So I will send a fire upon Moab, and it shall devour the strongholds of Kerioth, and Moab shall die amid uproar, amid shouting and the sound of the trumpet;
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse paints a vivid picture of destruction with "uproar, shouting, and the sound of the trumpet," but it’s easy to miss the nuance that these aren’t just sounds of battle. The original language suggests these are the jarring noises of invaders celebrating their conquest and the desperate cries of the conquered, highlighting a judgment that’s both violent and noisy.
So I will send a fire upon Moab, and it shall devour the strongholds of Kerioth, and Moab shall die amid uproar, amid shouting and the sound of the trumpet;
English Standard Version (ESV)
Amos has just delivered a harsh judgment against Judah for violating God's law. Now, he turns his attention to the surrounding nations, starting with Moab, detailing a severe destruction that will fall upon them. This judgment is specifically aimed at Kerioth, a significant Moabite city, portraying its downfall amidst the chaos and noise of battle.
Why does Amos single out a specific city, Kerioth, when pronouncing judgment on Moab? This wasn't just any town; it represented something deeper about their national identity.
The Target of God's Fire
Amos declares, 'I will send a fire upon Moab, and it shall devour the strongholds of Kerioth.' Kerioth, meaning 'cities' or perhaps a 'double city,' was a significant Moabite center, possibly their capital or a major royal residence.
The verse ends with 'tumult, shouting, and the sound of the trumpet.' What kind of sounds are these, and what do they reveal about Moab's demise?
A Symphony of Destruction
Amos vividly portrays Moab's end not with silence, but with a cacophony of destructive sounds: 'Moab shall die amid uproar, amid shouting and the sound of the trumpet.' These are not the sounds of celebration, but of utter defeat.
Ask a follow-up
Understand the original words
esh · Hebrew Noun
A common metaphor in Scripture for divine judgment, wrath, or the cleansing fire of God’s presence that destroys those who oppose Him.
Amos’s prophecy against Moab, specifically mentioning Kerioth, resonates with historical events of conquest and destruction. The mention of 'fire,' 'palaces,' and 'tumult' vividly portrays the brutal reality of ancient warfare, a stark warning to all nations that God holds them accountable for their actions.
c. 840 BC
Mesha Stele Records Moabite Resilience
King Mesha of Moab details his victories against Israel, including reclaiming territory and cities like Kerioth. This inscription shows Moab's strength and its importance as a kingdom, capable of challenging Israelite dominance.
c. 780s-750s BC
Reign of Jeroboam II in Israel
During Jeroboam II's long and prosperous reign, Israel reasserted its power over surrounding nations, including Moab. While this period brought relative peace and expansion for Israel, it also set the stage for divine judgment on those who oppressed others.
Mid-8th century BC— this verse
Amos Prophesies Against Neighboring Nations
Amos, a prophet from Judah, is sent by God to deliver messages of judgment against Israel and its surrounding nations, including Moab. His prophecies highlight their moral and social injustices, drawing upon God's justice.
c. 722 BC
Fall of Samaria and the Northern Kingdom
The Assyrian Empire conquers the Northern Kingdom of Israel, deporting many of its citizens. This catastrophic event serves as a backdrop, underscoring the severity of God's judgment and the vulnerability of nations.
c. 580s BC
Nebuchadnezzar's Conquest of Moab
The Babylonian Empire, under Nebuchadnezzar II, conquers Moab. This event fulfills prophecies of destruction for Moab, aligning with Amos's pronouncements of fire and ruin upon its cities like Kerioth.
This passage directly names Kerioth as a Moabite city and describes its capture, echoing Amos' prophecy of its destruction by fire and the downfall of Moab.
Numbers 24:17Balaam's prophecy, which Amos recalls, speaks of 'smite the corners of Moab' and 'destroy all the sons of tumult,' aligning with the violent end described for Moab in Amos 2:2.
Isaiah 15:1-9This lament over Moab describes the devastation of its cities and the panic of its people, similar to the 'tumult' and 'uproar' Amos foretells.
Ezekiel 25:3-7God declares judgment on the Ammonites for their mockery of His people, paralleling the divine retribution threatened against Moab for its actions against Israel, including the imagery of fire and devastation.
cambridgeAmos 2:2: "But I will send a fire upon Moab, and it shall devour the palaces of Kerioth: and Moab shall die with tumult, with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet:"
2 . the palaces of Kerioth ] more exactly Ḳeriyyoth : named here and Jeremiah 48:41 (cf. Jeremiah 48:24 ) as a representative city of Moab, and hence evidently a considerable place, if not the capital of Moab. Mesha, also, in a passage of his Inscription (lines 10–13), sufficiently interesting to extract in full, speaks of it…
pulpitAmos 2:2: "But I will send a fire upon Moab, and it shall devour the palaces of Kerioth: and Moab shall die with tumult, with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet:"
Verse 2. - Kirioth; cities, and so taken as an appellative by the Septuagint translators, τῶν πόλεων αὐτῆς: but it is doubtless a proper name of one of the chief Moabite towns (Jeremiah 48:24, 41). Keil, after Burckhardt, identifies it with the decayed town of Kereyat, or Korriat; others, with Ar, or Kir, the old capital (Isa…
The verse paints a vivid picture of destruction with "uproar, shouting, and the sound of the trumpet," but it’s easy to miss the nuance that these aren’t just sounds of battle. The original language suggests these are the jarring noises of invaders celebrating their conquest and the desperate cries of the conquered, highlighting a judgment that’s both violent and noisy.
Amos has just delivered a harsh judgment against Judah for violating God's law. Now, he turns his attention to the surrounding nations, starting with Moab, detailing a severe destruction that will fall upon them. This judgment is specifically aimed at Kerioth, a significant Moabite city, portraying its downfall amidst the chaos and noise of battle.
Amos has just delivered a harsh judgment against Judah for violating God's law. Now, he turns his attention to the surrounding nations, starting with Moab, detailing a severe destruction that will fall upon them. This judgment is specifically aimed at Kerioth, a significant Moabite city, portraying its downfall amidst the chaos and noise of battle.
"So I will send a fire upon Moab, and it shall devour the strongholds of Kerioth, and Moab shall die amid uproar, amid shouting and the sound of the trumpet;" — The verse paints a vivid picture of destruction with "uproar, shouting, and the sound of the trumpet," but it’s easy to miss the nuance that these aren’t just sounds of battle. The original language…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026