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| 1 Words of Amos who hath been among herdsmen of Tekoa that he hath seen concerning Israel, in the days of Uzziah king of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam son of Joash king of Israel, two years before the shaking; |
The words – Portions of this prophecy imply a still larger fulfilment upon nominal Israel in the end of this age. R3424:6
Prophecies of the kind inspired by the Lord in early days are no longer his method. R3424:1
Of Amos – Of humble birth, a sheep-tender, a farmer. R3423:3
One of the earliest prophets to write down the message which he delivered. R3423:3
Belongs to a period about a century after Elijah, nearly a century before Isaiah, and about two centuries before Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Daniel. R3423:3
Of Tekoa – The home of Amos was in Judah, but under the Lord's direction, he went to the ten tribes to deliver to them the Lord's message. R2356:1
Concerning Israel – The brunt of the prophet's message fell against the ten-tribe kingdom of Israel. R3423:3
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| 2 and he saith: Jehovah from Zion doth roar, And from Jerusalem giveth forth His voice, And mourned have pastures of the shepherds, And withered hath the top of Carmel! |
From Zion – The spiritual phase of the Kingdom of God. A297; T33
From Jerusalem – The earthly phase of the Kingdom of God. A297
The habitations – Because of their close identity with Israel, the adjoining nations are made the subject of this prophecy. R2355:6
Of the shepherds – Greedy, ignorant, lazy teachers. F287
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| 3 And thus said Jehovah: For three transgressions of Damascus, And for four, I do not reverse it, Because of their threshing Gilead with sharp-pointed irons, |
For three transgressions – At the present time to copy either Elijah or Amos would indicate a total misapprehension respecting the divine will and message. R3424:1
Damascus – Capital city of Syria, on the north; in line with divine retributions. R3423:6
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| 4 And I have sent a fire against the house of Hazael, And it hath consumed the palaces of Ben-Hadad. |
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| 5 And I have broken the bar of Damascus, And cut off the inhabitant from Bikat-Aven, And a holder of a sceptre from Beth-Eden, And removed have been the people of Aram to Kir, said Jehovah. |
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| 6 Thus said Jehovah: For three transgressions of Gaza, And for four, I do not reverse it, Because of their removing a complete captivity, To deliver up to Edom, |
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| 7 And I have sent a fire against the wall of Gaza, And it hath consumed her palaces; |
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| 8 And I have cut off the inhabitant from Ashdod, And a holder of a sceptre from Ashkelon, And have turned back My hand against Ekron, And perished have the remnant of the Philistines, Said the Lord Jehovah. |
The Philistines – On the west. R3423:6
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| 9 Thus said Jehovah: For three transgressions of Tyre, And for four, I do not reverse it, Because of their delivering up a complete captivity to Edom, And they remembered not the brotherly covenant, |
Tyrus – Tyre, to the northwest. R3423:6
Edom – To the south. R3423:6
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| 10 And I have sent a fire against the wall of Tyre, And it hath consumed her palaces. |
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| 11 Thus said Jehovah: For three transgressions of Edom, And for four, I do not reverse it, Because of his pursuing with a sword his brother, And he hath destroyed his mercies, And tear perpetually doth his anger, And his wrath he hath kept it for ever, |
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| 12 And I have sent a fire against Teman, And it hath consumed palaces of Bozrah. |
Of Bozrah – The ecclesiastical powers of Babylon. D17
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| 13 Thus said Jehovah: For three transgressions of the sons of Ammon, And for four, I do not reverse it, Because of their ripping up the pregnant ones of Gilead, To enlarge their border, |
Ammon – On the east. R3423:6
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| 14 And I have kindled a fire against the wall of Rabbah, And it hath consumed her palaces, With a shout in a day of battle, With a whirlwind in a day of hurricane, |
The day of battle – The time of trouble. D527
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| 15 And gone hath their king in a removal, He and his heads together, said Jehovah! |
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