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Amos

Amos 1

Judgement on the nations

Amos 1:1-2

Amos was telling Amaziah about himself in chapter seven.  We can learn about who he was only from his own words since he isn't mentioned anywhere else in the bible.

"I was no prophet,
Nor was I a son of a prophet,
But I was a sheepbreeder
And a tender of sycamore fruit.
15Then the Lord took me as I followed the flock,
And the Lord said to me,
'Go, prophesy to My people Israel.'(Amos 7:14-15)

Amos wasn't a prophet by training.  He wasn't a 'son of a prophet' which is the name for those who attended the school of prophets.  He had no formal training at being a prophet.  He was a shepherd and a tender of sycamore fruit.  He was just one of the many shepherds around Tekoa, about ten miles south of Jerusalem in the Hills of Judah.  Although the word translated shepherd is only used one other time.   Amos also grew figs (sycamore fruit).  Some scholars believe Amos shouldn't be veiwed as a poor shepherd but instead a rich man. 

The earthquake is a reference point of time.  See Zechariah 15:5.  Earthquakes weren't all that uncommon so this earthquake must have been significant in some way to be referenced.  Josephus ties this earthquake to the events of 2 Chronicles 26:16. 

Accordingly, when a remarkable day was come, and a general festival was to be celebrated, he put on the holy garment, and went into the temple to offer incense to God upon the golden altar, (224) which he was prohibited to do by Azariah the high priest, who had fourscore priests with him, and who told him that it was not lawful for him to offer sacrifice, and that "none besides the posterity of Aaron were permitted so to do." And when they cried out, that he must go out of the temple, and not transgress against God, he was wroth at them, and threatened to kill them, unless they would hold their peace. (225) In the meantime, a great earthquake shook the ground, and a rent was made in the temple, and the bright rays of the sun shone through it, and fell upon the king's face, insomuch that the leprosy seized upon him immediately; and before the city, at a place called Eroge, half the mountain broke off from the rest on the west, and rolled itself four furlongs, and stood still at the east mountain, till the roads, as well as the king's gardens, were spoiled by the obstruction.[1]

See also Zechariah 14:5 regarding the earthquake.

Amos spoke of judgment and God's anger at the idolatry in the nation when said the Lord roared.  Joel said the same thing, using the picture of the roaring lion to get peoples attention.  The uttering of a word was to 'give voice' or put into words for the people to understand.  This came from Jerusalem; not Bethel or Dan where golden calves were set up.  Amos gives firsthand testimony of the mourning of the pastures; from drought, from war, from the plagues on the land.  Likewise, the top of Carmel withered; it once stood as monument to the defeat of Idolatry when God used Elijah to embarrass the prophets of Baal.  The land was suffering from sin; from the pastures to the mountaintops.

Judgment was coming.  Amos begins by speaking of the coming judgment against the gentile neighbors of Israel and Judah.  All the Jews would have been pleased and in agreement that judgment was in deed overdue for these gentiles.  But then, Amos spoke of judgment coming on Israel and Judah.  Suddenly, they no longer liked Amos or agreed with him.

 

Amos 1:3-5

During the reign of Jehu, Ben-Hadad attacked and conquered the area of Gilead.  This the area of Israel on the east side of the Jordan.  The 'threshing' is likely a particularly brutal treatment of prisoners.  While three sins would be enough, they sinned a fourth, and even much more.  The idea is that sin is piled on sin.  The judgment is sure in the fires of the palace of the kings; the breaking of the gate and cutting off of the land they possessed.  They would be taken captive, and they were shortly after this prophecy when King Ahaz of Judah paid the Assyrians (2 Kings 16:9) to go to war against Syria. 

The Jews would have be pleased to hear of God's judgment on Syria.

 

Amos 1:6-8

Amos moves on to the second nation in God's sight.  Gaza was a Philistine city located on the southernwestern coastline.  Ashdod, Ashkelon and Ekron were also major Philistine cities and strongholds; no doubt considered remenants of the Philistines in this time which would likely include the fifth major city not mentioned, Gath.  The idea is that they didn't just conquer soldiers in war, but they oppressed God's people.  They didn't take slaves to serve them, they took them to sell as slaves to put money in their pocket.  These gentiles had sinned against the Lord, not three, or even four, but many times.  Now judgment was coming against them.  We see the similar language of cutting off and fire coming.

And all the Jews would be pleased to hear this; God was dealing with these people that had been a long time enemy.

 

Amos 1:9-10

Like Gaza, Tyre is judged for delivering the whole captivity.  They didn't just conquer soldiers in war and take these men prisoner.  They subjected and oppressed the people.  They took any and all, not to serve them, but to sell them for prophet as slaves to Edom.  It wasn't just three or four sins, it was sin piled on sin and now the fire of judgment was coming.

And all the Jews would have cheered at this sin being judged.

 

Amos 1:11-12

Edom was descended from Esau, the brother of Jacob.  Edom used the sword against his brother, lived in anger towards them, without pity.  They looked for an opportunity to conquer, war and take captice the Israelites.  Because it wasn't three or four, but many more sins, Judgment was coming.

And the Jews would be relieved to hear that God was also going to judge the neighboring lands who had been their enemy. 

 

Amos 1:13-15

Ammon is next, not for three or four sins, but many more.  Punishment was coming because they had not just conquered Israel's army but they took their women and ripped their child from the womb.  They sinned against the future of Israel, removing those that would be born.  They did this simply to enlarge their territoy. Now fire was coming, the palaces would burn, battle cries would be heard in their cities. 

And the Jews would agree this was just and right and would be pleased God would deal with these sinful gentiles.

©2016 Doug Ford

 

[1] Josephus, F., & Whiston, W. (1987). The works of Josephus: complete and unabridged. Peabody: Hendrickson.