Description
Amos warns the surrounding nations of coming judgment. His portrayal of the Lord roaring out of Zion suggests an end-time fulfilment at the second coming, although these judgments were at least partially fulfilled in history.
Commentary
Amos was a herdsman from Tekoa in Judah, but was called by God as a prophet to the northern kingdom of Israel. He ministered during the reigns of King Uzziah of Judah and King Jeroboam of Israel (v1), which overlapped between about 767 and 753 BC. This was a time of material prosperity in Israel and Judah, but also a time of immorality and idolatry. There was a large divide between rich and poor, and the rich were exploiting the poor. Amos' main message in 2:6 to 9:10 was that God was about to judge the northern kingdom of Israel and they would be carried off into exile. This was fulfilled by the Assyrian conquest in 722 BC. At the end of his book, he foresees the eventual restoration of Israel.
Here in chapter 1 and also in the beginning of chapter 2, Amos prophesies against the surrounding nations of Syria (v3-5), Philistia (v6-8), Lebanon (v9-10), Edom (v11-12), Ammon (v13-15), Moab (2:1-3) and also Judah (2:4-5). These prophesies likely saw at least partial fulfilment during the Assyrian and Babylonian conquests. However, the opening scene in verse 2 suggests a further end-time fulfilment at the second coming of Jesus, when he will judge the nations at the battle of Armageddon. Amos says, "The Lord comes roaring out of Zion; from Jerusalem he comes bellowing! The shepherds’ pastures wilt; the summit of Carmel withers." This depicts Jesus as a mighty warrior fighting the nations around Jerusalem, using his voice and fire as weapons of war. Various end-time scriptures portray Jesus in this way (e.g. Psalm 29:7, 45:3, 50:3, 97:3, Isaiah 11:4, 30:27-28, 31:4, 33:12-14, 66:15, Joel 2:11, Zechariah 9:14, 14:3, Revelation 19:15 - or Search by Tags: Weapons of Jesus).
The accusations against these surrounding nations, written in the prophetic past tense, likely describe their treatment and exploitation of Israelite refugees when Israel and Judah fell to the Assyrians and Babylonians, respectively. According to Obadiah 1:10-14, when Nebuchadnezzar conquered Judah in 586 BC, the Edomites joined in the looting and slaughtered Jewish refugees trying to escape. Given that the Edomites were descended from Esau, and were related to the Israelites, this was seen as a great act of betrayal, and is greatly condemned in various scriptures (Psalm 137:7, Lamentations 4:21-22, Ezekiel 25:12-14; 35:1-15, Isaiah 34:5-15; 63-1-6). Here in Amos 1:11, God accuses Edom, "He chased his brother with a sword; he wiped out his allies. In his anger he tore them apart without stopping to rest; in his fury he relentlessly attacked them." Therefore, God pronounces judgment on Edom, "So I will set Teman on fire; fire will consume Bozrah’s fortresses" (v12). Bozrah was the capital of Edom, located in the hill country of Seir, slightly to the south-east of the bottom of the Dead Sea. Today Bozrah is known as Busaira. Evidently, Teman was the name of the region around Bozrah. In Isaiah 63:1-6, Jesus is portrayed coming from Bozrah in Edom, his clothes splattered with the blood of those he has slaughtered, as though he has been stomping grapes in a winepress". In Revelation 19:13-15, Jesus is portrayed in similar fashion as he enters the battle of Armageddon, implying that he has come from Edom.
In verses 13 to 15, God accuses Ammon of ripping open Gilead's pregnant women and of expanding their territory. Gilead was the region on the east side of the Jordan that belonged to the Israelite tribes of Reuben, Gad and Manasseh.
God's end-time judgement of the surrounding nations, especially of Edom, is portrayed in various end-time passages (Search by Place: Edom). The map below shows the locations of these ancient nations in relation to the 12 tribes of Israel.
