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Amos 01

Amos starts with the whole region with a general impeachment, containing eight nations. Syria, Philistia, Phoenicia, Edom, Ammon, Moab, Judah and Israel. With centering his attention on Israel.
"Captivity" is one of the key words of the book of Amos: ( 1:5 , 15 ; 5:5 , 27 ; 6:7; 7:9 , 17) Within a period of 50 years these predictions were all fulfilled.
During Amos life he may of have heard Jonah tell of his visit to Nineheh and known Elisha. During Amos time Jonah and elisha would of been passing off the stage with Amos coming on the stage.
We belive that Hosea was a co-worker with Amos and had been in Bethel at the time of Amos' visit. With Hosea being the younger one and continued his work after amos was gone. The time period has Amos closing his work with Isaiah and Micah beginning theirs.
Amos was one of the Minior Prophets, and contains the messages of the prophet Amos.
The truths Amos gives expression to several religions and moral truths that are of permanent significance.
1. "Justice between man and man is one of the divine foundations of Society"
2. " Privilege implies responsibility"
3. " Failure to recognize responsibility will severely bring retribution responsibility will surely bring retribution."
4. " Nations and by analogy individual are under obligation to live up to the measure of light and knowledge granted to them."
5. The most elaborate worship is but an insult to God when offered by those who have no mind to conform to his ethical demands."
Tekoa (1:1) in the bleak pasture lands overlooking the wilderness of Judea, it is believed to be the same region where John the Baptist 8 centuries later grew to manhood. Tekoa was on an elevation of about 2700 feet.
In the lives of the people of that time the prophet Amos was a more irregular and occasional factor. The father ruled the family under the leadership of the Elders. The King's agents collected the tax and in time of war other wise they were not counted for much.
The people in the community was controlled by local and national customs rather then the code of formal law. The people might be called upon to be Judaical, military, and religious at any time.
Amos was a countryman of Tekoa and a Shepherd/layman not a "cleric" The passion of Social Sympathy and a deep keen resentment against Social injustice.
Amos was a member of the Southern Kingdom and prophesied against the Northern one shortly be Israel was taken into Exile by the Assyrians in 722 B.C.
Amos spoke of six surrounding nations, Arameans of Damascous to the Northeast v-3-5, The Ammonites v 13-15, The Edomites of the South V 11-12, The Phoenicains of the Northwest V 9-10 and the Philistines of the Southwest V 6-8 Using the same formula he directs it to Judal 2:4-5 and then finally Israel 2: 6-16
Amos had what it took in those days to be a prophet. He was a man of abnormal psychical experience, who could see visions and hear voices with feeling strange physical compulsions. this would give to him his personnal convictions and a divine authority in his own eys and to others.
The people of this time lived in small towns and villages. They were usually one roomed house clustered on hill sides. The town would have one village well to which the women would use ever morning and evening. The Village would have a main gate where the men would gather to talk over common business. Above all the house usually the high point would be the "high place" being the local sanctuary. (Altar, could been a form of a rough blocks of unknown stone and near it possibly an ancient and sacred tree. There would be a wooden post called "Asherah" and a "Mazzebah" (Hebrew word meaning standing stone) stone pillar with them there may of been an image of Jehovah, possible the OX being the favorite symbol used. The OX being a very strong animal. The oldest method of animal sacrifice if offered was to drain its blood on the altar with the family and friends feasting on the rest of the flesh of the animal. ) Most of the men worked in the fields tending flocks of sheep, until Israel's future would career of trading began under the Canaanite's guidance. A long the hill side they would grow grapes and Olives, the grapes would be rocked pressed to use the juices in the temple. In the valley grew wheat and barley. It would be carried to the thrashing floor in due season. In the homes the oil and meat were kept in earthen jars, and supplemented by various fruits. Animal's flesh were eaten very rarely on festival days. The people clothing were a close-fitting tonic with an outer cloak, used as a sleeping cover.
Among the 12 OT prophets Amos was the third one but the first one to have his words recorded. We assume shorty after the victory of Jeroboam II over the Arameans of Damascus probably before 750 Amos' prophetic activity took place. An oppressive social pyramid had been constricted with the poor being victimized by the rich. Of the social crimes religious decay was one of them. Yahwism was in danger of deterioration into paganism because of being no longer in pure form. Yahweh in Irsael's original covenant were to be No class distinction. Violation of the social order was Amos main concern. He is often called the prophet of social justice because of his vigorous denunciation of such abuses.
They had a unbrotherly conduct toward Israel ("Jacob") was exemplified chiefly long after the time of Amos, when Jerusalem was destroyed in 586 B.C.
The Edomites subsequently occupied south Judea and lost their land by the Nabatean Arabs. It was Teman, the North District of edom (Ezek 25:13) Bozrah, capital of Teman (Isa 34:6) and perhaps Busaireh, twenty miles southwest of the Dead Sea.
The reagn of Jeruboam had been very successful. The kingdom had enlarged considerably (II Kings 14:23-29) Israel was in great tide of properity, but the land was reeking in moral rottenness, idolatry, a land of swearing, injustice, stealing, oppeasion, adultery, robbery, and murder. It had been some 200 years since the Northern Kingdom had been set up by the ten tribes with calr-worship as it religion. (II Kings 12: 25-33) Baal-worship had been adapted during this time.
About 30 years before the fall of Israel (7:10-14) the following prophecy seem to been delivered on a visit to Bethel by Amos. Amos' prophecy was about 751 B.C.
Amos message was to Israel, the Northern Kingdom in the reigns of Uzziah, king of Judal ( 787-735 B.C.) and Jeroboam, II King of Israel (790-749 B.C.)
Josephus says the "earthquake" was co-incident with the imposition of Uzziah's leprosy (II Chronicles 26:16-21)

