6<\/strong>. For three transgressions of Gaza, and for four<\/em> &c.] The form of expression as in Amo 1:3<\/em><\/span>, where see note. Gaza was the southernmost city of the Philistines: it lay on and about a hill, rising 100 feet out of the plain, at three miles distance from the sea, and some 50 miles S.W. of Jerusalem. “Fifteen wells of fresh water burst from the sandy soil, and render possible the broad gardens, and large population,” which is said to number now about 18,000 souls. Gaza owed its importance to its position. It was a fertile spot on the edge of a great desert; and it commanded the route between Egypt and Syria. It became in consequence not only important strategically: it was also “an emporium of trade on the border of the desert, with roads and regular caravans,” on the one hand, to Jerusalem, Damascus, Tyre, &c., on the other hand, to “Petra and Elath on the gulf of Akabah, both of them places in Edom, and depots for the traffic with Arabia” (comp. G. A. Smith, Geogr<\/em>., p. 184; The Twelve Prophets<\/em>, p. 126). This explains why Gaza is specially selected for blame: she was pre-eminently the centre of the slave-traffic.<\/p>\n because they carried<\/em> into exile entire populations<\/strong> ] i.e. the entire population of the places attacked by them: as Ewald paraphrases, whole villages<\/em> (R.V. the whole people<\/em>). Lit. an entire exile<\/em> (= exiled company:<\/em> see in the Heb. Jer 24:5<\/span>; Jer 28:4<\/span>, Oba 1:20<\/span>). The reference appears to be not to warlike incursions (such as we read of in the times of Saul and David), but to raids made upon the villages of Judah without the excuse of war, for the purely commercial purpose of procuring slaves for the trade with Edom.<\/p>\n to deliver<\/em> them up to Edom<\/em> ] viz. as slaves, whether for service among the Edomites themselves, or, more probably, to be re-sold by them for instance, amongst the tribes inhabiting the Arabian peninsula. The same charge of selling their captives to the Edomites is brought against the Tyrians in Amo 1:9<\/em><\/span>. For Edom as a trading nation, see Eze 27:16<\/span> (reading with mss. Aq. Pesh., and many moderns, Edom<\/em> [ ] for Syria<\/em> [ ]). In Joe 3:4-6<\/span>, also, the Philistines (and Phoenicians) are reproached with selling Judahites into slavery.<\/p>\n 6 8<\/strong>. The Philistines.<\/strong> The second denunciation is directed against the Philistines, the old and troublesome enemies of Israel, on the S.W. Four representative cities are mentioned; the sin with which they are taxed being that of trafficking in slaves with Edom.<\/p>\n Gaza – <\/B>Was the southernmost city of the Philistines, as it was indeed of Canaan Gen 10:19<\/span> of old, the last inhabited place at the beginning of the desert, on the way from Phoenicia to Egypt . Its situation was wonderfully chosen, so that, often as a Gaza has been destroyed, a new city has, if even after long intervals, risen up again in the same immediate neighborhood . The fragments of the earlier city became materials for the later. It was first Canaanite Gen 10:19<\/span>; then Philistine; then, at least after Alexander, Edomite ; after Alexander Janneus, Greek ; conquered by Abubekr the first Khalif, it became Arabian; it was desolated in their civil wars, until the Crusaders rebuilt its fort ; then again, Muslim. In the earliest times, before the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, Gaza was the south angle of the border of the Canaanites, from where it turned to the south of the Dead Sea. Even then it was known by its name of strength, Azzah the strong, like our Fort.<\/P> For a time, it stood as an island-fort, while the gigantic race of the Avvim wandered, wilder probably than the modern Bedaween, up to its very gates. For since it is said, the Avvim dwelt in open villages as far as Gaza Deu 2:23<\/span>; plainly they did not dwell in Gaza itself, a fortified town. The description assigns the bound of their habitations, up to the furthest town on the southeast, Gaza. They prowled around it, infested it doubtless, but did not conquer it, and were themselves expelled by the Caphtorim. The fortress of the prince of Gaza is mentioned in the great expedition of Tothmosis III , as the conquest of Ashkelon was counted worthy of mention in the monuments of Raamses II . It was strengthened doubtless by giving refuge to the Anakim, who, after Joshua had expelled them from Hebron and neighboring cities, and the mountains of Judah and Israel, remained in Gaza, in Gath, and in Ashdod Jos 11:21-23<\/span>.