translation_id: net-engnet

book_id: AMO

label: NET study note

text: The altar is perhaps the altar at Bethel.


text: If the article indicates a definite serpent, then the mythological Sea Serpent , symbolic of the world’s chaotic forces, is probably in view. See Job 26:13 and Isa 27:1 (where it is also called Leviathan). Elsewhere in the OT this serpent is depicted as opposing the Lord , but this text implies that even this powerful enemy of God is ultimately subject to his sovereign will.


text: See Amos 8:8 , which is very similar to this verse.


text: Verse 6 a pictures the entire universe as a divine palace founded on the earth and extending into the heavens.


text: Caphtor may refer to the island of Crete.


text: They probably refers to the Israelites or to the Davidic rulers of the future.


text: The plowman will catch up to the reaper . Plowing occurred in October-November, and harvesting in April-May (see P. King, Amos, Hosea, Micah , 109.) But in the future age of restored divine blessing, there will be so many crops the reapers will take all summer to harvest them, and it will be time for plowing again before the harvest is finished.


text: When the grapes had been harvested, they were placed in a press where workers would stomp on them with their feet and squeeze out the juice. For a discussion of grape harvesting technique, see O. Borowski, Agriculture in Iron Age Israel , 110-12.


text: The grape harvest occurred in August-September, planting in November-December (see P. King, Amos, Hosea, Micah , 109). But in the future age described here there will be so many grapes the workers who stomp them will still be working when the next planting season arrives.