INTRODUCTION (AMOS 1:1). Amos 1:1 ‘The words of Amos, who was among the herdsmen (cattle-breeders) 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.' The heading is succint and... [ Continue Reading ]
1). YHWH'S JUDGMENT ON DAMASCUS (AMOS 1:3). YHWH's judgment on Damascus, a city (representing Aram) which had proved through the years to be Israel's most dangerous enemy, would be because of their continually cruel treatment of Gilead at the time when they had invaded Israel again and again, ‘thre... [ Continue Reading ]
SEVEN JUDGMENTS AGAINST THE NEIGHBOURING NATIONS, INCLUDING JUDAH (AMOS 1:3 TO AMOS 2:5). The announcing of YHWH's judgments on seven nations (including Judah) can be looked at in two ways. First it was an assurance to Israel that YHWH was watching over their basic interests and had observed the be... [ Continue Reading ]
2). YHWH'S JUDGMENT ON PHILISTIA (AMOS 1:6). After Aram Israel's next most dangerous enemy had been Philistia, which included the city states of Gaza, Ashdod, Ashkelon and Ekron. Their border raids, during which they would take many captives in order to sell them as slaves, were a constant problem t... [ Continue Reading ]
3). YHWH'S JUDGMENT ON TYRE (AMOS 1:9). Israel's third most dangerous enemy was Tyre. They had in the past had a close treaty relationship with Israel (e.g. under David, Solomon and Ahab. See 2 Samuel 5:11; 1Ki 5:1; 1 Kings 5:11; 1 Kings 16:31), but this had broken down (possibly after Jehu slew Je... [ Continue Reading ]
4). YHWH'S JUDGMENT ON EDOM (AMOS 1:11). Philistia, Tyre and Edom were clearly joined together in a carefully organised slave-trading cartel, but note the growth in relative guilt as one follows the other. Philistia were at least not related to Israel, but Tyre was Israel's longstanding treaty part... [ Continue Reading ]
5). YHWH'S JUDGMENT ON AMMON (AMOS 1:13). ‘The children of Ammon', like Aram, had continually treated Gilead mercilessly. In order to enlarge their territory they had not only invaded Gilead but had deliberately targeted unborn babies. They had ‘ripped up the women with child'. Amos 1:13 “Thus sa... [ Continue Reading ]