Amos 2:1-3

Amos 2:1-3

[1] Thus saith  the LORD;  For three  transgressions  of Moab,  and for four,  I will not turn away  the punishment thereof; because he burned  the bones  of the king  of Edom  into lime:  [2] But I will send  a fire  upon Moab,  and it shall devour  the palaces  of Kerioth:  and Moab  shall die  with tumult,  with shouting,  and with the sound  of the trumpet:  [3] And I will cut off  the judge  from the midst  thereof, and will slay  all the princes  thereof with him, saith  the LORD. 

What does Amos 2:1-3 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

Yahweh promised not to revoke His punishment of Moab, another nation descended from Lot (cf. Genesis 19:30-38), because of its brutal treatment of an Edomite king"s corpse (cf. 2 Kings 3:26-27). Burning the bones of a dead person dishonored that individual since there was then nothing substantial left of him. Burning the king"s bones indicated a desire to completely destroy the peace and even the soul of Edom"s king, in this case King Mesha, for eternity. This was a despicable crime in the ancient Near East where a peaceful burial was the hope of every person. This treatment of a dead corpse reflected a lack of respect for human life, life made in the image of God.
"Highly significant is the fact that Amos here pronounced the punishment of Yahweh on a social crime involving a non-Israelite. In his other oracles the crimes were, for the most part, against the covenant people. Amos understood that an aspect of God"s law transcended Israel." [1]
Probably the Noahic Covenant provides the background for the Lord"s indictment ( Genesis 9:5-7; cf. Isaiah 24:5).
"All the things condemned by Amos [2] were recognized as evil in themselves, not merely in Israel, but by all the nations of the western Fertile Crescent." [2]
"Crimes against humanity [4] bring God"s punishment. This observation is a powerful motivation for God"s people to oppose the mistreatment and neglect of their fellow human beings." [5]
"However dimly and falsely men may draw the boundary, there are such things as absolute right and wrong based on the nature of the Creator and Ruler of all." [6]
"When a society acquiesces in and welcomes an evil, knowing it is evil, that society is doomed." [7]
Because of this sin Moab would perish in the tumult of battle, and its leaders would die. Kirioth was a major city in Moab (cf. Jeremiah 48:24).
Nebuchadnezzar conquered Moab shortly after598 B.C, which opened the way for Arab tribes to occupy its land. [8]