PROPHETS PROPHESIED TO OR ABOUT KINGS WHO RULED DURING PROPHET'S TIME APPROX DATES (B.C.)
Amos Israel Jeroboam II Before Northern Kingdom of Israel Captivity (790-779)
KING JAMES BIBLE

1 THE words of Amos, who was among the herdmen of Tekoa, which he saw concerning Israel in the days of Uzziah king of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash king of Israel, two years before the earthquake.
2 And he said, The Lord will roar from Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the habitations of the shepherds shall mourn, and the top of Carmel shall wither.
3 Thus saith the Lord; For three transgressions of Damascus, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they have threshed Gilead with threshing instruments of iron:
4 But I will send a fire into the house of Hazael, which shall devour the palaces of Ben-hadad.
5 I will break also the bar of Damascus, and cut off the inhabitant from the plain of Aven, and him that holdeth the sceptre from the house of Eden: and the people of Syria shall go into captivity unto Kir, saith the Lord.
6 Thus saith the Lord; For three transgressions of Gaza, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they carried away captive the whole captivity, to deliver them up to Edom:
7 But I will send a fire on the wall of Gaza, which shall devour the palaces thereof:
8 And I will cut off the inhabitant from Ashdod, and him that holdeth the sceptre from Ashkelon, and I will turn mine hand against Ekron: and the remnant of the Philistines shall perish, saith the Lord God.
9 Thus saith the Lord; For three transgressions of Tyrus, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they delivered up the whole captivity to Edom, and remembered not the brotherly covenant:
10 But I will send a fire on the wall of Tyrus, which shall devour the palaces thereof.
11 Thus saith the Lord; For three transgressions of Edom, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because he did pursue his brother with the sword, and did cast off all pity, and his anger did tear perpetually, and he kept his wrath for ever:
12 But I will send a fire upon Teman, which shall devour the palaces of Bozrah.
13 Thus saith the Lord; For three transgressions of the children of Ammon, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they have ripped up the women with child of Gilead, that they might enlarge their border:
14 But I will kindle a fire in the wall of Rabbah, and it shall devour the palaces thereof, with shouting in the day of battle, with a tempest in the day of the whirlwind:
15 And their king shall go into captivity, he and his princes together, saith the Lord.

KING JAMES 1611

1 The wordes of Amos, who was among the heardmen of Tekoa, which hee sawe concerning Israel, in the daies of Uzziah King of Iudah, and in the dayes of Ieroboam the sonne of Ioash king of Israel, two yere before the earthquake.

2 And he said, The Lord will roare from Zion, and vtter his voice from Ierusalem: and the habitations of the shepheards shall mourne, and the top of Carmel shall wither.

