Book of Amos
Prophecy against enemies of Israel, and the kingdoms of Judah and Israel
The book of Amos (original text on Day 192 and Day 193) contains, “The words of Amos, who was among the sheepherders from Tekoa, which he envisioned in visions concerning Israel in the days of Uzziah king of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam son of Joash, king of Israel, two years before the earthquake” (Amos 1:1).
In it, God reveals: “If a calamity occurs in a city has not the LORD done it” (Amos 3:6b). Even if it makes us uncomfortable, God is, in fact, sovereign over all, both good and evil.
He also reveals, “Surely the Lord God does nothing unless He reveals His secret counsel to His servants the prophets” (Amos 3:7). God is gracious to warn of His impending judgments so that all have time to repent.
As Amos opens, the repeating phrase “For three transgressions…and for four” refers to seven transgressions, implying completeness, or the fact that God is finished with His patience for sin. He has declared the sin, absent of His wrath, complete.
Amos opens with God’s judgment on Israel’s enemies. Even though God at times uses Israel’s enemies as tools of His wrath on them, He still does not hold them guiltless for their own sins, which include worship of other gods, failure to give Him glory, violation of covenant, and betrayal of their own brethren or relatives. God offered protection to relatives of Abraham, but punished them for betrayal of His mercy.
Lest they become complacent, celebrating God’s judgment on their enemies, He follows with His judgment on the kingdom of Judah and then on the kingdom of Israel, who began worshiping golden calves in Bethel and Dan under their first king Jeroboam and never departed from this sin.
I’ll give a short synopsis, followed by a longer one, of each chapter.
Amos 1: Prophesies against Damascus (Aram), Gaza (Philistines), Tyre, Edom (Esau), and Ammon (son of Lot).
Amos 2: Prophesy against Moab (son of Lot). Short prophesy against the kingdom of Judah. The beginning of long prophecy against the kingdom of Israel, which takes up the rest of the book.
Amos 3: God promises the kingdom of Israel will be exiled.
Amos 4: God reminds Israel of their idol worship. He recounts how He has punished them, which should have inspired their repentance, without their returning to Him.
Amos 5: God promises a remnant in Israel. He also reminds that there is no solution other than Him. Rituals mean nothing to Him without righteousness. He reveals Israel has been worshiping idols since their exodus from Egypt, even in the desert.
Amos 6: Continued explanation of the sins of Israel resulting in their impending exile as judgment.
Amos 7: Some hope as Amos prays for pardon and the Lord changes His mind about certain punishments, but not all. Amaziah the priest of Bethel asks Amos to stop prophesying. Amos says he’s not a prophet but is just sharing visions the Lord gave Him, and then pronounces God’s judgment on Amaziah.
Amos 8: God pronounces the end for His people Israel. He predicts an earthquake, that obviously happened, according to Amos 1:1. He predicts a time of silence, where no prophets speak, which occurred for 400 years before John came as the forerunner to Jesus. He pronounces judgment for those who swear by idols.
The first two chapters of Amos are worth including in their entirety. They help us learn a lot about Israel’s enemies.
Damascus/Aram:
Amos 1:3-5: “Thus says the LORD,
‘For three transgressions of Damascus and for four
I will not revoke its punishment,
Because they threshed Gilead with implements of sharp iron.
So I will send fire upon the house of Hazael
And it will consume the citadels of Ben-hadad.
I will also break the gate bar of Damascus,
And cut off the inhabitant from the valley of Aven,
And him who holds the scepter, from Beth-eden;
So the people of Aram will go exiled to Kir,’
Says the LORD.”
This prophecy was fulfilled in 2 Kings 16:9. There is a lot packed into these few verses to understand.
Damascus is Aram. They are part of the family of Abraham because Aram was the grandson of Abraham’s brother Nahor and his wife Milcah, via their son Kemuel. Isaac’s wife Rebekah was also a grandchild of Nahor, via his son Bethuel. Bethuel and his son Laban, Rebekah’s brother, and father of Jacob’s wives Leah and Rachel, were called Arameans (Genesis 22:20-23). The parting of Jacob from Laban could be considered a root of the animosity between Israel and Aram.
