Amos 1

Amos 1 is the first chapter of the Book of Amos. After the book's superscription, a series of judgment oracles against neighboring nations begins. The series continues in chapter 2 with oracles against Moab, Judah, and Israel.

Outline

• Verse 1 Superscription. The words were received by Amos, a herdsman of Tekoa, in the days when Uzziah and Jeroboam reigned, two years before the earthquake.
• Verse 2 The LORD roars from Zion; the pastures of the shepherds mourn, and the top of Mount Carmel withers.
• Verses 3–5 Judgment on Damascus. Because it threshed Gilead with threshing instruments of iron, fire will be sent upon the house of Hazael and the palaces of Ben-hadad, and the people of Aram will go into captivity to Kir.
• Verses 6–8 Judgment on Gaza. Because it delivered captives up to Edom, Gaza, Ashdod, Ashkelon, and Ekron will be judged.
• Verses 9–10 Judgment on Tyre. Because it forgot the brotherly covenant and delivered captives up to Edom, fire will be sent upon the wall of Tyre.
• Verses 11–12 Judgment on Edom. Because it pursued its brother with the sword and cast off all pity, fire will be sent upon Teman and Bozrah.
• Verses 13–15 Judgment on Ammon. Because it ripped up the women with child of Gilead in order to enlarge its border, Rabbah will burn, and its king and princes will go into captivity.

Key Verses

• Amos 1:1 "The words of Amos, who was among the herdmen of Tekoa, … two years before the earthquake." This verse identifies the time of the prophecy and the prophet's background.
• Amos 1:2 "The LORD will roar from Zion." This proclamation of judgment opens the entire book.
• Amos 1:3 "For three transgressions … and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof." This formula is repeated in each oracle against the nations.

People and Places

• Amos: A herdsman from Tekoa in Judah who prophesied to the northern kingdom of Israel.
• Uzziah and Jeroboam (Jeroboam II), the son of Joash: The kings of the southern kingdom of Judah and the northern kingdom of Israel, respectively, whose reigns date the prophecy.
• Hazael and Ben-hadad: Kings of Aram. Ben-hadad was a name borne by several Aramean kings.
• Damascus: The capital of Aram.
• Gaza, Ashdod, Ashkelon, and Ekron: Cities of Philistia.
• Tyre: A port city on the Mediterranean coast.
• Teman and Bozrah: A region and a city of Edom.
• Rabbah: The capital of Ammon.
• Gilead: A region east of the Jordan River.
• Zion, Mount Carmel

Points for Reflection

• "Three transgressions … and for four": This is a Hebrew poetic device in which a number is followed by the next higher number. It is commonly interpreted to mean that the measure of sin was full to overflowing.
• The basis for judging the nations: Although these nations had not received the Law, they are judged for atrocities committed in war and for breaking faith. This is generally read as an expression of God's rule over all nations.
• The earthquake in verse 1: The same earthquake is mentioned in Zechariah 14:5. The account linking this earthquake to Uzziah's being struck with leprosy while burning incense in the temple comes from later tradition, including Josephus, and does not appear in the biblical text.
• The term "brother": Edom's being called a "brother" is understood to derive from the relationship between Esau and Jacob. Interpretations differ as to what the "brotherly covenant" forgotten by Tyre refers to.
• Relationship to the New Testament: The New Testament quotes Amos 5 and 9 (Acts 7 and 15) but does not quote this chapter directly.