

11 Behold, days are coming—An oracle of Lord YHWH—When I shall release a famine upon the earth.(It will) not be a famine for bread and not be thirst for water.Rather, (it will be a famine) for hearing the words of YHWH.

Amos8:4–9:15 235


12 And they will wander from sea to seaAnd from the northlands to the rising of the sun.They will rove about to seek the word of YHWH but not find (it).

13 On that day they will collapse from thirst—the beautiful maidens and the fine young men 14 who swear by the guilt of Samaria and say, “As your gods live, Dan!” and “As the ‘way’ of Beersheba lives!”—and they will fall never to rise again.

9:1 I saw the Lord standing at the altar, and he said,Strike the capital so that the door-frames shake!And sever them at the top—all of them!And I will slay the rest of them with the sword.Not one of their fugitives will get away,And not one of their refugees will escape.2 If they dig into Sheol,From there my hand shall get them.And if they ascend into heaven,From there I shall bring them down.3 And if they hide on the top of Carmel,From there I will hunt them down and get them.And if they are concealed from before my eyes on the floor of the sea,From there I will command the serpent to bite them. 4 And if they go into captivity in the presence of their enemies,From there I will command the sword to slay them.And I shall set my eye upon them—For evil and not for good.

5 The Lord YHWH Sabaoth:Who touches the earth and it melts,So that all who inhabit it begin mourning,And it—all of it—convulses like the NileAnd then sinks like the Nile of Egypt; 6 Who builds in the heavens his (throne’s) stairway While laying his (throne’s) foundation platform upon the earth;

236 Amos8:4–9:15


Who calls to the waters of the seaAnd then pours them out on the surface of the earth;His name is YHWH!

7 Are you not like the sons of the Cushites as far as I am concerned, Sons of Israel? The oracle of YHWH.Didn’t I raise up Israel from the land of EgyptAnd the Philistines from Caphtor and Aram from Kir?8 Behold, the eyes of Lord YHWH are on the sinful kingdomAnd I shall annihilate it from the surface of the ground,Except that I will not altogether annihilate the house of Jacob.The oracle of YHWH.

9 For behold I am issuing a command,And I shall make the house of Israel wander among all the nations, Just as when there is a jostling in a sieve Without a pebble falling to earth.10 They shall die by the sword—all the sinners of my peopleWho say,“Trouble will not overtake or approach us.”

11 In that day I will raise up the collapsing booth of David.And I shall wall up its breachesAnd raise up its ruins;And I shall build it up as in the days of old, 12 So that they may possess the remnant of Edom and all the nations Who are called by my name. The oracle of YHWH, who does this.

13 Behold the days are coming—the oracle of YHWH—When a plowman will be present with the harvesterAnd a grape treader will be present with the seed-spreader.And the mountains will flow with grape juiceAnd all the hills will melt.

Amos8:4–9:15 237


14 And I shall bring about a restoration of my people, Israel.And they will rebuild desolate cities and inhabit them.And they will plant vineyards and drink their wine.And they will make gardens and eat their fruit.15 And I shall plant them on their ground.And they will never again be pulled up from their groundThat I gave to them,Says YHWH your God.

8:4-14: First Poem and Prose Conclusion

8:4-6: First Stanza. Thisstanzaisintwostrophes.Thefirststro-phe,intwolines,callsonthemerchantandaristocraticclasstolisten,andinsummaryfashionitmakesanaccusation(8:4).Thesecond,ineightlines,makesacaricaturedquotationofthemerchantsandinsodoingsetsforthadetailedaccusationoftheircrimes(8:5-6).Thereisnoreasontobreakthesecondstropheintotwoparts,asisdoneintheMTversedivision.

8:4: First Strophe.Twolines,withthecalltohearinitiating8:4–9:15.

ים אביון את השאפ שמעו־זר רץ׃ לאמ ית עניי־א ולשב

Line A1a:Thecolon-marker isathnach andtheconstraintsare:2predicators,4constituents,and4units.

.שמעofpmimperativeQal .שמעואת .שמעוofobjectdirectThe .זים -defiwith שאףofabsolutepmparticipleactiveQal .השאפ

nitearticle; it functionsasavocativerelativeclauseandalsoas thesubject of ,שמעו and it takes adirect object. See thediscussion at2:7a,whereemendationofthisverbisrejectedanditissuggestedthat

238 Amos8:4-6

8:4


itmetaphoricallyrepresentstheupperclassofSamariaasdogssniff-ingatthegroundwhiletheyhunttheirprey.

The .אביון direct object ofהשאפים, the poor are the meta-phoricalpreyofthepowerful.

Line A1b:Thecolon-markersilluq attheendof8:4isdisregardedhereinfavorofattachingלאמר tothisline,andtheconstraintsare:2predicators,2constituents,and3units.

ית hiphilThe .ולשב infinitiveconstructofשבת.Onewouldexpect to see this asלהשבית (Ps 8:2), but the preposition has לcaused syncopation in a manner analogous to how the yiqtol formsyncopatesfromhypotheticalיהקטיל toיקטיל (GKC §53a).Theverbheremeansto“putanendto”andthusto“exterminate.”Usingשבת withthismeaningissomewhatodd,butit isawordplayonהשבת (“the Sabbath”), which these persons are eager to see over accord-ingtolineA2c.Theinfinitiveconstructcouldbetakenasaclauseexpressingpurposeormotive(acomplementtoהשאפים).Ifso,theconjunctionmightbeeitheremphatic(“even”)orexplanatory(“thatis”),butGKC§114pobservesthatthe infinitiveconstructwiththeconjunction prepositionand ו expresscan ל “the continuationof apreviousfiniteverb.”Psalm104:21,הכפירים שאגים לטרף ולבקש theirGodfromseekandprey,theatroaringarelionsthe“) מאל אכלםfood”)isespeciallyanalogoushere.SeealsoIBHS §36.3.2,wherethisconstructionisdescribedasthe“equivalentofafiniteverb.”Here,theinfinitiveservesasasecondrelativeclauseafterהשאפים.

רץ .objectdirecttheaschainconstructA .עניי־אר Qal .לאמ infinitive construct ofאמר introducing a quota-

tion.Likeולשבית,thiscountsasapredicator.NotwithstandingtheMTversedivision,thisworksbetterwiththisinsteadofthefollowingstrophe.Whatfollowsarethewordsoftheoppressivemercantileclass,but it seems odd thatלאמר is not preceded by some word associ-atedwithspeech(suchas“boast”or“speak”).Butלאמר candescribewhatonesayswhiledoingsomeotheract,as inIsaiah4:1והחזיקו sevenAnd“) שבע נשים באיש אחד ביום ההוא לאמר לחמנו נאכל

Amos8:4 239


womenwillgrabonemanonthatdaywhilesaying,‘Wewilleatourbread...’”).

8:5-6: Second Strophe. Eight lines. This entire strophe (afterseemsItmerchants.eviltheofquotationaasitselfportrays(לאמרunlikelythattheyweresobrazenastoactuallysaythesethings;Amosisusingthiscaricatureortravestyasaliterarydevicetoportraytheirattitudesasbetrayedbytheiractions.

דש ר הח י יעב מתבר ירה ש ונשב

ר ת ונפתחה־ב והשבקל יל ש ין איפה ולהגד להקט

ה׃ ולעות מאזני מרמים סף דל לקנות בכים ואביון בעבור נעל

יר׃ ר נשב ל ב ומפ

Line A2a: The colon-marker is pashta and the constraints are: 1predicator,3constituents,and3units.

י .pronouninterrogativeTemporal .מתר holytheforlongmerchantsThe.עברofsmyiqtol 3Qal .יעב

daysto“passby”sothattheyresumecorruptbusinesspractices,butironicallyYHWHhasjustsaidthathewill“passby”Israelnolonger(8:2).

דש toIsraelitescommandnotdoesTorahThesubject.The .החdesistfromlaboronthedayofthenewmoon,butapparentlythiswasthestandardpractice(1Sam20:5;2Kgs4:23).

Line A2b:Thecolon-markeriszaqeph qaton andtheconstraintsare:1predicator,2constituents,and2units.

8:5

8:6

A2aA2bA2cA2dA2eA2fA2gA2h

240 Amos8:4-6


ירה ;הparagogicwith שברofpcweyiqtol 1Hiphil .ונשב ithereexpressespurposeorintent,“sothatwemaysell.”

בר Theverb.thewithaccusativecognateaobject,directThe .שdagheshintheש isanexampleofadaghesh forte conjunctivum (GKC §20c).

Line A2c:Thecolon-marker isathnach andtheconstraintsare:1predicator,3constituents,and3units.Thereisgappingofר from יעבlineA2a.

ת isthatA2afromverbthe,יעברforsubjectsecondA .והשבgapped.

hereit;הparagogicwith פתחofpcweyiqtol 1Qal .ונפתחהexpressespurposeorintent,“sothatwemayopen.”Thestoragejarsofgrainwouldbeopenedupsothatthecontentscouldbemeasuredoutandsold.Cf.Genesis41:56:ויפתח יוסף את־כל־אשר בהם וישבר למצרים (“andJosephopenedall[thestorehouses]thatwereamongthemandhesold[it]toEgypt”).

ר directThe .ב object.בר III is threshed grain as opposed tocut stalks (עמיר) orunthreshed grain. It appears thatשבר II andthreshedisthatgraintoreferringsynonymous,essentiallyareIII ברandsuitable forpurchase,butthat generalmoreais דגן term,as itcanrefertograineitherinthefields(Ezek36:29;Ps65:10[E9])orthreshedandreadyforeat(Lam2:12).

Line A2d:Thecolon-markeriszaqeph qaton andtheconstraintsare:2predicators,4constituents,and4units.

ין theandThis.לwith קטןofconstructinfinitiveHiphil .להקטotherinfinitiveconstructformsinlinesA2d-ffunctionasgerundivesexplainingthenatureoftheirgrainselling(seeIBHS 36.2.3e).Asthegerundivefunctionswithinaclausegovernedbyanactualorimpliedfiniteverb,itisdebatablewhetheritcanbeconsideredapredicator.Butaseverygerundiveherehasadirectobject,theyarecountedaspredicators.

Amos8:5-6 241


measuredryaephah,”the“Shrinkingobject.directThe .איפהofcapacity,resultsingivingthecustomerlessgrainthanhepaidfor.Theprecisesizeofanephahisunknown,butitwascertainlylessthanabushel(forafulldiscussion,seeABD,“WeightsandMeasures”).

יל -contheand לwith גדלofconstructinfinitiveHiphil .ולהגדjunction.

קל againstweightashekel,”the“Enlargingobject.directThe .שwhichsilverwasweighed,resultsinchargingthecustomermorethantheagreedprice.

Line A2e:Thecolon-markerissilluq andtheconstraintsare:1pred-icator,2constituents,and3units.

and לwith(”“bendto) עותofconstructinfinitivePiel .ולעותconjunction.Apparentlythescalesweresubtlydistortedinamannerthatcausedunequalweightstoappeartobeinbalance.

ה מרמ An .מאזני adjectival construct chain, with “scales ofdeceit”meaning“deceitfulscales.”

Line A2f:Thecolon-markeriszaqeph qaton andtheconstraintsare:1predicator,3constituents,and3units.

-geruntheHere.לwith קנהofconstructinfinitiveQal .לקנותdivedescribesnotthemeansofcheatingbutthegoal,“forgettingforsilver....”

סף consideredbecouldwhich,בwithphrasePrepositional .בכaב ofprice(IBHS §11.2.5d).Butthepointisnotthattheyarebuy-ingslavesontheopenmarketforsilver,butthat,bydrivingpeopleintopovertyandthen lendingthemmoney, theycanseize themasdebt-slaves.

ים .objectdirectThe .דלLine A2g:Thecolon-markerisathnach andtheconstraintsare:0

predicators,2constituents,and3units.Thereisgapping,withלקנות inA2fgoverningtheobjectsinbothlines.Thislinerepeatsverbatimalinein2:6,indicatingthatpeoplearesoldintoslaveryforassmalla

242 Amos8:5-6


debtasthecostofapairofsandals(seethediscussionofA1din2:6babove).

.objectdirectThe .ואביוןים .2:6bSee .בעבור נעל

Line A2h: The colon-marker is silluq and the constraints are: 1predicator,2constituents,and3units.Thislinehasthepatternו +[x]+yiqtol,andassuchanswersweyiqtol verbofthesameroot(שבר)in A2b. In addition, it also closes the above sequence of infinitiveconstructformsbybreakingthechainofinfinitiveconstructforms.Iteffectivelymeans:“Andontopofeverythingelse,wewillsellthemgrainthatisalmostworthless.”

ר ב ל aschainconstructA .ומפ thedirectobject.מפל (“fall-ings”)referstograinfromthebottomoftheheapthatisheavilycon-taminatedwithdirtandchaff.

יר .intentexpresstousedpcyiqtol 1Hiphil .נשב8:7: Second Stanza. Thisstanzaisinonestropheoftwolines.

ב ע יהוה בגאון יעק נשבם׃ ח לנצח כל־מעשיה אם־אשכ


ע .שבעofsmqatal 3Niphal .נשב.subjectThe .יהוהב hewhichbythatfor בwithphrasePrepositional .בגאון יעק

swears.ItissurprisingthatGodwouldswearbythe“prideofJacob”sincehesaidin6:8thathehatesit.Assuggestedinourinterpretationofthatverse,however,thereisprobablyambiguityinthetermגאון .יעקב The current and perverse pride of Jacob is their wealth andfortifications,buttherightandproperprideofJacobistheircovenant

Amos8:6-7 243

8:7BaBb


God.Inswearingbytheגאון יעקב,Godisswearingbyhimself,asat4:2and6:8.


ח in אםparticleThe .אם־אשכ a truncated oath is a strongnegative.Theverbisqalyiqtol 1csofשכח,“forget.”

.(“forever”)adverbialisphraseprepositionalThe .לנצחם .objectdirectThe .כל־מעשיה

8:8: Third Stanza. Thisstanzaisinonestropheoffourlines.Thisisacommentonthepreviousstanza:sinceGodhassoswornanoathagainstIsrael,isitanysurprisethatthelandreelsandheaves?

רץ א־תרגז הא על זאת ל הה ב ב ל כל־יוש ואבה ה כאר כל ועלת

ים׃ ס ה כיאור מצר ה ונשקע ונגרש

Line Ca:Thecolon-markeriszaqeph qaton andtheconstraintsare:1predicator,3constituents,and3units.

על זאת on“) עלexplanatorythewithphrasePrepositional .הaccountofthis”)andtheinterrogativeה.

א־תרגז qalNegated .ל yiqtol 3 f s of ,רגז “shake.”The yiqtol heresignifiesafuturetense.Thenegativerhetoricalquestiongener-allydoesnotseparatetheinterrogativeה fromthenegativeלא,butwritesitasהלא.Butthereareotherexampleslikethisone,suchas2Samuel19:22,התחת זאת לא יומת שמעי (“Shouldn’tShimeibeputtodeathonaccountofthis?”).

