Amo 9:3 | TNotes | STEP | 9:3 Though Mount Carmel is not the highest mountain in the region, its lofty grandeur often represents the beauty and richness of the land. • sea serpent: In the ancient Near East, the sea was a symbol of chaos, often pitted against the national god (cp. Pss 74:14 ; 89:10 ; 104:26 ). However, the biblical text does not grant divine status to the sea monster (“Leviathan,” also called “Rahab”; Ps 89:9-10 ) but sees it as subject to the Lord’s command and judgment (Isa 27:1 ). Here, Amos portrays God’s sovereign power to summon the sea serpent to his service.

bPss 74:14►

d104:26►

ePs 89:9-10►

fIsa 27:1►

‏ Amos 9:3

9:3 ^a Though Mount Carmel is not the highest mountain in the region, its lofty grandeur often represents the beauty and richness of the land.

• sea serpent: In the ancient Near East, the sea was a symbol of chaos, often pitted against the national god (cp. Pss 74:14 ^b; 89:10 ^c; 104:26 ^d). However, the biblical text does not grant divine status to the sea monster (“Leviathan,” also called “Rahab”; Ps 89:9-10 ^e) but sees it as subject to the Lord’s command and judgment (Isa 27:1 ^f). Here, Amos portrays God’s sovereign power to summon the sea serpent to his service.