1:11 This is what the Lord says:
“Because Edom has committed three crimes 1 –
make that four! 2 – I will not revoke my decree of judgment. 3
He chased his brother 4 with a sword;
he wiped out his allies. 5
In his anger he tore them apart without stopping to rest; 6
in his fury he relentlessly attacked them. 7
1:12 So I will set Teman 8 on fire;
fire 9 will consume Bozrah’s 10 fortresses.”
1:13 This is what the Lord says:
“Because the Ammonites have committed three crimes 11 –
make that four! 12 – I will not revoke my decree of judgment. 13
They ripped open Gilead’s pregnant women 14
so they could expand their territory.
1:14 So I will set fire to Rabbah’s 15 city wall; 16
fire 17 will consume her fortresses.
War cries will be heard on the day of battle; 18
a strong gale will blow on the day of the windstorm. 19
1:15 Ammon’s 20 king will be deported; 21
he and his officials 22 will be carried off 23 together.”
The Lord has spoken!
1 tn Traditionally, “transgressions” (KJV, ASV, NASB, NRSV) or “sins” (NIV). For an explanation of the atrocities outlined in this oracle as treaty violations of God’s mandate to Noah in Gen 9:5-7, see the note on the word “violations” in 1:3.
2 tn Heb “Because of three violations of Edom, even because of four.”
3 tn Heb “I will not bring it [or “him”] back.” The translation understands the pronominal object to refer to the decree of judgment that follows; the referent (the decree) has been specified in the translation for clarity. For another option see the note on the word “judgment” in 1:3.
4 sn It is likely that “brother” refers here to a treaty partner (see the note on the word “brotherhood” in 1:9). However, it is possible, if Israel is in view, that Edom’s ancient blood relationship to God’s people is alluded to here. Cf. NCV, NLT “their relatives, the Israelites.”
5 tn Or “He stifled his compassion.” The Hebrew term רָחֲמָיו (rakhamayv) is better understood here (parallel to “brother/treaty partner”) as a reference to “allies” which Edom betrayed. An Aramaic cognate is attested (see DNWSI 2:1069-70). See M. Fishbane, “The Treaty Background of Amos 1:11 and Related Matters,” JBL 89 (1970): 313-18; idem, “Critical Note: Additional Remarks on rh£myw (Amos 1:11),” JBL 91 (1972): 391-93; and M. Barré, “Amos 1:11 reconsidered,” CBQ 47 (1985) 420-27. Some argue that the clause is best translated as “and destroyed his womenfolk.” רַחַם (rakham) means “womb”; the plural here would be a metonymy for “women” and could establish a parallel with the atrocity of 1:13. See S. M. Paul, Amos (Hermeneia), 64-65.
6 tn Heb “his anger tore continually.” The Hebrew verb טָרַף (taraf, “tear apart”) is often used of an animal tearing apart its prey. The word picture here is that of a vicious predator’s feeding frenzy.
7 tn Traditionally, “he kept his fury continually.” The Hebrew term שְׁמָרָה (shÿmarah) could be taken as a Qal perfect 3rd person masculine singular with 3rd person feminine singular suffix (with mappiq omitted), “he kept it” (NASB, NKJV, NRSV). It is also possible in light of the parallelism that שָׁמַר (shamar) is a rare homonym cognate to an Akkadian verb meaning “to rage; to be furious.” Repointing the verb as שָׁמְרָה (shamÿrah, third person feminine singular), one could translate literally, “his fury raged continually” (NIV, NJPS).
8 sn Teman was an important region (or perhaps city) in Edom.
9 tn Heb “it”; the referent (the fire mentioned in the previous line) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
10 sn Bozrah was a city located in northern Edom.
11 tn Traditionally, “transgressions” (KJV, ASV, NASB, NRSV) or “sins” (NIV). For an explanation of the atrocities outlined in this oracle as treaty violations of God’s mandate to Noah in Gen 9:5-7, see the note on the word “violations” in 1:3.
12 tn Heb “Because of three violations of the Ammonites, even because of four.”
On the three…four style that introduces each of the judgment oracles of chaps. 1-2 see the note on the word “four” in 1:3.
13 tn Heb “I will not bring it [or “him”] back.” The translation understands the pronominal object to refer to the decree of judgment that follows; the referent (the decree) has been specified in the translation for clarity. For another option see the note on the word “judgment” in 1:3.
14 sn The Ammonites ripped open Gilead’s pregnant women in conjunction with a military invasion designed to expand their territory. Such atrocities, although repugnant, were not uncommon in ancient Near Eastern warfare.
15 sn Rabbah was the Ammonite capital.
16 sn The city wall symbolizes the city’s defenses and security.
17 tn Heb “it”; the referent (the fire mentioned in the previous line) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
18 tn Heb “with a war cry in the day of battle.”
19 tn Heb “with wind in the day of the windstorm.”
20 tn Heb “their”; the referent (Ammon) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
21 tn Heb “will go into exile.”
22 tn Or “princes” (KJV, NAB, NASB, NLT); TEV “officers”; CEV “leaders.”
23 tn The words “will be carried off” are supplied in the translation for clarification.