The MacArthur Study Bible, NKJV
Page 420
2:10 earth quakes…sun and moon grow dark. The ground trembles as dust flies along with the growing devastation. Earthquakes and cosmic disruptions are well attested elsewhere as signs accompanying divine appearances (Judg. 5:4; Ps. 18:7; Jer. 4:23–26; Nah. 1:5, 6; Matt. 24:7). Joel later refers to these signs (cf. 2:31; 3:15).
2:12–14 Even in the midst of judgment, opportunity to repent was given. If they would demonstrate genuine repentance, the Lord stood ready to forgive and bless.
2:16 From oldest to youngest they were to come. The situation is so grave that even the groom and bride were exhorted to assemble (cf. Deut. 24:5); consummation of the marriage could wait.
2:18—3:21 With the advent of v. 18, the text makes a decisive transition, devoting the remainder of the book to restoration. It assumes an interval of time between v. 17 and v. 18 during which Israel repented. As a result of her repentance, the 3 major concerns of 1:1–2:17 are answered by the LORD: physical restoration (2:21–27), spiritual restoration (2:28–32), and national restoration (3:1–21).
2:20 northern army. Although some have viewed this as a reference to the locusts, it is more likely referring to a military invasion by a country coming down from the N of Israel (cf. Ezek. 38:6, 15; 39:2). That future army will be driven into the eastern sea (Dead Sea) and the western sea (Mediterranean Sea).
2:21–24 Reminiscent of 1:18–20, the former situation had been reversed. The animals were admonished to be afraid no longer.
2:23, 24 former…latter rain. The former rains came in Oct.–Dec. to prepare the seed-bed and assist germination, while the latter rains came in Mar.–May to provide ample moisture for the grain and fruit crops to be rich and full.
2:27 I am in the midst of Israel. This return promised a reversal of the LORD’s departure (cf. Ezek. 8–11).
2:28–32 See Introduction: Interpretive Challenges; see notes on Acts 2:16–21.
2:28 afterward. The abundance of material blessings would be followed by the outpouring of spiritual blessings. When coupled with the other temporal phrases within the passage (“in those days” [v. 29] and “before the coming of the great and awesome Day of the LORD” [v. 31]), the term points to a Second Advent fulfillment time frame. all flesh. Since the context is “your sons and your daughters,” “all flesh” best refers to the house of Israel only. The nations are the recipients of God’s wrath, not the effusion of His Spirit (cf. 3:2, 9ff.).
2:30, 31 Before…day of the LORD. Unmistakable heavenly phenomena will signal the imminent arrival of God’s wrath in the Day of the LORD (cf. v. 10; see note on 1:15).
2:32 whoever calls. Quoted by Paul in Rom. 10:13. remnant. In spite of the nation’s sin, God promised to fulfill His unconditional covenants (Noahic, Abrahamic, Davidic, and New). A future remnant of Jews will inherit God’s promised blessings (cf. Is. 10:20–22; 11:11, 16; Jer. 31:7; Mic. 2:12; Zeph. 3:13; Rom. 9:27).
Joel 3
3:1–21 Joel notes the national restoration of Israel, in which the people will be regathered to Palestine (Is. 11:15, 16; Matt. 24:31).
3:2 gather all nations. The nations of the world will be gathered to Jerusalem to the battle of Armageddon (Zech. 12:3; 14:2; Rev. 16:16; 19:11–21). Valley of Jehoshaphat. The name means “Yahweh judges” (cf. 3:12, 14) and although the exact location is unknown, other prophets spoke of this judgment as occurring near Jerusalem (Ezek. 38, 39; Dan. 11:45; Zech. 9:14ff.; 12:1ff.). This judgment of the nations includes the event of Matt. 25:31–46.
3:5, 6 The exact historical event referred to here is uncertain. Slave trading was a common practice among the Phoenicians and Philistines.
3:6 the Greeks. Although not prominent militarily, the Greeks were active in commerce on the Mediterranean in the 9th century B.C.
