Amos 2:1-3

Moab. With Moab the prophet concludes his list of Israel's foes. When Israel arrived on the E. of the Jordan, the Moabites inhabited the high tableland E. of the Dead Sea, whither they had been driven recently from the N. of the Arnon by the Amorites (cf. Judges 11:25). They were subdued by David, and again by Omri; but in the reign of Ahab they regained their independence under their king Mesha (2 Kings 3:5 ff.*). As in other cases, the prophet gives here a typical instance of Moabite cruelty. If the text is correct (see for suggested emendations, ICC) the Moabites are accused of burning the bones of a king of Edom into lime or for lime. In other words, they reduced the body to ashes by burning it, or they deliberately burned it in order to make use of the ashes for plaster. No other record of this event has been preserved; but in either case, an act of monstrous desecration is implied. For such acts, the fire of war (Amos 2:2) will come upon Moab and will devour the palaces or strongholds of Keriyyoth (Jeremiah 48:41, and the Moabite Stone, lines Amos 10- 13). Moab will perish amid the din of battle, with the triumphant cry of the enemy and the blast of horns ringing in her ears. Thus will Yahweh cut off (Amos 2:3) the ruler (lit. judge) from the midst of her.