For Three Sins, Even for Four” (1:1—2:16)

E BOOK O TH F AMOSAMOS

“FOR THREE SINS, EVEN FOR FOUR” (1:1—2:16)

“The words of Amos, who was among the sheep- ment today. Rather than trying to regard the Old herders from Tekoa, which he envisioned in visions Testament as something to be laid on the shelf concerning Israel in the days of Uzziah king of Judah, and forgotten, we must study it seriously. When and in the days of Jeroboam son of Joash, king of Israel, we see the occasional nature of the books of the two years before the earthquake” (1:1). Bible, we will see that its messages are important for us today, whether we are considering 1 Cor- As we begin a study of the Book of Amos, inthians or Amos. perhaps someone will ask, “Why study an Old The Book of Amos is one of the earliest writ- Testament book?” In response to this question ings of the writing prophets. Amos, the author, we can point to a basic concept concerning the declares that he prophesied concerning Israel study of the Old Testament, and ultimately, con- two years before the earthquake, when Uzziah cerning the study of any Bible book. Every book was king of Judah and Jeroboam II, son of Joash, of the Bible was addressed to a specific occasion. was king of Israel. It is not known, however, When Paul wrote to the church at Corinth, he when that earthquake occurred. History con- applied God’s truth to that specific situation. firms several earthquakes during this period, Some of what he said to them was addressed to but we have been unable to identify this particu- their unique situation. Does this mean that 1 Cor- lar earthquake by historical documentation. Jo- inthians is of no value to us? No, indeed. It sephus says that it must have been a big one, means that we must look at 1 Corinthians and because they were still talking about it years see what God said to them in their special cir- later. Since Amos said Uzziah was king of Judah cumstance. Then we must ask, “How is our situ- and Jeroboam II was king of Israel, we can arrive ation similar to theirs?” God has revealed certain at a rather specific time for Amos’ prophecies. truths in the context of their special situation Uzziah reigned from 783 to 742 B.C., and Jerobo- that are applicable to similar circumstances for am II ruled from 786 to 746 B.C. That means that all time. sometime between 786 and 742 B.C. Amos re- It is appropriate, then, to ask of the Book of ceived these revelations and delivered them to Amos, “What can we learn from this passage as the nation of Israel. Obviously, his messages we look at God’s will for these people in their were written down sometime after they were circumstances? What circumstances do we have preached. Many conservative biblical scholars that would be similar to theirs?” If we approach suggest that the book itself was written about every Bible book with that basic view, we will 750 B.C., perhaps even as early as 760 B.C. find a multitude of lessons even in the Old Tes- In 721 B.C. Assyria carried the Northern King- tament that have direct application to us today. dom of Israel into Assyrian Captivity. In other It is true that the law of Moses was done away words, Amos prophesied to Israel only about with and replaced with the last will and testa- thirty to forty years before God gave up on the ment of Jesus, but this does not mean that there Northern Kingdom and sent it away into the are no lessons for us to learn from the Old Testa- captivity from which it never returned as a na-

1 tion. The date of the book is significant because boring nations and delivered these messages it probably explains the almost harsh tone of its personally to them. He says this would be con- messages. sistent with God, for that is the only way He has Amos is one of the harshest of all of the Old dealt with people. It is true that Jonah was sent to Testament writers. He speaks to the people as if preach in Nineveh to tell them what they were he is angry with them. Indeed, he was speaking doing wrong and to try to bring them to repen- for God who was angry with His people. His tance. It is possible that God sent Amos to the anger was vented on their sin that had taken other nations to preach these messages person- them away from Him into idolatry. Nothing ally. remained for Him to do but to send them away The other view, which is also important to into captivity as an example of what happens to consider, is the belief that Amos delivered these those who turn away from the Lord. words in Bethel. As he told the people what God Amos was different from the other writing was going to do to Damascus, Gaza, Tyre, Edom, prophets. First, he was unique in that he was not Ammon, Moab, and Judah, he was doing some- a prophet by trade. This he affirms in 7:14, 15. thing quite methodical. He was condemning the Amaziah was the local priest in Bethel, where