6:2 They say to the people: 1
“Journey over to Calneh and look at it!
Then go from there to Hamath-Rabbah! 2
Then go down to Gath of the Philistines!
Are they superior to our two 3 kingdoms?
Is their territory larger than yours?” 4
7:1 The sovereign Lord showed me this: I saw 5 him making locusts just as the crops planted late 6 were beginning to sprout. (The crops planted late sprout after the royal harvest. 7 )
9:5 The sovereign Lord who commands armies will do this. 8
He touches the earth and it dissolves; 9
all who live on it mourn.
The whole earth 10 rises like the River Nile, 11
and then grows calm 12 like the Nile in Egypt. 13
1 tn The words “They say to the people” are interpretive and supplied in the translation for clarification. The translation understands v. 2 as the boastful words, which the leaders (described in v. 1) spoke to those who came to them (v. 1b). Some interpret v. 2 differently, understanding the words as directed to the leaders by the prophet. Verse 2b would then be translated: “Are you (i.e., Israel and Judah) better than these kingdoms (i.e., Calneh, etc.)? Is your border larger than their border?” (This reading requires an emendation of the Hebrew text toward the end of the verse.) In this case the verse is a reminder to Judah/Israel that they are not superior to other nations, which have already fallen victim to military conquest. Consequently Judah/Israel should not expect to escape the same fate. Following this line of interpretation, some take v. 2 as a later addition since the Assyrians under Tiglath-pileser III conquered Calneh, Hamath, and Gath after the time of Amos’ ministry. However, this conclusion is not necessary since the kingdoms mentioned here had suffered military setbacks prior to Amos’ time as well. See S. M. Paul, Amos (Hermeneia), 201-4.
2 tn Or “Great Hamath” (cf. NIV); or “Hamath the great” (cf. KJV, NAB, NASB, NRSV); the word “rabbah” means “great” in Hebrew.
3 tn Heb “to these,” referring to Judah and Israel (see v. 1a).
4 tn Both rhetorical questions in this verse expect the answer “no.” If these words do come from the leaders, then this verse underscores their self-delusion of power (compare 6:13). The prophet had no such mistaken sense of national grandeur (7:2, 5).
5 tn Heb “behold” or “look.”
6 sn The crops planted late (consisting of vegetables) were planted in late January-early March and sprouted in conjunction with the spring rains of March-April. For a discussion of the ancient Israelite agricultural calendar, see O. Borowski, Agriculture in Iron Age Israel, 31-44.
7 tn Or “the mowings of the king.”
sn This royal harvest may refer to an initial mowing of crops collected as taxes by the royal authorities.
8 tn The words “will do this” are supplied in the translation for clarification.
9 tn Or “melts.” The verb probably depicts earthquakes and landslides. See v. 5b.
10 tn Heb “all of it.”
11 tn Heb “the Nile.” The word “River” is supplied in the translation for clarity.
12 tn Or “sinks back down.”
13 sn See Amos 8:8, which is very similar to this verse.