3:7, 8 The reversal of fortunes will be startling. The victims themselves will be called upon to be the instruments and avengers of the LORD’s wrath (cf. Is 11:12–14; Zech. 12:8).
3:8 Sabeans. Trading merchants who lived in Arabia (1 Kin. 10; Jer. 6:20).
3:9–17 Joel resumes the theme of vv. 1–3, the gathering of the nations to the earthly courtroom, the Valley of Jehoshaphat. The sentence has been handed down and the Judge orders His agents to ready the scene for the execution.
3:14 valley of decision. This location is the same as the Valley of Jehoshaphat where the sentence of judgment will be carried out (cf. 3:2, 12). See note on 3:2.
3:15, 16 The sun…moon. Cf. 2:10, 30, 31. These are signs that precede the coming eschatological Day of the LORD at the end of the Great Tribulation (cf. Matt. 24:29, 30).
3:17 Zion My holy mountain. This will be the earthly location of God’s presence in the millennial temple (cf. Ezek. 40–48) at Jerusalem. ever pass through her again. God has promised a future time when His glory in Judah will not be eclipsed. This time of ultimate peace and prosperity will be experienced after Christ conquers the world and sets up His millennial kingdom on earth (cf. Ezek. 37:24–28; Matt. 24, 25; Rev. 19).
3:18 Valley of Acacias. Known for its acacia trees, the valley was situated on the northern shores of the Dead Sea and served as the final stopover for Israel prior to her entrance into the Promised Land (Num. 25:1; Josh. 2:1; 3:1). This valley is also the place to which the millennial river will flow (Ezek. 47:1–12; Zech. 14:8).
3:20 Judah…forever. This is in reference to Christ’s millennial kingdom on earth, which is yet to be fulfilled.
Joel 1
1:1 a Acts 2:16
1:2 b Jer. 30:7; Joel 2:2
1:3 c Ex. 10:2; Ps. 78:4; Is. 38:19
1:4 d Deut. 28:38; Joel 2:25; Amos 4:9
1:4 e Is. 33:4
1:4 1 Exact identity of these locusts unknown
1:5 f Is. 5:11; 28:1; Hos. 7:5
1:5 g Is. 32:10
1:6 h Prov. 30:25; Joel 2:2, 11, 25
1:6 i Rev. 9:8
1:6 2 Or lioness
1:7 j Is. 5:6; Amos 4:9
1:7 3 Or splintered
1:8 k Is. 22:12
1:8 l Prov. 2:17; Jer. 3:4
1:9 m Hos. 9:4; Joel 1:13; 2:14
1:9 n Joel 2:17
1:10 o Jer. 12:11; Hos. 3:4
1:10 p Is. 24:7
1:11 q Jer. 14:3, 4; Amos 5:16
1:12 r Joel 1:10; Hab. 3:17
1:12 s Is. 16:10; 24:11; Jer. 48:33
1:13 t Jer. 4:8; Ezek. 7:18
1:14 u 2 Chr. 20:3; Joel 2:15, 16
1:14 v Lev. 23:36
1:14 w 2 Chr. 20:13
1:15 x (Is. 13:9; Jer. 30:7); Amos 5:16
1:15 y Is. 13:6; Ezek. 7:2–12
1:16 z Is. 3:1; Amos 4:6
1:16 a Deut. 12:7; Ps. 43:4
1:18 b 1 Kin. 8:5; Jer. 12:4; 14:5, 6; Hos. 4:3
1:18 4 LXX, Vg. are made desolate
1:19 c (Ps. 50:15); Mic. 7:7
1:19 d Jer. 9:10; Amos 7:4
1:19 5 Lit. pastures of the wilderness
1:20 e Job 38:41; Ps. 104:21; 147:9; Joel 1:18