רץ .subjectThe .האLine Cb:The colon-marker is athnach and the constraints are: 1

predicator,3constituents,and3units.

244 Amos8:7-8

8:8CaCbCcCd


ל withsequencemainlineain אבלofsmweqatal 3Qal .ואבtheinitialverbתרגז.Thereisalinkheretotheopeningofthebookat1:2,whereYHWHroarsandthepastureswither(אבל II).Here,YHWHswearsanoath,theearthshakes,andtheinhabitantsmourn.(I אבל)

ב used) ישבofsmparticipleactiveqalasubject,The .כל־יושsubstantively)andכל.

ה thetoantecedentthe;בlocativewithphrasePrepositional .בsuffixisהארץ.

Line Cc:Thecolon-markeriszaqeph qaton andtheconstraintsare:1predicator,3constituents,and3units.

ה withsequencemainlineain עלהofsfweqatal 3Qal .ועלתtheinitialverb.

כארoferrorscribalaisThere.כwithphrasePrepositional .כאר(“likethelight”)forכיאר (“liketheNile”).Cf.Vulgatequasi fluvius (“likeariver”).

ה .הארץissuffixthetoantecedentThesubject.The .כלLine Cd:Thecolon-markerissilluq andtheconstraintsare:2predi-

cators,3constituents,and4units.ה .sequencemainlineain גרשofsfweqatal 3Niphal .ונגרש

AsisdoneinHALOT,therootגרש isoftendividedintotwoseparatehomonyms,גרש I(“todriveout”)andגרש II(“tochurnup[water]”),butthisisneedlessandmisleading.Usedofariver,itdoesnotmeantosplashaboutorbeunsettled, itmeans tooverflowitsbanksandsotossupmudandsilt(Isa57:20).Thisissimplyafunctionofthemeaning“driveout.”

ה .sequencemainlineain שקעofsfweqatal 3Niphal .ונשקעTheverbdescribes the subsidenceof the riverafter thecrestof theflood.Thisistheqere here;thekethiv ונשקה,anelsewhereunattestedniphalofשקה (“togivewatertodrink”)isplainlywrong.

ים מצר Prepositional .כיאור phrase with on כ a construct

Amos8:8 245


chainidentifyingtheיאור specificallyastheNile.Thetermיאור canbeusedofotherrivers;inDaniel12:5-7itreferstotheTigris.

8:9-10: Fourth Stanza. Thisstanzaisasinglestropheoftenlines.Itisofcoursepossibletodivideintosmallerstrophes,butthatwouldseemarbitrary,asthereisnoclearstrophicdivision.Infact,thewholestanza is a single protasis (line Da) and apodosis (lines Dc-j) con-struction.After theprotasis anddivine speech formula (Da-b), theapodosisisajudgmentoracleofeightlines(notealsothatalloftheverbsoftheapodosisarefirstsingularwithYHWHasthesubject).Itisdominatedbyweqatal verbs,andinthisisanalogoustothefulljudgmentoraclesagainstthenations(1:4-5,7-8,14-15;2:2-3)exceptthateachof thosehas seven lines. Itmaybe that theeight linesofDc-jcorrespondtothefactthatIsraelistheeighthnationjudgedin1:3–2:16.Also, theeight linesof judgmentcorrespond to theeightlinesofaccusationin8:5-6.

והיה ׀ ביום ההוא ה נאם אדני יהו

ים צהר מש ב י הש והבאתרץ ביום אור׃ י לא והחשכת

בל ם לא י חגיכ והפכתה יריכם לקינ וכל־ש

ק ים ש י על־כל־מתנ והעליתה אש קרח ועל־כל־ריד בל יח יה כא ושמתר׃ ה כיום מ ואחרית

Line Da:Thecolon-markerisrevia andtheconstraintsare:1predi-cator,2constituents,and3units.

246 Amos8:8-10

8:9DaDbDcDd

8:10DeDfDgDhDiDj


alsoandoracleanintroducing היהofsmweqatal 3Qal .והיה ׀servingasaprotasis.

“Thatdemonstrative.and בprepositionwithNoun .ביום ההואday”referstothedayofYHWH;itmayincludeboththeimminentdestructionofSamariaandaneschatologicalfinalday.Thelanguageofthisstrophe,withthedaylightturningtodarkness,isstandardpro-pheticlanguageforthecomingofthedayofYHWH.

Line Db:Thecolon-markeriszaqeph qaton andtheconstraintsare:0predicators,1constituent,and3units.

ה .formulaspeechdivineA .נאם אדני יהוLine Dc: The colon-marker is athnach and the constraints are: 1

predicator,3constituents,and3units.י apodosistheintroducing בואofscweqatal 1Hiphil .והבאת

andservingasthemainlineverbinapredictivesequence.Usedwith,שמש the rootבוא means to “godown” (Gen15:12;Exod17:12).Thus,thehiphilheremeansto“bringdown.”

מש .subjectThe .השים צהר ”.noonat“,בtemporalwithphrasePrepositional .ב

Line Dd:Thecolon-markerissilluq andtheconstraintsare:1predi-cator,3constituents,and4units.

י -predicthecontinuing חשךofscweqatal 1Hiphil .והחשכתtivemainlinesequence.

רץ ארץmarktoeitherserving לwithphrasePrepositional .לאastheobjectorusedinadirectionalsense,asin“bringdarknessto theearth.”

isgenitiveThe.בtemporalwithphrasePrepositional .ביום אורadjectival,meaning“abrightday.”

Line De:Thecolon-markerisrevia andtheconstraintsare:1predi-cator,3constituents,and3units.

י Qal .והפכת weqatal 1 c s ofהפך continuing the predictivemainlinesequence.

Amos8:9-10 247


ם these5:26,oflightInfestivals.”“yourobject,directThe .חגיכfeastsmayrelatedtoastraldeities.Attheleast,theyprobablyweretiedtoastronomicaleventsinthecalendar.Thus,thecosmicdarkeningoftheskyisdirectlyrelevant.

בל withphrasePrepositional .לא indicating ל theoutcomeofthetransformationdescribedbyוהפכתי,as intheEnglish“toturnXintoY.”

Line Df:Thecolon-markeriszaqeph qaton andtheconstraintsare:0 predicators, 2 constituents, and 2 units. There is gapping, withי .linethisgoverningalsoDelinefrom והפכת

יריכם .objectdirectThe .וכל־שה resulttheindicating לwithphraseprepositionalAnother .לקינ

ofthetransformation.Aקינה isasongoflament.Line Dg:Thecolon-markeriszaqeph qaton andtheconstraintsare:

1predicator,3constituents,and3units.י predictivethecontinuing עלהofscweqatal 1Hiphil .והעלית

mainlinesequence.ים Prepositional .על־כל־מתנ phrase with locative .על The

wordמתנים referstothehips,lowerabdomenandcrotch,andthusthesackclothreferredtoherewasapparentlywornasaloincloth.

ק -wearthetoattestsalso48:37Jeremiahobject.directThe .שingofsackclothaboutthewaistandtheshavingofthehead(seelineDh)asasignoflamentation.SeealsoIsaiah3:24.

Line Dh:The colon-marker isathnach and the constraints are:0predicators,2constituents,and2units.Thereisgappingofוהעליתי.

אש .עלlocativewithphrasePrepositional .ועל־כל־רה theiroutpullingWomen“baldness.”object,directThe .קרח

hairasasignoflamentismentionedasearlyastheSumerianlamentoverthefallofUr(ANET 461:299).

Line Di:Thecolon-markeriszaqeph qaton andtheconstraintsare:1predicator,2constituents,and3units.

248 Amos8:9-10


יה continuingsuffixsf3aand שיםofscweqatal 1Qal .ושמתthepredictivemainlinesequence.Butwhatistheantecedentofthefemininesuffix?OnecouldtakeittobeeitherthecityofSamariaorthelandofIsrael,butitprobablyisaneutrumreferringtoanunspe-cificantecedentortothewholesituation,liketheEnglish“it.”

יד בל יח aonanalogy,anfor,כwithphrasePrepositional .כאconstructchaininanobjectivegenitiverelationship;thatis,theיחיד (“onlyson”)iswhatis“mourned.”Butthisisnotmerelyasimile;in2:14-16weseethatmanysonswillinfactneedtobemournedbecausetheywillhavefalleninbattle.

Line Dj:Thecolon-markerissilluq andtheconstraintsare:0predi-cators,2constituents,and3units.

ה entirethetorefersprobablysuffixsf3theAgain, .ואחריתsituation.Literally“Itsoutcome”or“Theendofit,”thiscouldbethesubjectofanominalclause,butprobablyitistheobjectofושמתיה duetogapping.

ר ,kaph veritatistheisThis.כwithphrasePrepositional .כיום מa eventanwithpreposition כ that literally comes topass. Inotherwords,itisnotsimply“like”abitterday,itisabitterdayinthefullestsense.GKC §118xissomewhatskepticalaboutthekaph veritatis,butitisclearthatthisisnotsimplyananalogy.IBHS 11.2.9bdescribeskaph veritatis as follows:“Theagreementof the thingscompared iscomplete, insofar as the discourse is concerned.” It aptly illustratesthiswithNehemiah7:2:כי־הוא כאיש אמת (“Forheisineverywayanhonestguy”).

8:11-12: Fifth Stanza. Likethepreviousstanzathisbeginswithareferencetothecomingdaysservingasaninitialprotasis(comparelineDatoE1a),anditrepeatsthesamedivinespeechformula(com-parelineDbtoE1b).Unlikethepreviousstanza,however,thisisintwostrophes.Thefirststrophebeginstheapodosiswithafirstpersonweqatal verb,justaswasdonebefore.Butthesecondstrophe(8:12)ismarkedbyachangetothirdpluralverbs.

Amos8:10-12 249


8:11: First Strophe.Fivelines.LinesE1aandE1c,servingrespec-tively as the protasis and apodosis, are the structural heart of thisstrophe.

ים ים בא הנה ׀ ימה נאם אדני יהו

רץ ב בא י רע והשלחתים א למ א־צמ חם ול ב לל א־רע לה׃ י יהו ת דבר ע א י אם־לשמ כ

Line E1a:Thecolon-markerisrevia andtheconstraintsare:1predi-cator,3constituents,and3units.

׀ באיםexpressionThe .הנה ימים intimesthreeoccurs הנה Amos,alwaysattheheadofadivinejudgmentregardingthefutureofIsrael.In4:2itannouncesthejudgmentthatwillbefallthewomenofSamariawhenthecityfalls,andin9:13itannounceseschatologicalsalvationforIsrael.Here,itannouncesaprolongedperiodofdiasporaduringwhichtimeIsraelwithbewithoutthewordofGod.

ים .באיםwithsentenceperiphrastictheofsubjectThe .ימים -periphrasusedhereisit;בואofpmparticipleactiveQal .בא

ticallyasapredicator.Line E1b:Thecolon-markeriszaqeph qaton andtheconstraintsare:

0predicators,1constituent,and3units.ה .formulaspeechdivineA .נאם אדני יהו

Line E1c:Thecolon-marker isathnach and theconstraintsare:1predicator,3constituents,and3units.

י theintroduceshereIt.שלחofscweqatal 1Hiphil .והשלחתapodosis.Thehiphilofשלח isusedfivetimesintheHebrewBible(Exod8:17;Lev26:22;2Kgs15:37;Ezek14:13;here).Godisalwaysthesubject,anditalwaysinvolvesthedispatchofaplagueorcalam-

250 Amos8:11

8:11E1aE1bE1cE1dE1e


ityuponGod’senemy.Thisisincontrasttotheotherstemsofשלח,whichoftendonotimplyhostileaction(wheretheverbmightbeusedforsendingamessenger,thereleaseofaperson,etc.)Especiallyillus-trativeisExodus8:17,whereYHWHsaystothepharaoh,“Orelse,ifyouwillnotdismiss(שלח piel)mypeople,behold,Iwilldispatch”.youonfliesofswarms(hiphil שלח)

ב .objectdirectThe .רערץ .בlocativewithphrasePrepositional .בא

Line E1d:Thecolon-markeriszaqeph qaton andtheconstraintsare:0predicators,4constituents,and4units.Thislineisparenthetical,explainingthenatureofthefaminepredictedinE1c.

ב א־רע inrepeatedislinepreviousthefrom רעבsubjectThe .לordertoclarifywhatkindoffamineismeant.

חם -hunofobjectthemarking לwithphrasePrepositional .ללger.

א א־צמ ”Thirst“ .ול ishereused inparallelwith“famine,” asthetwooftengotogether.Seealsothedescriptionofthirstin4:7-8.

ים .ללחםaspatternSame .למLine E1e:Thecolon-markerissilluq andtheconstraintsare:0pred-

icators,2constituents,and3units.Theentirelineafterכי אם quali-fiestheimpliedtopicwordרעב:“Rather,(itisafamine)forhearingthewordsofYHWH.”

ע אם־לשמ י .כ The particles אם ,כי as is common, heretogethermean“but”or“rather.”Theqalinfinitiveconstructofשמע withprepositionל hereparallelstheusageofל inthepreviouslineobjecttheasfunctiongerundahasinfinitivethe;(למיםand ללחם)ofל (“forhearing”).

י יהוה ת דבר .לשמעofobjectdirectThe .א8:12: Second Strophe.Threelines.Thisstropheexplainshowthe

peoplewill respondto the faminefor thewordofGodwithwhichYHWHwillafflictthem.

Amos8:11 251


ם ונעו מים עד־יח ומצפון ועד־מזר

או׃ א ימצ ש את־דבר־יהוה ול ישוטטו לבק

Line E2a:Thecolon-markeriszaqeph qaton andtheconstraintsare:1predicator,3constituents,and3units.

-predicmainlineaisItwander.”“,נועofpcweqatal 3Qal .ונעוtivetext.Theactionofthisverbissubsequenttoandfollowsupontheconditiondescribedinthepreviousstrophe,thattherewouldbeafamineforthewordofGod.

Prepositional .מים phrase with locative .מן The prepositionreferstothebeginningpointoftheirwandering.

