1:1 The following is a record of what Amos prophesied. He was one of the herdsmen from Tekoa. These prophecies about Israel were revealed to him during the time of King Uzziah of Judah and King Jeroboam son of Joash of Israel, two years before the earthquake.
Amos means “burden bearer.” This name is used only once in the Hebrew Bible. He was a shepherd from Tekoa, which was southeast of Bethlehem in the sister nation of Judah. He prophesied to sister Israel before the Assyrian captivity. King Uzziah and King Jeroboam were both very powerful kings who extended the borders of Israel and Judah to those similar to that of King David and King Solomon. He prophesied two years before the earthquake, which would be sometime between 770-750 B.C.
1:2 Amos said: “The Lord comes roaring out of Zion; from Jerusalem he comes bellowing! The shepherds’ pastures wilt; the summit of Carmel withers.”
“The Lord roaring out of Zion” is a quotation from Joel 3:16. In this prophecy, Jehovah roared out of Zion like a lion in order to destroy the Gentile nations who were afflicting Judah and Israel. Amos is using this quote in a different way. Jehovah is coming out of Zion to attack the neighboring nations which were surrounding Israel. This lion is also going to attack and devour Judah and Israel as well!
Israel and Judah were very prosperous at this time because they controlled vast territories, the Mediterranean Sea trade, and the three major trade routes. However, Jehovah was about to send drought upon them. The shepherds’ pastures and even Mount Carmel would be judged by drought.
Mount Carmel was the place where Elijah challenged the prophets of Baal. Carmel was the most fluid place in Israel. Even after three and a half years of drought, Elijah was able to pour water from Mount Carmel on his sacrifices. If Mount Carmel is dry, then one can imagine how this drought would affect the rest of the land of Israel.
1:3 This is what the Lord says: “Because Damascus has committed three crimes—make that four!—I will not revoke my decree of judgment. They ripped through Gilead like threshing sledges with iron teeth.
The lion from Zion will first devour Damascus. Damascus is modern Syria. They have always hated Israel. Their cup of wrath was filled with three iniquities, which meant that their cup was full. The fourth iniquity caused the cup of God’s wrath to overflow. When the cup of wrath overflows, then God begins His judgment.
The reason for the judgments was because of the treatment of the Jews who were living in Gilead. The Syrians captured the Jews, tied them to the ground, and then cut them to pieces with sharp threshing tools which were used to plow the ground. This was a violation of the Abrahamic Covenant.
1:4 So I will set Hazael’s house on fire; fire will consume Ben Hadad’s fortresses.
Since Damascus violated the Abrahamic Covenant, then fire would consume the royal house.
1:5 I will break the bar on the gate of Damascus. I will remove the ruler from Wicked Valley, the one who holds the royal scepter from Beth Eden. The people of Aram will be deported to Kir.” The Lord has spoken!
When the bar of the gate of Damascus is destroyed, the enemy will come in through the gates and destroy the city. The citizens will be deported to Kir.
Israel liked this prophecy, because their enemy was being judged and destroyed. They wanted to hear more from this country prophet from the shepherd city of Tekoa.
1:6 This is what the Lord says: “Because Gaza has committed three crimes— make that four!—I will not revoke my decree of judgment. They deported a whole community and sold them to Edom.
The lion of Judah has left Damascus and is heading to Gaza. The lion is getting closer to Israel.
Gaza was one of the five cities of the Philistines. Three crimes fill the cup of wrath. The fourth crime caused the cup of wrath to overflow. Gaza captured Jews and sold them into slavery to Edom. Edom hates Israel and often mistreats them as slaves.
1:7 So I will set Gaza’s city wall on fire; fire will consume her fortresses.
Gaza violated the Abrahamic Covenant. Therefore, her city will be burned to the ground.
1:8 I will remove the ruler from Ashdod, the one who holds the royal scepter from Ashkelon. I will strike Ekron with my hand; the rest of the Philistines will also die.” The sovereign Lord has spoken!
