What's the significance of the "three" and "four" formula in Amos?

Question

Amos 1:3

This is what the LORD says: "For three sins of Damascus, even for four, I will not relent. Because she threshed Gilead with sledges having iron teeth,

This pattern of "three" and "four" is repeated 8 times! in the opening of Amos? What is its Biblical numerology significance?

What is its Biblical numerology significance? - None. It's a simple rhetorical device, used for emphasis; see also Sirach 23:16, 26:28, 50:25. — Lucian, Commented Oct 21, 2020 at 6:41

GratefulDisciple · Accepted Answer · 2020-10-20 22:40:41Z

A journal article Telescoping N + 1 Patterns in the Book of Amos by Robert H. O'Connell published in Vetus Testamentum Vol 46 (Jan 1996) proposes how the 8 judgment speeches are arranged "according to a stepwise pattern of escalation that involves the telescoping of N + 1 groupings (where "N" represents a number, usually 3 or 7)."

General observations that support this thesis are:

the speech forms in Amos appear to have been arranged into N + 1 groupings

the final (or +1) speech form in each such grouping usually presents some rhetorical surprise that departs from the pattern established by the other speech forms in its group

until the end of the book, the concluding speech form of each N + 1 grouping serves as a transition to all the succeeding N + 1 groupings, resulting in a telescoping pattern of development throughout the book.

As for the "three transgressions of [PN], and for four" pattern, the article says:

Similar N ‖ N+1 patterns are used commonly enough in Hebrew, Ugaritic and Akkadian poetry to warrant little need to explain or justify this attestation of the device as another instance of ascending numerical parallelism.⁴ What is significant for my purposes is to note that in Amos i 3 - ii 16 there are a total of eight (8) judgment speeches that contain this formula.⁵

⁴ For various treatments of the ascending numerical pair as a device in Semitic poetry, see the appendix at the end of the present article

An article from the GotQuestions.Org website Why does Amos keep repeating “for three sins . . . even for four” in chapters 1–2? explains (emphasis mine):

The phrase “for three sins . . . even for four” is a common phrase in Amos (1:3, 6, 9, 11, 13; 2:1, 4, 6). Used a total of eight times in the book, these words play a special role in the way Amos communicates sin and judgment. “Three sins” represents fullness or completeness; “four” represents an overflow or a sin that is the tipping point for God’s judgment. The word sins or transgressions in Hebrew specifically refers to “rebellions.” The first two chapters of Amos contain eight messages against the nations, including Judah and Israel, condemning them for their rebellion against the Lord.

Similarly, in the Daniel chapter of The Literary Guide to the Bible (edited by a professor of Hebrew and comparative literature Robert Alter) the author Shemaryahu Talmon notes (emphasis mine):

[page 347] Daniel shares with other biblical writings a predilection for the ascending numberical pattern 3 + 1, observable in other ancient Near Eastern literature. Whatever the roots of this pattern, it signifies a basic "complete" unit of three, topped by a fourth of special standing and importance.

...

[page 348, last paragraph] The pattern 3 + 1 finds a most salient expression in Amos's oracles against foreign nations (Amos 1:3-2:3) and against Judah and Israel (Amos 2:4-16). The phrase "for three transgressions . . . and for four," which recurs in every instance, shows the fourth to be more damnable than the preceding ones: "Thus saith the Lord ... I will not turn away the punishment thereof" (Amos 1:3, 6, 9, 11, 13; 2:1, 4, 6). In this as in many other instances, the quintessence of the pattern is to be sought in the "fourth" item in which the series culminates, and which is intrinsically different from the preceding unit of "three" which serves as its antithesis. Therefore, the component "three" cannot be interpreted as referring to a precise number, but rather should be viewed as a schematic literary figure. ...

This answer is going to change how I'm going to read Amos from now on. Thank you. — user35953, Commented Oct 20, 2020 at 20:03
”addressed the numerological significance of the 8 judgment speeches as a conscious arrangement” this isn’t numerology or a numerological significant answer. It’s a good answer but doesn’t speak of numerology — Nihil Sine Deo, Commented Oct 20, 2020 at 20:55

Ozzie Ozzie · Accepted Answer · 2020-10-21 10:32:28Z

2

Amos 1:3 NASB

Thus says the Lord, “For three transgressions of Damascus and for four I will not revoke its punishment, Because they threshed Gilead with implements of sharp iron.

Amos 1:6 NASB

Thus says the Lord,“For three transgressions of Gaza and for four I will not revoke its punishment, Because they deported an entire population to deliver it up to Edom.

The six nations mentioned in the prophesies of Amos were Syria, Philistia, Tyre, Edom, Ammon, and Moab. All deserve God's adverse judgment because they were hard-set enemies of God's people the Israelites, they mistreated the Israelites and sold them into slavery.

The expressions in bold means that "Divine Judgment Is Inescapable".

edited Oct 21, 2020 at 10:32

answered Oct 20, 2020 at 19:32

Ozzie Ozzie