1:20 f 1 Kin. 17:7; 18:5
1:20 6 Lit. pastures of the wilderness
Joel 2
2:1 a Jer. 4:5; Joel 2:15; Zeph. 1:16
2:1 b Num. 10:5
2:1 c Joel 1:15; 2:11, 31; 3:14; (Obad. 15); Zeph. 1:14
2:1 1 ram’s horn
2:2 d Joel 2:10, 31; Amos 5:18; Zeph. 1:15
2:2 e Joel 1:6; 2:11, 25
2:2 f Ex. 10:14; Lam. 1:12; Dan. 9:12; 12:1; Joel 1:2
2:3 g Gen. 2:8; Is. 51:3; Ezek. 36:35
2:3 h Ex. 10:5, 15; Ps. 105:34, 35; Zech. 7:14
2:4 i Rev. 9:7
2:4 2 Or horsemen
2:5 j Rev. 9:9
2:6 k Is. 13:8; Jer. 8:21; Lam. 4:8; Nah. 2:10
2:6 3 LXX, Tg., Vg. gather blackness
2:7 l Prov. 30:27
2:8 4 Lit. highway
2:8 5 Halted by losses
2:9 m Jer. 9:21
2:9 n John 10:1
2:10 o Ps. 18:7; Joel 3:16; Nah. 1:5
2:10 p Is. 13:10; 34:4; Jer. 4:23; Ezek. 32:7, 8; Joel 2:31; 3:15; M
att. 24:29; Rev. 8:12
2:11 q Jer. 25:30; Joel 3:16; Amos 1:2
2:11 r Jer. 50:34; Rev. 18:8
2:11 s Jer. 30:7; Amos 5:18; Zeph. 1:15
2:11 t (Mal. 3:2)
2:12 u (Deut. 4:29); Jer. 4:1; Ezek. 33:11; Hos. 12:6; 14:1
2:13 v (Ps. 34:18; 51:17; Is. 57:15)
2:13 w Gen. 37:34; 2 Sam. 1:11; Job 1:20; Jer. 41:5
2:13 x (Ex. 34:6)
2:14 y Josh. 14:12; 2 Sam. 12:22; 2 Kin. 19:4; Jer. 26:3; Jon. 3:9
2:14 z Hag. 2:19
2:14 a Joel 1:9, 13
2:15 b Num. 10:3; 2 Kin. 10:20
2:15 c Joel 1:14
2:15 6 ram’s horn
2:16 d Ex. 19:10
2:16 e Ps. 19:5
2:17 f Matt. 23:35
2:17 g Ex. 32:11, 12; (Is. 37:20); Amos 7:2, 5
2:17 h Ps. 42:10
2:17 7 Or speak a proverb against them
2:18 i (Is. 60:10; 63:9, 15)
2:19 j Jer. 31:12; Hos. 2:21, 22; Joel 1:10; (Mal. 3:10)
2:20 k Ex. 10:19
2:20 l Jer. 1:14, 15
2:20 m Deut. 11:24
2:20 8 Lit. great
2:21 9 Lit. great
2:22 n Joel 1:19
2:23 o Deut. 11:14; Is. 41:16; Jer. 5:24; Hab. 3:18; Zech. 10:7
2:23 p Lev. 26:4; Hos. 6:3; Zech. 10:1; James 5:7
2:23 10 Or teacher of righteousness
2:25 q Joel 1:4–7; 2:2–11
2:25 11 Exact identity of these locusts unknown
2:26 r Lev. 26:5; Deut. 11:15; Is. 62:9
2:26 s Is. 45:17
2:27 t Lev. 26:11, 12; (Joel 3:17, 21)
2:27 u (Is. 45:5, 6)
2:28 v Ezek. 39:29; Acts 2:17–21
2:28 w Zech. 12:10
2:28 x Is. 54:13
2:28 y Acts 21:9
2:29 z (1 Cor. 12:13; Gal. 3:28)
2:30 a Matt. 24:29; Mark 13:24, 25; Luke 21:11, 25, 26; Acts 2:19
2:31 b Is. 13:9, 10; 34:4; Joel 2:10; 3:15; Matt. 24:29; Mark 13:24; Luke 21:25; Acts 2:20; Rev. 6:12, 13
2:31 c Is. 13:9; Zeph. 1:14–16; (Mal. 4:1, 5, 6)
2:32 d Jer. 33:3; Acts 2:21; Rom. 10:13
2:32 e Is. 46:13; (Rom. 11:26)
2:32 f Is. 11:11; Jer. 31:7; (Mic. 4:7); Rom. 9:27
2:32 12 Or delivered
2:32 13 Or salvation
Joel 3
3:1 a Jer. 30:3; Ezek. 38:14
3:2 b Is. 66:18; Mic. 4:12; Zech. 14:2
3:2 c Is. 66:16; Jer. 25:31; Ezek. 38:22
3:3 d Obad. 11; Nah. 3:10
3:4 e Is. 14:29–31; Jer. 47:1–7; Ezek. 25:15–17; Amos 1:6–8; Zech. 9:5–7
3:4 1 Or render Me repayment
3:4 2 Or repay Me
3:4 3 Or repayment
3:5 4 Lit. precious good things
