SEV Biblia, Chapter 2:1
¶ Así dijo el SEÑOR: Por tres pecados de Moab, y por el cuarto, no la convertiré; porque quemó los huesos del rey de Idumea hasta tornarlos en cal.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Amos 2:1
Verse 1. For three transgressions of Moab and for four] See an explanation of this form chap. i. 2. The land of the Moabites lay to the east of the Dead Sea. For the origin of this people, see Gen. xix. 37. He burned the bones on the king of Edom into lime] Possibly referring to some brutality; such as opening the grave of one of the Idumean kings, and calcining his bones. It is supposed by some to refer to the fact mentioned 2 Kings iii. 26, when the kings of Judah, Israel, and Idumea, joined together to destroy Moab. The king of it, despairing to save his city, took seven hundred men, and made a desperate sortie on the quarter where the king of Edom was; and, though not successful, took prisoner the son of the king of Edom; and, on their return into the city, offered him as a burnt- offering upon the wall, so as to terrify the besieging armies, and cause them to raise the siege. Others understand the son that was sacrificed to be the king of Moab's own son.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 1. Thus saith the Lord, for three transgressions of Moab , etc.] Or the Moabites, who descended from the eldest son of Lot, by one of his daughters; and, though related, were great enemies to the Israelites; they sent for Balaam to curse them when on their borders, and greatly oppressed them in the times of the judges: and for four, I will not turn away [the punishment] thereof ; (see Gill on “ Amos 1:3”). Idolatry, as well as the sin next charged, must be one of these four transgressions: the idols of Moab were Chemosh and Baalpeor; of the former (see Gill on “ Jeremiah 48:7”); and of the latter (see Gill on “ Hosea 9:10”); because he burnt the bones of the king of Edom into lime ; either like “to lime”, or “for lime”; he burnt them thoroughly, till they came to powder as small and as white as lime, and used them instead of it to plaster the walls of his palace, by way of contempt, as the Targum; and so Jarchi and Kimchi: this is thought probable by Quinquarboreus f84 , for which he is blamed by Sanctius, who observes, there is no foundation for it in Scripture; and that the ashes of the bones of one man would not be sufficient to plaster a wall; and, besides, could never be brought to such a consistence as to be fit for such a purpose; yet, if it only means bare burning them, so as that they became like lime, as the colour of it, it could not be thought so very barbarous and inhuman, since it was the usage of some nations, especially the Romans, to burn their dead: no doubt something shocking is intended, and which usage to the dead is resented by the Lord. Sir Paul Rycaut relates a piece of barbarity similar to this, that the city of Philadelphia was built with the bones of the besieged, by the prince that took it by storm. Kimchi thinks, as other interpreters also do, that it refers to the history in ( 2 Kings 3:27); where the king of Moab is said to offer his eldest son that should have reigned in his stead for a burnt offering; which he understands, not of the king of Moab’s son, but of the king of Edom’s son, here called a king, because he was to have succeeded his father in the kingdom; but it seems rather to be the king of Moab’s own son that he offered; nor is it likely that the king of Edom’s son was in his lands; for he would have broke through into the king of Edom, but could not; and then did this rash action; not in wrath and fury, but in a religious way. The prophet here refers to some fact, notorious in those times, the truth of which is not to be questioned, though we have no other account of it in Scripture; very probably it was the same king of Moab that did it, and the same king of Edom that was so used, mentioned in the above history; the king of Moab being enraged at him for joining with the kings of Israel and Judah against him, who afterwards falling into his hands, he used him in this barbarous manner; or very likely being possessed of his country after his death, or however of his grave, he took him out of it, and burnt his bones to lime, in revenge of what he had done to him. This was a very cruel action thus to use a human body, and this not the body of a private person, but of a king; and was an act of impiety, as well as of inhumanity, to take the bones of the dead out of his grave, and burn them; and which though done to a Heathen prince. God, who is the Creator of all, and Governor of the whole world, and whose vicegerents princes are, resented; and therefore threatened the Moabites with utter destruction for it.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-8 - The evil passions of the heart break out in various forms; but the Lor looks to our motives, as well as our conduct. Those that deal cruelly shall be cruelly dealt with. Other nations were reckoned with for injuries done to men; Judah is reckoned with for dishonour done to God Judah despised the law of the Lord; and he justly gave them up to strong delusion; nor was it any excuse for their sin, that they wer the lies, the idols, after which their fathers walked. The wors abominations and most grievous oppressions have been committed by some of the professed worshippers of the Lord. Such conduct leads many to unbelief and vile idolatry.
Original Hebrew
כה 3541 אמר 559 יהוה 3068 על 5921 שׁלשׁה 7969 פשׁעי 6588 מואב 4124 ועל 5921 ארבעה 702 לא 3808 אשׁיבנו 7725 על 5921 שׂרפו 8313 עצמות 6106 מלך 4428 אדום 123 לשׂיד׃ 7875
