Oracles against the Nations: Oracles against foreign nations were an important part of the prophetic repertoire. Collections of such oracles appear in many prophetic books (apart from Ezek. 25–32, see Isa. 13–23; Jer. 46–51; Amos 1–2). However, it is doubtful that the prophets meant for foreigners to read these words, or that any foreign king ever saw them. For though the prophets directed these oracles against other nations, their intended audience was the people of Israel—just as, in our own day, politicians often intend their pronouncements about international affairs for domestic consumption. So, when Amos pronounces the judgment of the Lord upon the nations surrounding Israel (Amos 1:3–2:5), those pronouncements concerning Israel’s enemies and rivals lead up to the prophetic judgment …