Here in chapter 1 and also in the beginning of chapter 2, Amos prophesies against the surrounding nations of Syria (v3-5), Philistia (v6-8), Lebanon (v9-10), Edom (v11-12), Ammon (v13-15), Moab (2:1-3) and also Judah (2:4-5). These prophesies likely saw at least partial fulfilment during the Assyrian and Babylonian conquests. However, the opening scene in verse 2 suggests a further end-time fulfilment at the second coming of Jesus, when he will judge the nations at the battle of Armageddon. Amos says, "The Lord comes roaring out of Zion; from Jerusalem he comes bellowing! The shepherds’ pastures wilt; the summit of Carmel withers." This depicts Jesus as a mighty warrior fighting the nations around Jerusalem, using his voice and fire as weapons of war. Various end-time scriptures portray Jesus in this way (e.g. Psalm 29:7, 45:3, 50:3, 97:3, Isaiah 11:4, 30:27-28, 31:4, 33:12-14, 66:15, Joel 2:11, Zechariah 9:14, 14:3, Revelation 19:15 - or Search by Tags: Weapons of Jesus).
The accusations against these surrounding nations, written in the prophetic past tense, likely describe their treatment and exploitation of Israelite refugees when Israel and Judah fell to the Assyrians and Babylonians, respectively. According to Obadiah 1:10-14, when Nebuchadnezzar conquered Judah in 586 BC, the Edomites joined in the looting and slaughtered Jewish refugees trying to escape. Given that the Edomites were descended from Esau, and were related to the Israelites, this was seen as a great act of betrayal, and is greatly condemned in various scriptures (Psalm 137:7, Lamentations 4:21-22, Ezekiel 25:12-14; 35:1-15, Isaiah 34:5-15; 63-1-6). Here in Amos 1:11, God accuses Edom, "He chased his brother with a sword; he wiped out his allies. In his anger he tore them apart without stopping to rest; in his fury he relentlessly attacked them." Therefore, God pronounces judgment on Edom, "So I will set Teman on fire; fire will consume Bozrah’s fortresses" (v12). Bozrah was the capital of Edom, located in the hill country of Seir, slightly to the south-east of the bottom of the Dead Sea. Today Bozrah is known as Busaira. Evidently, Teman was the name of the region around Bozrah. In Isaiah 63:1-6, Jesus is portrayed coming from Bozrah in Edom, his clothes splattered with the blood of those he has slaughtered, as though he has been stomping grapes in a winepress". In Revelation 19:13-15, Jesus is portrayed in similar fashion as he enters the battle of Armageddon, implying that he has come from Edom.
In verses 13 to 15, God accuses Ammon of ripping open Gilead's pregnant women and of expanding their territory. Gilead was the region on the east side of the Jordan that belonged to the Israelite tribes of Reuben, Gad and Manasseh.
God's end-time judgement of the surrounding nations, especially of Edom, is portrayed in various end-time passages (Search by Place: Edom). The map below shows the locations of these ancient nations in relation to the 12 tribes of Israel.
Tags
Places: Zion, Jerusalem, Damascus, Syria, Gaza, Philistia, Tyre, Lebanon, Edom, Teman, Bozrah, Ammon, Jordan, Saudi Arabia
Symbols:
Tags: Judgment of surrounding nations, Jesus as a mighty warrior, Weapons of Jesus, Jesus uses fire, Voice of Jesus
Symbols:
Tags: Judgment of surrounding nations, Jesus as a mighty warrior, Weapons of Jesus, Jesus uses fire, Voice of Jesus
Introduction
1 The following is a record of what Amos prophesied. He was one of the herdsmen from Tekoa. These prophecies about Israel were revealed to him during the time of King Uzziah of Judah and King Jeroboam son of Joash of Israel, two years before the earthquake.
God Will Judge the Surrounding Nations
2 Amos said: “The Lord comes roaring out of Zion; from Jerusalem he comes bellowing! The shepherds’ pastures wilt; the summit of Carmel withers.”
3 This is what the Lord says: “Because Damascus has committed three crimes – make that four! – I will not revoke my decree of judgment. They ripped through Gilead like threshing sledges with iron teeth.
