The prophet threatens Damascus, Gaza, Tyre, Edom, and Ammon with the
judgments of God, for their obstinacy in sin.
1:1. The words of Amos, who was among the herdsmen of Thecua: which he
saw concerning Israel in the days of Ozias king of Juda, and in the days
of Jeroboam the son of Joas king of Israel two years before the
earthquake.
The earthquake... Many understand this of a great earthquake, which they
say was felt at the time that king Ozias attempted to offer incense in
the temple. But the best chronologists prove that the earthquake here
spoken of must have been before that time: because Jeroboam the second,
under whom Amos prophesied, was dead long before that attempt of Ozias.
1:2. And he said: The Lord will roar from Sion, and utter his voice from
Jerusalem: and the beautiful places of the shepherds have mourned, and
the top of Carmel is withered.
1:3. Thus saith the Lord: For three crimes of Damascus, and for four I
will not convert it: because they have thrashed Galaad with iron wains.
For three crimes-and for four... That is, for their many unrepented of
crimes.-Ibid. I will not convert it... That is, I will not spare them,
nor turn away the punishments I design to inflict upon them.
1:4. And I will send a fire into the house of Azael, and it shall devour
the houses of Benadad.
1:5. And I will break the bar of Damascus: and I will cut off the
inhabitants from the plain of the idol, and him that holdeth the sceptre
from the house of pleasure: and the people of Syria shall be carried
away to Cyrene, saith the Lord.
1:6. Thus saith the Lord: For three crimes of Gaza, and for four I will
not convert it: because they have carried away a perfect captivity to
shut them up in Edom.
1:7. And I will send a fire on the wall of Gaza, and it shall devour the
houses thereof.
1:8. And I will cut off the inhabitant from Azotus, and him that holdeth
the sceptre from Ascalon: and I will turn my hand against Accaron, and
the rest of the Philistines shall perish, saith the Lord God.
1:9. Thus saith the Lord: For three crimes of Tyre, and for four I will
not convert it: because they have shut up an entire captivity in Edom,
and have not remembered the covenant of brethren.
1:10. And I will send a fire upon the wall of Tyre, and it shall devour
the houses thereof.
1:11. Thus saith the Lord: For three crimes of Edom, and for four I will
not convert him: because he hath pursued his brother with the sword, and
hath carried on his fury, and hath kept his wrath to the end.
1:12. I will send a fire into Theman: and it shall devour the houses of
Bosra.
1:13. Thus saith the Lord: For three crimes of the children of Ammon,
and for four I will not convert him: because he hath ripped up the women
with child of Galaad to enlarge his border.
1:14. And I will kindle a fire in the wall of Rabba: and it shall devour
the houses thereof with shouting in the day of battle, and with a
whirlwind in the day of trouble.
1:15. And Melchom shall go into captivity, both he, and his princes
together, saith the Lord.
Melchom... The god or idol of the Ammonites, otherwise called Moloch,
and Melech: which in Hebrew signifies a king, and Melchom their king.