Amos 2 2

Amos 2:2 kjv

But I will send a fire upon Moab, and it shall devour the palaces of Kirioth: and Moab shall die with tumult, with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet:

Amos 2:2 nkjv

But I will send a fire upon Moab, And it shall devour the palaces of Kerioth; Moab shall die with tumult, With shouting and trumpet sound.

Amos 2:2 niv

I will send fire on Moab that will consume the fortresses of Kerioth. Moab will go down in great tumult amid war cries and the blast of the trumpet.

Amos 2:2 esv

So I will send a fire upon Moab, and it shall devour the strongholds of Kerioth, and Moab shall die amid uproar, amid shouting and the sound of the trumpet;

Amos 2:2 nlt

So I will send down fire on the land of Moab,
and all the fortresses in Kerioth will be destroyed.
The people will fall in the noise of battle,
as the warriors shout and the ram's horn sounds.

Amos 2 verses

Amos 2 2 Meaning

Amos 2:2 pronounces a severe divine judgment upon Moab, stating that God will send a devastating fire upon Kerioth, one of their prominent cities. This fire is declared to be so comprehensive that it will utterly consume and destroy the strongholds and royal residences within it. The verse indicates a targeted, deliberate act of divine wrath, not just on the people but on the very infrastructure of Moabite power and stability.

Amos 2 2 Context

Amos 2:2 is part of a series of prophetic pronouncements by Amos against the surrounding nations (Damascus, Philistia, Tyre, Edom, Ammon, Moab), before the prophecies turn to Judah and Israel themselves. These oracles (Amos 1:3 - 2:16) highlight the universality of God's moral law and His impartial judgment, punishing not just Israel's enemies, but also nations culturally connected to Israel (Edom, Moab), and ultimately Judah and Israel themselves, for their specific transgressions. Each oracle follows a similar "for three transgressions, and for four" pattern, signifying a multitude of sins leading to inevitable judgment.

Specifically for Moab, the transgression detailed in Amos 2:1 is the abhorrent act of burning the bones of the king of Edom into lime. This desecration went beyond the bounds of normal warfare, violating ancient Near Eastern customs regarding the dignity of the dead and proper burial, and it particularly signifies a deep hatred and complete disrespect, even for a defeated foe. Amos 2:2, therefore, declares the specific judgment corresponding to this egregious act: the fiery destruction of their key city, Kerioth, and its significant structures, symbolizing the obliteration of their strength and sovereignty.

Amos 2 2 Word analysis

• "So": This connective indicates a direct cause-and-effect relationship, highlighting that the judgment to follow is a precise consequence of Moab's previous sin. It underlines divine justice in action.
• "I will send": (Hebrew: וְשִׁלַּחְתִּי, vəshilachti) This is a first-person singular verb, "I will send," clearly stating God's direct, personal, and active involvement in executing judgment. It emphasizes divine agency and sovereignty; this is not random calamity but a deliberate act of Yahweh.
• "a fire": (Hebrew: אֵשׁ, 'esh) Fire in the Bible often symbolizes divine wrath, purification, destruction, and intense judgment. It represents an all-consuming force, a direct manifestation of God's power to punish. Here, it denotes destructive power unleashed from heaven.
• "upon Moab": The designated target of the judgment. Moab was a Transjordanian kingdom, southeast of Judah, often in conflict with Israel, and infamous for their idolatry (Num 25).
• "and it shall devour": (Hebrew: וְאָכְלָה, və'akhlah) This verb means "to eat," "to consume," or "to devour." It paints a vivid picture of total consumption and annihilation, emphasizing that nothing will be left standing. The fire will not merely damage, but utterly consume.
• "the palaces": (Hebrew: אַרְמְנוֹתֶיהָ, 'armenoteha) This term refers to fortified citadels, royal residences, and significant administrative or military strongholds. Their destruction signifies the dismantling of a nation's power, authority, wealth, and strategic defense. It’s a blow to the very heart of their leadership and security.
• "of Kerioth": (Hebrew: קְרִיּוֹת, Qeriot) A prominent and presumably significant city of Moab. Its specific mention indicates a targeted, significant strike, as the destruction of such a city would represent a major blow to Moabite national life, potentially signaling a loss of identity and power for the entire kingdom.

Words-group analysis:

• "I will send a fire upon Moab": This phrase asserts God's sovereign intent to bring destructive judgment directly upon the nation of Moab. It highlights the divine source and the specific nature (fire) of the impending calamity.
• "and it shall devour the palaces of Kerioth": This phrase details the comprehensive and specific nature of the judgment. The consumption of "palaces" signifies a blow to the heart of Moab's political and military strength, through the total destruction of its royal/governmental centers within a key city like Kerioth. This shows the judgment targets the very symbol of Moabite pride and security.

Amos 2 2 Bonus section

The specific sin of burning the king of Edom's bones into lime (Amos 2:1) was an act of extreme desecration, aiming not just to defeat an enemy but to annihilate their memory and ability to receive a proper afterlife according to ancient belief systems. This was seen as going against natural human law or even divine moral law that extended beyond a specific covenant. Therefore, the judgment declared in Amos 2:2 is a profound statement about the universality of God's moral governance, applying even to nations outside His covenant people who still commit acts that fundamentally offend His character and established order. This serves as a potent reminder that all people, regardless of their knowledge of Mosaic Law, are accountable to God's inherent moral standards written on their hearts.

Amos 2 2 Commentary

Amos 2:2 unequivocally declares the direct divine judgment on Moab for its particular atrocity detailed in the preceding verse—the egregious desecration of the Edomite king's bones. The choice of "fire" as the instrument of judgment is profoundly symbolic, representing not just physical destruction but also the intense, consuming wrath of a holy God. The target, "Kerioth" and its "palaces," indicates a decisive strike at the core of Moabite power and security. It is not merely a border skirmish or a general misfortune, but a divinely ordained, total obliteration of their significant centers of influence. This demonstrates God's commitment to justice, extending even to actions that violate basic human dignity and common ancient Near Eastern customs regarding the dead, underscoring that all nations are accountable to Him. The specific nature of the punishment (fiery consumption) reflects the absolute horror of the sin committed (burning human remains to lime).