The Pulpit Commentary — Amos — Section 24

EXPOSITION. OHAPTEB II." that he punishes wrongs inflicted even on heathen nations. But as in the onse of the Vere. 1-3.-Jndgment on Moab, other nations, Amos reproves only crimes Ver. 1.-J[oab. The prophet now de- committed against Israel or Judah, so the nounces the other nation connected by ties present outrage must hove the some conneo- of blood with Israel (see on oh. i. 13). Mooh's tion. The reference to the King of Moe.h's hostility had been shown in the hiring of saori flee of " his oldest son," even if we Balao.m to curse the Israelites, e.nd in sedno- suppose (which is improbable) the son of ing them to idolatry (Numb. :uii.-xxv. 8). the King of Edom to be meant, is pie.inly Ho wo.s their oppressor in the time of the ino.ppliooble (2 Kings iii. 27), os tbo offence Judges (Jndg. iii. 12); and D11vid had to regarded the king himself, ond not hie son, take most stringent measures a~inet him and the expression, "burned into lime," (2 Som. viii. 2). The Moe.bites Joined in a oe.n hn.rdly he thought to rarer to o human league agoinst Jehoshaphat (2 Cbron. xi:. soorifioe. The act mentioned proho.bly 22), and lo.ter against Jehoie.kim (2 Kings occurred during the time that the Edomitee i:xiv. 2), oud, os we see by the inscription joined Jehoram nnd Jchosho.pho.t in the on the Moo.bite Stone, were always reudy league ogninst Mesho., the King of Moo.b to profit by the disasters or weakness of the (2 Kings iii. 7, 9), the nuthor of the inscrip- ohoeen people. "I erected this stone," eaye tion on the celebrated stone erected by him Meehn, "to Ohemoeh nt Kirkha, a stone of e.t Dibon. Unfortunately, tho Inst lines of solvation, for he so.ved me from all despoilers, that inscription, describing the wa.r ago.inst and mo.cle me see my desire upon all mine the Edomites, a.re lost. The pa.rogra.ph thot enemies, oveD upon Omri, King of Israel." rema.ins is this : "And Ohemosh soid to me, And then he goes on to recount his vic- Go down, uinke war against Horonnim [i.e. tories. He burned the bones of the King the men of Edom], oncl take ... Chcruosil of Edom into lime. This profanation of , .. in my dnys. Whereforo I mode ... the corpse of the King of Edom (see 2 year . . . and I ... " 'fhe Jewish tradi- Kings niii. 16; J er. viii. 1, 2) is not tion, quoted by Jerome, tells thnt nftcr this mentioned in the historioe.l books. Some wnr the Moabites, in revonge for the o.ssist- of the older comweuto.tors, as Tirinus nnd onco whioh tho King of Edom hud given to Com. 11. Lapide, think that the prophet tho Israelites, dug up nnd dishonourocl his wishes to show tho.t the sympo.thy of God boucs. Edom wns then in vnsso.lugo to Isruel, extends beyond the covenant people, and but regained its indcpenuonce eomo tou yeo.r11 24 THE BOOK OF AMOS. [oH. II, 1-16.