The Philistine city of Gath was destroyed by King Uzziah. The other three Philistine cities (Ashdod, Ashkelon, and Ekron) will be destroyed as well. The Philistines violated the Abrahamic Covenant, so their judgment was extinction.
The Philistines were mortal enemies of Israel. Therefore, Israel was happy about this judgment, so she cheered and asked Amos to keep on preaching. However. the lion of Judah is getting nearer to Israel.
1:9 This is what the Lord says: “Because Tyre has committed three crimes— make that four!—I will not revoke my decree of judgment. They sold a whole community to Edom; they failed to observe a treaty of brotherhood.
Tyre was a Phoenecian city which had always been on good terms with Israel since the days of King David and King Hiram. There was a treaty of peace between Israel and Tyre. Therefore, God had always blessed the city of Tyre. The Phoenicians controlled the Mediterranean Sea until the time of the Greeks.
Tyre committed three crimes, filling God’s cup of wrath. When they committed their fourth crime against Israel, then her cup of wrath overflowed. The crime of Tyre was that she also sold Jewish slaves to Edom, even though Tyre had made a treaty with Israel and been blessed by the God of Israel.
1:10 So I will set fire to Tyre’s city wall; fire will consume her fortresses.”
This prophecy will be fulfilled by Alexander the Great. Tyre will lose their control of the Mediterranean Sea to the Greeks. Ezekiel 26 will later give more details about this prophecy.
Israel liked this prophecy. They cheered and wanted to hear more. However the line of Judah was getting closer to Israel.
1:11 This is what the Lord says: “Because Edom has committed three crimes— make that four!—I will not revoke my decree of judgment. He chased his brother with a sword; he wiped out his allies. In his anger he tore them apart without stopping to rest; in his fury he relentlessly attacked them.
Edom was the blood brother of Israel. They had always hated their twin brother. Edom committed three crimes, which filled God’s cup of wrath. When Edom committed her fourth crime against Israel, then the cup of wrath overfilled.
Edom was guilty of killing Jews. When the Jews ran to Edom for refuge, the Edomites attacked them and killed them. They also killed Israel’s allies.
1:12 So I will set Teman on fire; fire will consume Bozrah’s fortresses.”
The Edomites violated the Abrahamic Covenant. Teman and Bozrah (Petra) were two main cities of the Edomites. They will both be destroyed by fire.
Edom had more light than any nation except for Israel. Therefore, their judgment will be greater. All of these other cities will be rebuilt and populated during the Millennial Kingdom. Edom will not be rebuilt. Their descendants will not survive into the Great Tribulation. Edom will become a continual burning city which imprisons demons. The price of violating the Abrahamic Covenant against one’s own brother was eternal extinction.
1:13 This is what the Lord says: “Because the Ammonites have committed three crimes— make that four!—I will not revoke my decree of judgment. They ripped open Gilead’s pregnant women so they could expand their territory.
The Ammonites were cousins of Israel through the incestuous affair of Lot and his daughter Ammon. The Ammonites committed three crimes against Israel, which filled God’s cup of wrath. The fourth crime caused God’s cup of wrath to overflow.
The Ammonites wanted to expand her territory by depopulating Israel. Therefore, she ripped open the stomachs of the Jewish mothers and killed their babies.
1:14 So I will set fire to Rabbah’s city wall; fire will consume her fortresses. War cries will be heard on the day of battle; a strong gale will blow on the day of the windstorm.
The Ammonites violated the Abrahamic Covenant. Rabbah was the capital city of Ammon. It is modern Jordan today. The city will be burned to the ground. The enemy will break open the gates and come into the city like a strong destructive wind.
1:15 Ammon’s king will be deported; he and his officials will be carried off together.” The Lord has spoken!
The royal house of Ammon will be carried away into captivity. Israel liked this prophecy and wanted to hear more. However, the lion of Judah was getting closer to Israel.