enemies of Israel in order to set the stage for the Amos went to prophesy. He did not like what he condemnation of Israel itself. was hearing from Amos, and in anger he lashed Since the Jews were active in listening, they out at him, “Amos, go back to Judah. Don’t would often applaud a speaker. Perhaps it is preach these sermons any more, because, after similar to what occurs with the men in an audi- all, this is where the King goes to church.” Amos ence saying, “Amen,” or “Preach on.” Imagine responded by saying, “I am not a prophet, nei- the people of Israel as they heard of how the Lord ther was I a son of a prophet, but God called me was going to destroy Damascus, Gaza, and other from tending my sheep to come up here and give nearby nations. No doubt, they would applaud you this message.” Prophesying was not his and say, “Yes, prophet, speak on. Teach us some intentional life’s work, his trade, or his vocation. more.” Maybe the more perceptive ones began He was not saying that God had not called him, to realize that he was going all around them and because he specifically mentions that He had was getting closer and closer to Israel. Maybe called him. Amos said he had never gone to some said, “I don’t know that we need to be so school to be a prophet. The phrase “sons of the glad to hear this. We might not need to be clap- prophets” is used several times in the Old Testa- ping and rejoicing so much.” Perhaps they saw ment. It refers to the young men in Israel who that Amos was developing a pattern in his mes- went to a school conducted by a prophet to study sage, or it could be that it was totally a surprise prophecy and become a prophet. At least five of to them, when at last he said, “Now, for three those schools of prophecy are mentioned; one is sins of Israel and for four. . . .” Even if it was a even said to have had a dormitory. I suppose surprise, he had set the stage. He had used a that was the Christian college of the day. rhetorical device that had captured their atten- Second, Amos was different from the other tion. prophets in that he spoke to the other nations in Among Amos’ rhetorical devices in his book, addition to speaking to Israel. It is true that the most famous one is his quoting God as say- Jonah went to Nineveh, Obadiah spoke to Edom, ing, “For three transgressions . . . and for four I and some of the other prophets spoke to other will not revoke its punishment” (1:3). He is not nations, but notice how thorough Amos is. In his referring to four specific sins. It is a rhetorical oration of condemnation in chapter 1, he begins device. Notice that after he says, “For three trans- with foreign nations, including Damascus, Gaza, gressions . . . and for four,” he goes on to list Tyre, Edom, Ammon, Moab, and Judah, before sometimes only one sin, sometimes more than he finally comes to Israel. Amos’ way of moving one, and when he gets to Israel, he lists more from the surrounding nations to Israel has given than four. It is not, then, the specific number. rise to two views. Giving the first view, John This same device is used in Proverbs 30:15, where Willis suggests that Amos traveled to these neigh- the writer says, “There are three things that will

2 not be satisfied, four that will not say, ‘Enough,’” the city which was in the hands of the Syrians and then he lists them. This particular rhetorical when Ahab asked Jehoshaphat to help him device was familiar to Jewish people, and they take it back. The people of Israel were perhaps understood that he was saying, “For continued delighted to hear that God was going to come sin.” They had sinned and then sinned some in judgment against Syria. more. For continued sin, God was going to Notice particularly the sin that Amos men- destroy them. He was not going to turn back tions: “Because they threshed Gilead with im- His wrath. plements of sharp iron” (1:3). Syria was cruel in As you look up these nations to which he war, and specifically, she was cruel to the nation refers on the map on page 45, it will become of God, Israel. They may have literally used a obvious that Amos covered the four basic di- threshing machine, a beating machine, that had rections. He began by speaking about a people large metal sledges that rotated as it was pulled, located to the northeast. Then he moved south- and beat the life out of a person even as they west, up the coast to the northwest, then back would beat the grain out of the heads of wheat. down close to the Gulf of Aqabah, then to the God says, “I will send fire upon the house southeast. He then moved up the eastern side of Hazael, and it will consume the citadels of of the Dead Sea, crossed the Jordan River and Ben-hadad” (1:4, 5). It was Elijah who appointed moved south, and then on into the nation of Hazael king of Syria. This is probably Ben-hadad Israel, and specifically, to