3:7 f Is. 43:5, 6; Jer. 23:8; Zech. 9:13
3:7 5 Or repayment
3:8 g Ezek. 23:42
3:8 h Jer. 6:20
3:8 6 Lit. Shebaites, Is. 60:6; Ezek. 27:22
3:9 i Jer. 6:4; Ezek. 38:7; Mic. 3:5
3:10 j (Is. 2:4; Mic. 4:3)
3:10 k Zech. 12:8
3:10 7 pruning knives
3:11 l Ps. 103:20; Is. 13:3
3:12 m (Ps. 96:13); Is. 2:4
3:13 n (Matt. 13:39); Rev. 14:15
3:13 o Jer. 51:33; Hos. 6:11
3:13 p (Is. 63:3); Lam. 1:5; Rev. 14:19
3:14 q Joel 2:1
3:16 r (Is. 51:5, 6)
3:17 s Obad. 16; Zech. 8:3
3:18 t Ps. 46:4; Ezek. 47:1; Zech. 14:8; (Rev. 22:1)
3:18 8 Heb. Shittim
3:21 u Is. 4:4
Introduction to Amos
Title
As with each of the Minor Prophets, the title comes from the name of the prophet to whom God gave His message (1:1). Amos’ name means “burden” or “burden-bearer.” He is not to be confused with Amoz (“stout, strong”), the father of Isaiah (Is. 1:1).
Author and Date
Amos was from Tekoa, a small village 10 mi. S of Jerusalem. He was the only prophet to give his occupation before declaring his divine commission. He was not of priestly or noble descent, but worked as a “sheepbreeder” (1:1; cf. 2 Kin. 3:4) and a “tender of sycamore fruit” (7:14) and was a contemporary of Jonah (2 Kin. 14:25), Hosea (Hos. 1:1), and Isaiah (Is. 1:1). The date of writing is mid-eighth century B.C., during the reigns of Uzziah, king of Judah (ca. 790–739 B.C.) and Jeroboam II, king of Israel (ca. 793–753 B.C.), two years before a memorable earthquake (1:1; cf. Zech. 14:5).
Background and Setting
Amos was a Judean prophet called to deliver a message primarily to the northern tribes of Israel (7:15). Politically, it was a time of prosperity under the long and secure reign of Jeroboam II who, following the example of his father Joash (2 Kin. 13:25), significantly “restored the territory of Israel” (2 Kin. 14:25). It was also a time of peace with both Judah (cf. 5:5) and her more distant neighbors; the ever-present menace of Assyria was subdued, possibly because of Nineveh’s repentance at the preaching of Jonah (Jon. 3:10). Spiritually, however, it was a time of rampant corruption and moral decay (4:1; 5:10-13; 2 Kin. 14:24).
Historical and Theological Themes
Amos addresses Israel’s two primary sins: 1) an absence of true worship, and 2) a lack of justice. In the midst of their ritualistic performance of worship, they were not pursuing the LORD with their hearts (4:4, 5; 5:4–6) nor following His standard of justice with their neighbors (5:10–13; 6:12). This apostasy, evidenced by continual, willful rejection of the prophetic message of Amos, is promised divine judgment. Because of His covenant, however, the LORD will not abandon Israel altogether, but will bring future restoration to the righteous remnant (9:7–15).
