Amos 1 - Introduction

PART I. Chapter S 1 2

After the title (Amos 1:1), and exordium (Amos 1:2), describing graphically the withering effects of Jehovah's voice, as it peals forth from Zion, Amos proceeds to take a survey (Amos 1:3 to Amos 2:5) of the principal nations bordering upon Israel Damascus, the Philistines, Tyre, Edom, the Ammonites, Moab, Judah with the object of shewing that, as all these have offended against some common and universally recognized principle of morality, for which they will not escape the judgement decreed by Jehovah, so Israel, for similar or greater sins (Amos 2:6-8), aggravated indeed in its case by ingratitude (Amos 2:9-12), will not be exempt from the same law of righteous retribution: great as had been Israel's military successes under Jeroboam II. (2 Kings 14:25), a dire disaster should ere long overtake the nation, and its bravest soldiers should flee panic-stricken and helpless (Amos 2:13-16).