Bethel. III. The name Ben-hadad was a popular one for Present here is the assumption of the pa- the kings of Syria. Other men in the Bible wore tience of God. Amos is predicting the end of His that name. An example is Ben-hadad II, who is patience. The fact that He would not hold back the son of Hazael. Probably Hazael had his son His wrath now means that He had held it back as his co-regent or vice-regent. Perhaps one of before this time. When they sinned initially, He them was reigning in one place and the other was dissatisfied with them, but He did not bring in another place. The Lord is saying that He His hand down on them. Rather, He held back will destroy the country of Syria. He will bring His wrath. As He continued to observe them, destruction to the capital cities. The king who is however, His wrath continued to build, and in the Valley of Aven and the one who holds the eventually He said, “I will hold back My wrath scepter in Beth-eden will be destroyed, and the no longer.” The patience of God has an end. people of Aram will be taken into Kir for exile God is very merciful and long-suffering, (1:5). but His patience will not be extended to sin- Approximately fifty years later, Tiglath- ners forever. Do not press Him until you find pileser marched into Syria with his Assyrian the end of His patience. army and destroyed Aram and carried the people away into captivity. God’s prophecy came true. Am o s Sp e a k s t o Hi s Da y Syria Philistia Listen to God’s words, as He roars from Zion Amos names the second country by listing and thunders from Jerusalem: “For three trans- cities. He starts with Gaza and then goes to gressions of Damascus and for four I will not Ashdod, Ashkelon, and Ekron. These are four of revoke its punishment” (1:3). Damascus was the the five major cities of the Philistines. He begins capital of Syria or Aram. No one was a greater by quoting God as saying, “For three transgres- enemy of Israel than was Syria. They were sions of Gaza and for four I will not revoke its always coming against Israel in one way or an- punishment” (1:6). If any country came close to other. Syria lay on the eastern side of the Jordan being as great an enemy as Syria was to Israel, it River, and every time the Jordan would flood was Philistia. This nation constantly gave Israel and cut off the armies from the west, Syria would problems—going all the way back to the time come and take some of those cities from the Tran- of David. He went out to meet a giant using a sjordan region. For example, Ramath-Gilead is slingshot. That giant, Goliath, was a Philistine. mentioned as being attacked by Syria. This is They had always been thorns in the side of Israel.

3 God says He is going to destroy the nation of haps they have begun to see his pattern. Philistia, and He makes this affirmation by sim- The Scriptures say, “Because he pursued his ply referring to the destruction of these major brother with the sword, while he stifled his com- cities (1:7, 8). passion; his anger also tore continually, and he The Philistines were destroyed first by the maintained his fury forever” (1:11). “His brother” Assyrians and then were overrun by the Egyp- is Israel. Edom had gone against Israel in battle, tians under the leadership of Pharaoh Necho. doing the very opposite of what a brother should. Finally, Alexander the Great destroyed them so God says, “I will send fire upon Teman, and it totally that they never existed again as a nation. will consume the citadels of Bozrah” (1:12). He did later destroy Edom. Tyre The third nation that Amos mentions is the Ammon people of Tyre: “For three transgressions of Tyre Amos now considers Ammon. God says, “For and for four I will not revoke its punishment” three transgressions of the sons of Ammon and (1:9). The Scriptures say that judgment was due for four I will not revoke its punishment” (1:13). them “because they delivered up an entire popu- Do you remember who Ammon was? Both lation to Edom” (1:9). The sin is that of slave Ammon and Moab descended from Lot. Once trading, and specifically, that of doing business again, these were relatives of Israel. Note the sin: with Edom who was obviously in the slave- “Because they ripped open the pregnant women trading business. The population is not named of Gilead in order to enlarge their borders” (1:13). in terms of its location or nationality. A hint, This phrase might mean that they had been cruel however, may be given as to who the slaves were in battle; or perhaps they literally ripped open in that they delivered up an entire population to the pregnant women to keep the next generation Edom and did not remember or honor the treaty from coming up, and by that means were able to of brotherhood. Perhaps God is referring to the overtake nations and extend their borders in brotherhood of all men, or maybe He is giving a