<\/P> Its situation, as the first station for land-commerce to and from Egypt, whether toward Tyre and Sidon, or Damascus and the upper Euphrates, or toward Petra, probably aggrandized it early. Even when the tide of commerce has been diverted into other channels, its situation has been a source of great profit. A fertile spot, touching upon a track through a desert, it became a mart for caravans, even those which passed, on the pilgrim-route to Mekka, uniting traffic with their religion. Where the five cities are named together as unconquered, Gaza is mentioned first, then Ashdod Jos 13:3<\/span>. Samson, after he had betrayed his strength, was brought down to Gaza Jdg 16:21<\/span>, probably as being their strongest fortress, although the furthest from the valley of Sorek , where he was ensnared.<\/P> There too was the vast temple of Dagon, which became the burying-place of so many of his worshipers. In Solomons reign it was subject to Israel 1Ki 4:21<\/span>. After the Philistine inroad in the time of Ahaz 2Ch 28:18<\/span>, and their capture of towns of Judah in the south and the low country, Shephelah, Hezekiah drove them back as far as Gaza 2Ki 18:8<\/span>, without apparently taking it. Its prince was defeated by Sargon , whose victory over Philistia Isaiah foretold Isa 14:29<\/span>. Sennacherib gave to its king, together with those of Ascalon and Ekron , fortified and other towns which he had spoiled, avowedly to weaken Judah; so as to make his (Hezekiahs) country small; probably also as a reward for hostility to Judah. Greek authors spcak of it, as a very large city of Syria , a great city . Like other cities of old, it was, for fear of pirates, built at some distance from the sea (Arrian says 2 12 miles), but had a port called, like that of Asealea , Maiuma , which itself too in Christian times became a place of importance .<\/P> Because they carried away the whole captivity – <\/B>Literally, a complete captivity; complete, but for evil; a captivity in which none were spared, none left behind; old or young, woman or child; but a whole population (whatever its extent) was swept away. Such an inroad of the Philistines is related in the time of Jehoram 2Ch 21:16<\/span>.<\/P> To deliver them up to Edom – <\/B>Literally, to shut them up to Edom, in the power of Edom, their bitter enemy, so that they should not be able to escape, nor be restored. The hands, even if not the land, of Edom were already dyed in the blood of Jacob their brother Joe 3:19<\/span>. Any whither but there, probably would cry the crowd of helpless captives. It was like driving the shrinking flock of sheep to the butchers shambles, reeking with the gore of their companions. Yet therefore were they driven there to the slaughter. Open markets there were for Jewish slaves in abundance. Sell us, only not to slaughter. Spare the greyheaded; spare my child, would go up in the ears of those, who, though enemies, understood their speech. But no! Such was the compact of Tyre and Philistia and Edom against the people of God. Not one was to be spared; it was to be a complete captivity; and that, to Edom. The bond was fulfilled. Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he too shall cry and shall not be heard Pro 21:13<\/span>. Joel mentions the like sin of the Philistines and Phoenicians, and foretold its punishment Joe 3:4-6<\/span>. That in the reign of Jehoram is the last which Scripture mentions, but was not therefore, of necessity or probably, the last. Holy Scripture probably relates only the more notable of those border-raids. Unrepented sin is commonly renewed. Those strong Philistine fortresses must have given frequent, abundant opportunity for such inroads; as now too it is said in Arabia, the harvest is to the stronger; and while small protected patches of soil in Lebanon, Hauran, etc. are cultivated, the open fertile country often lies uncultivated , since it would be cultivated only for the marauder. Amos renews the sentence of Joel, forewarning them that, though it seemed to tarry, it would come.<\/P> <\/p>\n Verse 6<\/span>. They carried away captive<\/B><\/I>] Gaza is well known to have been one of the five lordships of the Philistines; it lay on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, near to Egypt. Erkon, Ashdod, and Askelon, were other signories of the same people, which are here equally threatened with Gaza. The captivity<\/I> mentioned here may refer to inroads<\/I> and incursions<\/I> made by the Philistines in times of peace. See 2Ch 21:16<\/span>. The margin<\/I> reads, an entire captivity<\/I>. They took all<\/I> away; none of them afterwards returned.