Jacob’s son Joseph’s son Manasseh had an Aramean concubine who bore him Machir the father of Gilead (1 Chronicles 7:14). The hill country of Gilead, east of the Jordan, was given by Moses to the half-tribe of Manasseh, along with Bashan, after the exodus from Egypt.
Aram “thresh[ing] Gilead with implements of sharp iron” means they fought against their own relatives, something that invites God’s wrath.
Later, when King Solomon’s wives led him astray and he worshiped other gods, God raised up three enemies against him: his servant Jeroboam, who became the first king of Israel after his rebellion which divided the kingdom; Hadad, who was of the royal line of Edom (Esau) and married Pharoah’s sister-in-law; and Rezon, the leader of the marauding band that David had defeated at Zobah who fled to Damascus and reigned over Aram (1 Kings 11:14-40). Ben-hadad was king over Aram at the time of Israel’s evil king Ahab. The prophet Elijah anointed Hazael to succeed him as king over Aram (1 Kings 19:15), and God used Hazael as part of His punishment on the house of Ahab (1 Kings 19:17).
Ahaz was an evil king of Judah, who walked in all the sins of the kingdom of Israel, that had originally been inspired by their first king Jeroboam. God had Rezin king of Aram and Pekah son of Remaliah, king of Israel, attack him, but Ahaz appealed for help from the king of Assyria. “So the king of Assyria listened to him; and the king of Assyria went up against Damascus and captured it, and carried the people of it away into exile to Kir, and put Rezin to death” (2 Kings 16:9).
Gaza/Philistines:
Amos 1:6-8: “Thus says the LORD,
‘For three transgressions of Gaza and for four
I will not revoke its punishment,
Because they deported an entire population
To deliver it up to Edom.
So I will send fire upon the wall of Gaza
And it will consume her citadels.
I will also cut off the inhabitant from Ashdod,
And him who holds the scepter, from Ashkelon;
I will even unleash My power upon Ekron,
And the remnant of the Philistines will perish,’
Says the Lord GOD.”
The Philistines were Canaanites, descendants of Ham, son of Noah (Abraham was a descendant of Noah’s son Shem). Abraham sojourned in the land of the Philistines (Genesis 21:34), and made a covenant with their king Abimelech. The Israelites failed to conquer them when they came into the Promised Land under Joshua after Moses’ death, and they become perpetual enemies. Samson took on the Philistines. Goliath was a Philistine. The Philistines took the Ark of the Covenant when Eli’s sons Hophni and Phinehas took it into battle. The Philistines resided in Ashdod, Gaza, Ashkelon, Gath, and Ekron.
The Philistines “deported an entire population to deliver it up to Edom [Esau]” as God’s punishment on King Jehoram of Judah (2 Chronicles 21:16-17).
Tyre:
Amos 1:9-10: “Thus says the LORD,
‘For three transgressions of Tyre and for four
I will not revoke its punishment,
Because they delivered up an entire population to Edom
And did not remember the covenant of brotherhood.
So I will send fire upon the wall of Tyre
And it will consume her citadels.’”
Hiram, king of Tyre, was a friend both to King David and to King Solomon. Any betrayal against Israel and Judah would be their failure to “remember the covenant of brotherhood.” God, the faithful keeper of covenants, does not tolerate the breaking of covenants.
Edom (Esau):
Amos 1:11-12: “Thus says the LORD,
‘For three transgressions of Edom and for four
I will not revoke its punishment,
Because he pursued his brother with the sword,
While he stifled his compassion;
His anger also tore continually,
And he maintained his fury forever.
So I will send fire upon Teman
And it will consume the citadels of Bozrah.’”
Esau despised his birthright of being a son of Isaac, son of Abraham. God still granted Edom protection. During the exodus from Egypt to the Promised Land, Israel was not allowed to provoke or conquer any lands given to descendants of Abraham, including Edom (Esau), Moab (Lot), and Ammon (Lot).
King David made the Edomites his servants (2 Samuel 8:14), but then God raised up Hadad, of the royal line of Edom, as an enemy of Solomon as punishment for his worship of other gods. Edom revolted against Judah while Jehoram was king of Judah (2 Kings 8:20).
Ammon (son of Lot, nephew of Abraham):
Amos 1:13-15: “Thus says the LORD,
‘For three transgressions of the sons of Ammon and for four
I will not revoke its punishment,
Because they ripped open the pregnant women of Gilead
In order to enlarge their borders.
