Mountains Shall Drip Sweet Wine from the Temple: Joel’s Interpretation of the Epilogue of Amos

Abstract

This essay argues that the parallels between the endings of Joel and Amos suggest that Joel has interpreted Amos, including the esoteric reference to “David’s Tent.” Both prophetic endings anticipate an era of fecundity with mountains dripping with sweet wine (עסיס‎), which is a rare term in the Hebrew Bible, occurring only five times. Both address the fate of Edom, and both point to the recipients of the respective oracles being secure in their land forever. In Joel, it is God’s presence within the temple that creates these realities, whereas in Amos 9.11, it is “David’s Tent.” This suggests that Joel has likely interpreted David’s Tent with references to “Zion,” “my holy hill,” “Jerusalem,” and “the house of the lord” (Joel 4.17–18 mt). These parallels are also worth considering, regardless of which order of the Book of the Twelve one adopts.