Prophecies against sinful nations

Prologue

1:1

• The words of Amos, a herdsman from Tekoa (cf. 7:14-15), which he saw [in visions] concerning Israel
• while Uzziah was king of Judah [see 2 Kgs 15:1-7, 2 Chron ch. 26]
• & Jeroboam II was king of Israel [see 2 Kgs 14:23-29]
• This was two years before the [large] earthquake [which is mentioned in Zech 14:5, and which was used by God to symbolise His day of judgement, see Zech 14:1-7]

1:2

• “Yahweh roars from Jerusalem” [quoting Joel 3:16] & the [green] pastures [in Israel] wither

God is sending the fire of judgement against the nations

[Each message begins with: “For three sins... even for four”; For three sins they deserve a full punishment, but a fourth sin shows an excess of sinfulness that brings wrath. This can be contrasted with Jesus’ words in Lk 17:3-4, Mt 18:21-22]

A: Against the Arameans

1:3-5

• [God says:] ‘For that sin when Damascus [of Aram] attacked Gilead [see 2 Kgs 10:32-33],
• I send a fire against the house of [King] Hazael & against the palaces [built by] Ben-Hadad [who was king of Aram prior to Hazael];
• the Arameans will go into exile in Kir!’ [see 2 Kgs 16:9]

B: Against those who enslaved Israelites

1:6-8

• [God says:] ‘For that sin when Gaza [of the Philistines] deported [Israelites, cf. 2 Chron 21:16-17] & sold them to Edom,
• I send a fire against their cities so that the Philistines perish!’

1:9-10

• [God says:] ‘For that sin when Tyre [in Phoenicia] delivered the captive [Israelites] to Edom, forgetting their covenant [of peace between King Hiram of Tyre & King Solomon, see 1 Kgs 5:12],
• I send a fire against Tyre & her palaces!’

[cf. similar sin of Tyre & the Philistines in Joel 3:4-6]

1:11-12

• [God says:] ‘For that sin when Edom angrily attacked his brother [Israel, e.g. 2 Chron 21:8-10],
• I send a fire against their cities & palaces!’ [cf. subsequent sin of Edom in 2 Chron 28:17]

C: Against the descendants of Lot

1:13-15

• [God says:] ‘For that sin when the Ammonites attacked pregnant women in Gilead,
• I send a fire against their city & palaces; there will be war & a whirlwind; they will all be exiled!’

2:1-3

• [God says:] ‘For that sin when the Moabites burned [to ash] the bones of Edom’s king [perhaps a few years after events in 2 Kgs 3:4-27?],
• I send a fire on their palaces & war on the leaders!’

D: Against the Israelites

2:4-5

• [God says:] ‘For that sin of Judah of rejecting My law,
• I send a fire on Jerusalem’s palaces!’

2:6-16

• [God says:] ‘For that sin of Israel of selling the poor [cf. similar problem in Neh 5:1-8] & profaning My Name
• [and because] I gave you the land [cf. Ex 3:8] & raised up prophets & Nazirites [Num 6:1-21] but you tell them, “Do not prophesy!” (cf. Am 7:13)
• [therefore] I will crush you!’

Hos / Joel / AMOS / Oba / Jon