4 So I will set Hazael’s house on fire; fire will consume Ben Hadad’s fortresses.
5 I will break the bar on the gate of Damascus. I will remove the ruler from Wicked Valley, the one who holds the royal scepter from Beth Eden. The people of Aram will be deported to Kir.” The Lord has spoken!
6 This is what the Lord says: “Because Gaza has committed three crimes – make that four! – I will not revoke my decree of judgment. They deported a whole community and sold them to Edom.
7 So I will set Gaza’s city wall on fire; fire will consume her fortresses.
8 I will remove the ruler from Ashdod, the one who holds the royal scepter from Ashkelon. I will strike Ekron with my hand; the rest of the Philistines will also die.” The Sovereign Lord has spoken!
9 This is what the Lord says: “Because Tyre has committed three crimes – make that four! – I will not revoke my decree of judgment. They sold a whole community to Edom; they failed to observe a treaty of brotherhood.
10 So I will set fire to Tyre’s city wall; fire will consume her fortresses.”
11 This is what the Lord says: “Because Edom has committed three crimes – make that four! – I will not revoke my decree of judgment. He chased his brother with a sword; he wiped out his allies. In his anger he tore them apart without stopping to rest; in his fury he relentlessly attacked them.
12 So I will set Teman on fire; fire will consume Bozrah’s fortresses.”
13 This is what the Lord says: “Because the Ammonites have committed three crimes – make that four! – I will not revoke my decree of judgment. They ripped open Gilead’s pregnant women so they could expand their territory.
14 So I will set fire to Rabbah’s city wall; fire will consume her fortresses. War cries will be heard on the day of battle; a strong gale will blow on the day of the windstorm.
15 Ammon’s king will be deported; he and his officials will be carried off together.” The Lord has spoken!
1 The following is a record of what Amos prophesied. He was one of the herdsmen from Tekoa. These prophecies about Israel were revealed to him during the time of King Uzziah of Judah and King Jeroboam son of Joash of Israel, two years before the earthquake.
God Will Judge the Surrounding Nations
2 Amos said: “The Lord comes roaring out of Zion; from Jerusalem he comes bellowing! The shepherds’ pastures wilt; the summit of Carmel withers.”
3 This is what the Lord says: “Because Damascus has committed three crimes – make that four! – I will not revoke my decree of judgment. They ripped through Gilead like threshing sledges with iron teeth.
4 So I will set Hazael’s house on fire; fire will consume Ben Hadad’s fortresses.
5 I will break the bar on the gate of Damascus. I will remove the ruler from Wicked Valley, the one who holds the royal scepter from Beth Eden. The people of Aram will be deported to Kir.” The Lord has spoken!
6 This is what the Lord says: “Because Gaza has committed three crimes – make that four! – I will not revoke my decree of judgment. They deported a whole community and sold them to Edom.
7 So I will set Gaza’s city wall on fire; fire will consume her fortresses.
8 I will remove the ruler from Ashdod, the one who holds the royal scepter from Ashkelon. I will strike Ekron with my hand; the rest of the Philistines will also die.” The Sovereign Lord has spoken!
9 This is what the Lord says: “Because Tyre has committed three crimes – make that four! – I will not revoke my decree of judgment. They sold a whole community to Edom; they failed to observe a treaty of brotherhood.
10 So I will set fire to Tyre’s city wall; fire will consume her fortresses.”
11 This is what the Lord says: “Because Edom has committed three crimes – make that four! – I will not revoke my decree of judgment. He chased his brother with a sword; he wiped out his allies. In his anger he tore them apart without stopping to rest; in his fury he relentlessly attacked them.
12 So I will set Teman on fire; fire will consume Bozrah’s fortresses.”
13 This is what the Lord says: “Because the Ammonites have committed three crimes – make that four! – I will not revoke my decree of judgment. They ripped open Gilead’s pregnant women so they could expand their territory.
14 So I will set fire to Rabbah’s city wall; fire will consume her fortresses. War cries will be heard on the day of battle; a strong gale will blow on the day of the windstorm.
15 Ammon’s king will be deported; he and his officials will be carried off together.” The Lord has spoken!
(NET)
