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| 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. |
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 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. |
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 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: |
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 But I will send a fire into the house of Hazael, which shall devour the palaces of Benhadad.
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| 5 I 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. |
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| 6 Thus 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: |
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| 7 But I will send a fire on the wall of Gaza, which shall devour the palaces thereof: |
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| 8 And 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. |
The Philistines – On the west. R3423:6
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| 9 Thus 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: |
Tyrus – Tyre, to the northwest. R3423:6
Edom – To the south. R3423:6
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| 10 But I will send a fire on the wall of Tyrus, which shall devour the palaces thereof. |
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| 11 Thus 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: |
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| 12 But I will send a fire upon Teman, which shall devour the palaces of Bozrah. |
Of Bozrah – The ecclesiastical powers of Babylon. D17
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| 13 Thus 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: |
Ammon – On the east. R3423:6
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| 14 But 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: |
The day of battle – The time of trouble. D527
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| 15 And their king shall go into captivity, he and his princes together, saith the LORD. |
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