I. Editorial Introduction1The words of Amos, who was one of the sheepbreeders from Tekoa,a which he received in a vision 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 earthquake.* 2He said: The Lord roars from Zion,* and raises his voice from Jerusalem; The pastures of the shepherds languish, and the summit of Carmel withers.b II. Oracles Against the Nations*Aram3Thus says the Lord: For three crimes of Damascus, and now four—* I will not take it back— Because they threshed Gilead with sledges of iron, 4I will send fire upon the house of Hazael, and it will devour the strongholds of Ben-hadad.* c 5I will break the barred gate of Damascus; From the Valley of Aven* I will cut off the one enthroned, And the sceptered ruler from Beth-eden; the people of Aram shall be exiled to Kir,d says the Lord. Philistia6Thus says the Lord: For three crimes of Gaza, and now four— I will not take it back— Because they exiled an entire population, handing them over to Edom, 7I will send fire upon the wall of Gaza, and it will devour its strongholds; 8From Ashdod I will cut off the one enthroned and the sceptered ruler from Ashkelon; I will turn my hand against Ekron, and the last of the Philistines shall perish, says the Lord God. Tyre9Thus says the Lord: For three crimes of Tyre, and now four— I will not take it back— Because they handed over an entire population to Edom, and did not remember their covenant of brotherhood,* 10I will send fire upon the wall of Tyre, and it will devour its strongholds. Edom11Thus says the Lord: Ammon13Thus says the Lord: For three crimes of the Ammonites, and now four— I will not take it back— Because they ripped open pregnant women in Gilead,e in order to extend their territory, 14I will kindle a fire upon the wall of Rabbah,* and it will devour its strongholds Amid war cries on the day of battle, amid stormwind on the day of tempest. 15Their king shall go into exile, he and his princes with him, says the Lord. Book IntroductionFootnotesScripture texts, prefaces, introductions, footnotes and cross references used in this work are taken from the New American Bible, revised edition © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC All Rights Reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner. Bible Hub |