A. The man and his message.
1. (1) Amos the man.
The words of Amos, who was one of the sheepherders of Tekoa, which he saw 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 .
a.the words of amos: This book of the prophet Amos is the only mention we have of this man in the Old Testament. The books of 1 and 2 Kings and 1 and 2 Chronicles do not mention this prophet, and he should not be confused withamoz, the father of the prophet Isaiah (Isaiah 1:1).
Yo. O nomeamoshalfchargeocargo transporter. Since most of Amos' prophecies refer to the coming judgment of the nations around Israel or Israel's own judgment, he was a man with acharge.
b.Who was one of the Tekoa sheep breeders?: It appears that Amos had no formal theological or prophetic training, although there was a school of prophets known as thesons of the prophetsat that time (1 Kings 20:35, 2 Kings 2:3-15, 2 Kings 4:1, 2 Kings 4:38). Amos was a simple man, a farmer, who had been specially called to the ministry.
Yo. Amos spoke of his background and calling in Amos 7:14-15:I was not a prophet, nor the son of a prophet, but a sheep raiser and a grower of sycamore trees. Then theCABALLEROtook me as I followed the herd, and theCABALLEROHe said to me: Go, prophesy to my people Israel.
ii. Amos used an unusual word to describe his occupation. Instead of calling yourselfpastor, the literal ancient Hebrew describes Amos as asheep farmer. Amos probably chose this title to emphasize the fact that he really was a shepherd, and that he did not mean "shepherd" in a symbolic spiritual sense. The way God used Amos reminds us of the way he used Jesus' twelve disciples—ordinary workers who used to do great things for God.
iii. Amos was from Tekoa, a town about ten miles from Jerusalem. It appears that he delivered his prophetic message at Bethel (Amos 7:13), one of the southernmost cities in Israel, not far from Tekoa.
C.What did he see about Israel?: Amos was chiefly a prophet toIsrael, though he also spoke to many nations. He served in the days of the divided monarchy (inin the days of Uzziah king of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash). Most scholars date Amos's ministry somewhere between 760BC.e 750BC.
Yo. When Amos served as a prophet, God's people had been divided into two nations for over 150 years. The southern nation was known asJudah, and the northern nation was still known asIsrael. During the period of the divided monarchy, the southern kingdom of Judah saw a succession of kings, some godly and some wicked (UzziahHe was one of the best kings of Judah). the northern kingdom ofIsraelhe saw nothing but a series of wicked kings.Jeroboam son of Joashhe was one of the best kings among these wicked men, especially in a political and military sense, but he was still a wicked man (2 Kings 14:23-29).
ii. For most of its history, the northern kingdom of Israel has fought Syria, its neighbor to the north. But around the year 800BC., the mighty Assyrian Empire defeated Syria and neutralized this power that impeded the expansion and prosperity of Israel. With Syria under control, Israel enjoyed great prosperity during the reign of Jeroboam II.
iii.Two years before the earthquake: “We have no independent record of this earthquake, sothatthe phrase is not useful to us in dating.” (boice)
2. (2) The message of Amos.
And he says:
"HeCABALLEROroars of Zion,
and gives his voice from Jerusalem;
The pastures of the shepherds cry,
and the top of Carmel withers.”
a.HeCABALLEROroars of zion: Amos brought a message of judgment. The first two chapters of Amos describe the judgment of theCABALLERO, first against the Gentile nations, then against Judah and Israel.
b.and gives his voice from Jerusalem: Israel, in direct disobedience to God, established rival centers of worship at Dan, Bethel, and Gilgal. When Amos said that theCABALLEROspeaking of Jerusalem, he reminded all Israel where the center of true worship was.
C.The shepherds' pastures cry: Since Amos was a shepherd (Amos 7:14), he knew how God's judgment could affect the land. If God stopped the rain, sent plagues, or allowed conquering armies to come to earth, He did.the pastures of the shepherds cry.
d.The top of Carmel withers: monteCarmeloit was prominent in northern Israel, the site of Elijah's dramatic confrontation with the prophets of Baal (1 Kings 18:19-40). Since Elijah served before the time of Amos, it is possible that Amos was reminding Israel of this victory of the Lord.DEUSabout idolatry.
B. Judgment on the nations.
1. (3-5) Judgment of Damascus, capital of Syria.
So says theCABALLERO:
"For three transgressions of Damascus, and for four,
I will not reject yourpunishment,
because they trod Gilead with tools of iron.
But I will send fire to the house of Hazael,
who will devour the palaces of Ben-hadad.
I will also breakportaDamascus Bar,
and cut off the inhabitant of the Valley of Aven,
and he who holds the scepter of Beth Eden.
The people of Syria will go captive to Kir."
