1 These are the words of Amos, one of the sheep-breeders of Tekoa, and the visions which he saw concerning Israel during the reign of Uzziah, King of Judah and Jero boam, son of Jehoash, King of Israel, two years before the earthquake.
2 He said,
“Yahweh roars from Zion,
his voice thunders from Jerusalem.
The pastures of the shepherds are scorched
and the choicest farmland is dried up.”
3 Yahweh says this, “Because Da mascus has sinned, not once but three times and even more, I will not relent. Because they have threshed Gilead with threshing sledges of iron,
4 I will send fire upon the people of Hazael that shall devour the strongholds of Benhadad. I will cut off the ruler from the Valley of Aven and him who holds the scepter from Betheden.
5 I shall break the protective crossbar of Damascus.”
Condemnation of several nations
6 Yahweh says this, “Because Gaza has sinned, not once but three times and even more, I will not relent. Because they carried a whole people into captivity to deliver them over to Edom,
7 I will send fire upon the wall of Gaza and it will devour her strongholds.
8 I will cut off the ruler from Ashdod, and him that holds the scepter from Ashkelon; I will turn my hand against Ekron and the rem nant of the Philistines will perish,” says Yahweh.
9 Yahweh says this, “Because Tyre has sinned, not once but three times and even more, I will not relent. Because they delivered over to Edom a whole people and did not re member the covenant of brother hood,
10 I will send fire upon the walls of Tyre and it shall devour her palaces.”
11 Yahweh says this, “Because Edom has sinned, not once but three times and even more, I will not relent. Because he pursued his brother with the sword and cast off all pity, be cause his anger rages forever and his wrath is always wild,
12 I will send fire upon Te man and it shall devour the strongholds of Bozrah.”
13 Yahweh says this, “Because the Amonites have sinned, not once but three times and even more, I will not relent. Be cause they have ripped open pregnant wo men in Gilead, that they might enlarge their border,
14 I will set fire to the walls of Rabbah and it shall devour her strongholds. Then there will be war cry and bat tle; then storm winds will blow.
15 Their king will go into exile, he and his princes with him,” says Yahweh.
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Comments , Chapter 1
• 1.1 Chapters 1 and 2 announce the judgment of God which is coming soon. Amos severely attacks the pagan nations which have drifted away from universal morality and from the rules of human life. Judah, a nation of believers, bears the sin of having forgotten the law of God (2:4).