There are seven nuances of meaning to Shalom, this is the rarest.
In these two cases as a noun it is used to mean all or everyone.
The cities of the Negeb are shut up, with none to open them; all Judah is taken into exile, wholly taken into exile. Jer. 13:19
Thus says the LORD: “For three transgressions of Gaza, and for four, I will not revoke the punishment; because they carried into exile a whole people to deliver them up to Edom. Amos 1:6
It has none of the connotation of the kind of peace, security or tranquility that one usually associates with the word Shalom.
Several solutions have been offered of the centuries for these two verses.
- This captivity was peaceful, those who were taken lived peacefully with their captors and were not injured.
- A holy and/or pious captivity
- A perfect captivity, or hard service and is unrelenting.
- All the people regardless of sex or age were taken.
This is not one of those things that is solvable. We are not sure why shalom is here or how it was meant to be understood. At least not this side of Glory.
The thing to remember is that shalom is not always peaceful. We now must consider all those other places where we see shalom. Prince of Peace, Peace on Earth, Peace Offering.
In his days may righteousness flourish, and peace abound, till the moon be no more! Psa. 72:7
The Song of Songs 