3 Thus says the Lord: For three transgressions of Damascus, and for four, I will not revoke the punishment; [1] because they have threshed Gilead with threshing sledges of iron. 4 So I will send a fire on the house of Hazael, and it shall devour the strongholds of Ben-hadad. 5 I will break the gate bars of Damascus, and cut off the inhabitants from the Valley of Aven, and the one who holds the scepter from Beth-eden; and the people of Aram shall go into exile to Kir, says the Lord. 6 Thus says the Lord: For three transgressions of Gaza, and for four, I will not revoke the punishment; [2] because they carried into exile entire communities, to hand them over to Edom. 7 So I will send a fire on the wall of Gaza, fire that shall devour its strongholds. 8 I will cut off the inhabitants from Ashdod, and the one who holds the scepter from Ashkelon; I will turn my hand against Ekron, and the remnant of the Philistines shall perish, says the Lord God. 9 Thus says the Lord: For three transgressions of Tyre, and for four, I will not revoke the punishment; [3] because they delivered entire communities over to Edom, and did not remember the covenant of kinship. 10 So I will send a fire on the wall of Tyre, fire that shall devour its strongholds. 11 Thus says the Lord: For three transgressions of Edom, and for four, I will not revoke the punishment; [4] because he pursued his brother with the sword and cast off all pity; he maintained his anger perpetually, [5] and kept his wrath [6] forever. 12 So I will send a fire on Teman, and it shall devour the strongholds of Bozrah. 13 Thus says the Lord: For three transgressions of the Ammonites, and for four, I will not revoke the punishment; [7] because they have ripped open pregnant women in Gilead in order to enlarge their territory.
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Matthew Henry's Commentary on Amos 1:3-13
Chapter Contents
Judgments against the Syrians, Philistines, Tyrians, Edomites, and Ammonites.
GOD employed a shepherd, a herdsman, to reprove and warn the people. Those to whom God gives abilities for his services, ought not to be despised for their origin, or their employment. Judgments are denounced against the neighbouring nations, the oppressors of God's people. The number of transgressions does not here mean that exact number, but many: they had filled the measure of their sins, and were ripe for vengeance. The method in dealing with these nations is, in part, the same, yet in each there is something peculiar. In all ages this bitterness has been shown against the Lord's people. When the Lord reckons with his enemies, how tremendous are his judgments!