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Amos 1

Am 1


Amos 1

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

2 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.

3 Thus saith 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:

4 But I will send a fire into the house of Hazael, which shall devour the palaces of Benhadad.

5 I will break also the bar of Damascus, and cut off the inhabitant from the plain of Aven, and him that holdeth the sceptre from the house of Eden: and the people of Syria shall go into captivity unto Kir, saith the LORD.

6 Thus saith 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:

7 But I will send a fire on the wall of Gaza, which shall devour the palaces thereof:

8 And I will cut off the inhabitant from Ashdod, and him that holdeth the sceptre from Ashkelon, and I will turn mine hand against Ekron: and the remnant of the Philistines shall perish, saith the Lord GOD.



9 Thus saith 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:

10 But I will send a fire on the wall of Tyrus, which shall devour the palaces thereof.

11 Thus saith 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 for ever:

12 But I will send a fire upon Teman, which shall devour the palaces of Bozrah.

13 Thus saith 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:

14 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:

15 And their king shall go into captivity, he and his princes together, saith the LORD.

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Summary and the Meaning of Chapter 1 of the Book of Amos in the KJV Holy Bible

The Book of Amos is one of the minor prophetic books in the Old Testament of the King James Version (KJV) of the Holy Bible. This first chapter serves as an introduction to the prophecies of Amos, a shepherd from Tekoa, who prophesied during the reigns of Uzziah, king of Judah, and Jeroboam II, king of Israel. The chapter is a series of oracles against the nations surrounding Israel and Judah. The main themes of this chapter include divine judgement, the universality of God's justice, and the consequences of sin.

The opening verses set the stage for the prophecies that follow. The book begins, "The words of Amos, who was among the herdmen 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" (Amos 1:1). This indicates the historical context of Amos's prophecies and his status as a common man, not a professional prophet.

The Universality of God's Justice

A significant theme in this chapter, and indeed the entire book, is the universality of God's justice. God is not just the God of Israel and Judah, but of all nations, and He holds them all to the same moral standards. This is evident in the series of oracles against the nations surrounding Israel and Judah. Each oracle follows a similar pattern, beginning with the phrase, "Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of [nation] and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof" (Amos 1:3, 6, 9, 11, 13). This formula indicates that these nations have repeatedly transgressed against God's laws, and that their punishment is both inevitable and just.

The specific sins of each nation are then listed. For Damascus (Syria), it was their brutal treatment of Gilead (Amos 1:3-5); for Gaza (Philistia), it was their slave trade (Amos 1:6-8); for Tyre, it was their breach of treaty and involvement in the slave trade (Amos 1:9-10); for Edom, it was their relentless hostility towards their brother nation, Israel (Amos 1:11-12); and for Ammon, it was their brutal war crimes (Amos 1:13-15). These sins are all violations of basic human rights and God's moral laws, demonstrating that God's justice is universal, not just confined to His chosen people.

Divine Judgment and the Consequences of Sin

Another major theme in this chapter is divine judgment and the consequences of sin. Each oracle concludes with a description of the divine punishment that will befall each nation as a result of their sins. This punishment is typically in the form of military defeat and exile, which were common forms of divine punishment in the Old Testament. For example, the punishment for Damascus is described as follows: "But I will send a fire into the house of Hazael, which shall devour the palaces of Benhadad" (Amos 1:4). Similarly, the punishment for Gaza is described as follows: "But I will send a fire on the wall of Gaza, which shall devour the palaces thereof" (Amos 1:7).

These descriptions of divine punishment serve to emphasize the seriousness of the sins committed by these nations and the inevitability of their consequences. They also serve as a warning to the people of Israel and Judah, the primary audience of Amos's prophecies, of the dire consequences of their own sins. In this way, the chapter serves as a call to repentance, urging the people to turn away from their sins and return to God.

The Prophet Amos and His Message

Finally, this first chapter introduces us to the prophet Amos and his message. Amos is described as a shepherd from Tekoa, a small town in Judah. This is significant, as it underscores the fact that he was not a professional prophet or a member of the religious elite, but a common man. His prophecies are thus characterized by a blunt, straightforward style and a deep concern for social justice.

Amos's message, as evident in this first chapter, is a call to repentance and a warning of the consequences of sin. He emphasizes the universality of God's justice and the inevitability of divine punishment for sin. Despite the dire warnings, however, there is also a message of hope: if the people repent and return to God, they can avoid the dire consequences of their sins.

In conclusion, Chapter 1 of the Book of Amos sets the stage for the prophecies that follow. It introduces us to the prophet Amos and his message, highlighting the themes of divine judgment, the universality of God's justice, and the consequences of sin. It serves as a stark reminder of the dire consequences of sin and a call to repentance, urging the people to turn away from their sins and return to God.



This article is informed by the King James Version of the Holy Bible, the authors' personal knowledge, considerations and experience, and additional materials and resources available in internet.

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