ם ofendpointtheindicating,עדwithphrasePrepositional .עד־יtheirwandering.Buttheidentitiesofthetwoseasisleftunstated,andtheverb“wander”bydefinitionimpliesa lackofspecificityregard-ingone’soriginanddestination.Thus,itisunlikelythatoneshouldidentify the seasmentionedhere as some specific seas. Some inter-pretersbelievethat,ontheanalogyofJoel2:20,thetwoseasaretheMediterranean and the Dead Sea. The idea is that the people willwanderabouttheterritoryofJudah(Paul1991,266).AnotherviewisthatAmoshasthefourcardinaldirectionsinmind,andthatsincelineE2bclearlyreferstonorthandeast,thislinemustrefertowestandsouth(AndersenandFreedman1989,825–26).Onthisreckon-ing,oneoftheseasmustbetheMediterranean(west)andtheothermustbeeither theDeadSeaorperhaps theGulfofAqaba(south).Neitherinterpretationisconvincing.Againstthefirstinterpretation,itisreallyratherabsurdtopicturethefugitives“wandering”thesmallspace between the Dead Sea and Mediterranean. Also, unlike thistext,Joel2:20specificallyidentifiesitstwoseasasthe“eastern”and“western”seas.Amos’refusaltospecifyaparticular“sea”cannotbedisregarded. Against the second interpretation, it is not at all clearthatAmoshasthepointsofthecompassinmind(seethecomments

252 Amos8:12

8:12E2aE2bE2c


onthenextline).Rather,asinZecheriah9:10andPsalm72:8,מים andearth”theofregionsdistantmostthe“tomeanseffectin עד־יםis not confined to the southern Levant. Why does Amos speak ofwandering“fromseatosea” insteadofsaying“fromlandto land”?Probablybecauseheisimplyingthattheywillcrossmanyseasandgofarawayintounknownterritory.

Line E2b:Thecolon-markerisathnach andtheconstraintsare:0predicators,2constituents,and2units.

Prepositional .ומצפון phrase with .מן Although means צפון“north,”itconnotesmorethanacompasspoint.צפון istheplaceofthedivinemountain(Isa14:13;Ps48:3[E2]).Itstretchesoutintoagreatvoid(Job26:7).Towanderצפון impliesnotjustbeingsome-whereinthenorthbutbeingunimaginablyfaraway.Itisthesenseofgreatdistance,notthegeographicaldirection,thatistherealpoint.

ח .conjunctiontheand עדwithphrasePrepositional .ועד־מזרbyisitbuteast,theextensionbythereforeandsunrisetheis מזרחimplicationalimitlessdistance,asnohumancanevergettotheplacefromwhichthesunrises.Thus,thislinealsospeaksofwanderingfarandwideandnotstrictlyofcompasspoints.

Line E2c:Thecolon-markerissilluq andtheconstraintsare:2pred-icators,4constituents,and5units.

thanratheryiqtol,aBeing.שוטofpmyiqtol 3Polel.ישוטטוanotherweqatal,thisverbintroducesnotanothermainlinepredictiveclausebutanofflineclause,apredictionthatsummarizesandcon-cludesthemessageofthewholestanza.Thepolelofשוט connotesgoingbackandforth,movingallaboutaterritory,asifinsearchofsomething.Cf.2Chr16:9:כי יהוה עיניו משטטות בכל־הארץ (“ForYHWH’seyesroveaboutinalltheearth”).

ש -comaasused(”seek“) בקשofconstructinfinitivePiel .לבקplementwiththemainverb.

.לבקשofobjectdirectThe .את־דבר־יהוהאו ימצ א -conjuncwith מצאofpmyiqtol 3qalNegated .ול

Amos8:12 253


tion.Thisofflineclauseiscontrastivetothepreviousclauseheadedbyישוטטו.

8:13-14: Prose Conclusion:Thestructureofthispassageindicatesthatitisprose.Ifitweretreatedaspoetry,thecolonbreakwouldhavetobeafterהיפות.Thisfitstheformalrequirementsoftheconstraints,butitisunusuallylongforalineinAmos,andtheessentialpreposi-tionalphraseבצמא doesnotappearuntilthenextline.Thesecondcolonwouldhavetobeוהבחורים בצמא,whichwouldbeabsurdlytruncatedafterthepreviousline.Inaddition,thecantillationsuggeststhattheMasoretesdidnotregardthisaspoetry(notethelackofanymajordisjunctiveinv.13beforethesilluq).Inordertoseetheclausestructure,thetwoversesmustbeconsideredtogether.

תעלפנה הבתולת היפות ביום ההוא תמרון ת ש א׃ הנשבעים באשמ ים בצמ והבחור

בע ר־ש רך בא י ד ן וח יך ד י אלה ואמרו חונפלו ולא־יקומו עוד׃ ס

Prose Clause:היפות הבתולת תעלפנה ת ההוא ביום א׃ ים בצמ והבחור

Allofv.13isasingleclause.Themainverbתתעלפנה (hithpaelyiqtol 3fpofעלף, to“faint”)hasbothהבתולת andוהבחורים assubject.Thewordבצמא (“by thirst”) isadverbialand itapplies tobothsubjectnouns.Ithastheprepositionב (usedinstrumentally)todescribewhatcausesthehealthyyoungpeopletocollapse.Thedefi-nitearticlesonהבתולת andוהבחורים aswellasonבצמא refertoaclassortypeandnottosomespecificpersonsorthing.בחור (“youngman”) isderived fromבחר (“choose”) and refers to youngmenofquality(seeNIDOTTE,בחור).

Prose Clause: מרון ת ש הנשבעים באשמ

254 Amos8:12-14

8:13-14


Thebeginningofv.14,הנשבעים באשמת שמרון,isheadedbyaniphalparticiplempofשבע servingasarelativeclausewhoseante-cedentisbothוהבחורים andהבתולת (theparticipleismasculinebyvirtueofthegenderofthenearerantecedent, justasתתעלפנה, themainverb, is femininebyvirtueof thenearer subjectnoun).Thus,although שמרון באשמת is הנשבעים a relativeclause, it is closelyboundtotheprecedingclauseasitfunctionsasanadjectivalphrasewiththesubjects,andatranslationneedstoreflectthat.Thephraseשמרון is באשמת emendedby some to שמרון by“) באשימת [thedeity]AshimaofSamaria”).ButAshimawasnotintroducedintothelanduntilafterthedestructionofSamariain722(seeABD,“Ashima”),and there is no reason to suppose that Ashima was ever known as“Ashima of Samaria.” שמרון should באשמת be left as is, “by theguiltofSamaria.”ItreferstorivalshrinessuchasthatsetupatDan,elsewherereferredtoinsimilarterms,suchasthe“thesinsofJeroboamthesonofNebat” (2Kgs15:9,etc.).That is, the“godofDan”andthe“wayofBeersheba”thatarementionedbelowtogetherconstituteexamplesofthe“guiltofSamaria”bywhichtheyswear.

Prose Clause: ואמרוAqalweqatal 3cpofאמר,thisverbislinkedtotheparticiple

andmenthebyspokenoathstheofcontentthegivesand הנשבעיםwomenofSamaria.Thetextcouldhaveusedthefamiliarלאמר forthispurpose,buttheweqatal morestronglysuggeststhattheyusetheoathformulasrepeatedlyorroutinely.

Prose Clause: ן יך ד י אלה חAverblessoathclause.Theformחי isnormallyusedforswearing

byYHWHwhiletheformחי isusedforswearingbymen(e.g.,2Kgsוחי־נפשך,2:6 ,חי־יהוה “asYHWHlives andas your soul lives”).Butwedohavetheexampleoftheangel’soathinDaniel12:7,וישבע weperhapssoeternal,”theoflifethebysworeheand“,בחי העולםshouldnotmaketoomuchof this.אלהיך couldbetakentomean“yourgods”andtorefertoshrinesforpagandeitiesatDan.Onthe

Amos8:13-14 255


otherhand, itcouldmean“yourGod”andrefertoYHWH.Ifthelatter, it implies that the Israelites regarded YHWH as a localizedshrinedeity.

Prose Clause: בע ר־ש רך בא י ד וחAnotherverblessoathclause.Swearingbythe“wayofBeersheba”

seemsodd,andinterpretershaveproposedvariousemendations,noneofwhichisconvincing(seeWolff1977,323–24,andPaul1991,271–byandBeershebatopilgrimagethetorefersapparentlyhere דרך.(72extensiontotheGodthere(Paul[1991,272]comparesittoaMuslimcustomofswearingbythepilgrimagetoMecca).AsBeershebawasrelativelyfarfromSamaria,itmakessensethattheymightswearbythepilgrimageasaeuphemismforthedeity.

Prose Clause: ונפלו ולא־יקומו עודFormallythisistwoclauses,butthenegatedqalyiqtol 3mpof

couldand ונפלוadverbiallymodifytoserves ולא־יקומו עודin קוםbetranslated,“nevertoriseagain.”ונפלו,aqalweqatal 3cpofנפל,resumes themainlineof theprophecy afterתתעלפנה, a verbwithwhichitsharessomesemanticoverlap.

9:1-15: Second Poem with Prose Introduction

9:1a: Prose Introduction: ThistextdescribesavisionofYHWHandassuchgivescontexttothefinaloraclesofthebook.

ח ויאמר ל־המזב ב ע י נצ יתי את־אדנ רא

Prose Clause: ח ל־המזב ב ע י נצ יתי את־אדנ ראTheinitialverb,aqalqatal 1csofראה,indicatesthatthisisa

visionreport,althoughthisreportisformallydifferentfromtheotherfour(7:1-9;8:1-3).YHWHdoesnotaddressAmosdirectly,andthereisnowordplaybasedonsomeobjectinthevision.YHWHisstand-ing(niphalparticiplemsofנצב;anadjectivalparticiple)על thealtar.Doesעל heremean“upon”?This ispossiblebutnotnecessary; the

256 Amos8:14–9:1

9:1a


meaning“beside”iswellattested(e.g.,Jer17:2).Thepatternנצב על as“standbeside”appearsinGenesis24:13;Numbers23:6andelse-where.Thealtarinquestionisprobablyatoneofthemajorshrines,suchasBethelorDan.

Prose Clause: ויאמרTheqalwayyiqtol 3msofאמר continuesthemainlineofthe

narrativeofthevision.AlthoughcontextindicatesthatYHWHisthespeaker,thisisnotadivinespeechformula.

9:1b-4: First Stanza. Thisstanzaisinthreestrophes.ItdescribesYHWH’spurposetohuntdownandexterminatetheIsraelites(par-ticularlytheleaders)inresponseto8:5-6.Thefirststrophespeaksofthedestructionofthepeopleunderthemetaphorofstrikingapillaredstructure, the second declares that none will escape, and the thirdelaboratesonhowitisthatnonewillgetaway.

9:1b: First Strophe.Threelines.Itisacommandtocutdownthepillars of some edifice, such as a shrine or palace, and to so bringdownthewholestructure.Itismetaphoricalforbringingdownallofsociety,startingwithitsmosthigh-rankingmembers(thecapitalsofthepillars).

ים ך הכפתור וירעשו הספ הם אש כל עם בר ובצ

ג רב אהר ם בח ואחרית

Line A1a:Thecolon-markerisrevia andtheconstraintsare:2pred-icators,4constituents,and4units.

ך .נכהofsmimperativeHiphil .ה-defithehasIt.הךofobjectdirectthecapital,”The“ .הכפתור

nitearticle.-purahereweyiqtol isThe.רעשofpmweyiqtol 3Qal .וירעשו

poseclause,“sothattheyshake.”

Amos9:1 257

9:1bA1aA1bA1c


ים ”.door-frames“themeans,it,וירעשוofsubjectThe .הספLine A1b:Thecolon-markeriszaqeph qaton andtheconstraintsare:

1predicator,3constituents,and3units.עם -conandsuffixpm3with בצעofsmimperativeQal .ובצ

junction. The verb means to “sever”; it does not mean to “shatter”(ESV)or“bringdown”(NIV).SeeHALOT בצע.

אש arecolumnsThe.בlocativewithphrasePrepositional .ברtobeseveredatthe“top”(themeaningofראש inthiscontext;thisisראש Iandnotראש II,“poison,”contrarytoCathcart1994[onecannot “sever” with poison]). Many interpreters takeראש to be aconstructbeforeכלם andreadthelinetomean,“andseverthemonthehead(s)ofallofthem”(i.e.,“onalltheirheads”).Cf.ESV,NIV,RSV,NRSV.Thepattern“constructnoun+כל +suffixdoesappear;cf. Judges7:16, “andheplaced shofars in thehandsof eachoneofthem(ביד־כלם),”wherethepatternhasadistributivefunction.But“andseverthemon(to)thehead(s)ofallofthem”isveryawkward,andonewouldexpect, if themeaningwere that thepillarswere tobeseveredandfalldownontoalloftheirheads,thatthetextwouldinsteadusethepatternבכל־ראשיהם (seeEzek7:18[ובכל־ראשיהם];alsocompareNehemiah9:32[ולכל־עמך];Psalm143:5[בכל־פעלך];Jeremiah16:17 .([על־כל־דרכיהם] It isbetter (notwithstanding theaccentmunah)toreadראש asanabsolutenounandtakeכלם tobein apposition to thepronoun suffixon theverbובצעם: “and severthematthehead—allofthem!”AnanalogouscaseisinMicah3:7,ם כלם ”themoflip—allupperthecovershalltheyand“,ועטו על־שפexamplesimilaranotherhaveWe.(constructinnotisclearly שפם)inthisverycontext,inAmos9:5,ועלתה כיאר כלה,“and(theland)shallriseliketheNile—allofit,”whereיאר obviouslyisnotincon-struct.

ם As .כל stated above, this is in apposition to the suffix on.ובצעם

Line A1c:Thecolon-marker isathnach andtheconstraintsare:1predicator,3constituents,and3units.

258 Amos9:1


ם linefrom בראשwithmerismaformnotdoesThis .ואחריתA1b.ראש,“head”or“top,”isnottheantonymtoאחרית,“ending”or“remainder.”ThetwotermsappeartogetherinIsaiah2:2;Amos8:10; 9:1; Micah 4:1 and in the Aramaic of Daniel 2:28, but theyneverformamerism.Thereisakindofmerisminthistext,butnotspecificallywithראש.Rather,thepillars,thataccordingtolinesA1a-b,aretobestruckdownaremetaphoricallytheleadingmembersofsociety(cf.Gal2:9),andואחריתם referstotherestofthepopulace,thecommonpeople.

רב .בinstrumentalwithphrasePrepositional .בחג usedyiqtol+[X]+ וpatternThe.הרגofscyiqtol 1Qal .אהר

hereprobablymarksthislineasanofflinefuturefollowingtheimper-ativeהך inlineA1a.Itisanadditionalcommentmakingthepointthat God will deal with the rest of the people after his commandconcerningtheleadersiscarriedout.

9:1c: Second Strophe.Twolines.Thisbicolonwithsyntacticandsemantic parallelismmakes thepoint thatnoonewill escape.Thethird strophe elaborates on this theme in much more detail. Theimpossibilityofflightfromdeathanddisasterlooksbackto2:14-16(wheretheverbsנוס andמלט areprominent)andformssomethingofaninclusionforthebook.

ס א־ינוס להם נ ליט׃ ם פל ט לה א־ימל ול


א־ינוס .נוסofsmyiqtol 3qalNegated .לcouldThissuffix.pm3aand לwithphrasePrepositional .להם

bean“ethicaldative”(GKC §119s),butonewouldexpectthesuffixtobesingular,liketheverb,ifthatwerethecase.Itisprobablyfunction-ingasapartitivegenitive,asin“nooneofthem.”

