Amo 4:2 | TNotes | STEP | 4:2 has sworn this by his holiness: Holiness speaks of God as existing outside of and independent of creation; his nature is wholly other than what he has created. The oath is similar to 6:8 ; 8:7 . • hooks: The Assyrians were known for their inhumane treatment of war captives (see 2 Chr 33:11 ; cp. 2 Kgs 19:28 ). A stela (stone pillar with an inscription) discovered in northern Syria shows the Assyrian king Esarhaddon holding cords that pass through the lips of two war captives. A recent scholar has suggested that hooks referred to the rings inserted into the noses of cattle to manage them.

d2 Chr 33:11►

e2 Kgs 19:28►

‏ Amos 4:2

4:2 ^a has sworn this by his holiness: Holiness speaks of God as existing outside of and independent of creation; his nature is wholly other than what he has created. The oath is similar to 6:8 ^b; 8:7 ^c.

• hooks: The Assyrians were known for their inhumane treatment of war captives (see 2 Chr 33:11 ^d; cp. 2 Kgs 19:28 ^e). A stela (stone pillar with an inscription) discovered in northern Syria shows the Assyrian king Esarhaddon holding cords that pass through the lips of two war captives. A recent scholar has suggested that hooks referred to the rings inserted into the noses of cattle to manage them.