<\/P> <\/p>\n Three transgressions:<\/B> see Amo 1:3<\/span>. <\/P> Gaza; <\/B>the principal city of the Philistines; all the rest are to be understood; and here the city is named, but the inhabitants are meant also with the city; ancient and strong, the seat of the Anakims, conquered by Judah, yet lost soon after to the old inhabitants. <\/P> I will not turn away the punishment thereof:<\/B> see Amo 1:3<\/span>. They carried away captive<\/I>: this refers to the inroad by the Philistines and Arabians made upon Judah in the days of Jehoram, the son of Jehoshaphat, the violence and cruelty of which is set forth 2Ch 21:16<\/span>,17<\/span>, about A.M. 3116; and this is that which is here threatened, as a sin that should be punished. <\/P> Edom; <\/B>the posterity of Esau, who were inveterate enemies to the posterity of Jacob, and as ill neighbours are, so were these, the worst enemies the Jacobites had, as appears Eze 25:12<\/span>; Ob 10-14<\/span>; Psa 137:7<\/span>. These Edomites were ever ready to Oppress, enslave, and tyrannize over the Jews, if by any means they could by force or fraud get them into their hands. <\/P> <\/p>\n 6. Gaza<\/B>the southernmost ofthe five capitals of the five divisions of Philistia, and the key toPalestine on the south: hence put for the whole Philistine nation.Uzziah commenced the fulfilment of this prophecy (see 2Ch26:6<\/span>). <\/P> because they carried away . .. the whole captivity<\/B>that is, they left none. Compare with thephrase here, Jer 13:19<\/span>, “Judah. . . carried captive all<\/I> of it . . . wholly<\/I> carriedaway.” Under Jehoram already the Philistines had carried awayall the substance of the king of Judah, and his wives and his sons,”so that there was never a son left to him, save Jehoahaz”;and after Amos’ time (if the reference includes the future,<\/I>which to the prophet’s eye is as if already done), under Ahaz (2Ch28:18<\/span>), they seized on all the cities and villages of the lowcountry and south of Judah. <\/P> to deliver them up toEdom<\/B>Judah’s bitterest foe; as slaves (Am1:9<\/span>; compare Joe 3:1<\/span>; Joe 3:3<\/span>;Joe 3:6<\/span>). GROTIUSrefers it to the fact (Isa 16:4<\/span>)that on Sennacherib’s invasion of Judah, many fled for refuge toneighboring countries; the Philistines, instead of hospitablysheltering the refugees, sold them, as if captives in war, to theirenemies, the Idumeans.<\/P><\/p>\n Thus saith the Lord, for three transgressions of Gaza<\/strong>,…. The chief city of the Philistines, and put for the whole country, and designs the inhabitants of it:<\/p>\n and for four, I will not turn away [the punishment] thereof<\/strong>;<\/p>\n [See comments on Am 1:3]<\/span>;<\/p>\n because they carried away captive the whole captivity<\/strong>; which cannot be understood of the captivity of the whole nation, either of Israel or Judah, who were never carried captive by the Philistines; but of their carrying away all the substance of the house of Jehoram king of Judah, and of all his sons and his wives, and left him not one son but the youngest, 2Ch 21:17<\/span>;<\/p>\n to deliver [them] up to Edom<\/strong>: or, “to shut them up in Edom” o; which country also revolted from Jehoram, when he and the captains of his chariots going out against them, were corn passed in by them, Am 1:8<\/span>. Some think this refers to the time when Sennacherib invaded Judea, and many of the Jews fled to Palestine for help, but instead of being sheltered were delivered up to the Edomites; but this was in the times of Hezekiah, after Amos had prophesied, and therefore cannot be referred to; and for the same reason this cannot be applied to the Edomites and Philistines invading and smiting Judah, and carrying them captive, 2Ch 28:17<\/span>.<\/p>\n o , Sept. “ut concluderent eam in Idumea”, V. L. “ad concludeadum in Edom”, Montanus.<\/p>\n Philistia. – Amo 1:6<\/span>. “Thus saith Jehovah, For three transgressions of Gaza, and for four, I shall not reverse it, because they carried away captives in full number to deliver them up to Edom,<\/em> Amo 1:7<\/span>. I send fire into the wall of Gaza, and it will eat their palaces;<\/em> Amo 1:8<\/span>. And I exterminate the inhabitant from Ashdod, and the sceptre-holder from Askelon, and turn my hand against Ekron, and the remnant of the Philistines will perish, saith the Lord Jehovah.” <\/em> Instead of the Philistines generally, the prophet mentions Gaza<\/em> in Amo 1:6<\/span>. This is still a considerable town, bearing the old name Guzzeh<\/em> (see the comm. on Jos 13:3<\/span>), and was