Amos 1:12-15

1:12 So I will set Teman ¹  on fire;

fire ²  will consume Bozrah’s ³  fortresses.”

1:13 This is what the Lord says:

“Because the Ammonites have committed three crimes ⁴  –

make that four! ⁵  – I will not revoke my decree of judgment. ⁶ 

They ripped open Gilead’s pregnant women ⁷ 

so they could expand their territory.

1:14 So I will set fire to Rabbah’s ⁸  city wall; ⁹ 

fire ¹⁰  will consume her fortresses.

War cries will be heard on the day of battle; ¹¹ 

a strong gale will blow on the day of the windstorm. ¹² 

1:15 Ammon’s ¹³  king will be deported; ¹⁴ 

he and his officials ¹⁵  will be carried off ¹⁶  together.”

The Lord has spoken!

[1:12]  ¹ sn Teman was an important region (or perhaps city) in Edom.

[1:12]  ² tn Heb “it”; the referent (the fire mentioned in the previous line) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[1:12]  ³ sn Bozrah was a city located in northern Edom.

[1:13]  ⁴ 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.

[1:13]  ⁵ 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.

[1:13]  ⁶ 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.

[1:13]  ⁷ 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.

[1:14]  ⁸ sn Rabbah was the Ammonite capital.

[1:14]  ⁹ sn The city wall symbolizes the city’s defenses and security.

[1:14]  ¹⁰ tn Heb “it”; the referent (the fire mentioned in the previous line) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[1:14]  ¹¹ tn Heb “with a war cry in the day of battle.”

[1:14]  ¹² tn Heb “with wind in the day of the windstorm.”

[1:14]  sn A windstorm is a metaphor for judgment and destruction in the OT (see Isa 29:6; Jer 23:19) and ancient Near Eastern literature.

[1:15]  ¹³ tn Heb “their”; the referent (Ammon) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[1:15]  ¹⁴ tn Heb “will go into exile.”

[1:15]  ¹⁵ tn Or “princes” (KJV, NAB, NASB, NLT); TEV “officers”; CEV “leaders.”

[1:15]  ¹⁶ tn The words “will be carried off” are supplied in the translation for clarification.