CHAPTER 1
Amos shows the Lord's judgments upon Syria, the Philistines, Tyre, Edom,
and Ammon.
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1 THE words of Amos, who
was among the herdmen of Tekoa, which he saw concerning Israel in the
days of aUzziah king of Judah, and in the days of
bJeroboam the son of Joash king of
Israela, two years before
the cearthquake.
2 And he said, The LORD will
aroar from Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and
the bhabitations of the shepherds shall mourn, and the top
of Carmel shall wither.
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1a in the days of Uzziah king of Judah,
and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash king of Israel This
was in the first half of the eighth century B.C., before the destruction and
scattering of Israel which would begin first in about 743 B.C. and later in
about 722-21 B.C. It was in a time of relative stability and prosperity in
both the kingdoms of Israel and Judah. Due to realtive weakness in Syria both
Israel and Judah expanded their borders and aliances. King Uzziah or Azariah
of Judah rebuild the port of Elath as in the days of David and Solomon. Except
for the earthquake which may well have been in connection with the warnings
of the prophets Amos and Hosea of that destruction to come the people likely
though little of the warnings which Amos and Hosea would be giving. Yet as in
all such cases, the Lord did send unto the people his prophets giving them
forewarning to repent and turn unto the Lord. But they would not and the
destructions did come, first upon Israel and of course later against Judah as
well.
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