Amos 6:14

The Pride of Israel · Amos 6:8–14
Read Amos 6

Translations

Modern
For behold, I will raise up a nation against you, O house of Israel,” declares the LORD, the God of Hosts, “and they will oppress you from Lebo-hamath to the Brook of the Arabah.”
Traditional
But, behold, I will raise up against you a nation, O house of Israel, saith the Lord the God of hosts; and they shall afflict you from the entering in of Hemath unto the river of the wilderness.
Literal
For behold, I am raising up against you a nation, O house of Israel,” a declaration of YHWH, the God of Hosts, “And they will oppress you from Lebo-hamath to the Brook of the Arabah!”
Latin
Ecce enim suscitabo super vos, domus Israël, dicit Dominus Deus exercituum, gentem, et conteret vos ab introitu Emath usque ad torrentem deserti.

Original

Hebrew
English
For behold, I will raise up a nation against you, O house of Israel,” declares the LORD, the God of Hosts, “and they will oppress you from Lebo-hamath to the Brook of the Arabah.”

Notes

Lebo-hamath marked the northern border of Solomon’s influence (1 Kings 8:65) and the land Jeroboam II recovered. The Dead Sea, also known as the Sea of the Arabah (see footnote on 2 Kings 14:25), marked the southern border of Jeroboam’s recovered territory. The irony was clear. The same land that Israel had regained would later be taken over and oppressed by an enemy nation, Assyria.

The pronouncements of sorrow in this section develop two main themes:

  1. Israel’s apostasy (turning away from God) would make the day of the Lord a day of judgment, not salvation; and

  2. Judah’s spiritual complacency (feeling satisfied and unconcerned about faithfulness to God) would also bring judgment.

Events

People

Israel: Patriarch, son of Isaac, father of twelve tribes LORD: Names or title used to refer to God

Places

Brook of the Arabah: Eastern boundary of Jeroboam II's kingdom Hamath: A major city and kingdom in Syria, often mentioned in the Bible

Glossary

Book of Amos Brook of the Arabah Hamath, Entrance of River of the Wilderness

Topics

Hemath: Another Form for Hamath