Amos 2:2

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;


2:2-3. Though this was not a crime against Israel, it was nevertheless a sin of rebellion (peša‘; see comments on 1:3) against the sovereign Lord of the universe, an assault against His own image in people. For such contempt and defilement, God would militarily annihilate Moab. A fire would consume . . . Kerioth, perhaps an alternate name for the capital Ar (cf. Num. 21:28; Isa. 15:1). In the tumult of battle, with war cries (cf. Amos 1:14) and the blast of the trumpet signaling her doom, Moab would go down—the people, ruler, and all . . . officials (cf. 1:15). Moab, like Ammon, fell to the Assyrians under Tiglath-Pileser III.

2. Kirioth—the chief city of Moab, called also Kir-Moab (Is 15:1). The form is plural here, as including both the acropolis and town itself (see Je 48:24, 41, Margin).
die with tumult—that is, amid the tumult of battle (Ho 10:14).


(4) I will send fire … fortresses of Kerioth. See 1.10, 14. In one ancient translation Kerioth was not taken as a proper name but as meaning “towns”* (compare neb: “fire that shall consume the palaces in their towns”). There is historical evidence for the existence of a town Kerioth,* however, and it would be better to translate as such: “the fortresses of the town of Kerioth.”
And Moab shall die amid uproar, amid shouting and the sound of the trumpet (rsv)/ The people of Moab will die in the noise of battle while soldiers are shouting and trumpets are sounding. The tev has made much of the meaning clear. Moab (rsv) has been translated as The people of Moab. Uproar is in fact the noise of battle. The shouting involves people, so soldiers are shouting. The sound of the trumpet (rsv) is translated trumpets are sounding. In some languages someone will have to do the blowing so “soldiers are shouting and blowing trumpets.” All three events happen at the same time, and tev expresses this relationship with while. The meaning of the shouting and trumpet blowing should not be misleading. As would be true in many cultures, the shouting probably had a magical function and was intended to chase evil spirits.*

Moab’s doom for this transgression is, (1.) A judgment of death. Those that deal cruelly shall be cruelly dealt with (v. 2): Moab shall die; the Moabites shall be cut off with the sword of war, which kills with tumult, with shouting, and with sound of trumpet, circumstances that make it so much the more terrible, as the lion’s roaring aggravates his tearing. Every battle of the warrior is with confused noise, Isa. 9:5. (2.) It is a judgment upon their judge, who had passed the sentence upon the bones of the king of Edom that they should be burnt to lime: I will cut him off, says God


The fire of God’s judgment would be directed against Moab. Their capital Kerioth would be consumed. Their land would be overrun by armies which would come “with shouting and with the sound of the horn.” The “judge,” i.e., ruler, of Moab would be cut off along with all the members of the royal family (2:2–3).
Amos’ God was God of all the earth. Surrounding Gentile nations are all condemned by a “Thus says Yahweh.” He had seen the monstrous atrocities of the Arameans of Damascus. He took note of the slave trade of Gaza and Tyre. He knew of the commitments made between nations which had been broken. He even observed the sins of the heart—hatred, ambition, vengeance.

Kirioth; cities, and so taken as an appellative by the Septuagint translators, τῶν πόλεων αὐτῆς : but it is doubtless a proper name of one of the chief Moabite towns (Jer. 48:24, 41). Keil, after Burckhardt, identifies it with the decayed town of Kereyat, or Korriat; others, with Ar, or Kir, the old capital (Isa. 15:1). The plural termination of the word, like Athenæ, Thebæ, etc., may denote a double city—upper and lower, or old and new. Moab shall die. The nation is personified. With tumult; caused by war (comp. Jer. 48:45, and the prophecy of Balaam, Numb. 24:17). Septuagint, ἐν ἀδυναμία, “in weakness.” With shouting. Omitted by the Vulgate (see on ch. 1:14). Trumpet (ch. 3:6; Jer. 4:19). Trochon cites Virgil, ‘Æneid,’ ii. 313, “Exoritur clamorque virum clangorque tubarum,” “Rises the shout of men and trumpets’ blare.”