So I will kindle a fire on the wall of Rabbah
And it will consume her citadels
Amid war cries on the day of battle,
And a storm on the day of tempest.
Their king will go into exile,
He and his princes together,’ says the LORD.”
Once again, during the exodus from Egypt to the Promised Land, Israel was not allowed to provoke or conquer any lands given to descendants of Abraham, including Ammon.
After Joshua died, the time of the Judges began, as explained in Judges 3:
Now these are the nations which the LORD left, to test Israel by them: the five lords of the Philistines and all the Canaanites and the Sidonians and the Hivites who lived in Mount Lebanon, from Mount Baal-hermon as far as Lebo-hamath. They were for testing Israel, to find out if they would obey the commandments of the LORD, which He had commanded their fathers through Moses. The sons of Israel lived among the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites; and they took their daughters for themselves as wives, and gave their own daughters to their sons, and served their gods.
The sons of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, and forgot the LORD their God and served the Baals and the Asheroth. Then the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel.
God first “sold them into the hands of Cushan-rishathaim king of Mesopotamia…. When the sons of Israel cried to the LORD, the LORD raised up a deliverer for the sons of Israel to deliver them, Othniel the son of Kena, Caleb’s younger brother.” The land had rest for 40 years, until Othniel died.
Then “the sons of Israel again did evil in the sight of the LORD. So the LORD strengthened Eglon the king of Moab….And he gathered to himself the sons of Ammon and Amalek [descendant of Esau].”
Ammon came against Gilead later in the time of the Judges, claiming that Israel had taken that land during the time of the exodus, which was not true. Jephthah, known for his tragic vow that meant the sacrifice of his virgin daughter, knew and was able to correct the Ammonites’ false account of history (Judges 10-11).
Moab (son of Lot, nephew of Abraham):
Amos 2:1-3: “Thus says the LORD,
‘For three transgressions of Moab and for four
I will not revoke its punishment,
Because he burned the bones of the king of Edom to lime.
So I will send fire upon Moab
And it will consume the citadels of Kerioth;
And Moab will die amid tumult,
With war cries and the sound of a trumpet.
I will also cut off the judge from her midst
And slay all her princes with him,’ says the LORD.”
Repeating again, during the exodus from Egypt to the Promised Land, Israel was not allowed to provoke or conquer any lands given to descendants of Abraham, including Moab. The king of Moab summoned Balaam to curse them, which he was unable to do (Numbers 22). Israel joined Moab in sacrifice to Baal, and God sent a plague that killed 24,000 as punishment (Numbers 25). Israel served Moab early in the time of the Judges (Judges 3:14).
Ruth, who married Boaz and became the great-grandmother of King David, was from Moab, but the Moabites eventually became servants of David (2 Samuel 8:2).
Moab, Ammon, and Edom came against King Jehoshaphat of Judah. When Jehoshaphat prayed to the Lord, “the LORD set ambushes against the sons of Ammon, Moab and Mount Seir…so they were routed”. And then “the sons of Ammon and Moab rose up against the inhabitants of [Edom]…and when they had finished with the inhabitants of Seir, they helped to destroy one another” (2 Chronicles 20:22b-23).
God now speaks to Judah:
Amos 2:4-5: “Thus says the LORD,
‘For three transgressions of Judah and for four
I will not revoke its punishment,
Because they rejected the law of the LORD
And have not kept His statutes;
Their lies also have led them astray,
Those after which their fathers walked.
So I will send fire upon Judah
And it will consume the citadels of Jerusalem.’”
God now speaks to Israel. I’ll only include excerpts and [commentary] from this point.
Amos 2:
“Thus says the LORD,
‘For three transgressions of Israel and for four
I will not revoke its punishment,
Because they sell the righteous for money
And the needy for a pair of sandals.
These who pant after the very dust of the earth on the head of the helpless
Also turn aside the way of the humble;
And a man and his father resort to the same girl
In order to profane My holy name.
On garments taken as pledges they stretch out beside every altar,
And in the house of their God they drink the wine of those who have been fined.
‘Yet it was I who destroyed the Amorite [Canaanite] before them…
It was I who brought you up from the land of Egypt,
And I led you in the wilderness forty years
That you might take possession of the land of the Amorite [Canaanite].
