Amos 1

1 These are the words [chronicles, prophetic messages] of Amos [a prophet of God], who was among the sheepherders [shepherds, herdsmen] of Tekoa [a town in Judah]—what he saw [prophesied, had a vision] concerning Israel [the people of God, Jacob’s descendants] two years before the earthquake [a great shaking, quaking], in the days [time, era] when Uzziah [my strength is Jehovah] was king [ruler, monarch] of Judah [a tribe of Israel] and Jeroboam [the people will contend] son of Jehoash [given by the Lord] was king of Israel [the northern kingdom]. word study 2 He said: “The LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] roars [like a lion, uttering a mighty cry] from Zion [the mountain and city of God’s presence] and raises His voice [a sound of thunder, a call to attention] from Jerusalem [the city of peace, the capital of Israel]; the pastures [habitations, dwelling places] of the shepherds [those who care for and tend the flock] mourn [lament, are in a state of sorrow], and the summit [head, top] of Carmel [a fruitful and plentiful field] withers [dries up, becomes barren].” word study 3 This is what the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] says: “For three [a quantity of, thrice] transgressions [rebellion, revolt against God] of Damascus [the capital city of Syria], even four [a simple counting number], I will not revoke [turn away, change my mind] My judgment [punishment, fate], because they threshed [trampled, overpowered] Gilead [a mountainous region, rocky region] with sledges [threshing instruments, sharp tools] of iron [a strong metal]. word study 4 So I will send [dispatch, release] fire [burning, flame] upon the house [dwelling place, royal dynasty] of Hazael [one who sees God, a king of Syria] to consume [devour, utterly destroy] the citadels [strongholds, fortresses] of Ben-hadad [son of the false god, a Syrian king]. word study 5 I will break down [shatter, demolish] the gates of Damascus; I will cut off [destroy, eliminate] the ruler of the Valley [plain, lowland] of Aven [a place of idol worship] and the one who wields [holds, grasps] the scepter [a rod or staff, a sceptre] in Beth-eden [house of delight, pleasure]. The people [nation, tribe] of Aram [Syria, a region] will be exiled [carried away, deported] to Kir [a place of captivity, a region],” says [declares, speaks] the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God]. word study 6 This is what the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] says: “For three [a quantity of] transgressions [rebellions against God] of Gaza [Azzah, the strong city], even four [a complete set], I will not revoke [turn away, cancel] My judgment [punishment, sentence], because they exiled [carried away captive, deported] a whole population [complete captivity, entire community], delivering them up to Edom [to be sold as slaves]. word study 7 So I will send [dispatch, to depart] fire [burning, flame] upon the walls [fortifications, strong defenses] of Gaza [Azzah, the strong city], to consume [devour, burn up] its citadels [high palaces, fortresses of strength]. word study 8 I will cut off [destroy, eliminate] the ruler [inhabitant, leader] of Ashdod [a powerful Philistine city] and the one who wields [holds, grasps] the scepter [a rod or staff, a sceptre] in Ashkelon [a major Philistine city]. I will turn My hand [power, direction] against Ekron [one of the five major cities of the Philistines], and the remnant [what is left, remaining ones] of the Philistines [immigrants from other places, non-Israelites] will perish [be destroyed, lost],” says the Lord [Adonay, supreme ruler] GOD [Yehovah]. word study 9 This is what the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] says: “For three [a quantity of, thrice] transgressions [rebellions, revolts] of Tyre [a major Phoenician city], even four [a simple counting number], I will not revoke [turn away, reverse] My judgment [punishment, sentence], because they delivered up [handed over, surrendered] a whole congregation [complete, entire] of exiles [captive people, those taken away] to Edom [the region of Esau’s descendants] and broke [did not remember, ignored] a covenant [promise, agreement] of brotherhood [kinship, friendship]. word study 10 So I will send [dispatch, cause to go] fire [burning, flame] upon the walls [fortifications, strongholds] of Tyre [a major Phoenician city] to consume [devour, utterly destroy] its citadels [high palaces, strong fortresses].” word study 11 This is what the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God] says: “For three [a limited number, a few] transgressions of Edom, even four, I will not revoke [turn back, cancel] My judgment, because he pursued [chased, hunted down] his brother [relative, kin] with the sword [a cutting instrument, a tool of war] and stifled [destroyed, suppressed] all compassion [tender love, mercy]; his anger [fury, wrath] raged [burned, flared up] continually [always, perpetually], and his fury [intense anger, indignation] flamed [burned, blazed] incessantly [without ceasing, forever]. word study 12 So I will send [dispatch, cause to go] fire [burning, flame] upon Teman [a region in Edom, east of Idumea] to consume [devour, burn up completely] the citadels [strongholds, fortresses] of Bozrah [a town in Edom, a sheepfold or fortress].” word study 13 This is what the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] says: “For three transgressions [rebellions, acts of disobedience] of the Ammonites [the descendants of Lot], even four, I will not revoke [turn away, cancel] My judgment [punishment, sentence], because they ripped open [tore apart, brutally slaughtered] the pregnant women [those with child, expecting mothers] of Gilead [a mountainous region, a rocky region] in order to enlarge [expand, increase] their territory [border, land]. word study 14 So I will kindle [set ablaze, ignite] a fire [burning, flame] in the walls [fortifications, strongholds] of Rabbah [a city of great significance] to consume [devour, utterly destroy] its citadels [strongholds, fortresses] amid [in the midst of, surrounded by] war cries [shouting, battle shouts] on the day [a time of, a period of] of battle [war, conflict] and a violent [strong, fierce] wind [tempest, whirlwind] on the day [a time of, a period of] of tempest [storm, hurricane, sufa, a powerful storm]. word study 15 Their king [ruler, monarch] will go [walk, proceed] into exile [captivity, banishment] — he [the monarch himself] and his princes [leaders, captains] together [united, as one],” says [declares, speaks] the LORD [Yehovah, the sovereign God]. word study