the one of the five capitals of the Philistines which had taken the most active part as a great commercial town in handing over the Israelitish prisoners to the Edomites. For it is evident that Gaza is simply regarded as a representative of Philistia, from the fact that in the announcement of the punishment, the other capitals of Philistia are also mentioned. Galuth sh e lemah <\/em> is correctly explained by Jerome thus: “a captivity so perfect and complete, that not a single captive remained who was not delivered to the Idumaeans.” The reference is to captive Israelites, who were carried off by the Philistines, and disposed of by them to the Edomites, the arch-enemies of Israel. Amos no doubt had in his mind the invasion of Judah by the Philistines and tribes of Arabia Petraea in the time of Joram, which is mentioned in 2Ch 21:16<\/span>, and to which Joel had already alluded in Joe 3:3<\/span>., where the Phoenicians and Philistines are threatened with divine retribution for having plundered the land, and sold the captive Judaeans to the Javanites (Ionians). But it by no means follows from this, that the “sons of Javan” mentioned in Joe 3:6<\/span> are not Greeks, but the inhabitants of the Arabian Javan<\/em> noticed in Eze 27:19<\/span>. The fact was simply this: the Philistines sold one portion of the many prisoners, taken at that time, to the Edomites, and the rest to the Phoenicians, who disposed of them again to the Greeks. Joel simply mentions the latter circumstance, because, in accordance with the object of his prophecy, his design was to show the wide dispersion of the Jews, and their future gathering out of all the lands of their banishment. Amos, on the other hand, simply condemns the delivering of the captives to Edom, the arch-foe of Israel, to indicate the greatness of the sin involved in this treatment of the covenant nation, or the hatred which the Philistines had displayed thereby. As a punishment for this, the cities of Philistia would be burned by their enemies, the inhabitants would be exterminated, and the remnant perish. Here again, as in Amo 1:4<\/span>, Amo 1:5<\/span>, the threat is rhetorically individualized, so that in the case of one city the burning of the city itself is predicted, and in that of another the destruction of its inhabitants. (On Ashdod, Askelon, and Ekron, see the comm. on Jos 13:3<\/span>.) , to return the hand, i.e., to turn or stretch it out again (see comm. on 2Sa 8:3<\/span>). The use of this expression may be explained on the ground, that the destruction of the inhabitants of Ashdod and Askelon has already been thought of as a stretching out of the hand. The fifth of the Philistian capitals, Gath, is not mentioned, though not for the reason assigned by Kimchi<\/em>, viz., that it belonged to the kings of Judah, or had been conquered by Uzziah, for Uzziah had not only conquered Gath and Jabneh, but had taken Ashdod as well, and thrown down the walls (2Ch 26:6<\/span>), and yet Amos mentions Ashdod; nor because Gath had been taken by the Syrians (2Ki 12:18<\/span>), for this Syrian conquest was not a lasting one, and in the prophet’s time (cf. Amo 6:2<\/span>), and even later (cf. Mic 1:10<\/span>), it still maintained its independence, and was a very distinguished city; but for the simple reason that the individualizing description given by the prophet did not require the complete enumeration of all the capitals, and the idea of been named, but all that was still in existence, and had escaped destruction” (Amo 9:12<\/span> and Jer 6:9<\/span>), it nevertheless includes not merely the four states just named, but every part of Philistia that had hitherto escaped destruction, so that Gath must be included.<\/p>\n Amos directs here his discourse against Gaza, which the Philistine occupied. It was situated in the tribe of Judah, towards the sea; but as the Anakims were its inhabitants, the Philistine kept possession of it. Then the Jews had these enemies as ακτωρηκους, (guardians of the shore), who had a greater opportunity of doing harm from being so near: and we may learn from the Prophet’s words, that the Philistines, who dwelt at Gaza, when they saw the Israelites oppressed by their enemies, joined their forces to foreign allies, and that the Jews did the same. God then now denounces punishment on them. <\/p>\n As to the word, Gaza, some think that it was given to the city, because Cambyses, when warring with the Egyptians, had deposited there his money and valuable furniture; and because the Persian call a treasure, gaza; but this is frivolous. We indeed know that the Greek