Interpretive Challenges
In 9:11, the Lord promised that He “will raise up the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down.” At the Jerusalem Council, convened to discuss whether Gentiles should be allowed into the church without requiring circumcision, James quotes this passage (Acts 15:15, 16) to support Peter’s report of how God had “visited the Gentiles to take out of them a people for His name” (Acts 15:14). Some have thus concluded that the passage was fulfilled in Jesus, the greater Son of David, through whom the dynasty of David was reestablished. The Acts reference, however, is best seen as an illustration of Amos’ words and not the fulfillment. The temporal allusions to a future time (“On that day,” 9:11), when Israel will “possess the remnant of Edom, and all the Gentiles” (9:12), when the LORD “will plant them in their land, and no longer shall they be pulled up from the land I have given them” (9:15), all make it clear that the prophet is speaking of Messiah’s return at the Second Advent to sit upon the throne of David (cf. Is. 9:7), not the establishment of the church by the apostles.
Outline
I. Judgments Against the Nations (1:1-2:16)
A. Introduction ( 1:1, 2)
B. Against Israel’s Enemies ( 1:3-2:3)
C. Against Judah ( 2:4, 5)
D. Against Israel (2:6-16)
II. Condemnations Against Israel ( (3:1-6:14)
A. Sin of Irresponsibility ( 3:1-15)
B. Sin of Idolatry (4:1-13)
C. Sin of Moral/Ethical Decay (5:1-6:14)
III. Visions of Judgment and Restoration (7:1-9:15)
A. The Lord Will Spare (7:1-6)
1. Vision of locusts (7:1–3)
2. Vision of fire (7:4–6)
B. The Lord Will No Longer Spare (7:7-9:10)
1. Vision of the plumb line (7:7–9)
2. Historical interlude (7:10–17)
3. Vision of the fruit basket (8:1–14)
4. Vision of the altar (9:1–10)
C. The Lord Will Restore (9:11-15)
The Book of
AMOS
Judgments on Israel’s Neighbors
1The words of Amos, who was among the asheepbreeders of bTekoa, which he saw concerning Israel in the days of cUzziah king of Judah, and in the days of dJeroboam the son of J
oash, king of Israel, two years before the eearthquake.
2And he said:
“The LORD froars from Zion,
And utters His voice from Jerusalem;
The pastures of the shepherds mourn,
And the top of gCarmel withers.”
Judgment on the Nations
3Thus says the LORD:
“For three transgressions of hDamascus, and for four,
I will not turn away its punishment,
Because they have ithreshed Gilead with implements of iron.
4j But I will send a fire into the house of Hazael,
Which shall devour the palaces of kBen-Hadad.
5I will also break the gate lbar of Damascus,
And cut off the inhabitant from the Valley of Aven,
And the one who 1holds the scepter from 2Beth Eden.
The people of Syria shall go captive to Kir,”
Says the LORD.
6Thus says the LORD:
“For three transgressions of mGaza, and for four,
I will not turn away its punishment,
Because they took captive the whole captivity
To deliver them up to Edom.
7n But I will send a fire upon the wall of Gaza,
Which shall devour its palaces.
8I will cut off the inhabitant ofrom Ashdod,
And the one who holds the scepter from Ashkelon;
I will pturn My hand against Ekron,
And qthe remnant of the Philistines shall perish,”
Says the Lord GOD.
9Thus says the LORD:
“For three transgressions of rTyre, and for four,
I will not turn away its punishment,
Because they delivered up the whole captivity to Edom,
And did not remember the covenant of brotherhood.
10But I will send a fire upon the wall of Tyre,
Which shall devour its palaces.”
11Thus says the LORD:
“For three transgressions of sEdom, and for four,
I will not turn away its punishment,
Because he pursued his tbrother with the sword,
And cast off all pity;
His anger tore perpetually,
And he kept his wrath forever.
12But uI will send a fire upon Teman,