3 Thus saith the Lord; For three transgressions of Damascus, and for foure I wil not turne away the punishment thereof, because they haue threshed Gilead, with threshing instruments of yron.

4 But I will send a fire into the house of Hazael, which shall deuoure the palaces of Benhadad.

5 I wil breake also the barre of Damascus, and cut off the inhabitant from the plaine of Auen: and him that holdeth the scepter from the house of Eden, and the people of Syria shall goe into captiuitie, vnto Kir, saith the Lord.

6 Thus saith the Lord, For three transgressions of Gaza, and for foure I will not turne away the punishment thereof: because they caried away captiue the whole captiuitie, to deliuer them vp to Edom.

7 But I wil send a fire on the wall of Gaza, which shall deuoure the palaces thereof.

8 And I wil cut off the inhabitant from Ashdod, and him that holdeth the scepter from Ashkelon, and I wil turne mine hand against Ekron; and the remnant of the Philistines shall perish, saith the Lord God.

9 Thus saith the Lord, For three transgressions of Tyrus, and for foure I wil not turne away the punishment thereof, because they deliuered vp the whole captiuitie to Edom, and remembred not the brotherly couenant.

10 But I wil send a fire on the wall of Tyrus, which shall deuoure the palaces thereof.

11 Thus saith the Lord, For three transgressions of Edom, and for foure, I will not turne away the punishment thereof, because he did pursue his brother with the sword, and did cast off all pitie, and his anger did teare perpetually, and kept his wrath for euer.

12 But I will send a fire vpon Teman, which shall deuoure the palaces of Bozrah.

13 Thus sayth the Lord, For three transgressions of the children of Ammon, and for foure, I wil not turne away the punishment thereof; because they haue ript vp the women with childe of Gilead, that they might enlarge their border.

14 But I will kindle a fire in the wall of Rabbah, and it shall deuoure the palaces thereof, with showting in the day of battell, with a tempest in the day of the whirlewinde.

15 And their king shall goe into captiuitie, hee, and his princes together, sayth the Lord.

Compare Verses to Verses

I == Zech 14:5

 

 

 

II == Joel 3:16

 

 

 

III == 2nd Kings 10:33 ; 13:7

 

IV == Jer 17:27 ; 49:27

 

V == 2nd Kings 16:9 ; Jer 51:30 ; Lam 2:9 ; Amos 9:7

 

 

VI == 2nd Chr 21:16-17 ; 28:18 ; Isa 14:29 ; Jer 47:4-5 ; Ezek 25:15 ; joesl 3:6 ; Amos 1:9 ; Zeph 2:4

VII == Jer 47:1

VIII == Ps 81:14 ; Jer 47:4 ; Ezek 25:16 ; Zeph 2:4 ; Zech 9:5-6

 

IX == 2nd Xam 5:11 ; 1st Kings 5:1 ; 9:11-14 ; Isa 23:1 ; Jer 47:4 ; Joel 3:4-5 ; Amos 1:6

X == Amos 1:4 , 7-9

 

XI == Gen 27:41 ; Deut 23:7

 

 

 

 

 

 

XIII == Jer 49:1-2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

XV == Jer 49:3

 

 

 

 

THE NEW AMERICAN BIBLE

1 The words of Amos, a shepherd from Tekoa, which he received in vision concerning Israel, in the days of Uzziah, king of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam, son of Joash, king of Israel, two years before the earthquake:

2 The LORD will roar from Zion, and from Jerusalem raise his voice: The pastures of the shepherds will languish, and the summit of Carmel wither.

3 Thus says the LORD: For three crimes of Damascus, and for four, I will not revoke my word; Because they threshed Gilead with sledges of iron,

4 I will send fire upon the house of Hazael, to devour the castles of Ben-hadad.

5 I will break the bar of Damascus; I will root out those who live in the Valley of Aven, And the sceptered ruler of Beth-eden; the people of Aram shall be exiled to Kir, says the LORD.

6 Thus says the LORD: For three crimes of Gaza, and for four, I will not revoke my word; Because they took captive whole groups to hand over to Edom,

7 I will send fire upon the wall of Gaza, to devour her castles;

8 I will root out those who live in Ashdod, and the sceptered ruler of Ashkelon; I will turn my hand against Ekron, and the last of the Philistines shall perish, says the Lord God.