some instances. God says, “I will kindle a fire on more specific meaning to it. Who was a brother the wall of Rabbah, and it will consume her to Edom? Was it not Israel? The Edomites were citadels amid war cries on the day of battle and descendants of Esau, and the Israelites were the a storm on the day of tempest. Their king will go children of Jacob, who was Esau’s twin brother. into exile, he and his princes together” (1:14, 15). Maybe their slave trading had involved God’s nation, Israel. Moab God says, “I will send fire upon the wall of Now Amos turns to the sister nation of Tyre, and it will consume her citadels” (1:10). Ammon, Moab. God says, “For three transgres- Years later, Alexander the Great marched sions of Moab and for four I will not revoke its through this region and destroyed the island punishment, because he burned the bones of the and mainland cities of Tyre. king of Edom to lime. So I will send fire upon Edom Moab, and it will consume the citadels of Kerioth; Next, God moves down below the Dead Sea and Moab will die amid tumult, with war cries to that region of those red mountains, Mount and the sound of a trumpet. I will also cut off the Seir, and on down to Edom. God says through judge from her midst, and slay all her princes Amos, “For three transgressions of Edom and with him” (2:1-3). for four I will not revoke its punishment” (1:11). If God preached all of these messages to This time Amos has moved, as we have seen, to these different nations, He intended for them to a relative of Israel, since the Edomites were de- repent. He was not just giving a warning of scendants of Esau. destruction. He was concerned with the people It may be that at this point some of the more of all of the world, and He still is today. That perceptive ones in Amos’ audience have reduced would be especially true when we consider the their rejoicing some. Maybe they are not quite so possibility that Amos traveled to these nations glad that he is speaking against an enemy. Per- personally and preached these messages. God

4 loves every person. He is the God of the entire with poor people, and the security on the deal world, not just the God of one nation. The sin of was their garments. The poor people involved Moab mentioned in 2:1 is a sin against another did not get their garments back. The people foreign country, Edom. This would be another sinned doubly, for these were garments they indication that God is concerned about all people. should not have had, and they were lying down Babylon, under the leadership of Nebuchad- beside an altar on those garments. In the house of nezzar, later destroyed Edom, Ammon, eventu- their God, they drank wine taken as fines (2:8). ally Moab, and also Judah. The implication of this is that the fines were unjust. They were using the spoils that they had Judah taken from poor folk. Now Amos turns to Judah. We read, “For God at this point begins to remind them of three transgressions of Judah and for four I will who He is and what He has done for them (2:9- not revoke its punishment, because they rejected 11). One of the greatest deterrents from sin should the law of the Lord and have not kept His stat- be our realization of who God is and what He has utes; their lies also have led them astray, those done for us. He says to Israel, after which their fathers walked. So I will send It was I who destroyed the Amorite before fire upon Judah, and it will consume the citadels them, though his height was like the height of of Jerusalem” (2:4, 5). Surely the people in Amos’ cedars and he was strong as the oaks; I even audience have begun to see that he is getting too destroyed his fruit above and his root below. And it was I who brought you up from the land close to them. They have stopped their rejoicing of Egypt, and I led you in the wilderness forty and are wondering if he will name them next, or years that you might take possession of the maybe they did not. In many instances, when a land of the Amorite. Then I raised up some of your sons to be prophets and some of your man is angry with his family, he will be happier young men to be Nazirites. . . . (2:9-11). about their calamity than he would be about that of his worst enemy. Therefore, they may have Of course, Israel has to say, “Yes, that is even cheered louder as Amos brought this mes- true.” God had given them a special favor in sage of destruction from the Lord against Judah. raising up both prophets and Nazirites. The prophets spoke the will of the Lord, and the Israel Nazirites lived that blessing. They were examples Their applause and their “Amens” probably of righteousness. The point is, Israel’s response grow silent as Amos speaks concerning Israel. to the grace of God had been a response of We read, “For three transgressions of Israel and ingratitude. This may be the main point of the for four