‘Then I raised up some of your sons to be prophets
And some of your young men to be Nazirites [who do not drink wine, as part of their dedication to the Lord].
‘But you made the Nazirites drink wine,
And you commanded the prophets saying, “You shall not prophesy!”’”
Amos 3: God promises the kingdom of Israel will be exiled
“Hear this word which the LORD has spoken against you, sons of Israel, against the entire family which He brought up from the land of Egypt:
‘You only have I chosen among all the families of the earth;
Therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities.’
If a calamity occurs in a city has not the LORD done it?
Surely the Lord GOD does nothing
Unless He reveals His secret counsel
To His servants the prophets.
“‘they do not know how to do what is right,’ declares the LORD, ‘these who hoard up violence and devastation in their citadels.’
“Therefore, thus says the Lord GOD,
‘An enemy, even one surrounding the land,
Will pull down your strength from you
And your citadels will be looted.’
“So will the sons of Israel dwelling in Samaria be snatched away—
‘For on the day that I punish Israel’s transgressions,
I will also punish the altars of Bethel”
[Remember that the first king of Israel, who rebelled against the son of Solomon, established worship of golden calves in Bethel and Dan.]
Amos 4: God reminds Israel of their idol worship. He recounts how He has punished them, without their returning to Him.
“Hear this word, you cows of Bashan [Bashan was given, with Gilead, to the half-tribe of Manasseh] who are on the mountain of Samaria,
Who oppress the poor, who crush the needy…
“The Lord GOD has sworn by His holiness,
‘Behold, the days are coming upon you
When they will take you away…
‘Enter Bethel and transgress;
In Gilgal [dwelling place of prophets] multiply transgression!
Bring your sacrifices every morning,
Your tithes every three days.
Offer a thank offering also from that which is leavened,
And proclaim freewill offerings, make them known.
For so you love to do, you sons of Israel,’
Declares the Lord GOD.
‘But I gave you also cleanness of teeth in all your cities
And lack of bread in all your places…
I withheld the rain from you …
I smote you with scorching wind and mildew;
And the caterpillar was devouring
Your many gardens and vineyards, fig trees and olive trees…
I sent a plague among you after the manner of Egypt;
I slew your young men by the sword along with your captured horses,
And I made the stench of your camp rise up in your nostrils…
I overthrew you, as God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah…
Yet you have not returned to Me,’ declares the LORD.
‘Therefore thus I will do to you, O Israel;
Because I will do this to you,
Prepare to meet your God, O Israel.’”
Amos 5: God promises a remnant in Israel. He also reminds that there is no solution other than Him. Rituals mean nothing to Him without righteousness. He reveals Israel has been worshiping idols since their exodus from Egypt, even in the desert.
“For thus says the Lord GOD,
‘The city which goes forth a thousand strong
Will have a hundred left,
And the one which goes forth a hundred strong
Will have ten left to the house of Israel.’
“For thus says the LORD to the house of Israel,
‘Seek Me that you may live.
But do not resort to Bethel
And do not come to Gilgal,
Nor cross over to Beersheba [Judah];
For Gilgal will certainly go into captivity
And Bethel will come to trouble.
‘Seek the LORD that you may live,
Or He will break forth like a fire….
‘For I know your transgressions are many and your sins are great’….
“Seek good and not evil, that you may live;
And thus may the LORD God of hosts be with you….
“Hate evil, love good,
And establish justice in the gate!
Perhaps the LORD God of hosts
May be gracious to the remnant of Joseph.
“Alas, you who are longing for the day of the LORD,
For what purpose will the day of the LORD be to you?…
“Will not the day of the LORD be darkness instead of light,
Even gloom with no brightness in it?
‘I hate, I reject your festivals,
Nor do I delight in your solemn assemblies….
‘But let justice roll down like waters
And righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.
‘Did you present Me with sacrifices and grain offerings in the wilderness for forty years, O house of Israel? You also carried along Sikkuth your king and Kiyyun, your images, the star of your gods which you made for yourselves. Therefore, I will make you go into exile beyond Damascus,’ says the LORD, whose name is the God of hosts.”
Amos 6: Continued explanation of sin and repeated impending judgment of exile.
