Amos 1

Superscription and Thematic Statement

¹The words of Amos, who was among the herdsmen 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.

²He said: “The LORD will roar from Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the pastures of the shepherds will mourn, and the top of Carmel will wither.”

Oracles Against the Nations

³The LORD says: “For three transgressions of Damascus, yes, for four, I will not turn away its punishment, because they have threshed Gilead with threshing instruments of iron;

⁴but I will send a fire into the house of Hazael, and it will devour the palaces of Ben Hadad.

⁵I will break the bar of Damascus, and cut off the inhabitant from the valley of Aven, and him who holds the scepter from the house of Eden; and the people of Syria shall go into captivity to Kir,” says the LORD.

⁶The LORD says: “For three transgressions of Gaza, yes, for four, I will not turn away its punishment, because they carried away captive the whole community, to deliver them up to Edom;

⁷but I will send a fire on the wall of Gaza, and it will devour its palaces.

⁸I will cut off the inhabitant from Ashdod, and him who holds the scepter from Ashkelon; and I will turn my hand against Ekron; and the remnant of the Philistines will perish,” says the Lord GOD.

⁹The LORD says: “For three transgressions of Tyre, yes, for four, I will not turn away its punishment; because they delivered up the whole community to Edom, and didn’t remember the brotherly covenant;

¹⁰but I will send a fire on the wall of Tyre, and it will devour its palaces.”

¹¹The LORD says: “For three transgressions of Edom, yes, for four, I will not turn away its punishment, because he pursued his brother with the sword and cast off all pity, and his anger raged continually, and he kept his wrath forever;

¹²but I will send a fire on Teman, and it will devour the palaces of Bozrah.”

¹³The LORD says: “For three transgressions of the children of Ammon, yes, for four, I will not turn away its punishment, because they have ripped open the pregnant women of Gilead, that they may enlarge their border.

¹⁴But I will kindle a fire in the wall of Rabbah, and it will devour its palaces, with shouting in the day of battle, with a storm in the day of the whirlwind;

¹⁵and their king will go into captivity, he and his princes together,” says the LORD.

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Next Amos 2

Amos, a shepherd from Tekoa, begins his prophetic ministry with a powerful declaration that the LORD will judge the surrounding nations for their crimes against humanity. Using the formulaic phrase 'for three transgressions, yes for four,' he pronounces divine judgment against Damascus, Gaza, Tyre, Edom, and Ammon for their acts of cruelty, slave trading, covenant breaking, and territorial aggression. Each oracle follows a similar pattern, identifying specific sins and promising destruction by fire, establishing God's sovereignty over all nations and His commitment to justice.

Context

This opening chapter establishes Amos's prophetic authority and sets the stage for his subsequent oracles against Judah and Israel in chapters 2-3.

Key Themes

Outline

1-2
Superscription and Divine Roar Amos introduces himself and declares that the LORD will roar judgment from Jerusalem.
3-5
Oracle Against Damascus Syria is condemned for brutal treatment of Gilead and will face destruction and exile.
6-8
Oracle Against Gaza and Philistia The Philistines are judged for slave trading and delivering captives to Edom.
9-10
Oracle Against Tyre Tyre is condemned for slave trading and breaking brotherly covenants.
11-12
Oracle Against Edom Edom faces judgment for pursuing his brother Israel with relentless anger and violence.
13-15
Oracle Against Ammon Ammon is condemned for extreme brutality against pregnant women in territorial expansion.

Superscription and Thematic Statement

1:1–1:2

prophecy solemn

Introduction to Amos the prophet and his divine commission, with God's voice thundering from Jerusalem to announce coming judgment. This superscription establishes Amos's prophetic authority and sets the tone for the oracles that follow.

person_contrast

Uzziah's appearance here uniquely validates prophetic authority rather than his typical role as recipient of divine judgment, making this one of only two passages where he legitimizes rather than receives prophecy.

Oracles Against the Nations

1:3–2:5

prophecy wrathful

God pronounces judgment on surrounding nations for their crimes against humanity and covenant violations. Each oracle follows the pattern 'for three transgressions, yes for four' and promises divine punishment through fire and exile.

person_contrast

Hazael, typically portrayed as a disobedient king facing divine judgment, ironically becomes God's instrument of justice when his palace burns as punishment for Damascus's brutality.

Insight Character Study

Hazael, typically portrayed as a disobedient king facing divine judgment, ironically becomes God's instrument of justice when his palace burns as punishment for Damascus's brutality.

Cross-References

Connected passages across Scripture

Amos 1:1 1 reference

Lexicals 1

Hosea 1:1 Lexical

The LORD’s word that came to Hosea the son of Beeri, in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah,…

Amos 1

Superscription and Thematic Statement

Oracles Against the Nations

Superscription and Thematic Statement

Oracles Against the Nations

Insights

Cross-References

Amos 1:1 1 reference

Amos 1:2 2 references

Amos 1:3 5 references

Amos 1:4 1 reference

Amos 1:5 1 reference

Amos 1:6 3 references

Amos 1:7 2 references

Amos 1:8 5 references

Amos 1:9 3 references

Amos 1:10 2 references

Amos 1:11 4 references

Amos 1:13 5 references

Amos 1:14 5 references

Amos 1:15 1 reference

Interlinear

Historical Context