Amos

The words of Amos, a sheep breeder from Tekoa, who prophesied concerning Israel in the reigns of Kings Uzziah of Judah and Jeroboam son of Joash of Israel, two years before the earthquake.athe earthquake See Zech. 14.5.

He proclaimed: GOD roars from Zion,Shouts aloud from Jerusalem;And the pastures of the shepherds shall languish,And the summit of Carmel shall wither.

Thus said GOD:For three transgressions of Damascus,For four, I will not revoke the decree:bthe decree Of punishment. Heb. “it.” Because they threshed GileadWith threshing boards of iron.

I will send down firecsend down fire Cf. Lam. 1.13. upon the palace of Hazael,And it shall devour the fortresses of Ben-hadad.dHazael…Ben-hadad Two of Aram’s kings; cf. 2 Kings 13.22–25.

I will break the gate bars of Damascus,And wipe out the inhabitants from the Vale of AvenAnd the sceptered ruler of Beth-eden;And the people of Aram shall be exiled to Kir—said GOD.

Thus said GOD:For three transgressions of Gaza,For four, I will not revoke the decree:ethe decree See note at v. 3. Because they exiledfexiled I.e., cooperated in the annexation of Israelite territory; cf. Jer. 13.19 with note. an entire population,Which they delivered to Edom.gEdom Emendation yields “Aram”; cf. Isa. 9.11.

I will send down fire upon the wall of Gaza,And it shall devour its fortresses;

And I will wipe out the inhabitants of AshdodAnd the sceptered ruler of Ashkelon;And I will turn My hand against Ekron,And the Philistines shall perish with no remnant—said the Sovereign GOD.

Thus said GOD:For three transgressions of Tyre,For four, I will not revoke the decree:hthe decree See note at v. 3. Because they handed overAn entire population to Edom,iEdom Emendation yields “Aram.” Ignoring the covenant of brotherhood.jcovenant of brotherhood I.e., the alliance between kings of similar social stature. Cf. 1 Kings 5.26; 9.12–13; and see note at 20.32.

I will send down fire upon the wall of Tyre,And it shall devour its fortresses.

Thus said GOD:For three transgressions of Edom,For four, I will not revoke the decree:kthe decree See note at v. 3. Because he pursued his brotherlhis brother I.e., an army of the descendants of Israel; cf. Gen. 25.25–26; 35.10; 36.1. with the swordAnd repressed all pity,mrepressed all pity Or “destroyed his womenfolk”; cf. Judg. 5.30. Change of vocalization yields “destroyed his wombs”; cf. v. 13. Because his anger raged unceasingAnd his fury stormednstormed Cf. Akkadian shamaru and Jer. 3.5.

I will send down fire upon Teman,And it shall devour the fortresses of Bozrah.

Thus said GOD:For three transgressions of the Ammonites,For four, I will not revoke the decree:othe decree See note at v. 3. Because they ripped open the pregnant women of GileadIn order to enlarge their own territory.

I will set fire to the wall of Rabbah,And it shall devour its fortresses,Amid shouting on a day of battle,On a day of violent tempest.

Their king and his officers shall goInto exile together—said GOD.