LIBERTY UNIVERSITY
JOHN W. RAWLINGS SCHOOL OF DIVINTY
Submitted to Dr. Fitzgerald
in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the completion of
DSMN 520
Orientation to Old Testament II
by
Gabrielle Poston
February 2022
Contents
Introduction……………………………………………………………………………………..1
Overview of the Oracles……………………………………………………………………...…1
Similarities of the
Oracles……………………………………………………………………………...……………1
Differences of the
Oracles…………………………………………………………………………………………...2
Function of the Oracles…………………………………………………………………………3
Conclusion……………………………………………………………………………………….4
Bibliography…………………………………………………………………………………….5
ii
1
Introduction
The book of Amos contains numerous prophetic judgements against the nations
surrounding Israel, including Judah, and then targets Israel with a prophecy of judgement. A
major interpretive issue is the function of these oracles in chapters 1-2 within the book of Amos.
This essay initially analyzes the context of the oracles in chapters 1-2, then the similarities and
differences between the 8 oracles against the nations are discussed. Finally, the function of the
oracles in Amos 1-2 in the broad scheme of the book is interpreted.
Overview of the Oracles
The Lord called upon a man named Amos who was a shepherd from the land of Tekoa
which was in the southern kingdom, Judah. The Lord spoke to Amos through a vision to go and
share the judgment that the Lord was going to bring upon the northern kingdom of Israel due to
the peoples’ sins and iniquities. (Amos 1:1-2) Chisholm makes note that the Lord called Amos, a
shepherd, from Judah to cross the boarders into the northern kingdom to preach judgement.
2“After all, why would anyone leave his job, travel to hostile territory, and incite the authorities
there with an unpopular message if he were not called by God? The character of God has shown
through history that the Lord will send a warning sign to the people before the judgement arrives.
(Psalm 19:11, Hos 11:10, and Joel 3:16) These oracles concern the regions of Damascus, Gaza,
Tyre, Edom, Ammon, Moab, Judah, and Israel.
Similarities in the Oracles
In the first few verses of the oracles, the phrase, “for three sins, even four, I will not
relent”, appear in every other verse of Amos 1-2. This statement represents the concern that the
Lord has with not just 3 or 4 but will all the sin that the people within the region are living out.
Nothing that involves sin is unnoticed and it is apparent that God’s plan is to bring attention to it
2
all. 1“In attempting to explain this deviation, some commentators have thought that the purpose
is not to specify all the sins but to represent the habit of rebellion in a general sense; others that
the two numbers should be added to make seven, thus communicating the fullness of sin; and
still others that the one atrocity that is mentioned is either the worst or the one that finally goes
beyond the limits of divine patience.” There is a correlation of these statements found in
Proverbs 30. Verses 15, 18, 21, and 29. Each verse uses the numbers 3 and 4 to describe the
weight and purpose of the scripture. Though God may be targeting the nations around Israel,
Israel itself and Judah will be warned for its continuous sin and rebellion.
Differences in the Oracles
1“One set of oracles (Aram, Philistia, Ammon, and Moab) has longer chastisements and a
closing formula; the other (Tyre, Edom, Judah), longer indictments and no concluding formula.”
The indictments toward Israel are expressed more compared to the other oracles. (Israel’s sins
were with the religious leaders) 10 verses occupy chapter 2 about the rebellion of Israel. “Even
the bravest warriors will flee naked on that day, declares the Lord.” (Amos 2:16, NIV) This
closing statement compared to the ending statements of the other nations, visually represents
what the Lord’s judgement will look like if they do not turn away from their wickedness.
2Chisholm made note about the last few verses that nothing was safe from His judgement and
that it would be completed. The threat of punishment is not directly spoken in Israel’s oracles but
is later in the chapters of Amos. 4“Since the oracle against Israel is the climax of the oracles and
begins Amos’s focus on Israel, it is not surprising that he reserves the threat of punishment for
the rest of the book.” 4The structure of when the oracles are addressed have been said to fall
geographically by groups. Damascus, Gaza, and Tyre as city-states, Edom, Ammon, and Moab as
nations, and Judah and Israel as special nations.
3
Function of the Oracles
Scholars have questioned whether the order of how the oracles were written in scripture
played an important piece of their meaning. Amos speaks to the nations and move around the
north as he made his way back down to the south and then to Israel in whole. This not the only
place historically where God has sent a prophet so preach a warning of judgement. He has done
so to the same nations for example, chapters of 25, 26, 28, and 29 of Ezekiel towards Ammon,
Moab, Edom, Philistia, Tyre, Sidon, and Egypt. These oracles much like the ones in Amos are
judgements about how the people of hierarchal rank treated people of lower standards of that
time in history. The judgements highlight the laws set in Leviticus and how they are being
broken. 3“Leviticus extends the theme to include how God is to be worshipped. Leviticus puts an
emphasis on attitude and proper relationships.” The actions that brought the judgement are those
that go against a brother. (Amos 1:11, NIV) In the first two oracles, God takes action to say that
the kings will be destroyed.
From the time of the fall, God’s purpose time and time again was to deliver his people
from the hands of the enemy. You see how God has expanded his desire for the Israelites to the
surrounding nations and puts a spotlight on Israel. Greater restoration is to come, and we see that
as Isaiah prophesied in chapter 9 about a child to be born. Chapter 7 speaks of a plumbline.
“Then Lord said, look, I am setting a plumb line among my people of Israel: I will spare them no
longer.” (Amos 7: 8, NIV) 2“He holds in his hand a plumb line (perhaps symbolizing God’s
moral standards), which reveals that the wall is now slanted and ready to fall (symbolizing
Israel’s failure to measure up to God’s standard).” This weight is possibly referring to Christ who
bears the weight of sin and becomes the sacrifice to bring restoration into a broken world and
into centuries of broken people.
4
Conclusion
The prophetic message of Amos 1-2 accounts for the character of God throughout history
prior to the coming of Christ. The father’s intentionality of the people he chooses to warn nations
regarding their sin prior to judgement gives insight to the great shepherd who will come to
restore the broken world. There are contextual similarities and differences in each oracle, but the
point of highlighting the purpose of these judgements and the opening statements remained
consistent. God, still showing mercy before judgement, sent Amos whose obedience led to
preaching specific warnings to the people about their sin and unlawful acts to realign themselves
with the truth of the law.
5
Bibliography
1Carroll R. M. Daniel. “God and His People in the Nations’ History: A Contextualised Reading of
Amos 1-2.” Tydnale Bulletin, vol. 47, 1996, pp. 39-70.
2Chrisholm, Robert B. Handbook on the Prophets. Grand Rapids, MI. Baker Academic
Publishing, 2002.
3Hamilton, Victor P. Handbook on the Pentateuch. Grand Rapids, MI. Baker Academic
Publishing, 2005.
4Steinmann, Andrew E. “The Order of Amos’s Oracles Against the Nations: 1:3-2:16.” Journal
of Biblical Literature, vol. 111, 1992, pp. 683-89.
Unless otherwise stated, all biblical references are in the New International Version.
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