Amos 1
DATE - sources vary (755 to 780 BC) For a summary of the kings
that reigned around Amos, click the following:
Previous book - Jonah
Next book - Micah
Amos was from Tekoa, a city of Judah. He spent most of his time
prophesying to Israel - evidently at Bethel \\#Amos 7:10-13\\. Amos
was neither born to royalty nor as a prophet but was a farmer and a
herdsman \\#Amos 7:14-15\\. Amos is a book of judgments. Some are
directed toward Israel and Judah, while others are directed against
their surrounding enemies.
A unique aspect of Amos' book is the visions that he had. Chapters 7,
8, and 9 all deal with visions.
I. The kings
II. Outline of Amos
A. \\#1:1\\ The Time of Amos
B. \\#1:2-2:5\\ Judgment Against Israel's Neighbors
C. \\#2:6-9:10\\ Judgment Against Israel
D. \\#9:11-15\\ God's Promise of A Future Restoration
III. While the theme of Amos is certainly coming judgment of God
via the Assyrian, Amos also direct a great portion of his
attention to the rich, powerful, and leaders.
\\#Amos 2:6-7, 3:15, 4:1, 5:11, 6:1-6, 8:4-6\\.
IV. The Book of Amos
A. \\#1:1\\ The time of Amos
1. "… days of Uzziah… Jeroboam" - The time of this book
is not an estimate since the kings of both Judah and
Israel are listed. Uzziah was the king of Judah and
Jeroboam II was the king of Israel. This would place
the time around 780 to 755BC.
2. This time period was one of great prosperity for both
Israel and Judah. Under Uzziah, God blessed Judah
militarily and financially \\#2Chronicles 26:7-15\\.
Even though Jeroboam II was called evil by the Lord
\\#2 Kings 14:24\\, the Lord had compassion on
Israel and allowed them to restore their original
boundaries \\#2Kings 14:25-27\\. This period of
military prosperity had been prophesied by Elisha
\\#2Kings 13:14-19\\, forty years earlier, and Jonah
\\#2Kings 14:25\\. Yet, the prosperity also
encouraged moral and spiritual degradation.
3. The book of Amos is also dated by a great earthquake
\\#1:1\\. Although the area was subject to many
earthquakes, this must have been an usual one since
it was still being discussed more than 200 years
later \\#Zech 14:4-5\\. Archeologists believe the
earthquake to be dated in 762 BC.
B. \\#1:2 - 2:16\\ Judgment is determined against Israel's
neighbors
1. \\#1: 2\\ Mt. Carmel - A series of mountains in
northern Israel, near the Mediterranean Sea, just
above the Jezreel Valley.
a. This mountain range was within Israel’s borders so
God is pronouncing a judgment upon the northern
kingdom. While this is part of Amos’
introduction and he has not started to use his
unique prelude to judgment, i.e. "For three
transgression... and for four...," one still
wonders why God chose to start with this
mountain.
b. "top of Carmel"
(1) This range of mountains was lush and filled
with forests in Amos’ day. Apparently,
because of judgment, God would "wither" the
Mt. Carmel for a time.
(a) \\#Is 37:24\\ During Isaiah's day,
Carmel was still covered with trees.
(b) \\#Nahum 1:4\\ - By Nahum's day, Carmel
languished.
(c) \\#Jer 50:19\\ - By Jeremiah's day,
Carmel was not being used by Israel and
its ability to bless was being spoken
of in future terms.
(2) Today, Carmel is again covered with forests.
c. "shepherds shall mourn" - No doubt, Carmel was
considered a picture of fruitfulness and Amos’s
prophecy of it's shepherd's mourning was a
certain cry of judgment on Israel itself.
2. \\#1:3-5\\ Judgment on Damascus
a. "for three transgressions... and for four" - In this
chapter, Amos uses the expression "for three
transgressions..., and for four, I will not turn
away the punishment thereof...." While some have
taken this to be a literal number and attributed
a certain offense for each, most believe it to an
expression to indicate that these countries have
offended more times than can be counted, i.e.
\\#Matt 18:21-22\\ and the coming judgment
against them will not be stopped.
b. Although God does give a brief condemnation to
each region in this section, He does not give
great detail. Typically, a single charge is laid
against the region and then a general judgment
which was fulfilled by Assyria.
c. Damascus was (at various times) the capital of
Syria, a country which had caused Israel a great
deal of anguish.
d. \\#3\\ "they have threshed Gilead" - The land on
the east side of Jordan belonging to Gad and
Reuben (previously belonging to Moab and Edom,
today belonging to Jordan).
(1) This land was often fought over by the
Syrians, Moabites, Ammonites and others
\\#Ps 108:8-9\\.
(2) Damascus (Syria) is north of Israel, but
because of the wickedness of Jehu, King of
Israel, God gave them dominion of Gilead
during the reign of Hazael, King of Syria.
\\#2Ki 10:31-33\\.
(3) To have "threshed Gilead with… iron" would
be an indication that they attack with
no mercy, perhaps literally putting the
prisoners to death with instruments of iron
as King David had done \\#2Sam 12:31\\.
e. \\#4\\ Hazael
(1) One of Syria's cruelest and most powerful
kings in his dealings with Israel.
(2) He murdered his king, Benhadad*, to become
ruler. Hazael's son was also named
Benhadad*. He succeeded Hazael.
\\#1Ki 19:15-17, 2Ki 8:12-29, 9:14-15\\
\\#2Ki 10:32, 1217-18, 13:3-25, 2Ch 22:5-6\\
(* Some believe the name, Benhadad, is a
title and not a proper name.)
f. "fire into the house of Hazael, which shall devour
the places of Benhadad"
(1) This judgment was likely fulfilled by the
Assyrians (around 732 BC). The king of
Syria at the time was Rezin, probably the
grandson of Hazael.