I will not revoke its punishment” (2:6). entire lesson. Consider verse 12: ”You made the Now Amos begins to list their sins. They op- Nazirites drink wine, and you commanded the pressed the poor. They sold the righteous for prophets saying, ‘You shall not prophesy!’” Both silver, the needy for a pair of sandals. They groups had to violate their vows. God promises panted after the dust of the ground of the poor this punishment: “Behold, I am weighted down and denied justice to the downtrodden. In other beneath you as a wagon is weighted down when words, they took the property of these people. A filled with sheaves” (2:13). Maybe this means father and a son used the same girl and so pro- that God is burdened with the hurt of their sins. faned His holy name. It was against God’s law The NIV says that He will crush them as a cart for a father and a son to sexually use the same crushes when it is loaded with grain. The He- girl. They stretched out “beside every altar” brew text can be read in two ways. It can also be (2:8). Perhaps this is a reference to some kind of read to mean that when a cart is so loaded with worship of an idol in which fornication was the grain, it can barely roll. Some versions seem to manner of worship, and a father and a son used picture it that way. If this view is correct, God is the same prostitute in worship. Notice what they saying, “You will be loaded down so heavily were lying down on. What ties this together is with the wrath of God that you can barely move.” that they were lying down on “garments taken He adds that the wrath of God will be so as pledges.” They had made a deal of some kind great that the swift will be unable to outrun God

5 or the enemy that God sends against them (2:14- meet His punishment. 16). The strong will be unable to overcome. The A third very basic lesson and perhaps the warrior will be unable to save his life. The archer main one is that we must be grateful for God’s will not stand his ground. The fleet-footed sol- generosity. We must not make the mistake that dier cannot get away. Even if he has a horse, that Israel made—the sin of ingratitude. Israel seemed will not be fast enough. The bravest warrior will to have disregarded the fact that God had brought flee naked that day. Judgment is coming upon them out of Egypt, led them for forty years them, and no one can flee. through the desert, given them the land of the Amorites, given them prophets and Nazirites, AMOS SPEAKS TO OUR DAY and shown them all His guidance and love. Their Amos speaks to our day, and we must learn response was to make the prophets and the from what God said to ancient Israel. First, let us Nazirites break their vows, to go into sin, and to learn that God is the God of all the nations. This is disregard the will of God. obvious from the oracles against these nations, We need to ask ourselves sincerely, “Are we but especially is this clear from 9:7. God says, grateful today?” Think of His goodness for us. “Are you not as the sons of Ethiopia to Me, O God gave His Son. He gives us heaven and every sons of Israel? . . . Have I not brought up Israel imaginable blessing. Do our lives express grati- from the land of Egypt, . . . ?” That is, God tude for what God has done? Can God tell that brought them deliverance through the Red Sea we are grateful to Him by the way we live and and through the years of wilderness wander- serve Him daily?” ings, but hear this: “[Have I not brought up] the Philistines from Caphtor?” The Lord was in CONCLUSION charge of that deliverance also. “. . . the Arameans Do not find the end of God’s patience. If you from Kir?” He did that one too. God is the God of are in willful sin, then repent immediately. Ask all the nations. Even as God sent Jonah to Nine- for His forgiveness. Ask your brethren to pray veh, so He is concerned about all of His creation. for you. Be assured that the effectual, fervent When Jonah got angry with God because Nineveh prayer of a righteous man will avail much in its was spared, God reminded him, “Jonah, you are working (James 5:16). angry over a plant that grew up in a night and If you are not a Christian, respond to His perished in a night. You did not plant it and did goodness right now. Upon faith, repentance, not have any responsibility for its growth. and confession of Jesus, be baptized into Christ. Shouldn’t I be concerned about this great city Spend your days doing what you can to be pleas- and all of these people, My creatures?” ing to Him. He will be with you and bless you A second lesson we must see is there is an end always. to God’s patience, and His punishment is something we do not want to face. We should not try the patience of God. We are warned in 2 Peter 3:9-11, EXEGETICAL NOTES 1:1—Uzziah reigned in Judah between 783 The Lord is not slow about His promise, as and 742 B.C. Jeroboam II