translators ever put γ (gamma) for an ע, (oin); as of Omorrha they make Gomorrha, so of Oza they make Gaza. Besides, the city had this name before the time of Cambyses. It was then more probably thus called from its strength: and that the Greeks rendered it Gaza was according to their usual practice, as I have said as to other words. But there were two Gazas; when the first was demolished, the inhabitants built another near the sea. Hence Luke, in Act 8:26<\/span> says, that Gaza was a desert; and he thus makes a difference between Gaza on the sea-side and the old one, which had been previously demolished. But Amos speaks of the first Gaza; for he threatens to it that destruction, through which it happened that the city was removed to the shores of the Mediterranean. <\/p>\n I come now to the Prophet’s words: “God, he says, will not be propitious to Gaza for three and four transgressions, as the Philistine had so provoked God, that they were now wholly unworthy of pardon and mercy. I reminded you in yesterday’s Lecture, that there is presented to us here a sad spectacle, but yet useful; for we here see so many people in such a corrupted state, that their wickedness was become to God intolerable: but at this day the state of things in the world is more corrupt, for iniquity overflows like a deluge. Whatever then men may think of their evils, the Lord from heaven sees how great and how irreclaimable is their obstinacy. It is nothing that some throw blame on others, or look for some alleviation, since all are ungodly and wicked: for we see that God here declares that he would, at the same time, take vengeance on many nations. The Idumeans might then have objected, and said, that their neighbors were nothing better; others might have made the same excuse; every one might have had his defense ready, if such a pretext availed, that all were alike implicated in the same guilt and wickedness. But we see that God appears here as a judge against all nations. Let us not then be deceived by vain delusions, when we see that others are like us; let every one know that he must bear his own burden before God: I will not then be propitious for three and for four transgressions <\/p>\n Because they carried away, he says, a complete captivity The Prophet records here a special crime, — that the Gazites took away Jews and Israelites, and removed them as captives into Idumea, and confined them there. I have already said that it was not the Prophet’s design to enumerate all their sins, but that he was content to mention one crime, that the Israelites might understand that they were involved in a heavier guilt, because they had grievously offended both God and men. If then so severe a vengeance was to be taken on Gaza, they ought to have known, that a heavier vengeance awaited them, because they were guilty of more and greater sins. But he says that they had effected a complete captivity, inasmuch as they had spared neither women, nor children, nor old men; for captivity is called perfect or complete, when no distinction is made, but when all are taken away indiscriminately, without any selection. They then carried away a complete captivity, so that no pity either for sex or for age touched them: that they might shut them up, he says, in Edom. <\/p>\n CRITICAL NOTES<\/strong>.] <\/strong><\/p>\n Amo. 1:6<\/span><\/strong>. Whole captivity<\/strong>] i.e.<\/em> left none, but sold them to Edomites, the most deadly enemies to Israel: hence the greatness of the sin. <\/p>\n Amo. 1:7<\/span><\/strong>. Fire on the wall<\/strong>] An enemy shall destroy it. Fulfilled by Hezekiah (2Ki. 18:8<\/span>), Sennacherib (Isa. 47:1<\/span>), and by Alexander the Great. <\/p>\n THE JUDGMENT ON GAZA.Amo. 1:6-8<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n In similar terms as before, the special sins of the leading and most influential city of the Philistines are mentioned. Sin in every place grows and ripens for punishment.