(2) The judgment would not have been on the
king’s family alone, as the wording makes
it clear it would also be on Damascus and
it’s territories.
(a) \\#4\\ "devour the palaces of Benhadad"
(b) \\#5\\ "break the bar of Damascus"
(c) "the people of Syria shall go into
captivity"
(3) Three locations are mentioned which also
indicate the far-reaching judgment.
(a) "plain of Aven" - Has not been located.
(b) "house of Eden" - Has not been located.
(c) "Kir" - Located in Jordan, south of the
Dead Sea. \\#Amos 9:7\\ gives is as
the place of origin for the Syrians.
(4) So this judgment would reach across the whole
spectrum and reach of Syria.
g. It is interesting to note that Syria is still in
existence today.
3. \\#1:6-8\\ Judgment on Gaza
a. "Gaza... Ashdod... Ashkelon... Ekron" - All four of
these were principal cities of the Philistines
and referred to the nation as a whole several
times \\#1Sam 6:17 Zep 2:4 Zec 9:5\\.
(1) Gath was also a principal city of the
Philistines but is not mentioned here.
(2) \\#2Ki 12:17\\ reveals that Hazael of
Damascus laid siege against the city and
took it. After which, Uzziah made another
attack and destroyed it \\#2Chron 26:6\\.
(3) According to Wikipedia "recent excavations at
the site have produced dramatic evidence of
a siege and subsequent destruction of the
site in the late 9th century BC." Hence,
Gath was already destroyed \\#Am 6:2\\.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gath_(city)
b. \\#6\\ "they carried away captive the whole
captivity" - Gaza is to be judged for attacking,
capturing, and selling the Jews in concert with
the Edomites. This is probably the result of the
Philistine victory as recorded in
\\#2Chron 21:1, 12-20, 2Kings 8:16-22\\. Joel
may be making reference to the same event
\\#Joel 3:3-8\\.
c. Edom seems to be a common denominator in that
they are condemned on their own \\#Amos 1:11-12\\
but also with the Philistines \\#Am 1:6\\ and
Tyre \\#Am 1:9\\. It makes it possible that
all of this condemnation is centered around a
single combined war effort against Israel by
its neighbors.
d. \\#7\\ "I will sent fire on the wall… devour the
palaces" - God again promises judgment that
conquers not just individuals or cities but the
whole nation.
e. \\#7\\ "fire... devour the palaces" - This is a
repeating judgment upon the palaces of all the
regions mentioned. A punishment so similar
is an indication a common judgment is coming
against them all.
f. \\#8\\ "the remnant of the Philistines shall
perish" - God promises a day when this nation
shall cease to be. This is one of the harshest
condemnations against the Philistines, indicating
there will be a time when the Philistines will be
no more.
4. Tyrus or Tyre \\#9-10\\ - Tyre is a city of
Phoenicia.
a. \\#9\\ "they delivered up the whole captivity
to Edom" - These are the same allegation is laid
against them as against the Philistines \\#1:6\\
making it sound as if all Israel’s neighboring
nations joined together in one effort.
(1) Tyre is not recognized as a warring power
but a commercial power.
(2) It is possible that Tyre may have sold the
Israelis captured by the attacking nations
\\#Joel 3:3-8\\.
(3) This may be detailed in
\\#2Chron 21:1, 16-20, 2Kings 8:16-22\\.
b. "brotherly covenant" - God condemns this act of
Tyre since there had been a standing peace
between Phoenicia and Israel since the days of
David.
c. \\#10\\ "I will send a fire on the wall…
palaces" - God promises judgment to the city
and the palace. Certainly, for this many
palaces to be destroyed, God is talking of a
large area conquest—Assyria.
5. Edom \\#11-12\\
a. Again we note that Edom has been associated with
the Philistines \\#Am 1:6\\ and Tyre
\\#Am 1:9\\. This might indicated a combined
effort by Israel’s to destroy them. If it
did happen under Jehoram \\#2Chron 21:1, 16-20\\
\\#2Ki 8:16-22, Joel 3:3-8\\, Edom would have
still been under Judah’s domain.
b. \\#11\\ "because he did pursue his brother with
the sword" - Edom is condemned because he
physically took up arms against Israel. This
happened many times \\#1Sam 14:47\\
\\#2Sam 8:13-14, Psalm 60:1-12\\
\\#2Chron 20:1-30, 21:5-10, 25:11-12\\
\\#2Chron 28:16-17\\.
c. \\#11\\ "his anger did tear perpetually" - This
judgment appears to be for the overall hatred of
Edom to his cousin and not resulting from a
particular incident.
d. \\#11\\ "brother" - God condemns this act of
Edom since Edom and Israel were cousins, being
descendents of Esau \\#Ge 36:9\\.
e. \\#12\\ God promises judgment and singles out
Bozrah, a town in Edom, specifically.
\\#Jer 48:13,22\\
6. Ammon \\#13-15\\
a. \\#13\\ "because they have ripped up the women
with child" - Amos condemns the Ammonites for
the zeal of their barbarism. Ripping up a
woman with child still warrants God’s wrath.
b. \\#13\\ "that they might enlarge their border"
No time signatures are given for this crime but
a reason is—Ammon thought they could take
Israel’s land—something Israel was forbidden
to do to Ammon.
c. Again, it is possible that all of these nations
had joined together in a common effort to
destroy Israel.
d. \\#14-15\\ "I will kindle a fire… devour the
palaces… and their king shall go into
captivity" - Even if these nations committed
their crimes separately, it sounds like their
punishment will be one collective judgment from
God!
<Outline
Index> <Close Window>