Amos9:1 259

9:1cA2aA2b


ס cognateaassubstantivelyused נוסofparticipleactiveQal .נnominativewiththemainverb.


א־ימלט .מלטofsmyiqtol 3niphalNegated .ולם .A2aasSame .להיט itbut,(ימלט)verbitswithcognatenotisitsubject;The .פל

hasassonancewithit,creatinganotherlayerofparallelismwiththepreviousline.

9:2-4: Third Strophe. Twelve lines in six sub-strophe couplets.Thishas a seriesof fiveprotasis-apodosisbicola,withA3a, c, e, g,ibeingtheprotasislinesandA3b,d,f,h,jbeingtheapodosislines.The last two linesof the strophe,A3k-l,donot follow thispatternandcouldberegardedasaseparatestrophe,but inHebrewpoetry,a lengthyparallel series is often terminatedby a final element thatbreakstheformalpattern.Throughoutthestrophe,untiltheendatlineA3k,theverbsareprimarilyyiqtol,markingthepotentialfutureconditionsoftheprotasesandapodoses.

אם־יחתרו בשאול ם י תקח ם יד משים ם־יעלו השמ וא

ם׃ ם אוריד משל אש הכרמ באו בר ואם־יח

ים ש ולקחת ם אחפ משם ע הי תרו מנגד עיני בקרק ואם־יס

ם׃ ש ונשכ ה את־הנח ם אצו משם יביה ואם־ילכו בשבי לפני א

תם רב והרג ה את־הח ם אצו מש

260 Amos9:1-4

9:2

9:3

9:4

A3aA3bA3cA3dA3eA3fA3gA3hA3iA3j


ם י עליה י עינ ושמתה׃ א לטוב ה ול לרע


marking אםwith(”dig“) חתרofpmyiqtol 3Qal .אם־יחתרוtheprotasis.

,Sheol.בdirectiveorlocativewithphrasePrepositional .בשאולliketheGreekHades,ishereconceivedofasbeingunderground.InlinesA3a-j, thefirst fourhidingplacesarevertical innature:Sheol(down), heaven (up), Mt. Carmel (up), and the bottom of the sea(down).SheolisoftenthoughtofastheplacewhereoneisultimatelyandfinallyremovedfromGod(Ps6:6[E5];9:18[E17],butseealsoPs139:8).


ם ”.therefrom“,מןwithphrasePrepositional .משי .subjectThe .ידם .suffixpm3with לקחofsfyiqtol 3Qal .תקח

Line A3c:Thecolon-markeriszaqeph qaton andtheconstraintsare:1predicator,2constituents,and2units.

ם־יעלו -prothemarking אםwith עלהofpmyiqtol 3Qal .ואtasis.

ים therepresentingSheolwithmerismainhereisHeaven .השמhypotheticalhighestandlowestplacesinthecosmos,andsoindicat-ingthatthereisnoplacewheretheycangotohide.ThisisanironictreatmentofwhatweseeinPsalm139:8,whichtakescomfortinthefactthateveninheavenandinSheolnooneisbeyondGod’sreach.Here,thatfactisathreat.

Line A3d: The colon-marker is silluq and the constraints are: 1predicator,2constituents,and2units.

Amos9:2-4 261

A3kA3l


ם .מןwithphrasePrepositional .משם pm3with(”downbring“) ירדofscyiqtol 1Hiphil .אוריד

suffix.ThisverbmaybeusedofGodbringingdowntheproud(e.g.,Jer49:16:משם אורידך קנך כנשר ,youalthough“] כי־תגביה liketheeagle,makeyournesthigh,fromthereIwillbringyoudown”]).Here,however,thepeopleareuphighnotoutofpridebutoutofadesiretoescapeGod.

Line A3e:Thecolon-markeriszaqeph qaton andtheconstraintsare:1predicator,2constituents,and3units.

באו Niphal .ואם־יח yiqtol 3 m p ofחבא (“hide”) withאם markingtheprotasis.

ל הכרמ אש .בר Prepositional phrase with on ב a constructchain.ButwhyisMt.Carmelmentionedasaplaceofhiding?Cren-shaw suggests that itwasbecauseof itsheight (secondonly toMt.Tabor inIsrael), itsdenseforestsanditsmanycaves.Henotesthatthe classical geographer Strabo says that robbers hid there. Also,sinceCarmeljutsoutintotheMediterranean,itsetsthestageforthenexthidingplace,thebottomofthesea(Crenshaw1975,133).Itisremarkable,however,thata localandcertainlyaccessiblemountainismentionedasahidingplaceamongthreeotherplacesthatinvolvemythologicalvoyages(intoSheol,heaven,andthebottomofthesea).ItmaybethatCarmelwasconsideredasacredplaceatthistime(noteespeciallytheassociationofMt.CarmelwithElijah[1Kgs18],whodiedsome40yearsbeforeAmos’ministry).

Line A3f:Thecolon-marker isathnach andtheconstraintsare:2predicators,3constituents,and3units.

ם .מןwithphrasePrepositional .משmeansoften חפשofpielThe.חפשofscyiqtol 1Piel .אחפש

toseekoutinahostilesense(Gen44:12;1Sam23:23;1Kgs20:6;2Kgs10:23).ThisforcefullydevelopsthemetaphorofGodhuntingdownthefleeingIsraelites.

ים cweqatal 1Qal .ולקחת sofלקח with3mp suffix.The

262 Amos9:2-4


weqatal addsasecondpredictiontotheapodosisverbאחפש.Thisshouldnotberenderedasapurposeclause;ifthatwerethemeaning,aweyiqtol verbprobablywouldhavebeenused.

Line A3g:Thecolon-markeriszaqeph qaton andtheconstraintsare:1predicator,3constituents,and5units.

תרו Niphal .ואם־יס yiqtol 3 m p ofסתר (“hide”) withאם markingtheprotasis.

עיני עיןidiomThe .מנגד Oldtheintimesfiveoccurs מנגד Testament.Intheseexamples,italwaysconnotesbeingoutofGod’ssightandthuspresumablyoutofhisthoughtsaswell.Isa1:16exhortsthe people to remove their evil deeds from before God’s eyes, andJeremiah16:17saysthattheiriniquityisnothiddenfromGod’seyes.InJonah2:5andPsalm31:23,thepsalmistisalarmedatthethoughtofbeingremovedfromGod’ssight(i.e.,abandonedbyhim).HereinAmos,however,thepeopletrytoremovethemselvesfromGod’ssight,asthoughtheywanthimtoforgetaboutthem.

ם הי ע On“ .בקרק the floor of the sea.” In Gilgamesh, theherodivestothebottomoftheseatorecovertheplantofeternallife(ANET 96).Here,insteadofbeingonahero’squest,IsraeliterefugeesplungeintothedeeptoescapeGod.ThebottomoftheseacouldalsorepresenttherealmofthedeadinparallelwithSheolinlineA3a(cf.Rev20:13).Ofcourse,itdoesnotseemtomakesensethatsomeonewhoisalreadyintherealmofthedeadwouldbepunishedbybeingputtodeath.Butrationalcoherenceofthatsortisnotthepointhere;rather,themessageisthatthereisnoplacetohide.

Line A3h: The colon-marker is silluq and the constraints are: 2predicators,4constituents,and4units.

ם .מןwithphrasePrepositional .מש.צוהofscyiqtol 1Piel .אצוהש parallelaisthereAgain.אצוהofobjectdirectThe .את־הנח

toGilgamesh’squest,inthatitwasaserpentthatthwartedhisquestbycarryingawaytheplantofeternallife(ANET 96).Here,theser-

Amos9:2-4 263


pentisanagentofGodanditattackstheIsraelitesdirectly.Inaddi-tion,thisparallelsAmos5:19,wheretheserpent’sbitefrustratestheflightofthemanseekingrefugefromalionorbear.

ם -weqaThesuffix.pm3with נשךofsmweqatal 3Qal .ונשכtal againindicatesasecondprediction,whichhereistheoutcomeofGod’scommand.

Line A3i:Thecolon-markeriszaqeph qaton andtheconstraintsare:1predicator,3constituents,and4units.

.הלךofpmyiqtol 3Qal .ואם־ילכוtwoinremarkableiscaptivity,theplace,hidinglastThe .בשבי

ways.First,itisnotahypotheticalvoyageescapeGodbutcorrespondstotherealityofIsrael’sexileanddiaspora.Second,Israelitesarehereportrayedasthinkingofexileanddiaspora,theultimatepunishmentfromGod,asawaytohidefromGod.ItisasthoughttheywantedtomeldintothecrowdofGentilesanddisappear,hopingthatGodandtheythemselveswouldforgetthattheyarethecovenantpeople.

ם יביה א The .לפני preposition ,לפני “in the presence of,”insteadofב,“in,”orבתוך,“inthemidstof,”suggeststhattheywillstillstandoutasJews.Thechoiceofאיביהם,“theirenemies,”insteadofamoreneutral termsuchasהגוים, “thenations,” reminds themthattheirhostsretainalevelofhostilitytowardthem.

Line A3j:Thecolon-marker isathnach andtheconstraintsare:2predicators,4constituents,and4units.

ם .מןwithphrasePrepositional .מש.צוהofscyiqtol 1Piel .אצוהרב -perhereisswordthe,אצוהofobjectdirectThe .את־הח

sonifiedastheagentofGod’swrath,anditisconcretelyrealizedintheliteralswordsoftheenemiesofthediasporaJews.

ais חרב.suffixpm3with הרגofsfweqatal 3Qal .והרגתםfemininenoun,inagreementwiththisverb.Theweqatal againindi-catestheoutcomeoftheactionoftheapodosisverb.

264 Amos9:2-4


Line A3k:Thecolon-markeristevir andtheconstraintsare:1predi-cator,3constituents,and3units.Tevir doesnotnormallysignalalinebreak,butitwouldviolatetheconstraints(toomanyconstituents)tohavenobreakbetweenA3kandA3l.Thebreakispreferable,more-over,becauseA3kcreatesasuspension(“TowhatendwillGodkeephiseyeuponthem?”)thatA3lbringstoatragicresolution.

י verbmainlineaasactsThis.שיםofscweqatal 1Qal .ושמתcontinuingthesequenceofpredictionsinalltheapodosislinesabove.Breakingthepatternofprotasisandapodosisline-pairsandbeingthelast verbof this lengthy strophe,moreover, itdescribes the abidingconditioninwhichtheIsraeliteswillfindthemselvesvis-à-vis God.

י .A3glinerecallseyeYHWH’stoReference .עינם hasyou”uponeyeMy“.עלwithphrasePrepositional .עליה

abenevolentsenseinPsalm32:8,andthereadermightanticipatethesamemeaninghere,butthenextlineshowsthatithasahostilesensehere.

Line A3l:Thecolon-markerissilluq andtheconstraintsare:0pred-icators, 2 constituents, and 2 units. This line is dependent on thepreviousline.

ה withphrasePrepositional .לרע -purorgoaldenotinghere לpose.Thisisineffectanabbreviatedwayofsaying,“forthepurposeofharmingthem.”

ה א לטוב -eschatotheinreversedispredictiondireAmos’ .ולlogicalredemptionpredictedinJeremiah24:6:“Iwillsetmyeyesonthemforgood”(ושמתי עיני עליהם לטובה).

9:5-6: Second Stanza. Thisdoxologicalstanzaisinonestrophe.ThestanzaisopenedinBawithואדני יהוה הצבאות,andisclosedinBjwithיהוה שמו,forminganinclusion.Settingasidethesetwolines,therearethreesub-stropheseachheadedbyadefiniteqalactiveparticiple(הנוגע inBb,הבונה inBf,andהקרא inBh).Itistemptingtobreakthisintothreestrophesateachparticipleline,butthisstanzaisinfactasinglesentence(“TheLordYHWHSabaoth...,hisname

Amos9:4-6 265


isYHWH”)withinwhich thereare threecomplex relativeclauses,eachformedbyaparticipleandoneormorefiniteverbs.Amos’ten-dencytohaveoneormoreparticipleslinesfollowedbylinesheadedbytheconjunctionandpredicatedwithafiniteverbhasalreadybeennoted; see 6:3-6.Hedoes the same thinghere inBb-e (oneparti-ciple line and three finite verb lines), Bf-g (one participle line andonefiniteverbline)andBh-i(oneparticiplelineandonefiniteverbline).Ineachofthesewehaveaparticipialrelativeclauseextendedbytheadditionofoneormorefiniteverblines.Thedivinetitle(ואדני relativecomplexthreeallforantecedenttheasserves(יהוה הצבאותclauses.ThisstanzaassertsGod’sauthorityoverallthingsbyvirtueofhisintrinsicpower(firstrelativeclause[Bb-e])andhisroyalauthority(secondrelativeclause[Bf-g]).Thesetwoconceptsarecombinedinthethirdrelativeclause(Bh-i),whereGodcalls(קרא)thewatersupfromtheseaandpoursthemonearth.Thestressondivineauthorityarisesfromtheprophet’sassertionthatGodwoulddealwithIsraelbyissuingjudgmentalcommands(notetheuseofצוה in9:3,4,9).

ה הצבאות י יהו ואדנרץ ותמוג הנוגע באה ואבלו כל־יושבי בה ה כיאר כל ועלת

ים׃ ר מצר ה כיא ושקעיו ים מעלות הבונה בשמה רץ יסד ואגדתו על־א

ם י־הי א למ הקררץ ם על־פני הא ישפכ ו

ה שמו׃ יהו

266 Amos9:5-6

9:5BaBbBcBdBe

9:6BfBgBhBiBj


Line Ba:Thecolon-markerisrevia andtheconstraintsare:0predi-cators,1constituent,and3units.

ה הצבאות י יהו -pleoainproclaimedisnameYHWH’s .ואדנnasticmannertopreparethereaderfortheattributesandpowersthatwillbepredicatedtohiminthefollowinglines.Thisisatitle(“LordYHWHoftheSabaoth”),notaclause(“YHWHoftheSabaoth isLord”).Sinceיהוה aasappears אדני titlealmost300 times in theHebrewBible (twenty times inAmos), it is impossible that is אדניhereapredicate.

Line Bb:Thecolon-markeriszaqeph qaton andtheconstraintsare:2predicators,3constituents,and3units.

.articlethewith(”touch“) נגעofsmparticipleactiveQal .הנוגעItisapredicator,asindicatedbythewayyiqtol verbcoordinatedwithitinthisline.Asindicatedabove,itservesasarelativeclause.

רץ hereisearthThe.בlocativewithphrasePrepositional .באthedomainofhumanhabitation,unlikeseaandsky.

.הארץissubjectThe.(”melt“) מוגofsfwayyiqtol 3Qal .ותמוגTheperfectivewayyiqtol isheregnomicandnotinreferencetopastaction, although the choice of awayyiqtol (insteadof a pattern + ו[X]+qatal)makesthepointthattheactionofthisverbissequentialtotheactionoftheprecedingparticiple.The“melting”oftheearthprobablyreferstoanearthquake.