reigned in Samaria some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to between 786 and 746 B.C. The earthquake cannot come to repentance. But the day of the Lord be dated. will come like a thief, in which the heavens will 1:2—Connect the Lord’s roaring with 3:4, 8. pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and 1:3—Barton says that the purpose of the its works will be burned up. Since all these oracles on the nations is to lead up to the oracle things are to be destroyed in this way, what on Israel in 2:6ff. He writes, “It was intended by sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness. the prophet as a climax to the whole cycle, and the overall effect is to produce surprise and God has been patient, but His patience will horror in the intended audience.”1 He also thinks eventually come to an end. The day of the Lord that the threshing referred to may suggest that is coming. We must not press God’s patience and Aram actually used a threshing machine on the

6 war captives.2 Damascus is the capital of Aram. case, the point is the same. 1:4—Hazael was the king appointed by Elijah 2:3, 4—Amos has moved to their sister na- (1 Kings 19). Ben-hadad III was the son of Hazael, tion, their kindred. Amos started his prophecies and probably was his co-regent. Ben-hadad I with the nations which were fierce enemies of and II were great leaders in the history of Aram’s Israel. His message probably met with glad ac- wars with Israel. These two reigned over Israel ceptance by his hearers. He spoke against Aram earlier than Amos’ day. Their houses and for- which lay off to the northeast. He next spoke tresses were part of the proud history of Aram. against Philistia which was on Israel’s south- 1:5—The Valley of Aven and Beth Eden may west. Next, he spoke against Tyre which was to be actual places. Some think that Aven refers to the northwest of Israel. Then, he spoke against a valley between Lebanon and Antilibanus, while Edom which lay off to the southeast of Israel. others think it means Bethel. Basically, the pas- Notice that he covered the four directions. Moab sage means that all the people from the cities and and Ammon were across the Jordan River and from the plains would be carried away. Accord- across the Dead Sea from Israel, but they along ing to 2 Kings 16, Tiglath-pileser killed King with Edom were distant kindred of the Israelites. Rezin and carried away Damascus back to Kir. To some extent, he kept moving closer until he 1:6—Gaza was one of the cities of the Philis- named Israel. tines. Four of the five major cities are listed in 2:6-8—The charges against Israel deal with verses 6 through 8. Gath is left out of the list. their perversion of justice, especially against the Gath was taken by Uzziah perhaps before this poor. Idolatry is named in verse 8 and is prob- prophecy (2 Chronicles 26:6). Amos is referring ably referred to in 7b. That “same girl” is likely to the entire nation of Philistia by naming four a temple prostitute. major cities. Philistia was conquered by Assyria 2:9-11—God reminds them of what he has under Sennacherib, next by Pharaoh-Necho (Jer- done for them. The prophets and the Nazirites emiah 47:1), and last, by Alexander the Great. were gifts from God. The prophets spoke His 1:9—Tyre was made up of two cities, a main- word, and the Nazirites were examples of right- land city and an island city. They were both eous living. The Nazirite vow is detailed in Num- destroyed by Alexander the Great. bers 6. The question in verse 11c is the first of 1:11— Edomites were descendants of Esau. Amos’ didactic questions which were rhetorical Therefore, they were the “brother” of Israel. in design and to which the answer is “Yes.” 1:12—Teman is a region; Bozrah is its capital 2:12—Israel responded to God’s gifts by mak- city. Edom was overrun by Nebuchadnezzar. ing both the prophets and the Nazirites break 1:13—The Ammonites were the descendants their vows. of Lot by the younger of his daughters (Genesis 2:13-16—No one will be able to stand against 19:30-38). They were probably so cruel in battle the wrath of God. that they killed pregnant women and their chil- Jim McDoniel dren inside their wombs. THE SPIRAL OF JUDGMENTS IN AMOS 1:14—Rabbah is the capital of Ammon. Nebu- Chapters 1 and 2 chadnezzar destroyed Ammon. 3. Tyre-Phoenicia 1. Damascus-Syria 2:1—The Moabites were the descendants of Lot by his older daughter (Genesis 19). It is important to note that the named sin is not against Israel, but against Edom. 8. Israel 2:2—The LXX makes Kerioth mean “cities,” 5. Ammon but it can mean one of the main cities. In either 7. Judah 6. Moab

1 John Barton, Amos’s Oracles Against the Nations: A 4. Edom Study of Amos 1:3—2:5 (New York: Cambridge Univer- 2. Gaza-Philistia sity Press, 1980), 3. 2Ibid., 19. Adapted from William Hendriksen, Survey of the Bible.