Keraia
Amos 1

Amos 1:3

Judgment on Israel’s Neighbors · Amos 1:1–15
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Translations

Modern
This is what the LORD says: “For three transgressions of Damascus, even four, I will not revoke My judgment, because they threshed Gilead with sledges of iron.
Traditional
Thus saith the Lord; For three transgressions of Damascus, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they have threshed Gilead with threshing instruments of iron:
Literal
Thus says YHWH: “Over three transgressions of Damascus, even over four, I will not turn back—over their threshing Gilead with sledges of iron.
Latin
Hæc dicit Dominus: Super tribus sceleribus Damasci, et super quatuor non convertam eum, eo quod trituraverint in plaustris ferreis Galaad.

Original

Hebrew
English
This is what the LORD says: “For three transgressions of Damascus, even four, I will not revoke My judgment, because they threshed Gilead with sledges of iron.

Notes

Amos 1:3

  • For three transgressions of Damascus, even four: This phrase describes ongoing rebellion against the natural order set by God. The Hebrew phrase does not describe an exact number. Instead, it points to a pattern of repeated wrongdoing.

  • they threshed: Threshing grain was the process of separating the grain heads from their husks. People did this by pulling wooden sledges with sharp edges over the cut grain (Isaiah 41:15; see Micah 4:13). This image helps explain how harsh and violent the actions of the people of Damascus were.

Amos 1:3–5

Damascus, the capital of Aram, treated the people of Gilead with great cruelty. Gilead was Israel’s land east of the Jordan River.

By the time Ahab died in 853 BC, Damascus had taken Ramoth in Gilead (1 Kings 22:3). Around 801 BC, Assyria captured Damascus. After this, the city never again had the power it once did.

Amos 1:3–2:16

This prophecy's eight judgments start with the most obvious enemy, Damascus, and end with the least obvious, Israel itself. This order would have captured Israel's attention as they listened to God's judgment on their enemies. However, Amos eventually revealed God's judgment on Israel, too.

Events

Parallels

Jeremiah 12:14–17

Places

Damascus: Ancient city, capital of Syria, important in biblical history Gilead: Mountainous region east of Jordan; tribal territory and personal name

Glossary

Book of Amos Book of Jeremiah Damascus Gilead (Place) Hell Lord Minerals and Metals Nations Prophet, Prophetess

Topics

Damascus: Prophecies Concerning Hazael, King of Syria, Smites the Land of Iron: First Recorded Use of Threshing Instruments Syria: Prophecies Concerning Syria: Prophecies Respecting: Its Calamities, the Punishments of Its Sins Syria: Prophecies Respecting: Its Inhabitants to be Captives Threshing was Performed by Instruments with Teeth Threshing with Instruments of Iron