<\/p>\n I. The sins of Gaza<\/strong>. For three transgressions, &c. <\/p>\n 1. The provocations were great in kind<\/em>. They are called transgressions, or rebellions. <\/p>\n 2. The provocations were multiplied in number<\/em>. The sins were not few, but many, and multiplied. For three and for four, that is, for continued provocations against God. Sin was continually added to sin. <\/p>\n 3. The provocations reached a climax in their cruelty towards the Jews<\/em>. Because they carried away captive the whole captivity, to deliver them up to Edom. (a<\/em>) This captivity was most complete<\/em>. The term whole captivity means a full captivity. The captives were numerous. They took all they could and left none behind. They intended to destroy Israel entirely. They have said, Come and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance (Psa. 83:4<\/span>). (b<\/em>) This captivity was most cruel<\/em>. The Philistines appear to have sold their victims partly to the Edomites, the bitterest foes of Israel, and partly to the Phnicians, who resold them to Edom (Amo. 1:9<\/span>) and to the Grecians (Joe. 3:6<\/span>). Amos emphasizes the hatred of the Philistines. They were not satisfied with taking them captives themselves, but added affliction to affliction, by delivering the Jews into the hands of implacable foes. Fugitives who flee to us for refuge should never be treated with cruelty nor robbed of their liberty. It was like driving the shrinking flock of sheep to the butchers shambles, says a writer, reeking with the gore of their companions. Yet were they driven there to the slaughter. Open markets there were for Jewish slaves in abundance. Sell us only not to slaughter, Spare the gray-headed, Spare my child, would go up in the ears of those, who though enemies understood their speech. But no! Such was the compact of Tyre, and Philistia, and Edom against the people of God. Not one was to be spared; it was to be a complete captivity<\/em>, and that to Edom<\/em>. The bond was fulfilled. Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he too shall cry and not be heard. <\/p>\n II. The doom of Gaza<\/strong>. Behold, I will send a fire on the wall of Gaza, which shall devour the palaces thereof. The sentence upon Gaza stands out prominently, because the first city in power and in sin. It was the merchant city of the five. Each had its own petty king. But all formed one whole, and were involved in one sin and ruin. As they had treated Israel, so God would deal with them. Measure for measure. He shall have judgment without mercy that hath showed no mercy. <\/p>\n 1. Gaza and affiliated cities would be destroyed<\/em>. The ravages of fire and sword would devour the palaces of the land. Cities strong by nature and art would be smitten by the fire, when human foresight would pronounce them impregnable and secure. <\/p>\n 2. The people were doomed to perish<\/em>. So complete would be the destruction that the remnant, those who were left after one destruction, should fall in the other. The political strength which escaped one calamity should be overtaken in another. God will make a full end of those who sought to exterminate his people. Judgment upon judgment fell upon Philistia, until they ceased to be a nation (Jeremiah 47<\/span>). Cruelty to the helpless, and persecution of Gods people, ripen nations and individuals for destruction with great rapidity. Flourishing families and magnificent palaces are destroyed, as if by tremendous fire. Fortified cities are leveled to the dust, fertile regions are depopulated, princes are dethroned, and mighty empires are reduced to slavery and ruin. Rejoice not thou, whole Philistia, because the rod of him that smote thee is broken: for out of the serpents root shall come forth a cockatrice, and his fruit shall be a fiery flying serpent.<\/p>\n PUNISHMENT PROMISED, THE HEATHEN NATIONSGAZA AND TYRE<\/p>\n TEXT: Amo. 1:6-10<\/span><\/p>\n 6<\/p>\n Thus saith Jehovah: For three transgressions of Gaza, yea, for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they carried away captive the whole people, to deliver them up to Edom:<\/p>\n 7<\/p>\n but I will send a fire on the wall of Gaza, and it shall devour the palaces thereof.<\/p>\n 8<\/p>\n And I will cut off the inhabitant from Ashdod, and him that holdeth the sceptre from Ashkelon; and I will turn my hand against Ekron; and the remnant of the Philistines shall perish, saith the Lord Jehovah.<\/p>\n 9<\/p>\n Thus saith Jehovah: For three transgressions, of Tyre, yea, for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof: because they delivered up the whole people to Edom, and remembered not the brotherly covenant:<\/p>\n 10<\/p>\n but I will send a fire on the wall of Tyre, and it shall devour the palaces thereof.<\/p>\n QUERIES<\/strong><\/p>\n a.<\/p>\n Where are Gaza, Ashdod and Ekron, and for what does God hold them responsible?<\/p>\n b.<\/p>\n Where is Tyre?<\/p>\n c.<\/p>\n What is the brotherly covenant?