Line Bc: The colon-marker is athnach and the constraints are: 1predicator,2constituents,and3units.

aweqatal afteraofuseThe.אבלofpmweqatal 3Qal .ואבלוwayyiqtol isnoteworthy.Theactionisbothresultativeandingressive(“sothattheybegintomourn”).

ה constructpmparticipleactiveqalthe,כלAfter .כל־יושבי בofישב isjoinedtoaprepositionalphrasewithב.Theuseofacon-structbeforetheprepositionב isunusualbutnotwithoutanalogy.Cf. Isaiah5:11,בבקר משכימי Woe“) הוי to thosewho rise earlyinthemorning...”),and9:1,ישבי בארץ צלמות (“inhabitantsin

Amos9:5-6 267


alandofdeepdarkness”).Ineachofthesecases,theconstructisaparticiple.

Line Bd:Thecolon-markeriszaqeph qaton andtheconstraintsare:1predicator,3constituents,and3units.

ה weqatal hereimperfectiveThe.עלהofsfweqatal 3Qal .ועלתdescribesrepeatedaction;thelanddoesnotsimplyheaveuponcebutrisesandfallsmanytimes.

.כwithphrasePrepositional .כיארה -subimpliedtheB1b,linein ארץtoappositioninisThis .כל

jectoftheverbועלתה.Line Be:Thecolon-markerissilluq andtheconstraintsare:1predi-

cator,2constituents,and3units.ה weqatal expressestheAgain,.שקעofsfweqatal 3Qal .ושקע

repeatedaction.ים ר מצר .8:8See .כיא

Line Bf:Thecolon-markeriszaqeph qaton andtheconstraintsare:1predicator,3constituents,and3units.

activeqalawithbeginsfirst,thelikeclause,relativeThe .הבונהparticiplems(hereofבנה)withthearticle.

ים .בlocativewithphrasePrepositional .בשמיו refersconsistently מעלהwordTheobject.directThe .מעלות

to the steps of a stairway (Exod20:26; 1Kgs10:19; etc.), althoughit can refer metaphorically to the direction of one’s thoughts (Ezek11:5).Thismayexplainthemysteriouspsalmdesignationשיר למעלות (“songofascents”).ButitseemsoddthatGodwouldbuildhis“steps”inheaven.Somethereforeemendtoעליתו,“hisupperchamber”(עליה);thusHALOT מעלה.ButMurXII(88)8:16(fromtheWadiMurab-baattextsfromtheJudeanDesert)atteststothereadingמעלותו,andthisrendersemendationdoubtful.Oneshouldnotsimplytranslatethewordas“upperchamber”asthoughמעלה andעליה meantthesamething.Butifמעלותיו means“hisstairsteps,”itobviouslycannotrefer

268 Amos9:5-6


to a stairway to some higher place (What could be above heaven?).However,in1Kings10:19and2Kings9:13thetermreferstostepsuptoathroneorplaceofroyalauthority.Thus,itmaybethatthe“steps”arepartofYHWH’sthroneorjudgmentseatandthatbysynecdochethestepsrefertothethroneitself.

Line Bg: The colon-marker is athnach and the constraints are: 1predicator,3constituents,and3units.

.conjunctionaandsuffixsm3awithobjectdirectThe .ואגדתוThenounאגדה referstosomethingthatiscloselyboundtogether(itisapparentlyfromtherootגדד II,“tojointogether”).Itcanrefertoabunchofhyssop(Exod12:22)ortoadisciplinedbodyoftroops(2Sam2:25).Englishtranslationspersistentlyrenderthisas“vault,”butitisnotclearwhattheymeanbythat.AvaultisoftenanarchedordomedstructureoftheRomanesquetype,butsucharchitecturedidnotexistinIronAgeIsrael.Avaultmaybeanundergroundchurchcrypt, but this, too, does not exist in Israelite architecture. Stuart(1987,393)takesittomean“storeroom”buthedoesnotindicatewhatishisevidenceforthisrendering(nordoeshesaywhatissupposedtobekeptinthisstoreroom).Maystranslatesitwithoutexplanationas“reservoir”(Mays1969,151),possiblyjustifyingthistranslationfromthenextline.Butthisiswrong;theparticipleהקרא inlineBhbelowindicatesthatthisisaseparate,thirdrelativeclauseandisunrelatedto theאגדה. Theאגדה is here apparently some architectural fea-turewhich,inkeepingwiththerootmeaningoftheword(“boundtogether”), ismade very secure and uniform. Since it is “founded”(יסד) we might speculate that theאגדה is the foundation itself, aplatformthatispreciselyjoinedtogethersothatitisverysecure,likeawell-madefootingofcutstoneorwood.Furthermore, ifמעלותיו in2BareferstoGod’sthrone,theאגדה maybetheplatformforthethrone.Thisconcept,thattheupperpartofGod’sthroneisinheavenandthelowerpartonearth,maybebaseduponaconceptsuchasinDeuteronomy ועל־הארץ,4:39 ממעל בשמים האלהים הוא יהוה ,Thus.(”belowearthonandaboveheaveninGodisYHWH“) מתחת

Amos9:5-6 269


linesBf-gassertthatGod’sthroneoccupiesheavenandearth,asinIsaiah66:1,“Heavenismythroneandtheearthismyfootstool.”

רץ .עלlocativewithphrasePrepositional .על־אה suffixsf3with(”establishfix,“) יסדofsmqatal 3Qal .יסד

(antecedentisארץ).Line Bh:Thecolon-markerisrevia andtheconstraintsare:1predi-

cator,2constituents, and3units.LinesBh-j repeatverbatim threelinesfrom5:8.

א ;articledefinitewith קראofparticipleactiveQal .הקר it iscoordinatedwith the followingwayyiqtol וישפכם in lineBi and isthereforeapredicator.Theuseofקרא hereisanalogous,ontheonehand, to a king who issues commands to his subjects, and on theotherhand,toaconjurorwhosummonsupthepowerofthedeep.SeeAmos7:4.

ם י־הי withphrasePrepositional .למ aand ל construct chain;indicatestheaddressee.

Line Bi:Thecolon-markeristifha andtheconstraintsare:1predi-cator,2constituents,and3units.

ישפכם pm3with(”outpour“) שפךofsmwayyiqtol 3Qal .וsuffix.Thewayyiqtol isheresequentialbutgnomic(notpasttense).

רץ The.עלdirectionalwithphrasePrepositional .על־פני האconstructפני isnotprepositionalbutisliterallythe“faceof”(i.e.,thesurfaceof)theground.

Line Bj:Thecolon-markerissilluq andtheconstraintsare:0predi-cators,2constituents,and2units.

Seethediscussionofline1fin5:8.9:7-8: Third Stanza. Thisstanza is intwostrophes.There isan

inclusion structurehere;נאם־יהוה appears at thebeginningof thestanzainC1bandatitsendinC2e.ThisstanzaconcernsIsrael’splaceasoneofthenations,statinginthefirststrophethatIsraelcannotcitetheexodusasproofthatGodespeciallyfavorsIsrael,sinceGodalsoledothernations in somethingof anexodus.Significantly, the last

270 Amos9:5-8


twonationsnamedinstropheone(thePhilistinesandAraminC1d)arethefirsttwonationsjudgedinAmos1:3-8,creatinganotherinclu-sionforthebeginningandendingofthebook.Thesecondstropheindicatesthat likethoseGentilenations,Israel,too,willbejudged,butitalsoassertsthatIsraelwillnotbeeradicated.

9:7: First Strophe. Fourlines.Astoundingly,theexodus,elsewheredescribedasthesingulareventthatmarkedIsraelastheelectpeople,isheredemotedtothelevelofbeinganalogoustotheearlymigrationsofotherpeoples.WhydoesAmosdothis?AgainstHoffman(1989),itisnotbecauseAmos,asarepresentativeofthesouthernkingdom,rejectedthebelief(supposedlyparticularlypredominantinthenorth-ernkingdom)thattheexoduswasaconstitutivetheologicalevent.Ifonetakes9:7tomeanthatAmosdidnotregardtheexodusasacrucialevent in redemptionhistory, thenonewouldalsohave to concludethatAmosrejectedalsotheveryideaofIsrael’selection(seelinesC1a-b below). This he manifestly does not do (3:1-2). Rather, Amos iscontinuingtoattacktheexaggeratedandperversesignificanceIsraelattached to its electionandexodus.Negatively,hehadargued thatjust asGod judges theGentiles, sohewill also judge Israel (Amos1–2).Here,hearguesmorepositivelythatjustasGodhadcreatedandredeemedIsrael,soalsohesupervisedthebirthsoftheothernations.Inshort,thedistancebetweenelectIsraelandtheGentileoutsiderswasnotnearlysogreatasAmos’audiencehadimagined.

י ם ל ים את הלוא כבני כשיל נאם־יהוה בני ישרא

ים רץ מצר יתי מא ל העל הלוא את־ישראיר׃ ם מק ים מכפתור ואר ופלשתי

Line C1a:Thecolon-markeristevir andtheconstraintsare:0pred-icators, 3 constituents, and 3 units (takingכשיים as בני a propername).Thisisaverblessclause.

Amos9:7 271

9:7C1aC1bC1cC1d


ים כשי כבני markerinterrogativerhetoricaltheAfter .הלוא ”Cushitestheof“sonschainconstructthe,כprepositiontheand הלואheadsthisstrophe,givingrhetoricalprominencetotheCushites.Inotherwords,bynamingtheCushitesfirst,theyaremademorepromi-nentandIsraelis,bycomparison,diminished.

ם .subjectThe .אתי idiomtheCf.me.”concernsitasfar“asmeans,hereme”To“ .ל

mebetweentherearedealingsWhat“,(מה־לי ולכם,or) מה־לי ולךandyou?”asinJudges11:12;2Samuel16:10;2Kings3:13.Thepointhere isnot simply that the Israelites are like theCushites inGod’sopinion,butthattheIsraeliteshavenogreaterclaimonGodthandotheCushites.


ל ישרא A .בני vocative (a predicator according to the con-straints).Byusingthesameformulaforbothpeoples(בני כשיים andbetweendistinctionanyremovesrhetoricallyprophetthe,(בני ישראלthem.

.formulaspeechdivineA .נאם־יהוהLine C1c:Thecolon-markeriszaqeph qaton andtheconstraintsare:

1predicator,3constituents,and4units.ל את־ישרא The .הלוא second rhetorical question (also

headedbyהלוא)hereplaces Israel first,making it the focus.Rhe-torically,thisdeliberatelymisdirectsthereader.BymakingIsraelthefocusandreferringtotheexodus,itappearstobereadytoaffirmthatIsraeldoesindeedhaveauniquerelationshiptoGod.Thefollowingline,however,undercutsthiscompletelybyassigningthesamestatustoPhilistiaandSyria.

יתי עלהofhiphiltheusesAmos.עלהofscqatal 1Hiphil .העלtorefertoGodtakingIsraelfromEgyptintheexodusalsoin2:10and3:1.

272 Amos9:7


ים מצר רץ Prepositional .מא phrase with on מן a constructchain.Thisobviouslyreferstotheexodus.

Line C1d: The colon-marker is silluq and the constraints are: 0predicators,4constituents,and4units.Thereisgappingoftheverbtorefersverbonetheeffective;rhetoricallyisgappingThis.העליתיthemovementsofIsrael,Philistia,andSyria,andthusthepossibilityoftherebeingaqualitativedifferenceamongthemiseliminated.

ים .clausesecond(gapped)theofsubjectThe .ופלשתי,Creteorigin.ofplacefor מןwithphrasePrepositional .מכפתור

Cyprus,andCiliciahaveallbeensuggestedasthelocationofCaphtor,butCreteisprobablycorrect(RaineyandNotley2006,108).

ם .clausethird(gapped)theofsubjectThe .ואריר ,KirOnorigin.ofplacefor מןwithphrasePrepositional .מק

seecommentson1:5.9:8: Second Strophe.Fourlines.ThetextspeaksofGod’sdeter-

minationtodestroy“thesinfulkingdom”(whichcanbeanysinfulkingdom)butassertsthatIsraelwillnotbetotallydestroyed.Israelisthereforebothlikeandunliketheothernationsofearth.

ה חטא ה בממלכה ה ה עיני ׀ אדני יהו הנה ל פני האדמ ה מע י את והשמדת

ב ית יעק יד את־ב יד אשמ א השמ י ל פס כ אה׃ נאם־יהו

Line C2a:Thecolon-markeriszaqeph qaton andtheconstraintsare:0predicators,3constituents,and6units.Thisviolates thenormalconstraints(toomanyunits),butallthelinesofthisstrophe(exceptthedivinespeechformulainC2d)areunusuallylongforAmos.

ה attentiondraws הנה,alwaysAs .הנ towhat follows. In thiscase,however,itprobablyalsolooksbacktotheprecedingcontext,in

Amos9:7-8 273

9:8C2aC2bC2cC2d


whichIsraelenjoysnofavoritismfromGodoveragainstCush,Philis-tiaandSyria.Thus,הנה functionsherealmostasifitwereועתה הנה (cf.Gen12:19;Num24:14;Josh9:12;Jer40:4,etc.,whereועתה הנה occupiesakindofJanusposition,lookingbacktotheformerrealityandaheadtowhatfollows).

ה aofsubjecttheasservingchainconstructA .עיני ׀ אדני יהוverblessclause.After9:4,itisclearthatthe“eyesofYHWH”areonpeople“forevilandnotforgood.”

ה חטא ה Prepositional .בממלכה phrase with locative orobjective withnounaon ב adjective.The “sinfulkingdom” isnotidentifiedhere.AftertheprecedingindictmentsofIsrael,therecanbenodoubtthatIsraelisincludedinthisconcept.ButIsraelisnottheonly“sinfulkingdom,”astheopeningoraclesofthebookindicate.Thus,IsraelisonceagaingroupedtogetherwithsinfulGentilestatesthatGodisreadytodestroy.


י .(”destroy“) שמדofscweqatal 1Hiphil .והשמדתה .objectdirectThe .אתה ל פני האדמ This.עלand מןwithphrasePrepositional .מע

expressionisoftenusedtodescribethedivineannihilationofapersonorpeople(Gen6:7;7:4;Exod32:12;Deut6:15;1Kgs9:7;Jer28:16;Zeph1:2).

Line C2c: The colon-marker is tifha and the constraints are: 1predicator,3constituents,and4units(takingבית יעקב asapropername).

י פס כ -Deu13:28;NumbersinandhereappearsidiomThis .אteronomy15:4;Judges4:9;and2Samuel12:14.Itmeans“neverthe-less.”

