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Sunday 8 May 2011

Amos 1:3-15 - Judgement on the nations

The prophesy starts with a series of judgements against Israel's neighbours. Why is this when Israel is the real target of the prophecy? Maybe it is to help Israel understand. For they will readily agree and see that these nations truly deserve the judgement that the prophet declares, then they maybe they will better realise that they themselves are equally deserving of judgement. Nathan used a similar tactic when he confronted David with his sin.
Damascus was the capital of Aram and had engaged in persistent warfare with Israel. Gilead was a region of Israel that had fallen to Aram. Aram would suffer for her treatment of Israel.
Gaza was a Philistine city and she too is judged for her cruel treatment of people. Ashdod, Ashkelon and Ekron were also important cities in Philistine. Later they were all to fall to Assyria.
Tyre too came under judgement for her selling communities of captives. As an aside, it is worth noting that the judgements in Gaza and Tyre indicate that the picture painted by atheists of the OT God being pro-slavery is simply not true. 
Edom was a nation descended from Esau, Jacob's brother. She was frequently hostile towards Israel, engaging in barbaric treatment of people. Note that God singles out her slaughtering of women.
Ammon too comes in for similar judgement. Ammon's ancestry could be traced back to Lot.

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