“Pass you to Calneh, and see, and from there go you to Hamath the great. We can see why, as a result of this, they had even been able to think in terms of a ‘day of YHWH’ when He would enable them to rule over a world about whose size they had a very limited conception ( Amos 5:18). Israel and Judah were thus top dogs within their spheres of activity, expanding their borders in all directions, and extremely proud and self assured at the fact. The remainder of the surrounding nations like Moab, Ammon, Edom, Ashdod, Ashkelon and Gaza were no threat. Calneh, Hamath and Gath could not bear comparison with them, and were also probably subject to them as well. Aram had been previously neutralised by the Assyrians, and were now subject to Israel. Assyria was far off, little known and troubling no one (except Urartu). Egypt was quiescent and now kept itself to itself. Not having our historical perspective, and unaware of the full truth about the world in which they lived, it was quite possible for these men actually genuinely to see their nations of Israel and Judah as ‘the chief of the nations’. Thus Zion, the visible centre of the truth of YHWH ( Isaiah 2:3), had diminished into being simply another centre of secular influence and wealth, so that instead of its inhabitants thrilling to the truths of the Scriptures, and taking YHWH’s instruction out to the people ( Isaiah 2:3), they indolently lay on their couches drinking and anointing themselves, satisfied with their own importance as rulers, along with Samaria, of ‘the chief of the nations’. There had been such hopes when the Name of YHWH had been established in Zion by the introduction of the Ark of the covenant ( 2 Samuel 6:0), and possibly even more so when the Temple of YHWH had been erected there and made into the central sanctuary, but as royal favour had grown in importance, and Zion had become the place to go in order to gain influence in the right quarters, the impact of the covenant had tended to diminish, and the true heart of the instruction of Moses had become lost as such men vied for position and wealth. There was something especially poignant about being ‘complacently at ease’ in Zion, which is no doubt why Amos introduces the idea here. And it was to such that the house of Israel had to come for guidance and leadership! They arrogantly saw themselves as the noble leaders (the men of note) of ‘the chief of the nations’ (Israel and Judah). Both were under God’s intense scrutiny as they lolled about, confident that they were safe and secure and that nothing could touch them. This second ‘woe’ is directed at the leadership of Judah and Israel in both Zion and Samaria. The men of note of the chief of the nations, But what they needed to recognise was that their security was a myth, and their pride folly, because their unscrupulous and idle ways would shortly bring YHWH’s judgment on them.Īnd to those who are secure in the mountain of Samaria, ![]() In this passage a ‘woe’ is declared on both Zion and Samaria, an thus on Judah and Israel, because of their complacency and their pride (with Aram decimated and subject to Israel, Egypt quiescent, Assyria not at present on the horizon (they were being kept busy elsewhere with Urartu), and Hamath, Calneh and Gath no longer as powerful as them, they saw themselves as ‘the chief of the nations’). Indeed we should recognise that many Israelites had taken up residence in Judah, especially in and around Jerusalem where the central sanctuary was, so that Israel’s fortunes were very much involved with Judah’s. So now he introduces Judah alongside Israel in his reference to their capital cities, Zion and Samaria. ![]() For to the prophets the separation of Israel from Judah was not a part of God’s ideal agenda, and they continued to see them as one. And he had spoken in Amos 3:1 of the ‘whole family’ who had come out of Egypt. He had already made clear in Amos 2:4-5 that YHWH had not overlooked Judah, but had already determined their punishment. While Amos’s mission was to Israel he never overlooked the situation of Judah, and especially in decadent Jerusalem. The Second Woe On Those Who Complacently Relaxed, Depending On YHWH’s Protection, While They Also Totally Ignored His Requirements ( Amos 6:1-14 ).
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