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| 1 The words of Amos, who was among the herdmen of Tekoa,–of which (words) he had 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. |
The words – Portions of this prophecy imply a still larger fulfilment upon nominal Israel in the end of this age. R3424:6
Prophecies of the kind inspired by the Lord in early days are no longer his method. R3424:1
Of Amos – Of humble birth, a sheep-tender, a farmer. R3423:3
One of the earliest prophets to write down the message which he delivered. R3423:3
Belongs to a period about a century after Elijah, nearly a century before Isaiah, and about two centuries before Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Daniel. R3423:3
Of Tekoa – The home of Amos was in Judah, but under the Lord's direction, he went to the ten tribes to deliver to them the Lord's message. R2356:1
Concerning Israel – The brunt of the prophet's message fell against the ten-tribe kingdom of Israel. R3423:3
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| 2 So then he said–Yahweh, out of Zion, will roar, and, out of Jerusalem, will utter his voice,–and the pastures of the shepherds, shall mourn, and the top of Carmel, be dried up. |
From Zion – The spiritual phase of the Kingdom of God. A297; T33
From Jerusalem – The earthly phase of the Kingdom of God. A297
The habitations – Because of their close identity with Israel, the adjoining nations are made the subject of this prophecy. R2355:6
Of the shepherds – Greedy, ignorant, lazy teachers. F287
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| 3 Thus, saith Yahweh, Because of three transgressions of Damascus, and because of four, will I not turn it back,–Because, with threshing instruments of iron, they have threshed Gilead. |
For three transgressions – At the present time to copy either Elijah or Amos would indicate a total misapprehension respecting the divine will and message. R3424:1
Damascus – Capital city of Syria, on the north; in line with divine retributions. R3423:6
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| 4 Therefore will send a fire, into the house of Hazael,–which shall devour the palaces of Ben-hadad; |
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| 5 And I will break the bolt of Damascus, and cut off the inhabitant out of the plain of Aven, and the holder of the sceptre out of the house of Eden,–and the people of Syria, shall be exiled, unto Kir, saith Yahweh. |
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| 6 Thus, saith Yahweh, Because of three transgressions of Gaza, and because of four, will I not turn it back,–Because of their taking into exile the whole body of exiles, to deliver to Edom, |
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| 7 Therefore will I send a fire upon the wall of Gaza,–which shall devour the palaces thereof; |
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| 8 And I will cut off the inhabitant out of Ashdod, and the holder of the sceptre out of Ashkelon,–and will turn my hand against Ekron, So shall perish the remnant of the Philistines, saith My Lord, Yahweh. |
The Philistines – On the west. R3423:6
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| 9 Thus, saith Yahweh, Because of three transgressions of Tyre, and because of four, will I not turn it back,–Because of their delivering up the whole body of exiles to Edom, and they remembered not the brotherly covenant, |
Tyrus – Tyre, to the northwest. R3423:6
Edom – To the south. R3423:6
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| 10 Therefore will I send a fire upon the wall of Tyre,–which shall devour the palaces thereof. |
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| 11 Thus, saith Yahweh, Because of three transgressions of Edom, and because of four, will I not turn it back,–Because he pursued, with the sword, his brother, and stifled his compassions, and his anger tare in pieces evermore, and, his indignation, kept watch perpetually, |
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| 12 Therefore will I send a fire into Teman,–which shall devour the palaces of Bozrah. |
Of Bozrah – The ecclesiastical powers of Babylon. D17
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| 13 Thus, saith Yahweh, Because of three transgressions of the sons of Ammon, and because of four, will I not turn it back,–Because of their ripping up the pregnant women of Gilead, that they might enlarge their own boundary, |
Ammon – On the east. R3423:6
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| 14 Therefore will I kindle a fire upon the wall of Rabbah, which shall devour the palaces thereof,–with a war-cry in the day of battle, with tempest in the day of storm-wind; |
The day of battle – The time of trouble. D527
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| 15 And Milcom shall go into exile,–he and his rulers together, saith Yahweh. |
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