<\/p>\n PARAPHRASE<\/strong><\/p>\n This is the Lords word: For sin after sin of Gaza, I will not leave her unpunished. Because these Philistines captured whole cities and areas of My holy land and people and sold every last one of them into slavery to the Edomites I will consume them in the fires of judgment. I will slaughter the inhabitants of the major cities of Philistia even the potentates of these cities I will slaughter. The very last people of the Philistine race I will cause to perish. SUMMARY<\/strong><\/p>\n Philistia and Phoenicia are roared at by the Lord. They have captured whole cities of the covenant people and sold them into slavery.<\/p>\n COMMENT<\/strong><\/p>\n Amo. 1:6<\/span> . . . FOR THREE TRANSGRESSIONS OF GAZA . . . BECAUSE THEY CARRIED AWAY CAPTIVE THE WHOLE PEOPLE . . . By mentioning most of the principal cities of Philistia, Amos means to include the whole nation under the judgment of God. The book of Judges mentions the Philistines as a major contender against the Hebrews for the possession of Palestine. When David united all Israel under his rule, he decisively defeated the Philistines in two major battles (2Sa. 5:17-25<\/span>) and from this time on, the Philistine grip was broken until after the death of Solomon. Then at the division of the kingdom the Philistines reasserted the independence they had lost to David and captured whole cities selling the people into slavery. Sargon (722705 B.C.) captured the Philistine cities, deported some of the inhabitants and set over them an Assyrian governor. The later struggles between the Ptolemies and the Seleucids (Egypt and Syria), prophesied by Daniel 11<\/span>, caused great suffering and devastation to the Philistine cities. This practically closes their history as strictly Philistinian. They continued in N.T. times as non-Jewish centers, becoming Hellenistic cities.<\/p>\n Amos has in mind such carrying away of captives as occurred in 2Ch. 21:16<\/span> (cf. Joe. 3:3-4<\/span>). These Philistines captured whole cities and areas of Hebrew people and sold them to Edomites and to the Phoenicians. The Phoenicians probably sold them, in turn, to the Greeks (cf. Joe. 3:6<\/span>).<\/p>\n Amo. 1:7<\/span> . . . I WILL SEND A FIRE ON THE WALL OF GAZA . . . It could be that Amos meant literal fire would destroy these heathen cities since the destructive forces of fire have always been a major result of warfare in every age. But it most probably is a figure of the judgment of God. (cf. Mat. 3:12<\/span>; Joh. 15:6<\/span>, etc.).<\/p>\n Amo. 1:8<\/span> . . . I WILL CUT OFF THE INHABITANT FROM ASHDOD . . . ASHKELON . . . EKRON . . . AND THE REMNANT OF THE PHILISTINES SHALL PERISH . . . Three more of the principal cities of Philistia are here mentioned, only Gath is left out, and this not because it was not to be judged. It is clear that God means the Philistines as a nation or race shall perish. And so it is true today, Philistia is no longer a nation and the Philistines are no longer a people. All of these cities were located in the plain of Philistia, a part of which is now known as the Gaza Strip. Egypt and the Jews are still fighting over this territory. Its former glory and power has long since melted into the dust of antiquity . . . but the Word of God stands as firmly as ever today!<\/p>\n Amo. 1:9-10<\/span> . . . FOR THREE TRANSGRESSIONS OF TYRE . . . BECAUSE THEY DELIVERED UP THE WHOLE PEOPLE TO EDOM, AND REMEMBERED NOT THE BROTHERLY COVENANT . . . Tyre was the capital of Phoenicia. It was north of Mt. Carmel and south of Sidon. The people were seafaring people. Tyre was one of the principal seaports of that entire territory bounded by the Mediterranean coast. They imported and exported many different things among which were slavesmen, women and children often Hebrew captives of raids by the Philistines, and the Syrians. David and Solomon had entered into a friendly alliance with the king of Tyre (2Sa. 5:11<\/span>; 1Ki. 5:15<\/span> ff) but the people of Tyre of Amos generation had forgotten that. Furthermore they were not mindful of the fact that no king of Israel or Judah had ever made war on Phoenicia. Their indifference and cruelty to the covenant people of God through their slave-trading was wholly unjustifiable and God announces that He will visit them with His judgment.<\/p>\n In 322 B.C. in the course of his conquest of the East, Alexander the Great appeared before Tyre. The island stronghold (where the people of the old city of Tyre had fled at the siege of Nebuchadnezzar almost 300 years earlier) closed her gates, and Alexander was forced to build a causeway, and after long months of frustration and vast penetration, take the city by costly storming. Alexander built the causeway out of the timbers and stones of the old city of Tyre by scraping its site flat like the top of a rock. Tyre was broken, and the causeway still remains, a place, as Ezekiel foretold, on which fishermen might dry their nets (cf. Eze. 26:5-14<\/span>; Eze. 47:10<\/span>; cf. also Isaiah 23<\/span>; Zechariah 9<\/span>). Tyre made a measure of political recovery and for a period functioned as a republic. She struck an early treaty with Rome, and her independence was respected until 20 B.C. when Augustus withdrew it. The remaining history of Tyre is without significance. The ancient city of Tyre on the mainland has never been rebuilt!