Amos 1

King James Version

Full text for Amos Chapter 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.

2And 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:

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

5I 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.

6Thus 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:

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

8And 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.

9Thus 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:

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

11Thus 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:

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

13Thus 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:

14But 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:

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

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Amos 1 introduces the prophet Amos, a herdman from Tekoa, who received visions concerning Israel during the reigns of Uzziah and Jeroboam. The chapter begins with the LORD declaring His roar from Zion, signifying impending judgment. It then details specific divine judgments against several surrounding nations—Damascus, Gaza, Tyrus, Edom, and Ammon—for their severe transgressions and cruelties, promising destruction by fire and captivity.

Medium Summary

The book of Amos opens by identifying the prophet as a herdman from Tekoa, whose prophetic visions concerning Israel occurred two years before a significant earthquake, during the reigns of Uzziah of Judah and Jeroboam of Israel. The LORD proclaims His authority, roaring from Zion, which signals widespread mourning and desolation. The chapter then systematically pronounces divine judgment upon five nations for their distinct and egregious sins. Damascus is condemned for its brutal treatment of Gilead, while Gaza and Tyrus face punishment for selling captives to Edom, with Tyrus also forgetting a brotherly covenant. Edom is judged for its relentless pursuit of its brother with the sword and its perpetual wrath. Finally, Ammon is condemned for its extreme cruelty in ripping up pregnant women of Gilead to expand its territory. For each nation, the LORD declares that He will send fire upon their palaces and bring about their captivity.

Long Summary

Amos, a herdman from Tekoa, is introduced as the recipient of divine words concerning Israel, delivered during the reigns of King Uzziah of Judah and King Jeroboam, son of Joash, of Israel, two years prior to a notable earthquake. The prophetic message begins with a declaration that the LORD will roar from Zion, uttering His voice from Jerusalem, which will cause the habitations of shepherds to mourn and the top of Carmel to wither, signifying a widespread impact of divine judgment. The chapter then systematically pronounces the LORD's unyielding judgment upon five distinct nations for their specific and severe transgressions. Damascus is condemned for its cruel act of threshing Gilead with instruments of iron, with the LORD promising to send fire upon Hazael's house, break its bar, and lead its people into captivity in Kir. Gaza faces judgment for carrying away entire populations into captivity to deliver them to Edom, and the LORD vows to send fire upon its walls, cutting off its inhabitants and the sceptre-holder from its cities. Tyrus is similarly condemned for delivering captives to Edom and for failing to remember the brotherly covenant, for which fire will consume its palaces. Edom incurs divine wrath for relentlessly pursuing its brother with the sword, casting off all pity, and maintaining perpetual anger, leading to fire upon Teman and Bozrah. Lastly, the children of Ammon are judged for their heinous act of ripping up pregnant women of Gilead to enlarge their borders, for which the LORD will kindle a fire in Rabbah, bringing battle, tempest, and the captivity of its king and princes. Each pronouncement underscores the LORD's justice against nations for their inhumane actions and breaches of covenant.

Core Concepts

  • Prophetic IntroductionThe opening verses establish Amos as a prophet from Tekoa, dating his visions to specific reigns and a significant earthquake, setting the historical and theological context for his message concerning Israel.
  • The LORD's Roar from ZionThis imagery signifies the LORD's powerful and authoritative declaration of judgment originating from His holy city, indicating that His divine decree will bring desolation and mourning.
  • Universal JudgmentThe chapter demonstrates God's sovereignty over all nations, not just Israel, by pronouncing specific judgments against surrounding peoples for their moral and ethical transgressions.
  • Transgressions of NationsEach nation is condemned for distinct and severe sins, such as extreme cruelty (Damascus, Ammon), slave trading (Gaza, Tyrus), and unbrotherly hatred (Edom), highlighting God's concern for justice and human dignity.
  • Divine Punishment by Fire and CaptivityA recurring motif is the LORD's promise to send 'fire' upon the palaces and walls of the condemned nations, signifying destructive judgment, often culminating in their people being led into 'captivity'.
  • Breach of Covenant/BrotherhoodTyrus is explicitly judged for forgetting the 'brotherly covenant,' and Edom for pursuing its 'brother' with the sword, emphasizing the importance of ethical relations and historical ties in God's eyes.
  • 'For three transgressions... and for four'This idiomatic phrase, repeated for each nation, indicates a full measure of sin, signifying that the nations have exceeded God's patience and their punishment is justly deserved and unavoidable.