The Religious Polemics of Amos: Studies in the Preaching of Amos 2,7B-8; 4,1-13; 5,1-27; 6,4-7; 8,14

A detailed exegesis of the passages indicated in the title leads Barstad to the conclusion that they are not so much dealing with social injustice as with a religious polemic directed against the non-Yahwistic cults which flourished in Israel. If this is correct, it will lead to a radical reappraisal of the contrast between Amos and Hosea as generally represented in the text books. However, while Barstad’s study is developed with admirable clarity and impressive mastery of primary and secondary sources, not all will be immediately convinced. Much depends, for instance, on the understanding of mrzḥ in vi 7; the interpretation suggested for ii 7-8 and iv 1 depends upon it. Elsewhere, too, the case rests upon a specific choice between a number of difficult possibilities. Despite these reservations, this is a stimulating monograph, which merits further analysis and discussion. 1. Introduction -- Preliminary Remarks -- The Prophet Amos -- 2. Filius Ac Pater Eius Ierunt Ad Puellam A Study In Am. 2, 7b-8 -- Preliminary Remarks. The Context. -- Amos 2, 6-8 -- The Problem Of The Maid -- Is The Maid A Cult Prostitute? -- Cultic Prostitution In The Ancient Near East -- The Old Testament Evidence Concerning Cultic Prostitution -- 3. The Prophet As Missionary, Studies In Am. 4, 1-13 -- The Cows Of Bashan -- A Digression. The Cow As A Fertility Symbol Int He Ancient Near East. A Few Examples -- The Words Of Amos Against The Cults In Bethel And Gilgal (am. 4, 4-5) -- Bethel In The Biblical Tradition -- The Archaeology Of Bethel -- Gilgal In The Biblical Tradition -- The Archaeology Of Gilgal -- The Transgressions Of The Israelites At Bethel And Gilgal -- The Text -- Am. 4, 6-11912) In The History Of Research, And How It Should Be Interpreted -- The Disasters Of Am. 4, 6-11 -- 4. Religious Polemics In Amos 5 -- The Composition And Contents Of Chapter 5 --^ Lamentation And Fertility. A Few Remarks -- The Day Of Yahweh In Amos 5, 18-20 -- Preliminary Remarks -- The Day Of Yahweh In Recent Scholarship. A Short Outline -- Ywm Yhwh In The Message Of The Prophets -- The Origin Of The Idea Of The Day Of Yahweh In The Prophets. A Few Remarks -- The Sitz Im Leben Of The Day Of Yahweh In The Prophets -- Amos 5, 18-20 -- Amos And The Sacrificial Cult. Am. 5, 21-24 -- Amos 5, 25-26 -- 5. Am. 6, 4-6. The Mrzh Institution -- Structure And Contents Of Am. 6, 1-14. The Text Of Am. 6, 4-7 -- The Ancient Near Eastern Mrzh Evidence. A Survey -- The Old Testament -- An Ostracon From Elephantine -- The Marseilles Tariff -- A Phoenician Inscription From Piraeus -- The Nabatean Evidence -- The Palmyrean Evidence -- The Ugaritic Mrzh Texts -- The Mrzh Of Am. 6, 4-6 Against Its Ancient Near Eastern Background -- 6. The Deities Of Am. 8, 14 -- The Structure And Contents Of Chapter 8. The Text Of 8, 14 -- Swearing By The Deity -- The Oath Formula Hy --^ The Deities Of Am. 8, 14 -- Preliminary Remarks -- The Goddess Ashima Of Samaria -- The Shima Of Ii Kings 17, 30 And The Ashima Of Am. 8, 14 -- The Goddess Ashima And The Elephantine Papyri -- The Hellenistic Evidence Concerning The Goddess Simia -- A Few Final Remarks On The Goddess Ashima Of The Old Testament -- Samaria In The Book Of Amos And Int He Polemics Of The Prophets -- The God Of Dan -- Dan In The Biblical Tradition -- The Archaeology Of Dan -- The Drk Of Beersheba -- Beersheba In The Bible And In Archaeology. By Hans M. Barstad. Includes Indexes. Bibliography: P. [202]-[226]. 1. Introduction 2. "Filius ac Pater eius ierunt ad Puellam". A Study in Am 2,7B-8 3. The Prophet as Missionary. Studies in Am 4,1-13 4. Religious Polemics in Amos 5 5. Am 6,4-6. The mrzḥ Institution 6. The Deities of Am 8,14