2:4 This is what the Lord says:
“Because Judah has committed three covenant transgressions 1 –
make that four! 2 – I will not revoke my decree of judgment. 3
They rejected the Lord’s law; 4
they did not obey his commands.
Their false gods, 5
to which their fathers were loyal, 6
led them astray.
4:13 For here he is!
He 7 formed the mountains and created the wind.
He reveals 8 his plans 9 to men.
He turns the dawn into darkness 10
and marches on the heights of the earth.
The Lord, the God who commands armies, 11 is his name!”
5:16 Because of Israel’s sins 12 this is what the Lord, the God who commands armies, the sovereign One, 13 says:
“In all the squares there will be wailing,
in all the streets they will mourn the dead. 14
They will tell the field workers 15 to lament
and the professional mourners 16 to wail.
6:8 The sovereign Lord confirms this oath by his very own life. 17
The Lord, the God who commands armies, is speaking:
“I despise Jacob’s arrogance;
I hate their 18 fortresses.
I will hand over to their enemies 19 the city of Samaria 20 and everything in it.”
1 tn This is the same Hebrew term that is translated “crimes” in the previous oracles (see at 1:3). The change to “covenant transgressions” reflects the probability that the prophet is condemning the nation of Israel for violating stipulations of the Mosaic Law.
2 tn Heb “Because of three violations of Judah, even because of four.”
sn 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.
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 tn Or “instruction”; NCV “teachings.”
5 tn Heb “lies.” This may very well be a derogatory term for idols (perhaps also at Ps. 40:4 [Heb 40:5]). Elsewhere false gods are called “vanities” (Deut 32:21; 1 Kgs 16:13, 26) and a delusion (Isa 66:3). In no other prophetic passages, however, are they called “lies.” The term could refer to the deceptions of false prophets (note Ezek 13:6-9; cf. Hab 2:3). See F. I. Andersen and D. N. Freedman, Amos (AB), 301-6.
6 tn Heb “after which their fathers walked.” The expression “to walk after” is an idiom meaning “to be loyal to.” See S. M. Paul, Amos (Hermeneia), 75-76.
sn Here the idolatry of the parents carried over to the children, who persisted in worshiping the idols to which their fathers were loyal.
7 tn Heb “For look, the one who.” This verse is considered to be the first hymnic passage in the book. The others appear at 5:8-9 and 9:5-6. Scholars debate whether these verses were originally part of a single hymn or three distinct pieces deliberately placed in each context for particular effect.
8 tn Or “declares” (NAB, NASB).
9 tn Or “his thoughts.” The translation assumes that the pronominal suffix refers to God and that divine self-revelation is in view (see 3:7). If the suffix refers to the following term אָדַם (’adam, “men”), then the expression refers to God’s ability to read men’s minds.
10 tn Heb “he who makes dawn, darkness.” The meaning of the statement is unclear. The present translation assumes that allusion is made to God’s approaching judgment, when the light of day will be turned to darkness (see 5:20). Other options include: (1) “He makes the dawn [and] the darkness.” A few Hebrew
11 tn Traditionally, “God of hosts.”
12 tn Heb “Therefore.” This logical connector relates back to the accusation of vv. 10-13, not to the parenthetical call to repentance in vv. 14-15. To indicate this clearly, the phrase “Because of Israel’s sins” is used in the translation.
13 tn Or “the Lord.” The Hebrew term translated “sovereign One” here is אֲדֹנָי (’adonay).
14 tn Heb “they will say, ‘Ah! Ah!’” The Hebrew term הוֹ (ho, “ah, woe”) is an alternate form of הוֹי (hoy), a word used to mourn the dead and express outwardly one’s sorrow. See 1 Kgs 13:30; Jer 22:18; 34:5. This wordplay follows quickly, as v. 18 begins with הוֹי (“woe”).
15 tn Or “farmers” (NIV, NCV, NRSV, TEV, CEV, NLT).
16 tn Heb “those who know lamentation.”
sn Professional mourners are referred to elsewhere in the OT (2 Chr 35:25; Jer 9:17) and ancient Near Eastern literature. See S. M. Paul, Amos (Hermeneia), 180.
17 tn Heb “swears by his life”; or “swears by himself.”
18 tn Heb “his,” referring to Jacob, which stands here for the nation of Israel.
19 tn The words “to their enemies” are supplied in the translation for clarification.
20 tn Heb “the city”; this probably refers to the city of Samaria (cf. 6:1), which in turn, by metonymy, represents the entire northern kingdom.