Isaiah 24:17-18

24:17 Terror, pit, and snare

are ready to overtake you inhabitants of the earth! ¹ 

24:18 The one who runs away from the sound of the terror

will fall into the pit; ² 

the one who climbs out of the pit,

will be trapped by the snare.

For the floodgates of the heavens ³  are opened up ⁴ 

and the foundations of the earth shake.

Amos 2:14

2:14 Fast runners will find no place to hide; ⁵ 

strong men will have no strength left; ⁶ 

warriors will not be able to save their lives.

Amos 5:19

5:19 Disaster will be inescapable, ⁷ 

as if a man ran from a lion only to meet a bear,

then escaped ⁸  into a house,

leaned his hand against the wall,

and was bitten by a poisonous snake.

[24:17]  ¹ tn Heb “[are] upon you, O inhabitant of the earth.” The first line of v. 17 provides another classic example of Hebrew wordplay. The names of the three instruments of judgment (פָח,פַחַת,פַּחַד [pakhad, fakhat, fakh]) all begin with the letters פח (peh-khet) and the first two end in dental consonants (ת/ד, tet/dalet). Once again the repetition of sound draws attention to the statement and contributes to the theme of the inescapability of judgment. As their similar-sounding names suggest, terror, pit, and snare are allies in destroying the objects of divine wrath.

[24:18]  ² tn The verb that introduces this verse serves as a discourse particle and is untranslated; see note on “in the future” in 2:2.

[24:18]  ³ tn Heb “from the height”; KJV “from on high.”

[24:18]  ⁴ sn The language reflects the account of the Noahic Flood (see Gen 7:11).

[2:14]  ⁵ tn Heb “and a place of refuge will perish from the swift.”

[2:14]  ⁶ tn Heb “the strong will not increase his strength.”

[5:19]  ⁷ tn The words “Disaster will be inescapable” are supplied in the translation for clarification.

[5:19]  ⁸ tn Heb “went” (so KJV, NRSV).