יד אשמ יד השמ א Negated .ל hiphil infinitive absolute of-adverbiusedisinfinitiveThe.שמדofscyiqtol 1Hiphilwith שמדallytoindicatetotality;here,ofcourse,itisnegated.Itseemsaself-

274 Amos9:8


contradictiontosayinonelinethatGodwillwipethemoffthefaceoftheearthandinthenextlinesaythathewillnotutterlydestroythem.Note,however,thatYHWHdidnotspecifyinlinesC2a-bthathewouldutterlydestroyIsrael;rather,hewouldutterlydestroy“thesinfulkingdom.”Israel,AramandPhilistiaallfallintothiscategory,butYHWHmakesapartialexceptionIsrael’scase.

ב ית יעק .objectdirectThe .את־בLine C2d: The colon-marker is silluq and the constraints are: 0

predicators,1constituent,and2units..formulaspeechdivineA .נאם־יהוה

9:9-10: Fourth Stanza. Thisstanzaisintwostrophes.Thestanzaisintroducedbyכי־הנה אנכי מצוה inD1a,alinethatactsasapro-tasisforthewholestanza.Theapodosis,thecontentofwhatYHWHcommands,isintwoparts,thefirstapodosisbeingatD1bandthesecondatD2a.SettingasidetheprotasisatD1a,eachstrophehasathree-lineapodosis.ThecontentofthestanzaconcernsIsraelindias-poraamongthenations.

9:9: First Strophe.Fourlines,makingthepointthatexiledIsraelwillnotstopwanderingfromplacetoplace.

ה נכי מצו י־הנה א כל ית ישרא ל־הגוים את־ב והנעותי בכ

ה ר ינוע בכבר כאשרץ׃ א־יפול צרור א ול

Line D1a:Thecolon-markeriszaqeph qaton andtheconstraintsare:1predicator,3constituents,and3units.Thislineisidenticaltothefirstlineof6:11exceptthatthesubjectisfirstperson.

י־הנה The .כ expressionכי־הנה is almost always explanatory(asopposedtoכי byitself,whichhasawiderangeofmeanings).ItisoftenusedintheprophetstointroducesomepredictedactofGod

Amos9:8-9 275

9:9D1aD1bD1cD1d


thatisthebasisforawarning,exhortation,orappeal(e.g.,Isa26:20;60:2;65:17;Jer1:15;25:29;49:15;Amos6:11).

נכי 9:3-4insubjectpersonfirstawithappears צוהthatNote .אalso.

ה צוהofusetheparallelsThis.צוהofsmparticiplePiel .מצוin6:11and9:3-4,whereGoddecreesjudgmentonIsrael.Here,asin.addresseenohas צוה,6:11

Line D1b:Thecolon-markerisathnach andtheconstraintsare:1predicator,3constituents,and3units(takingבית ישראל asapropername).

usedis נועofhiphilThe.נועofscweqatal 1Hiphil .והנעותיwithראש to mean, “to shake the head” (as a sign of derision), asinLam2:15.Theverbalsomeanstomakesomethingtotter(beforebriningitdown)inPsalm59:12(E11).In2Kings23:18it isusedfordisturbingthebonesofadeceasedperson.InNumbers32:13and2 Samuel 15:20 (qere) it is used for making people wander about.In general, the rootנוע means either to “wander” (of people; Gen4:12,14;Ps109:10;Lam4:14)orto“sway,”“tremble”or“quiver”(oftrees[Judg9:9],orofaperson’shand[Zeph2:15]orlips[1Sam1:13],orofapersonorhisheart,signifyingfear[Exod20:18;Isa7:2]).InitsotherusesinAmos(4:8;8:12)itreferstothewanderingofpeople.Thatisthemeaninghereaswell.

ל־הגוים .בlocativewithphrasePrepositional .בכל ית ישרא .objectdirectThe .את־ב

Line D1c:Thecolon-markeriszaqeph qaton andtheconstraintsare:1predicator,3constituents,and3units.

ר As .כאש isnormal, thismeans “just as.” It here setsup ananalogy.

NahuminandhereonlyUsed.נועofsmyiqtol 3Niphal .ינוע3:12,theniphalmeanstobe“shakenabout”or“jostled.”Thesubjectisnotindicated;itcouldbeצרור (“pebble”)fromthenextline.Thesubjectcannotbeבית ישראל fromtheprecedinglinesincethisline

276 Amos9:9


describestheanalogyandnotthethingitself.Probably,however,animpersonaltranslationisbest:“Justaswhenthereisashaking....”

ה כברהwordThe.בlocativewithphrasePrepositional .בכברishapax legomenon intheHebrewBible.כברה occursonajarstampfromTellel-Judeideh,butthis isprobablyahomonymwithnorel-evancetoAmos9:9(seeBliss1900,221–22).Thestandardtransla-tionforכברה here,“sieve,”isbasedonlaterHebrew.SeveralscholarsbelievethatSirach27:4mayrefertotheכברה.TheLXXofthattextreadse 0n sei /smati koski /nou diame /nei kopri /a(“Whenasieveisshaken,dungremains”).Wolff(1977,349)indicatesthattheHebrewfortheSirachtextisבהניע כברה יעמד עפר,butheprovidesnosourceforthis. In fact,noextantHebrewmanuscriptofSirachcontains27:4(seeSkehanandDiLella1987,52–53;seealsoLevi1951;Yadin1965),andnoextantHebrewtextofSirachcontainsthewordכברה (accord-ingtoBen-Hayyim1973).ItappearsthatWolff ’sHebrewtextishisownretroversionandthusisofnovalueforlexicalanalysis.AUgariticparallel,kbrt,appearsintheBaalmyth(CTA 6:v:16),wherethelineistranslatedbyDennisPardeeas“onaccountof[you]Iexperienced[beingstrained]withasieve.”However,onlyasinglelettertheverbisextant([…y];seeCOS 1,272[especiallyn.270]),makingthisinter-pretationlesscertainandperhapsdependentonlaterHebrewtexts.Thus,theUgaritictextaddslittleclarity.כברה hasseveralpossiblecognatesinbiblicalHebrew,includingכביר,agoat-hairquiltorpil-low(1Sam19:13,16),מכבר,anotherkindofquilt(2Kgs8:15),and;35:1627:4;(Exodaltarbronzetheinfoundgratingbronzethe,מכבר38:4,5,30;39:39).Thecommonelementinallofthesemayhavebeenaninterlacedconstruction.Ontheotherhand,theconstructionandpurposesofthesevariouscognatenounsvarysignificantlyandtheirrelationshiptooneanotherisuncertain.Thenatureandpurposeoftheכברה is particularly opaque. If it was a sieve, it is not certainwhetheritwassomethinglikeabasketwithalatticebottom,orabagmadewithcrisscrossedcords,orsomethingentirelydifferent.ShalomPaularguesthatitwasusedforcleansinggrain,andsaysthatthegrainwouldfallthroughthelatticeworkwhiletheimpuritieswouldremain

Amos9:9 277


intheכברה (Paul1991,286n.39;seealsoStuart1987,393).Thisisimplausible;itisunlikelythatkernelsofgrainwouldfallthroughasievebutthatpebbles,whichwouldoftenbesmaller,smoother,andheavier,wouldnot(seelineD1d).Ontheotherhand,othersclaimthatthegrainwouldremaininthesievewhiletheimpuritiesfellthrough.Ifso,whydoesAmospointoutthatnopebblesfallthrough?Infact,thereisnoindicationherethattheכברה wasusedforsiftinggrain.

Line D1d: The colon-marker is silluq and the constraints are: 1predicator,3constituents,and3units.

א־יפול qalNegated .ול yiqtol 3m sofנפל withconjunction.Thenegatedyiqtol hereadverbiallymodifiestheprecedingverbינוע andcouldbetranslated,“withoutapebblefallingtoearth”(lit.,“andapebbledoesn’tfalltoearth”).

From .צרור 2 Samuel 17:13, where the word describes whatremains after a wall is brought down, this word probably means“small stone” or “pebble.” It does not mean “kernel (of wheat),”againstAndersenandFreedman(1989,870–71)(whoappeartowanttoemendonthebasisoftheLXXtoשבר II,butthisemendationisfar-fetched)andSmith(1998,367).

רץ lackthedespiteimpliedisearth,”the“tosense,locativeA .אofaprepositionordirectiveה.Thestandardinterpretationoftheselines is that there will be a sifting out the good or elect from theevilorrejected.Butproblemsherearenumerous.Isthe“pebble”thegoodorthebad?Whatisthesubstance(apartfromthepebbles)thatis being sifted?What falls through the sieve? Is it something good(wheat)orsomethingbad(dirt)?Isthefactthatnotapebblefallsouta judgmentor salvation? Issues in the interpretationof theanalogyareequallyobscure.Ifthereisasifting,areIsraelitesbeingseparatedfrom Gentiles? Are sinful Israelites being separated from repentantones?Inshort,everyaspectofthe“sifting”interpretationisunclearbothintermsofthedetailsoftheculturalanalogyandintermsofthetheologicalmeaningofitssymbols.Wolff(1977,349)arguesonthebasisofSirach27:4thatthepebblesaresinnersandthattheones

278 Amos9:9


thatfalloutaretheremnant(alsoPaul1991,286).Butthistextsaysnothingaboutaremnant;itonlydescribesthejostlingofthepebbles.ElsewhereintheBible,whenthereisananalogyinvolvingsiftingorseparating, it isgenerally separatinggrain fromchaff,and it isatathreshingfloororusingthewind,asledgeorathreshingfork,andnotasieve.Insuchtexts,theanalogyistransparentinbothculturalcontextandinterpretation(e.g.,Job21:18;Ps1:4;Isa29:5;41:15;Mal4:1;Luke3:17).Thepresent text isnothing like that.Wethereforeconcludethatthistextdoesnotmentioneithersiftingoraremnant.Rather,thepebblesshakingaboutwithintheכברה isitselfthepoint.Themeaning, followingtheusageofנוע inAmos8:12, is that theIsraeliteswillwandertoandfroamongthenations.Thereasonthata“sieve”(ifthatisthemeaningofכברה)ismentionedissimplythatthisissomethingwhichislikelytobeshaken.ThestatementthatnopebblefallstoearthonlymeansthatnoJewwillescapethebuffetingofbeingbouncedaboutfromplacetoplace.Thatis,theywillnotbereleasedfromtheirwandering.Thisisapredictionofdiaspora,notofseparatingoutaremnant.

9:10: Second Strophe.Threelines.ThestanzadescribeshowtheIsraelites/Jewswillfindthemselvesviolentlyattackedinplaceswheretheythoughtthattheyhadobtainedrefuge.TheslaughterofJewsindiaspora,andnotjustthedestructionofSamaria,isinviewhere.

י י עמ ל חטא רב ימותו כ בחים האמר

ה׃ ינו הרע ים בעד יש ותקד א־תג ל

Line D2a:Thecolon-markerisathnach andtheconstraintsare:1predicator,3constituents,and4units.

רב Prepositional .בח phrase with instrumental use of .ב The“sword”isheremetonymyfortheviolenceofanenemy.

.מותofpmyiqtol 3Qal .ימותו

Amos9:9-10 279

9:10D2aD2bD2c


י עמ י חטא ל This .כ is a construct chain and the subjectof.ימותו The word appears כל to be absolute but it is construct; cf.Amos3:2and4:6.Animportantquestioniswhethertheconstructchainחטאי עמי createsapartitivegenitive,indicatingthatGodwillselectoutthesinnersofthenationandsetthemasideforpunishmentbut spare the rest,whomightbedefined as a remnant.AnalogousconstructchainsappearatExodus23:11(אביני עמך)1Samuel15:30;(עניי עמו)14:32;(עניי עמי)10:2;(זקני עמו)3:14Isaiah;(זקני־עמי)Psalm113:8(נדיבי עמו);andRuth4:4(זקני עמי).Ineachofthesethegenitiverelationshipwouldbebetterdefinedas“focal”thanas“parti-tive.”Inotherwords,thosewhoaredefinedasthe“poor”or“elders”or“nobles”ofthepeoplearethefocus oftheirrespectivesentences,buttheyarenotconceivedofasbeingsomehowseparatedfromtherestofthepopulation.Forexample,in1Samuel15:30,whenSaulasksSam-ueltohonorhim“beforetheeldersofmypeople,”hedoesnotmeanthat theeldersare tobe setapart fromthe restof Israel,much lessthathewillnotbehonoredbytherestofthenation;hemerelygivesfocustothemenofhighstanding(Saul’sfullrequestisכבדני נא נגד andpeoplemyofeldersthebeforemeHonor“] זקני־עמי ונגד ישראלbeforeIsrael”]).Similarly,whenIsaiah10:2criticizesthosewho“robthepoorofmypeople,”itdoesnotmeanthattherobberssingleoutthepoorforrobberyorthatitisofnoconsequenceiftheyrobpeoplewhoarenotpoor;thetextmerelyfocusesontheheinousnatureofthecrimeascommittedagainstthepoor.AmosdoesnotmeanthatonlyapartofIsraelwillbesingledoutforpunishment.Thephraseחטאי haschapterthiscrimesthecommittedhavewhothoseonfocuses עמיdescribed.Amosonlyleavesthedooropenforthesurvivalofsome,buthehasherenothingherelikeafull-fledgedremnanttheology.SeealsoNoble(1997).

Line D2b: The colon-marker is revia and the constraints are: 1predicator,1constituent,and1unit.Thisviolatestheconstraintsbutseemsthebestsolutionforthecolometryofthisstrophe.

280 Amos9:10


ים servesitarticle;with אמרofpmparticipleactiveQal .האמרasarelativeclausewithכל חטאי עמי asitsantecedent.

Line D2c: The colon-marker is silluq and the constraints are: 2predicators,4constituents,and4units.Thisisreportedspeech.

יש א־תג Hiphil .ל yiqtol 3 f s ofנגש. But the hiphil (“offer,bringnear”)makeslittlesensehere,anditmaybebettertoemendittotheqalתגש (“approach,comenear”).ThehiphiloftheMTmaybeaccountedforbyattractiontoותקדים.Thesubjectisleftundefineduntilthelastwordoftheline.

ים notdoesThis.(”meet“) קדםofsfweyiqtol 3Hiphil .ותקדfunctionasaweyiqtol normallydoes(e.g.,tointroduceafinalclause).Instead,ותקדים is לא־תגיש a compounded verb clause, with thenegativeלא governingbothverbs.Notetheconjunctiveaccentdarga inתגיש.

ינו Prepositional .בעד phrase with .בעד The word generallyconnotesbeingbehindoraroundsomethingeithertoentrapit(Jonah2:7)orprotectit(Zech12:8).Itcanalsomean“forthesakeof”or“beyond.”Inthiscontext,itseemstoimplyentrappingorcatchingupwiththepeople.

ה problemstheconnotesheretrouble”“Thesubject.The .הרעandviolencethataristocracyofIsraelsupposesitcanescape.

