Amos 1:11 - Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

Bible Comments

CURSE ON EDOM.

(11) Edom. — Comp. the prophecy of Obadiah and Isaiah 34:5. See also Dict. of the Bible, art. “Edom.” All through their history Edom sided with the enemies of Israel. (Comp. 1 Samuel 14:47; 2 Samuel 8:14; Psalms 60:9; and 2 Chronicles 21:8-10.)

Cast Off. — It would be better to render stifled. In the following clause read “And his indignation rended continually, and his wrath lurked ever on the watch.” But another punctuation of the Hebrew original yields a different sense. “As for his wrath, he hath kept it for ever” (almost as E.V.). This corresponds closely with Jeremiah 3:5.

Amos 1:11

11 Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Edom, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because he did pursue his brother with the sword, and did cast off all pity, and his anger did tear perpetually, and he kept his wrath for ever: