Amos 1:3-5

Amos 1:3 to Amos 2:5. The sins of Israel's neighbours

3 5. Damascus. The first denunciation lights upon the Syrian kingdom of Damascus, the best-organized and most formidable of Israel's neighbours, with whom, shortly before, during the 80 years of the -Syrian wars" (c. 880 800 b.c.), the dynasties of Omri and Jehu had had many a severe struggle. The specific sin with which the Syrians are taxed is the cruelty practised by them in their wars with the trans-Jordanic Israelites. Damascus is situated in the midst of a broad and fertile plain, which stretches from the foot of Hermon far off towards Palmyra: it lies picturesquely embosomed in the deep green of encircling orchards and cornfields, fertilized by the cool waters of the Barada (the Pharpar of 2 Kings 5:12), which descend in a copious volume from Hermon, and flow straight along the North of the city, till they lose themselves in an inland lake about 15 miles to the West. It owed its importance to the natural advantages of its site. Its soil was fertilized by the Barada; the surrounding orchards formed a defence difficult for an invader to penetrate: it lay on the best route from the interior of Asia to Palestine and the Mediterranean Sea. The Syrians of Damascus are first mentioned as an important military power in the time of David (2 Samuel 8:5-6), who made them tributary, and planted Israelite officers in their territory.

Under Solomon, Rĕzôn, who had been a subject of Hadadezer, king of Zobah, established himself in Damascus, and used his position for the purpose of harassing Israel (1 Kings 11:23-25). Ben-hadad I., king of Damascus, was in alliance first with Baasha, king of Israel, then with Asa, king of Judah (1 Kings 15:18-20): his successes against Israel, under Omri (b.c. 887 877), are alluded to in 1 Kings 20:34. The more varied fortunes of his son Ben-hadad II., in his conflicts with Ahab (876 854), and Jehoram (853 842) are recounted in 1 Kings 20:22; 2 Kings 5:1-2; 2 Kings 6:8 to 2 Kings 7:20. Benhadad II. was assassinated by his general Hazael, who after he had established himself upon the throne, gained numerous victories over Israel, during the reigns of Jehu (842 815), and Jehoahaz (815 802), ravaged the whole Israelite territory East of Jordan, besieged and took Gath, and was only induced to abstain from attacking Jerusalem by the payment of a heavy ransom (2 Kings 8:7-15; 2 Kings 8:28-29; 2 Kings 10:32-33; 2 Kings 12:17-18; 2 Kings 13:3; 2 Kings 13:22; 2 Kings 13:25). At this time, Israel was reduced to the lowest extremities (2 Kings 13:4; 2 Kings 13:7; cf. 2 Kings 14:26-27), and continued in the same condition to the end of Hazael's reign, as well as through the early years of his son and successor Ben-hadad III. (2 Kings 13:3). In the course of Ben-hadad III."s reign, Jehoash (802 790) recovered from Syria the cities which his father had lost (2 Kings 13:14-19; 2 Kings 13:25; cf. 2 Kings 13:5; cf. 2 Kings 13:23); and Jeroboam II. (790 749) not only restored the border of Israel to its old limits (2 Kings 14:25), but even, as it seems (2 Kings 14:28), re-established the authority of Israel over Damascus itself. (On the dates here, see above, p. 8.)