Amos 3:9
הַשְׁמִ֨יעוּ֙ עַל־אַרְמְנֹ֣ות בְּאַשְׁדֹּ֔וד וְעַל־אַרְמְנֹ֖ות בְּאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרָ֑יִם וְאִמְר֗וּ הֵאָֽסְפוּ֙ עַל־הָרֵ֣י שֹׁמְרֹ֔ון וּרְא֞וּ מְהוּמֹ֤ת רַבֹּות֙ בְּתֹוכָ֔הּ וַעֲשׁוּקִ֖ים בְּקִרְבָּֽהּ׃
Proclamation to Foreign Palaces: הַשְׁמִיעוּ עַל־אַרְמְנֹות בְּאַשְׁדּוֹד
הַשְׁמִיעוּ — Hifil imperative 2mp of שׁ־מ־ע, “to cause to hear, proclaim.”
This command sets a prophetic tone: “Proclaim!” or “Cause to be heard!” — addressed to unspecified messengers (possibly angelic or symbolic witnesses).
עַל־אַרְמְנֹות בְּאַשְׁדּוֹד — “upon the palaces of Ashdod”
- אַרְמְנֹות — “palaces, fortresses” (plural of אַרְמוֹן)
- בְּאַשְׁדּוֹד — “in Ashdod,” a major Philistine city
The grammar and geography combine to create ironic witnesses: foreign nations are called to observe Israel’s crimes.
Southern Witnesses: וְעַל־אַרְמְנֹות בְּאֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם
וְעַל־אַרְמְנֹות — parallel construction with the previous clause.
בְּאֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם — “in the land of Mitsrayim (Egypt).”
This clause again directs the prophetic message to palaces, implying rulers and elites. Egypt, once Israel’s oppressor, is now ironically called to witness Israel’s own oppression of its people.
The Summoning: וְאִמְרוּ הֵאָסְפוּ עַל־הָרֵי שֹׁמְרוֹן
וְאִמְרוּ — Qal imperative 2mp of א־מ־ר, “say.” The second command following הַשְׁמִיעוּ.
הֵאָסְפוּ — Nifal imperative 2mp of אָסַף, “gather together.”
The Nifal stem adds reflexivity or passive nuance: “Gather yourselves!”
עַל־הָרֵי שֹׁמְרוֹן — “on the mountains of Shomeron (Samaria).”
- הָרֵי — construct plural of הַר, “mountain”
- שֹׁמְרוֹן — capital of the northern kingdom of Israel
This positioning calls for witnesses to stand above and look down into the city — a prophetic inspection of Israel’s moral state.
The Indictment: וּרְאוּ מְהוּמֹת רַבֹּות בְּתוֹכָהּ
וּרְאוּ — Qal imperative 2mp of ר־א־ה, “see!”
Another imperative, this time demanding observation: “Look!”
מְהוּמֹת רַבֹּות — “great tumults,” from מְהוּמָה (confusion, disorder, unrest) + feminine plural adjective רַבֹּות, “many/great.”
Plural of intensity: violence and chaos are not isolated, but widespread.
בְּתוֹכָהּ — “in her midst,” referring to Samaria.
This prepositional phrase localizes the problem within the heart of the city, not at its borders.
The Final Charge: וַעֲשׁוּקִים בְּקִרְבָּהּ
עֲשׁוּקִים — Pual participle mp of ע־שׁ־ק, “to oppress.”
Passive: “the oppressed ones.”
The form suggests an ongoing condition of victimhood.
בְּקִרְבָּהּ — “in her midst,” using קֶרֶב + third fs suffix again.
The repetition with בְּתוֹכָהּ emphasizes internal corruption — the center of society has turned unjust.
Parsing Table: Key Forms in Amos 3:9
| Hebrew Word | Root | Form | Function |
|---|---|---|---|
| הַשְׁמִיעוּ | שׁ־מ־ע | Hifil imperative 2mp | “Proclaim” — causative command |
| הֵאָסְפוּ | א־ס־ף | Nifal imperative 2mp | “Gather yourselves” — reflexive action |
| וּרְאוּ | ר־א־ה | Qal imperative 2mp | “See!” — observation of injustice |
| מְהוּמֹת | מ־ה־ם | Plural noun (fem.) | “Tumults, chaos” — expression of social unrest |
| עֲשׁוּקִים | ע־שׁ־ק | Pual participle mp | “The oppressed” — victims of systemic injustice |
The Mountains that Watch Injustice
Amos 3:9 uses a chain of imperatives to summon foreign nations — Ashdod and Mitsrayim — to witness Israel’s moral collapse. The irony is striking: outsiders are called to expose the chaos inside God’s chosen people. Through Hifil and Nifal verbs, and repeated inner-location phrases, the prophet highlights a city whose core is rotten with oppression. Hebrew grammar gives this indictment power — it invites others to see what Israel has blinded itself to: injustice at its heart.