9 Thus says the LORD: For three crimes of Tyre, and for four I will not revoke my word; Because they delivered whole groups captive to Edom, and did not remember the pact of brotherhood,

10 I will send fire upon the wall of Tyre,to devour her castles.

11 Thus says the LORD: For three crimes of Edom, and for four, I will not revoke my word; Because he pursued his brother with the sword, choking up all pity; Because he persisted in his anger and kept his wrath to the end,

12 I will send fire upon Teman, and it will devour the castles of Bozrah.

13 Thus says the LORD: For three crimes of the Ammonites, and for four, I will not revoke my word; Because they ripped open expectant mothers in Gilead, while extending their territory,

14 I will kindle a fire upon the wall of Rabbah, and it will devour her castles Amid clamor on the day of battle and stormwind in a time of tempest.

15 Their king shall go into captivity, he and his princes with him, says the LORD.

COMMENTARIE

v 1. Amos “to bear a load”. Tekoa is about 10 to 12 miles south of Jerusalem, but the sycamore-fig trees would be down in the warm Jordan Valley. Shepherds in this verse refer in Hebrew to sheep breeders, compatible with fruit trees, but in 7:14 Amos is a herdsman or cattle man, probably well to do. Caring for the fruit involved slitting them to let a little juice drip, then the remaining fruit was sweeter. The days of Uzziah was a prosperous time in both north and south.

The earthquake must of been severe for it was remembered for over 200 years. (Zechariah 14:5) and likened unto Judgement Day Two years before the earthquake of 760 BC. Apparently he had prophesied of this quake, and when it came to pass he was recognized as a true prophet and added to the holy text.

v 2. The roar of God’s judgment for sin was about to begin by drought in all nations.

V 3-5 Damascus was the capital of the Aramean Kingdom. In the ninth century it had dominated Israel when Hazael invaded Gilead (East of Jordan) Benhaded III was his son and successor (2 King 13:3) In Hebrew the repeated phrase "for three...for four" means "for many" for more than enough:

The punishment of breaking of the bronze or iron bar that secured the city gate was fulfilled by the Assyrian, Tighlath-Pileser III in 733-732 B.C. Aven may refer to the temple of Baalbek in the Vally between Hermon and Lebanon. House of Eden may be Bit-Adini on the Euphrates. The original home of the Arameans is the site of Kir.

 

v 3. Amos begins with denunciation of Gentile enemies, then Judah and finally Israel. For three sins and four = seven, completeness, meaning irrevocable judgment. Only the last sin of Gentiles is listed, but for Israel all seven will be spelled out. In this case, Gentiles, who didn’t have the law, violated word to Noah against bloodshed. Gilead had suffered torture and death from Ben-haded like ancient threshing sledge.

v 4,5. Damascus areas to be destroyed and people taken captive back to Kir. The fifth city being Gath of the five Philistine cites. From the time of Tiglath-Pileser they suffered in succession of Assyrian campaigns of slave raids

v 6-8. Philistines had captured slaves and sold them for profit and their cities would suffer destruction. This was by Assyrians soon and later in 168-134 BC.

v 9,10. Tyre was the most important Phoenicain City (Isa 23:3) is accused of the same deeds of Damascus (Ezek 29:13) and wronging its own. (Phoenicaian) brethren. Tyre sold whole communities of Israelite slaves to Edom even though they had a peace treaty with Israel, so Alexander the Great destroyed Tyre in 332 B.C. killing 2,000 and sold 30,000 for slaves.

v 11,12. On both sides of the Arabah was mountainous district south of the Dead Sea. Edom who people were traditionally regarded as the the descendants of Esau (Gen 36) Edom relentlessly persecuted Israel, though related by Jacob and Esau, so it was made desolate by Assyria, and later Nabatean Arabs overran Edom.

v 13-15. Ammon was easily open to invasions, it was east of Jordan and South west of the river Jabbok and South of Gilead. David conquered their capital Rabbah, and put all the people to hard labor (2 Sam 12:31) The Hebrew word "Malcam or Milcom" being the god of the Ammonites (1st Kings 11:5) Ammon cruelly ripped up pregnant women of Gilead in merely gaining land, so would experience both tornadoes from God and destruction by Assyrians.