9:11-12: Fifth Stanza. This stanza is a single stropheheadedbyin נאם־יהוה עשה זאתwithconcludedandEalinein ביום ההואline Eh. A predictive text, this stanza has a series of weqatal verbsat Ec-e, analogous to how weqatal verbs dominate the predictionsofdoom inAmos1–2.Also, this stanzahas eight lines, analogoustotheseven-linedoompredictions in1:4–5,7-8,14-15;2:2-3.Theeight-line stanza here may reflect the fact that in Amos 1–2 Israelis the eighth nation named. In content, however, this text reversestheothersinthatitisapredictionofrestoration.Manyscholars,ofcourse,believe that9:11-15 isa secondaryadditionto thebook(cf.Hasel1991,105–20),butthatconclusionisunnecessary.Structurally,

Amos9:10 281


thismaterial is integrated into thewholeof8:4–9:15, as illustratedbythefocusonmattersinvolvingfoodandagriculturein8:5,11-13and9:13.Also,8:4–9:10isessentialtounderstanding9:11-15.AfterGod’spromisetohuntdownandslaughterIsraeliteswherevertheygo,thesurvivalandrenewalofIsraelisasurprisingworkofGodandsodramaticareversaloftheforegoingpronouncementsofdoomthatthelattertextcanonlybeexplainedasaresurrection.Thisismorefullydevelopedinlaterprophets,especiallyEzekiel37.But9:11-15dependsupontheearliersentenceofdeath.Theastonishing,counter-intuitivenatureofthetextisintentional.

ביום ההוא לת יד הנפ ת דו ים את־סכ אק

ן י את־פרציה וגדרתים סתיו אק והר

ם׃ י עול יה כימ ובניתם ית אדום וכל־הגוי ירשו את־שאר ען י למ

ם י עליה א שמ אשר־נקראת׃ פ שה ז נאם־יהוה ע

Line Ea:Thecolon-markeriszaqeph qaton andtheconstraintsare:0predicators,1constituent,and2units.

refersheremarkertemporalpropheticfamiliarThe .ביום ההואtosometimeattheendofIsrael’sdiaspora.

Line Eb: The colon-marker is athnach and the constraints are: 1predicator,2constituents,and4units.

ים .קוםofscyiqtol 1Hiphil .אקלת הנפ יד דו ת participleawithchainconstructA .את־סכ

serving(articledefinitewith נפלofsfparticipleactiveqal:הנפלת)asanattributiveadjectivetoסכת.Aסכה iseitheralean-tomadeof

282 Amos9:11-12

9:11

9:12

EaEbEcEdEeEfEgEh


branchesoratent;itissomekindoftemporaryshelter.(Richardson1973arguesthatthewordherereferstothetownSuccoth,butthisisnotpersuasive.Similarly,interpretingtheסכת דויד asashrinebytying it to thediscredited idea thatדוד in theTelDan inscriptionisagod[Davies1994]shouldberejected.)David’s“house”(בית,a“dynasty”in2Sam7:11)isherecalledaסכה toindicatethewretchedstateintowhichtheDavidicdynastyandempirehadfallen.

Line Ec:Thecolon-markerisrevia andtheconstraintsare:1predi-cator,2constituents,and2units.

י mainlineaisIt.(”up“wallto) גדרofscweqatal 1Qal .וגדרתverbinapredictivetext.

ן The .את־פרציה direct object. The “breaches” function ontwolevelshere.TheyarethebreachesinthewallsoftheconqueredcityandsoreflectthedestructionofIsrael’sgreatcities,buttheyarealso breaches in the walls of a decrepit house, a metaphor for theDavidicdynasty.

Line Ed:Thecolon-markeriszaqeph qaton andtheconstraintsare:1predicator,2constituents,and2units.

סתיו thehapax legomenon inis הריסה.objectdirectThe .והרHebrewBible,butitisderivativeofהרס,to“ruin”or“teardown,”soitsmeaning,“ruins,”isnotindoubt.

ים + וahasclauseandlineThis.קוםofscyiqtol 1Hiphil .אק[X]+yiqtol patternandisnotmainline(whichwouldrequireaweqa-tal).Instead,lineEdisboundtolineEcasaparallelclause.

Line Ee:Thecolon-markerissilluq andtheconstraintsare:1predi-cator,2constituents,and3units.

יה -anteThesuffix.sf3with בנהofscweqatal 1Qal .ובניתcedent to the feminine suffix isדויד This.(Ebline) סכת resumesthemainlineprediction.LinesEc-ddescribethemakingofessentialrepairs;thislinedescribestheenlargementandaggrandizementofthehouseofDavid.

Amos9:11-12 283


ם י עול chainconstructThe.כwithphrasePrepositional .כימcreatesanadjectivalgenitive,inwhich“asindaysofage”means“asinancienttimes.”

Line Ef:Thecolon-markeriszaqeph qaton andtheconstraintsare:1predicator,3constituents, and5units. ascountedbeshould כלaunitonlyif it is intheabsoluteorissuffixed;thusthis linecon-formstotheconstraintsandhasonlyfiveunits.TheLXXherereadso3pwv e0kzhth/swsin oi9 kata&loipoi twn a)nqrw&pwn kai\ pa&nta ta_ e1qnh,“sothattheremainingonesofthepeoplesandallthenationsmayseek.”Thisisanunintelligibletranslationbecausee 0kzhth /swsin has no direct object unless kai \ pa &nta ta _ e 1qnh be treated as theobject,butthisisunlikelybecauseofthekai \(andalsobecausetheresultantsentence,“theremainingonesofthepeoplesmayseekalsoall thenations,”makesno sense).The citationof this line inActs15:17emendsthedifficultybyinsertingto_n ku/rionasadirectobject.TheGreekappearstohaveasitsVorlage ידרשו forיירשו andאדם (“humanity”)forאדום.TheLXXofAmos,however,isofpoorqual-ity,andoneshouldnotemendthetextonthebasisoftheGreek.

ירשו י ען with(”possess“) ירשofpmyiqtol 3Qal .למ ,למעןindicatingpurpose.

ית אדום -sug שאריתnounTheobject.directThe .את־שארgeststhatEdomwilldeclinetothepointthatithasonlyafractionofitsformerglory.Ontheotherhand,שארית isusedforanelectrem-nantsavedfromdestruction(e.g.,Mic2:12).Thereisatensionhere,asthroughouttheOldTestament,betweenaneschatologyinwhichIsraelrulestheGentilesandoneinwhichGentilesarebroughtintotheblessingsofthecovenant(e.g.,Ps87).InNewTestamenttheology,thistensionisresolvedbythecomingofGentilesintothechurch(therebysubmittingthemselvestotheDavidicMessiah)andbytheeschatologi-caldominionofChrist in thenewearth (therebyplacingaDavidickingoverallthenationsofearth).ButwhyisEdomsingledoutatall,sincethenextwordstellusthatIsraelwillpossess“allthenations”?ProbablyEdomishererepresentativeofallGentilehostilitytoIsrael.

284 Amos9:11-12


ם allamongwanderedHavingobject.directsecondA .וכל־הגויthenations,Israelwillpossessallthenations.Thissoundsimperialis-ticinnature,butthefollowinglinegivesnewmeaningtotheIsraelite“possession”oftheGentiles.

Line Eg: The colon-marker is athnach and the constraints are: 1predicator,3constituents,and4units.ThislinespeaksoftheGen-tilesnotasconqueredpeoplesbutastheelectofGod.

ם theonpronounresumptiveawithRelative .אשר . . . עליהprepositionעל,“uponwhom.”

א .קראofs)mparticiple(orsmqatal 3Niphal .נקרי The .שמ subject ofנקרא. The expression, “upon whom my

nameiscalled,”meansthattheGentilesaretreatedasGod’sownpos-session(2Chr7:14,עמי אשר נקרא־שמי עליהם [“mypeopleuponwhomismynamecalled”]).

Line Eh:Thecolon-markerissilluq andtheconstraintsare:1predi-cator,3constituents,and4units.

.formulaspeechdivineA .נאם־יהוהשה tobestprobablyisIt.עשהofsmparticipleactiveqalThe .ע

takethisasarelativeclausewithanimpliedאשר.את ahereispronounsingularfeminineTheobject.directThe .ז

neutrum,representingallthatispredictedinthisstanza.9:13-15: Sixth Stanza. Thisstanzahasthreestrophes.Oneshould

notethat inthisstanza,as intheprevious,thelinesaredominatedbytheweqatal thatdescribethegloriesoftherestoredkingdom.Thisrecallsthelongjudgmentstrophesinchapters1–2,inwhichlinesweredominatedbytheweqatal (1:4-5,7-8,14-15;2:2-3).Thus,thesuffer-ingsofIsrael’sjudgmentarerepaidintherestoration.Inresponsetotheearlierfaminemotif(8:11),theimageofagriculturalabundancedominatesthisstanza.

9:13: First Strophe.Fivelinesdepictingagriculturalbounty.

Amos9:12-15 285


ה ים באים נאם־יהו ה ימ הנר ונגש חורש בקצ

רע ך הז ים במש ך ענב ודריס הרים עס יפו ה והט

גנה׃ וכל־הגבעות תתמוג

Line F1a:Thecolon-markeriszaqeph qaton andtheconstraintsare:1predicator,4constituents,and5units.

ה ofstatementaintroducesoften הנה,AmosIn .הנ judgment(4:2;6:11,14;7:1,4,7,8;8:1,11;9:8,9).Here,itintroducesamessageisofsalvation.

ים This .ימ masculine plural ofיום is the subject of the peri-phrasticparticiplethatfollows.

Qal .באים activeparticiplempofבוא.The temporal clause.protasisahereis ימים באים

ה .formulaspeechdivineA .נאם־יהוLine F1b:Thecolon-markeriszaqeph qaton andtheconstraintsare:

1predicator,3constituents,and3units.apodosistheweqatal isThe.נגשofsmweqatal 3Niphal .ונגש

tolineF1a.AsinIsaiah29:13andJeremiah30:21,theverbmeansto“approach”or“comecloseto.”

-subused(”“plowto) חרשofsmparticipleactiveQal .חורשstantively.

ר -subused“harvest,”to)קצר ofsmparticipleactiveQal .בקצstantively)withprepositionב anddefinitearticle.Inthistextalonetheniphalofנגש seemstohaveב withitsobject;itisusuallyusedabsolutelyorhasאל with itsobject. Isaiah65:5and Job41:8have-disfurtherForparallel.fullynotaresoand נגשofqalthewith בcussion,seecommentsonthenext line.IntheIsraeliteagriculturalyear,plowingtookplaceinOctober-Novemberandthegrainharvest

286 Amos9:13

9:13F1aF1bF1cF1dF1e


occurredinApril-May,whichmeantthattherewasadormantperiod,sofarasthegraincropswereconcerned,fromJuneuntilearlyOcto-ber.Inthenewecosystem,plowingforthegraincropwillbeginagainimmediatelyaftertheharvest.

Line F1c:Thecolon-marker isathnach and theconstraints are:0predicators,2constituents,and4units.Thereisgappingoftheverb.linepreviousthefrom ונגש

ים ענב ך Qal .ודר active participle m s construct of דרך (to“tread,”usedsubstantively)withconjunction.

רע ך הז used) משךofconstructsmparticipleactiveQal .במשsubstantively)withpreposition normallywhich) משךwordThe.בmeansto“pull”or“drag”)heredescribesthesowerleavingatrailofseedbehindhimself.Theparticipleisdefinitebyvirtueoftheabsolutenounהזרע.Thus,inbothF1bandF1c,thefirstparticipleisindefi-niteandthesecondparticiplehasב andisdefinite.Butwhyisך ודרים bemaypointTheindefinite?(linepreviousthein חורשand) ענבthattherearesomestartingtodothefirstactivitywhilethesecondactivityisstillinfullswing.Thismayalsohelpustounderstandthepeculiar niphal ofנגש with The.ב here ב doesnot reallymark adirectobject;theverbisusedabsolutely.Theproximityistemporal,notspatial.ב heremeans“with”andthemeaningisthatamanmightbegintoploworspreadseedwhiletheharvestersorgrape-treadersstillhaveplentyofworkaheadofthem.ThegrapeharvestandsubsequenttreadingofthegrapestookplaceinattheendoftheagriculturalyearinAugust-September,withthesowingofnewcropstakingplaceinNovember-December.Inthenewecosystem,thegapbetweentheendofoneagriculturalyearandthebeginningofthenextwillbeelimi-nated,withtheresultthatcropswillbeenormous.

Line F1d:Thecolon-markeriszaqeph qaton andtheconstraintsare:1predicator,3constituents,and3units.

יפו ”,flowto“causetoLiterally.נטףofpcweqatal 3Hiphil .והטthepointhereisthatthehillswillbesofertilethatthegrapesuponthemwillbenumerousandwillswelltothepointofbursting.There

Amos9:13 287


appearstobelittledifferencebetweentheqalandhiphilforthisroot;seeJoel4:18.

הרים .Israelofcountryhillthetoreferringheresubject,The .היס The .עס direct object. The word refers to unfermented or

freshgrapejuice.Line F1e:Thecolon-markerissilluq andtheconstraintsare:1pred-

icator,2constituents,and2units.Thisformsachiasticcoupletwiththepreviousline.

.ההריםwithparallelinsubject;The .וכל־הגבעותגנה yiqtol+[X]+ וThe.מוגofpfyiqtol 3Hithpolel .תתמוג

patternisoffline,implyingherethatthislinedoesnotmovethepre-dictionforwardtoasubsequenteventbutisparalleltothepreviousline. InAmos9:5, the verbמוג described chaoticupheavals of thelandasadivinejudgment.Here,thehills“melt”inthataharvestofplentyflowsdownfromthem.

9:14: Second Strophe.Fourlinesdepictingtherebuildingofcitiesandfarms.

י ישראל ושבתי את־שבות עמבו ים נשמות ויש ובנו ער

ים ושתו את־יינם ונטעו כרמם׃ ועשו גנות ואכלו את־פריה

Line F2a:Thecolon-marker is segholta andtheconstraintsare:1predicator,3constituents,and4units.

-mainaweqatal resumesThe.שובofscweqatal 1Qal .ושבתיlinesequenceofpredictions.

י עמ A .את־שבות construct chain direct object. The word-renbeshoulditverb;thetoaccusativecognateaasfunctions שבותdered,“Iwillbringaboutarestorationof...”andnot,“Iwillbringbackthecaptivityof...”(seePaul1991,294).

288 Amos9:13-14

9:14F2aF2bF2cF2d


.עמיtoappositioninnameproperA .ישראלLine F2b:Thecolon-markeriszaqeph qaton andtheconstraintsare:

2predicators,3constituents,and4units.isandclausemainlineaisThis.בנהofpcweqatal 3Qal .ובנו

sequentialtothepreviousclause.נשמות ים Plural .ער noun ערים (fromעיר) with adjectival

niphalparticiplefpofשמם,“desolate.”Ithereservesasthedirectobject.

בו weqatal 3Qal .ויש cpofישב.As anotherweqatal, this isanothermainlineprediction.Itcouldbeafinalclause,“sothattheymay inhabit (them).”Theweyiqtol wouldmoreclearlymarka finalclause.