He saysCABALLERO.
a.For three transgressions of Damascus, and for four, I will not withdraw its punishment.: This sentence will introduce the announcement of God's judgment against every nation. didn't mean itDamascusHe only committed three sins, and then God thought of a fourth sin; it just has the idea of "sin upon sin upon sin."
b.because they trod Gilead with tools of iron: The region ofGileadit belonged to Israel, and God promised to judge Damascus and the Syrians for coming against the land of God's people and inflicting destruction so complete that it would be as if a deep plow had gone through the land.
eu. “threshing sledgeswith spikes or teeth of iron is probably a figure of speech implying extreme cruelty and absolute rigor in the treatment of those who oppose it." (Hubbard)
C.The people of Syria will go captive to Kir: This was fulfilled in 2 Kings 16:9, which describes when the Assyrians attacked Syria because King Ahaz of Judah paid them off.Then the king of Assyria heard him; for the king of Assyria went up against Damascus and took it, and led its people captive to Kir, and slew Rezin(2 Reis 16:9).
2. (6-8) Judgment on Gaza, a city of the Philistines.
So says theCABALLERO:
"For three transgressions of Gaza, and for four,
I will not reject yourpunishment,
because they led captive all captivity
To delivertheyTo install Edom.
But I will send fire against the wall of Gaza,
who will devour your palaces.
I will exterminate the inhabitant of Ashdod,
and he who wields the scepter of Ashkelon;
I will turn my hand against Ekron,
and the remnant of the Philistines shall perish.”
says the lordDEUS.
a.Why did they take all captivity captive to deliver it to Edom:gazait was a city of the Philistines, on the west coast of Israel and Judah. Because they came against the people of God tohand them over to Edom, God has promised to bring judgment againstgazaand the other cities of the Philistines (Ashdod,Ashkelon, youbody).
eu.all captivity: “The condemnation here is not against slavery itself, any more than the former oracle was against war itself. The crime is not that soldiers were enslaved after being captured in battle, which was the standard practice, but that the Philistines used their temporary supremacy to enslave entire populations: soldiers and civilians, men and women, adults and children, young and old. , for commercial benefit. Gaza didn't even need the slaves. He just sold them to Edom for more money." (boice)
3. (9-10) Judgment of Tyre, city of Lebanon.
So says theCABALLERO:
"For three transgressions of Tyre, and for four,
I will not reject yourpunishment,
Because they gave all the captivity to Edom,
And he didn't remember the brotherhood pact.
But I will send fire against the wall of Tyre,
who will devour your palaces.”
a.Because they gave all the captivity to Edom: From the city ofTire(from Lebanon, northern Israel) sinned against God's people like the Philistines (Amos 1:6-8), they would receive a similar judgment (tire wall fire).
b.A Fire on the Wall of Tire: The walls of a city were its defense and strength. If the walls were burned, the city would be defeated.
4. (11-12) Judgment on Edom.
So says theCABALLERO:
“For three transgressions of Edom, and for four,
I will not reject yourpunishment,
Because he pursued his brother with the sword,
And throw away all pity;
His wrath perpetually tore,
And he bottled up his anger forever.
But I will send fire to Teman,
that will devour the palaces of Bosra.”
a.Because he chased his brother with the sword: the people ofEdomdescendant of Esau, brother of Jacob (later calledIsrael). In this way, theCABALLEROcould talk about peopleEdomasbrotherto God's people, in the sense that they shared common ancestors in Abraham and Isaac. God has promised judgment againstEdombecause they attacked Judah (Numbers 20:14-21).
b.And throw away all pity; his anger perpetually tore, and he kept his anger forever: Edom clung toangeryirawhen they should have done so long before putting it away. Because of this, God's judgment would come against them. We have to learn to give ourangeryirato God and that He be our avenger.
5. (13-15) Judgment on Amon.
So says theCABALLERO:
“For three transgressions of the children of Ammon, and for four,
I will not reject yourpunishment,
because they tore pregnant women in Gilead,
So they can expand their territory.
But I will light a fire on the wall of Rabbah,
and devour their palaces,
Amidst cries on the day of battle,
and storm in the day of the whirlwind.
Their king will go into captivity,
He and his princes together."
He saysCABALLERO.
a.Why did they tear pregnant women in Gilead: To area ofGileadbelonged to Israel and suffered attacks not only from Syria (Amos 1:3), but also from its neighbor to the west,amun. We could say that Ammon sinned against him.futurekilling babies in the womb.
b.Their king will go into captivity, he and his princes together: Because of his attacks on Israel, God promised judgment against Ammon.
© 2022 Olasting wordDavid Guzik's Bible Commentary –ewm@palabraduradera.com
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