(1-2) The LORD says … punish them. See 1.3.

(3) Because he burned to lime the bones of the king of Edom/They dishonored the bones of the king of Edom by burning them to ashes. The historical situation that underlines this accusation is not known to us. However, the act did not take place immediately after the death of the unknown king, but some time later, along with the opening of his tomb. So the particular crime is not in the act of burning, but in the opening up of the tomb and taking out the bones. Such an act was felt to be a serious offense, and not only by the ancient Semites!

The bones were burned so completely that their ashes became as fine and as white as lime. This is how the meaning can be most easily expressed in many languages. It is probable, however, that the Hebrew also refers to an additional crime: that the Moabites used the ashes of the king of Edom as one of the materials for plastering their houses. In one ancient translation this possibility has been expressed directly: “and plastered them in the lime on its house.” This understanding has also been kept in the footnote of the New English Bible. So the restructuring suggested in Translating Amos, Section 5, can also serve as a model for languages where it would be convenient and effective: “burning his bones to make lime.”

Quoted with permission from de Waard, Jan & Smalley, William A. A Handbook on Amos. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1979. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .