The Minor Prophets: An Exegetical and Expository Commentary, Volume 1: Hosea, Joel, and Amos

518 Pages·2020·28.82 MB·english

by  McComiskey

The Minor
Prophets
An Exegetical and Expository Commentary
Volume 1
Hosea, Joel, and Amos
Edited by
Thomas Edward McComiskey
BAKER BOOK HOUSE
Grand Rapids, Michigan 49516
Copyright 1992 by
Baker Book House Company
Printed in the United States of America
Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from the New
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1989 by the Division
of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of
Christ in the U.S.A, and used by permission.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
The Minor Prophets: an exegetical and expository commentary/
edited by Thomas Edward McComiskey.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
Contents: v. 1. Hosea, Joel, and Amos
ISBN 0-8010-6285-3 (v. 1)
1. Bible. O.T. Minor Prophets—Commentaries. I. McComis­
key, Thomas Edward. II. Bible. O.T. Minor Prophets. English. New
Revised Standard. 1992.
BS1560.M47 1992
224'.907—dc20 91-38388
CIP
Contents
Abbreviations vi
Hebrew Transliteration Scheme vii
Introduction ix
Hosea 1
Joel 239
Amos 315
Scripture Index 495
v
Abbreviations
Bibliographical Bible Versions
ANEP James B. Pritchard, ed. The Ancient Near AV Authorized (King James) Version
East in Pictures Relating to the Old Tes­ Jerusalem Bible
JB
tament. 2d ed. Princeton: Princeton Uni­ NIV New International Version
versity Press, 1969. NJB New Jerusalem Bible
ANET James B. Pritchard, ed. Ancient Near New Revised Standard Version
NRSV
Eastern Texts Relating to the Old Tes­ RSV Revised Standard Version
tament. 3d ed. Princeton: Princeton
University Press, 1969. General
BDB Francis Brown, Samuel R. Driver, and
Charles A. Briggs. A Hebrew and LXX Septuagint
English Lexicon of the Old Testament. MT Masoretic Text
Oxford: Clarendon, 1907; corrected NT New Testament
printing in 1953. OT Old Testament
BHK Rudolf Kittel, ed. Biblia Hebraica. 3d par. parallel to
ed. Stuttgart: Württembergische Bibel­
anstalt, 1937.
BHS Karl Eiliger and Wilhelm Rudolph, eds.
Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia. Stutt­
gart: Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, 1977.
CAD The Assyrian Dictionary. Chicago: Ori­
ental Institute, University of Chicago,
1956-.
GKC Emil Kautzsch, ed. Gesenius’ Hebrew
Grammar. Trans. A. E. Cowley. 2d ed.
Oxford: Clarendon, 1910.
HALAT Walter Baumgartner, et al. Hebräisches
und aramäisches Lexikon zum Alten
Testament. 3d ed. Leiden: Brill, 1967-.
Joüon Paul Joüon. Grammaire de l'Hébreu
BibUque. 2d ed. Rome: Pontifical Bibli­
cal Institute Press, 1923.
vi
Hebrew Transliteration Scheme
Consonants Vowels
5 ä
□ b a
3 g e
T d e
H h i short hireq
1 w i long hireq, written defectively
T z
n h 0 qdme$ hdfup
D t Ö holem written defectively
y
k u short qibbus
5 1 Ü long qibbu$ written defectively
□ ,0 m
n a furtive patah
□ s ht ä
£ c e (\. =ey)
P •J e r.. = ¿y)
r 3 § •> i (\ = iy)
p q ayw
I r 1 6 holem fully written
© s 1 Ü sureq
© s
n t Ö
ä
e
6 vocal sewd
vii