“Woe to those who are at ease in Zion
And to those who feel secure in the mountain of Samaria….
“Yet they have not grieved over the ruin of Joseph.
Therefore, they will now go into exile at the head of the exiles….
‘For behold, I am going to raise up a nation against you,
O house of Israel,’ declares the LORD God of hosts.”
Amos 7: Some hope as Amos prays for pardon and the Lord changes His mind about certain punishments, but not all. Amaziah the priest of Bethel asks Amos to stop prophesying. Amos says he’s not a prophet but is just sharing visions the Lord gave Him, and then pronounces God’s judgment on Amaziah.
“Thus the Lord GOD showed me, and behold, He was forming a locust-swarm when the spring crop began to sprout…..I said,
‘Lord GOD, please pardon!’…
“The LORD changed His mind about this.
‘It shall not be,’ said the LORD.
“Thus the Lord GOD showed me, and behold, the Lord GOD was calling to contend with them by fire….Then I said,
‘Lord GOD, please stop!’…
“The LORD changed His mind about this.
‘This too shall not be,’ said the Lord GOD.
“Thus He showed me, and behold, the Lord was standing by a vertical wall with a plumb line in His hand. The LORD said to me, ‘What do you see, Amos?’ And I said, ‘A plumb line.’ Then the Lord said,
‘Behold I am about to put a plumb line
In the midst of My people Israel.
I will spare them no longer.
The high places of Isaac will be desolated
And the sanctuaries of Israel laid waste.
Then I will rise up against the house of Jeroboam with the sword.’
“Then Amaziah, the priest of Bethel, sent word to Jeroboam king of Israel, saying, ‘Amos has conspired against you in the midst of the house of Israel; the land is unable to endure all his words. For thus Amos says, “Jeroboam will die by the sword and Israel will certainly go from its land into exile.”’ Then Amaziah said to Amos, ‘Go, you seer, flee away to the land of Judah and there eat bread and there do your prophesying! But no longer prophesy at Bethel, for it is a sanctuary of the king and a royal residence.’
“Then Amos replied to Amaziah, ‘I am not a prophet, nor am I the son of a prophet; for I am a herdsman and a grower of sycamore figs. But the LORD took me from following the flock and the LORD said to me, “Go prophesy to My people Israel.” Now hear the word of the LORD: you are saying, “You shall not prophesy against Israel nor shall you speak against the house of Isaac.” Therefore, thus says the LORD, “Your wife will become a harlot in the city, your sons and your daughters will fall by the sword, your land will be parceled up by a measuring line and you yourself will die upon unclean soil. Moreover, Israel will certainly go from its land into exile.”’”
Amos 8: God pronounces the end for His people Israel. He predicts an earthquake, that obviously happened, according to Amos 1:1. He predicts a time of silence, where no prophets speak, which occurred for 400 years before John came as the forerunner to Jesus. He pronounces judgment for those who swear by idols.
“Thus the Lord GOD showed me, and behold, there was a basket of summer fruit. He said, ‘What do you see, Amos?’ And I said, ‘A basket of summer fruit.’ Then the LORD said to me, ‘The end has come for My people Israel. I will spare them no longer. The songs of the palace will turn to wailing in that day,’ declares the Lord GOD. ‘Many will be the corpses; in every place they will cast them forth in silence.’
“Hear this, you who trample the needy, to do away with the humble of the land, saying,
‘When will the new moon be over,
So that we may sell grain,
And the sabbath, that we may open the wheat market,
To make the bushel smaller and the shekel bigger,
And to cheat with dishonest scales,
So as to buy the helpless for money
And the needy for a pair of sandals,
And that we may sell the refuse of the wheat?’
“The LORD has sworn by the pride of Jacob,
‘Indeed, I will never forget any of their deeds.
Because of this will not the land quake? [see Amos 1:1]…
‘Behold, days are coming,’ declares the Lord GOD,
‘When I will send a famine on the land,
Not a famine for bread or a thirst for water,
But rather for hearing the words of the LORD….
‘They will go to and fro to seek the word of the LORD,
But they will not find it.
‘As for those who swear by the guilt of Samaria [those who swear by idols],
Who say, “As your god lives, O Dan,”
And, “As the way of Beersheba lives,”
They will fall and not rise again.’”