Line F2c:Thecolon-marker isathnach andtheconstraintsare:2predicators,4constituents,and4units.

-premainlineanotherisThis.נטעofpcweqatal 3Qal .ונטעוdiction.

ים .objectdirectThe .כרמthisF2b,in וישבוwithAs.שתהofpcweqatal 3Qal .ושתו

couldbeafinalclause..objectdirectThe .את־יינם

Line F2d:Thecolon-markerissilluq andtheconstraintsare:2pred-icators,4constituents,and4units.

.עשהofpcweqatal 3Qal .ועשו.objectdirectThe .גנותfinalpossibleanotherisThis.אכלofpcweqatal 3Qal .ואכלו

clause.ם .objectdirectThe .את־פריה

9:15: Third Strophe. Four lines,usinganagriculturalmetaphordepictingIsraelasaplantthatYHWHplacesinthegroundnevertobeuprootedagain.

Amos9:14 289


290 Amos9:15

ם ים על־אדמת ונטעתל אדמתם א ינתשו עוד מע ול

ם תי לה ר נת אשיך׃ ה אלה ר יהו אמ

Line F3a:Thecolon-marker isathnach andtheconstraintsare:1predicator,2constituents,and2units.

ים cweqatal 1Qal .ונטעת sofנטע with3mp suffix.Agri-cultural languagedominates this text; Israel“plants”vineyardsandYHWH“plants”Israel.

ם אדמהofuseThe.עלwithphrasePrepositional .על־אדמת(“arableground”)insteadofארץ (“land”)isprobablyafunctionoftheagriculturalimage.

Line F3b: The colon-marker is pashta and the constraints are: 1predicator,2constituents,and3units.

א ינתשו עוד -conwith נתשofpmyiqtol 3niphalNegated .ולjunctionandadverbעוד.Althoughtheverbisoftenusedtodescribetheuprootingofpeoplesfromtheirhomelands(e.g.,Jer12:14-17),itisfundamentallyanagriculturaltermthatdescribespullingaplantupfromthesoil.Cf.Ezekiel19:12,“but(thevine)wasuprooted(ותתש)inanger.”

ל אדמתם theAgain,.עלand מןwithphrasePrepositional .מעpictureisofaplantpulledoutofthesoil.

Line F3c:Thecolon-markeriszaqeph qaton andtheconstraintsare:1predicator,3constituents,and3units.

ר The.נתתיofobjectdirecttheasservingpronounRelative .אשantecedentisאדמתם.

תי “propheticanotprobablyisThis.נתןofscqatal 1Qal .נתperfect”butatruepasttense.ItlooksbacktotheoriginalgivingofthelandtoIsrael.

9:15F3aF3bF3cF3d


Amos9:15 291

ם .suffixpm3with לprepositionobject;Indirect .להLine F3d:Thecolon-markerissilluq andtheconstraintsare:1pred-

icator,2constituents,and3units.ר formulaspeechdivinelastthein אמרofsmqatal 3Qal .אמ

ofthebook.יך -forspeechdivinetheinaloneHeresubject.The .יהוה אלה

mulasYHWHiscalled“yourGod.”Thisindicatesthatintheresto-ration,Israel’spriorrelationshiptoGodisresumed.


GlossaryAdjectival genitive:Aconstructioninwhichthegenitive(absolute)

substantiveisinsomemanneradjectivallymodifyingthegoverning(construct) substantive, as inAmos6:4, שן ,מטות “bedsof ivory,”whereשןdescribesthematerialthatdecoratesמטות.

Appositional genitive:Aconstructioninwhichthegenitive(abso-lute) substantive is in apposition to the governing (construct) sub-stantive,asinAmos6:1,נקבי ראשית,“designatedasfinest,“where.נקביtoappositioninisראשית

Constituent:Oneofthepoetic constraints.Itisawordorphrasethatfillsonegrammaticalslot.Exampleswouldbeasubject,apredi-cate, or a prepositional phrase. A construct chain functioning as asubjectordirectobject,forexample,isasingleconstituent.

Dependence:Atropeinwhichalineisgrammaticallyincompleteanddependsuponeitherthepreviousorfollowingline.Forexample,in1:3,linesAaandAcbothdependonlineAb.

Gapping:Atropeinwhichawordinonelinealsogovernsormod-ifiesanadjacentline.Forexample,theverbוהכרתיinlineBdof1:5alsogovernslineBe.Thisistraditionallydescribedasaworddoing“double-duty.”

Hapax legomenon:AwordthatoccursonlyonetimeintheHebrewBibleandthusisdifficulttodefine.

Hendiadys:Expressingasingleideabymeansoftwowords.תהו .exampleanis1:2Geninvoid,”andempty“,ובהו

Mainline: In Hebrew discourse, mainline clauses make up thebasicstructureofthetext.Inhistoricalnarrative,forexample,clausespredicatedby thewayyiqtol generally formthemainline sequence,givingtheessentialchainofeventsinastoryline.Inapredictivetext,theweqatalgenerallygivesthemainlinesequence.Mainlineclausesgenerally form a chain that is either logically or chronologicallysequential.Forexample,inAmos1:4-5,aseriesofweqatalverbssetsupasequenceofpredictions,thatGodwillsendfireonDamascus,thatitwillconsumethecity,thatthefortificationswillbedestroyed,

292 Glossary


andthethatthepeoplewillgointoexile.Mainlineclausesgenerallydonothaveprominence.

Neutrum:Apronounsuchas“this”or“it”usedtorefertoanasser-tionorasituationratherthantoaconcreteitemoraspecificnoun.Forexample,inAmos2:11זאת(“this”)referstothepriorassertionthatGodhadsentprophetsandNaziritestoIsrael.

Objective genitive:Aconstructioninwhichthegenitive(absolute)substantiveisthedirectobjectofthegoverning(construct)substan-tive,asinAmos1:8,ותומך שבט,“and(the)holderof(the)scepter.”

Offline: In Hebrew discourse, offline clauses in some way adddetailtoorqualifythemainlineclauses.Anofflineclausemaygivebackgroundinformation,oritmaydescribeanactthatisconceptu-allyorchronologicallyconcurrentwiththepreviousmainlineclause,or it may in some way have prominence. In historical narrative,andoffline,oftenareclausesqatal+[X]+ו inpredictive texts, ו+[X]+yiqtolclausesareoftenoffline.Negatedclausesandcopu-larclausesarealmostalwaysoffline.Forexample,inAmos7:9,theclauseישחק במות ונשמו(“AndthehighplacesofIsaacwillbelaiddesolate”)ismainlineandtheclause ומקדשי ישראל יחרבו (“AndthesanctuariesofIsraelwillbelaidwaste”)isoffline.Inthiscase,thetwoclausesareconceptuallysimultaneous.

Partitive:Agrammatical function inwhichasubset is separatedfromalargergroup.Aconstructchainmayhaveapartitivefunction,asinראשית הגוים,“finestofthenations,”inAmos6:1.Thepreposi-tionמןsometimesispartitive,asinומבחוריכם,“someofyouryoungmen,”inAmos2:11.

Poetic constraint:FollowingtheresearchofMichaelO’Connor,thismodel asserts that a lineofHebrewpoetry generallywillhavefrom0to3predicators,from1to4constituents,andfrom2to5units.Thatis,forexample,alineofHebrewpoetrywillnotcontainonly1unit,orhave5constituents.

Predicator:Oneof thepoetic constraints.Apredicatormaybeafiniteverb,aninfinitiveabsolutethatfunctionsasafiniteverb,aninfinitive constructphrase functioning as a finite verb, aparticiple

Glossary 293


functioningasaperiphrasticfiniteverb,andtheparticlesאיןandיש,oravocative.

Prominence:Aclause,phraseorwordthatisprominentinsomewaystandsoutfromthetextaroundit.Theprominencemaybeacon-trasttothecontext,orthesentencestructuremaydrawattentiontosomethingunexpectedordramatic,orsomeindividualitemorpersonmaybegivengreaterattention.

Qatal:Theconjugationtraditionallycalled“perfect.”Semantic matching:Atropeinwhichawordorphraseinoneline

issynonymousornearlysynonymouswithawordinanadjacentline.Seelinebof1:2.

Semantic parallelism:Atropeinwhichonelinemore-or-lesshasthesamemeaningasanadjacentline.Seelinesaandbin1:2.usuallythesecond line insomewayadvancesor insomewaymodifies thethoughtofthefirst.

Substantival:Whenaparticiplefunctionsasanounratherthanasverb,itissubstantival.Forexample,שפט,“judge,”isasubstantivaluseoftheverbשפט.

Syntactic parallelism:Atrope inwhichtwoadjacent lineshavethesamegrammaticalstructure,asinlinescanddin1:2.

Trope: In this commentary, this refers to devices used in con-structingalineofHebrewpoetry.Commontropesincludegapping,dependence,semantic matching,andsyntactic parallelism.

Unit:Oneof thepoetic constraints.Aunit isbasically aword,butsmallparticlessuchasכיorאםorprepositionssuchasאלdonotcountasunits.Inthiscommentary,לאisregardedasanon-unit,and.absoluteisitifonlyunitaascountedisכל

Volitive:Averbformusedtoexpressthedesireofthespeaker.Voli-tivesincludecohortatives,jussives,andimperatives.

Wayyiqtol:The conjugation traditionally called “vav conversive”or“vavconsecutive.”

Weqatal:Theconjugationtraditionallycalled“imperfect”withasimpleconjunction,asinויקטל.

294 Glossary


Weyiqtol: The conjugation traditionally called “perfect” with asimpleconjunction,asinוקטל.

Yiqtol:Theconjugationtraditionallycalled“imperfect.”

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300 Bibliography


301

InDEx of moDErn AuTHors

Andersen,FrancisI.,174,184,214,252,278

Barré,Michael,39Barton,John,18,25,47Ben-Hayyim,Z.,277Bliss,F.J.,277Boyle,MarjorieO’Rourke,3Bronznick,Norman,60

Cathcart,KevinJ.,111,258Cooper,Alan,198Coote,Robert,39Crenshaw,JamesL.,129,262Cripps,RichardS.,174,214

Davies,PhilipR.,283Dell,KatharineJ.,114DiLella,AlexanderA.,277

Fishbane,Michael.,39Freedman,DavidNoel,174,184,

214,252,278

Garrett,DuaneA.,174Gelston,A.,178

Giles,Terry,223Gitay,Yehoshua,78Gordon,RobertP.,111

Hammershaimb,Erling,32,99,112,213

Hasel,Gerhard,14,281Hayes,JohnH.,71,111,113Hoffman,Yair,271Holladay,William,9,177Hoop,Raymondde,8

Isbell,Charles,175

Kleven,Terence,112Koch,Klaus,3Kugel,JamesL.,11

Landy,Francis,214Limburg,James,3,4,209

Maag,Victor,213Maeir,ArenM,181Markert,Ludwig,112Mays,JamesLuther,148,174,

269


Miller,CynthiaL.,4Möller,Karl,2,78

Noble,PaulR.,3,204,231,280Notley,R.Steven,181,273

O’Connell,RobertH.,3O’Connor,MichaelP.,9,293

Paas,Stefan,206Park,Aaron,2Paul,Shalom,19,30,34,39,

40,57,58,60,72,83,90,92,97,98,99,103,111,112,125,128,142,148,151,174,175,182,194,207,213,222,230,252,256,277,278,279,288

Priest,John,36

Rainey,AnsonF.,181,273Rhatjen,Bruce,229Richardson,H.Neil,283Rosenbaum,StanleyN.,14,223Rottzoll,D.U.,2Rudolph,Wilhelm,214

Skehan,PatrickW.,277Smalley,WilliamA.,112Smelik,Willem,196Smith,GaryV.,155,174,278Snyman,S.D.,92Stager,LawrenceE.,195Steinmann,AndrewE.,18Stuart,DouglasK.,48,113,127,

183,184,185,207,214,269,278

Waard,Jande,,112,131Williams,A.J.,114Wolff,HansWalter,2,114,123,

148,164,174,184,185,209,226,256,277,278

Wolters,Al,230Wood,JoyceRilett,2

Yadin,Yigael,277Youngblood,Ronald,126

Zalcman,Lawrence,98,148,223

302 IndexofModernAuthors


303

suBJECT InDEx

adjectivalgenitive,186,189,284Amaziah,204–5,216–28Ammon,17–21,40–49Amos(book),Redactionand

Structure,2–7Amos(person),1,14–15,218–28appositionalgenitive,179Ashdod,20,29–32,79,91–92,

100Ashkelon,20,29–32Assyria,28,30,32–33,48–49,

91,103,112–13,176,182

Bashan,104,107–8Beersheba,139,141,236,255–56Ben-Hadad,19,26–27

Calneh,180–81Caphtor,273Carmel,17,261,262concatenation,19Cush,272,274

Damascus,17–28,176,180,201Dan,221,236,255,257,283

David(kingofIsrael),15,36,134,233,237,283–84

dependence,23,25,30,34,37,43,44,47,52,56,98,265

Edom,9,17–21,31,35,37–44,47–48,237,284

Egypt,22,29,79,91–92,100,105,123,162,203,237,241,272

Ekron,29,31Esarhaddon,25

gapping,57,65,68,91–93,110,115–16,138,154,161,167,172,186,198,200,241–42,248–49,273,287

Gath,29,33,178–181Gaza,17–20,29–32Gilead,19,21,25,43Gilgal,104,115,131,139,141Gomorrah,124

Hamath,134–35,180–81,203–4


Hazael,25–27,123,180–81hendiadys,107,121,220hymn,126

Isaac,205,216,225,293Israel,1,13,15,17–18,24–29,

34–36,55–295

Jacob,197,208,210Jacob,“prideof,”192,243Jeroboam,1,13,124,159,176,

182,189,201,203–5Jerusalem,14,19,21,38,54,

140,178Joseph,132,134,143,159,189

Judah,1,6,13–19,33,35,38–40,51–54,65,95,141,180,224,252

Karnaim,202Kerioth,49–50Kir,28,273

lamentation,127–37,159–63,196,202,229,248

liturgy,196Lo-Debar,201

Moab,14,17–19,47–51

Nile,233–36,245–46

objectivegenitive,32,76,127,128,155,249

partitive,68,81,116,186,189,259,280

Philistia,17,20,29–33,91,134,237,271–75

Poetry,Hebrew,8–11

Rabbah,45

Samaria,18,59,78–79,84,91–100,103–108,114,127,141,160,177–85,190–93,201,230,231,236,239,247,249,250,255–56,279

semanticparallelism,259Sikkuth,175–76Sodom,124,209syntacticparallelism,17

Tekoa,14Teman,42Tiglath-pileserI,25,30,32,

180–81Tyre,17,19–20,33–37,95

Uzziah,32,180–181

volitive,80

Zion,16,54,178,182

304 SubjectIndex


duane a. garrett-amos a handbook on the hebrew text (2008)

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