Introduction
The corpus of biblical books we call the Minor The purpose of this commentary is to clarify
Prophets has not enjoyed great prominence in the messages of these spokesmen for God by
the history of biblical interpretation. It is not dif­ bringing the reader into the structures of language
ficult to understand why this is so. Where is the in which these messages found expression. While
edification for a modem Christian in a dirge cele­ readers who do not know Hebrew may find the
brating the downfall of an ancient city? How can Exegesis section imposing, the authors have trans­
the gloomy forecasts of captivity for Israel and lated the constructions so that these readers may
Judah lift the heart today? The Minor Prophets comprehend the discussion and have access to the
seem to have been preoccupied with nations and Hebrew text. The readers may thus observe more
events that have little relevance to today's world. deeply how the author has grappled with the prob­
lems of the text. Readers of English commentaries
How unlike the New Testament they are!
A careful study of these prophets, however, do not always have access to this level of interpre­
tation.
reveals that many of the themes they expound
The translations in parentheses following each
transit the Testaments. They speak of the love of
Hebrew construction are keyed to the Author's
God as well as his justice. Their prophecies are
Translation. This translation, which appears in
not all doom, but are often rich with hope. Hosea
the left column of each translation page, is a lit­
based his hope on God's compassion, while Joel
eral rendition of the section that follows. The col­
envisioned a new era for the people of God.
umn on the right contains the translation of the
Amos spoke of the restoration of David's collaps­
New Revised Standard Version. The reader thus
ing monarchy, and Micah foresaw the coming
has at hand two perspectives on the sense of the
Ruler whose birthplace would be the insignifi­
text.
cant town of Bethlehem. The fact that these
The Exposition section is designed to amplify
prophets often expressed themselves in cultur­
the conclusions reached in the Exegesis section.
ally and historically conditioned forms that seem
The authors frequently discuss related theological
foreign to us should not diminish the force of
and hermeneutical issues in the Exposition. The
their messages. This fact should challenge us to
Hebrew appears in transliteration here. This alerts
discover how the prophets faced the foreboding
the reader who knows Hebrew to the construc­
circumstances of their times, and how their tions the author discusses without encumbering
words illumined the dark night of human rebel­ the reader who does not know Hebrew with
lion and divine justice. Anyone who turns from unfamiliar Hebrew characters. It also aids the
reading the Minor Prophets hearing only words reader by facilitating pronunciation of the Hebrew
of recrimination and judgment has not read them constructions. The preacher will find in this sec­
fairly. Within the dismal events these prophets tion observations on the text that will stimulate
describe lurks the hand of God, and beyond these ideas for using the Minor Prophets in contempo­
events is the bright prospect of a kingdom rary preaching.
inaugurated by One whom Zechariah portrays as The Hebrew scholar, as well as the student of
suffering betrayal, piercing, and eventual death. Hebrew, will appreciate the depth of interaction
The Minor Prophets are not as time-bound as we with the Hebrew text that characterizes the Exe­
may think. gesis section. The authors have made every effort
ix
to utilize the highest standards of scholarly exege­ I wish to express my appreciation to the authors
sis, and to interact with the current literature for their scholarly contributions, their coopera­
throughout their commentaries. The helpful tion, and patience throughout the years in which
introductions to the commentaries cover issues this work has been in preparation. I owe a debt of
that touch on various aspects of the prophecy on gratitude to Allan Fisher of Baker Book House for
which each author has written. his encouragement, and to Maria den Boer, also of
The editor and authors present this work to the Baker Book House, whose superb editing of the
world of biblical scholarship with the hope that it manuscripts and willing counsel have contributed
will contribute to a deeper understanding of the much to this work.
messages of the Minor Prophets and their rele­
vance for us today. If this commentary causes the Thomas Edward McComiskey
voices of these ancient men of God to ring with Hawthorn Woods, Illinois
greater clarity in a world that sorely needs spiri­ 1991
tual and moral strength, the effort will have been
worthwhile.
Hosea
Introduction
Historical Background
Hosea was an Israelite prophet of the eighth century B.c. This To my son Bruce
fact is established by the content of the prophecy, which is con­ for his devotion to
scholarship,
sonant with the historical and societal conditions of that period,
his strength
and the superscription of the book (1:1).
of character,
The span of Israelite history delineated by the superscription and his
includes the reigns of several kings of Judah. Uzziah (Azariah), companionship
through the years
the first king cited, reigned from 792/91 to 740/39, and Hezekiah,
the last Judahite king to which the superscription refers, reigned
from 716/15 to 687/86. Jeroboam II, the only Israelite king men­
tioned in the superscription (see the Exposition at 1:1), reigned
from 793/92 to 753.
This extensive period witnessed several outstanding national
achievements. Uzziah formed a massive standing army and
spread the influence of Judah well beyond its borders (2 Chron.
26:1-15); Jotham (750-732/31) founded a number of towns
(2 Chron. 27:1-9). And most remarkable of all was the religious
reformation fostered by Hezekiah (2 Chron. 29:1-31:21). In the
northern kingdom, Jeroboam II greatly expanded the territorial
holdings of Israel (2 Kings 14:25, 28). Contributor:
Yet there were dark, foreboding undercurrents. Uzziah angrily Thomas Edward
McComiskey, B.A.;
usurped the priestly function, and the light from the burning
M.Div.; Th.M.; M.A.;
incense revealed the leprosy that marked God's displeasure Ph.D.; F.A.C.B.T.
(2 Chron. 26:16-21). During his regency, pagan high places con­ Professor of Old Tes­
tament Exegesis and
tinued to attract worshipers (2 Kings 15:4). The reign of Jotham
Biblical Theology,
witnessed the continuation of popular non-Yahwistic practices Trinity Evangelical
(2 Kings 15:35; 2 Chron. 27:2). In the time of Ahaz (735-716/15) Divinity School. Pre­
siding Fellow of the
the king himself encouraged the worship of Baal (2 Chron. 28:2-4),
American College of
and the nation was threatened by both the Syrians and the
Biblical Theologians.
1