<\/p>\n QUIZ<\/strong><\/p>\n 1.<\/p>\n Tell of the history of Philistia. What of the people of Philistia today?<\/p>\n 2.<\/p>\n What does Amos mean by speaking of fire upon each of these cities?<\/p>\n 3.<\/p>\n Tell of the history of Tyre. What of the people of Tyre today?<\/p>\n CURSE ON PHILISTIA.<\/strong><\/p>\n (6-8) The marginal reading is more literal, and points to the special bitterness of the proceedings of Philistia, here represented by Gaza as the principal city (comp. 2Ch. 21:16-17<\/span>, which implies a veritable sack of Jerusalem). The extreme barbarity from which Judah suffered was that her children were delivered up to the implacable enemy Edom. (Comp. the language of Joe. 3:4-6<\/span>.) This may have occurred in the border warfare, in which defenceless Judan villages were overpowered, and the inhabitants sold to the Oriental tribes through the medium of the Edomites. The utter fall of Philistian independence is depicted (comp. Amo. 6:2<\/span>). The cities here mentioned are often referred to in the books of Joshua, Judges, and Samuel, and by the prophet Zephaniah.<\/p>\n 6-8<\/strong>. <\/strong> The sin and punishment of Philistia. <\/p>\n <\/em><\/p>\n Three four <\/strong> See on Amo 1:3<\/span>.<\/p>\n Gaza <\/strong> The southernmost city of Philistia and splendidly located for trade; about fifty miles southwest of Jerusalem, and three miles from the sea. Being just on the edge of the desert, it became a commercial center, commanding the caravan routes to Syria, to Egypt, and to Arabia. Its present population is said to number about eighteen thousand. Here the city represents the whole of Philistia; it is possible, however, that Gaza was most guilty; its location would naturally make it the center of slave trade with Edom. <\/p>\n The whole captivity <\/strong> R.V., “the whole people”; literally, an entire captivity. <\/em> The meaning is that they spared neither sex nor age; they took the entire population of the places attacked. The reference is probably not to a national invasion (2Ch 21:16-17<\/span>), but to raids undertaken for the specific purpose of securing slaves. <\/p>\n Deliver them up to Edom <\/strong> The Edomites probably resold the slaves. The same charge is brought against Tyre (Amo 1:9<\/span>), and a similar charge against both in Joe 3:4-6<\/span>. It is not stated here that the communities attacked were Hebrew. On Edom <\/em> see Amo 1:11<\/span>. <\/p>\n Fire <\/strong> As in Amo 1:4<\/span>. <\/p>\n Inhabitant <\/strong> See on Amo 1:5<\/span>.<\/p>\n Ashdod <\/strong> About twenty-one miles north-northeast of Gaza, about three miles from the seacoast, a strong fortress on the caravan route from Gaza to Joppa. It suffered from an Egyptian siege about 650 B.C., but recovered and was a place of importance at the time of Nehemiah; now a small village called Esdud. <\/p>\n Holdeth the scepter <\/strong> The chief cities of the Philistines each had its own king (see below and on Joe 3:4<\/span>). <\/p>\n Ashkelon <\/strong> Was located on the seacoast, about halfway between Gaza and Ashdod; it is mentioned on the Tel-el-Amarna <\/em> tablets (about 1400 B.C.), now an insignificant place called Askelan. <\/p>\n <\/em><\/p>\n Turn mine hand against <\/strong> As long as God leaves man to himself his hand is said to rest; to turn his hand <\/em> is to take an active interest in man’s affairs, either to save or to punish (Isa 1:25<\/span>; Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible <\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: The Preacher’s Complete Homiletical Commentary Edited by Joseph S. Exell<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
This is the Lords word: For sin after sin of Tyre, I will not leave her unpunished. Because of their slave-trade with Edom and because they forgot the peaceful alliances and behavior of My covenant people toward them, I will consume the cities and peoples of Phoenicia in the fires of judgment,<\/p>\nFuente: College Press Bible Study Textbook Series<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n