Amos
Summary
The commencement of the prophet's ministry from TEKOA. it records the LORD'S roar from Zion as He pronounces judgement upon the surrounding nations: Damascus, Gaza, Tyrus, Edom, and Ammon: for their 'three transgressions, and for four'. it features specific indictments for their cruelty, slave-trading, and lack of brotherly mercy. it sets the stage for the primary judgement to be leveled against Judah and Israel.
Hear this word, you kine of Bashan, that are in the mountain of Samaria, which oppress the poor, which crush the needy, which say to their masters, "Bring, and let us drink."
And he said, "The LORD will roar from Zion, and utter His voice from Jerusalem; and the habitations of the shepherds shall mourn, and the top of Carmel shall wither."
Thus says the LORD; "For three transgressions of Damascus, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they have threshed Gilead with threshing instruments of iron:"
"But I will send a fire into the house of Hazael, which shall devour the palaces of Benhadad."
"I will break also the bar of Damascus, and cut off the inhabitant from the plain of Aven, and him that holds the sceptre from the house of Eden: and the people of Syria shall go into captivity to Kir," says the LORD.
Thus says the LORD; "For three transgressions of Gaza, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they carried away captive the whole captivity, to deliver them up to Edom:"
"But I will send a fire on the wall of Gaza, which shall devour the palaces thereof:"
"And I will cut off the inhabitant from Ashdod, and him that holds the sceptre from Ashkelon, and I will turn Mine hand against Ekron: and the remnant of the Philistines shall perish," says the Lord GOD.
Thus says the LORD; "For three transgressions of Tyrus, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they delivered up the whole captivity to Edom, and remembered not the brotherly covenant:"
"But I will send a fire on the wall of Tyrus, which shall devour the palaces thereof."
Thus says the LORD; "For three transgressions of Edom, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because he did pursue his brother with the sword, and did cast off all pity, and his anger did tear perpetually, and he kept his wrath forever:"
"But I will send a fire upon Teman, which shall devour the palaces of Bozrah."
Thus says the LORD; "For three transgressions of the children of Ammon, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they have ripped up the women with child of Gilead, that they might enlarge their border:"
"But I will kindle a fire in the wall of Rabbah, and it shall devour the palaces thereof, with shouting in the day of battle, with a tempest in the day of the whirlwind:"
"And their king shall go into captivity, he and his princes together," says the LORD.