How much do you know about the Minor Prophets? Over the years and if you have spent some time in church, you most likely have heard a few accounts from one or more of them. Most have heard of Jonah and the great fish. And the quote from Joel that was used on the Day of Pentecost by the Apostle Peter, "And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit," (2:28-29).
Although we won't look at all 12 of the Minor Prophets, I do want to look at a couple over the next few posts. B. C. Ministries, Inc. has many studies on books of the Bible that are free. You can request them in the comment section below or order by email ==>here. We will look at the Minor Prophet, Amos first.
The minor prophets
consist of 12 works by 12 different authors. The works contain much information
about a future kingdom, a future savior and a future people who will have a
close relationship with God if they so choose.
The scrolls were
kept in a safe place in the temple. They were read and quoted by the priests in
synagogues on the Sabbath days. They were Canonized into our Bible in the
1600’s. Some of the scriptures were Canonized as early as 1000’s.
Several different
themes run through they twelve books that make up the minor prophets. However,
the themes run nearly consistent: do right and God blesses with the blessings of Deuteronomy 30. Do wrong and his
curses of Deuteronomy 29 will come on you.
Amos
Background
There are 4 major profits: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Daniel
There are 12 minor profits: Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah,
Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi.
Called minor prophets because all their works could be recorded on
a scroll the same size as the scroll used for Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel.
Amos’ name means burden bearer
Nothing is known of his family
He was from Tekoa that is located southeast of Bethlehem 1:1
He, then, was from the southern Kingdom
He was a breeder of sheep 1:1
Also a grower of sycamore figs 7:14
He received direct revelation from God 1:1
He was not of the school of the prophets
The school of prophets was founded by Elijah and Elisha (2 Kings 2:7;
15-16
He is the only Amos mentioned in the word of God
His prophesy took place during the reign of Uzziah, king of Judah
and Jeroboam II, king of Israel
His time of prophesy places him in Israel two years before the
earthquake mentioned in Zechariah 14:5
There he prophesied around 770-750 BC
65 Years had passed since Joel’s prophesies (Joel prophesied
around 835 BC, soon after Joash began his reign over Judah.
Amos
Chapter 1
V 1 “The words of
Amos, who was among the sheepherders from Tekoa, which he envisioned
in visions concerning Israel in the days of Uzziah king of Judah, and in the
days of Jeroboam son of Joash, king of Israel, two years before the earthquake.”
God
showed Amos a vision concerning Israel. The vision occurs in the days of Uzziah
king of Judah.
King
Uzziah was a good king who began to reign when he was 16 years old. However,
during his days and Jeroboam II of Israel, the countries enjoyed great
prosperity. Uzziah and Jeroboam II extended the boarders of Israel to the
extent they were during the time of King David.
When prosperity happens, the
people seem to turn away from following the Lord. King Uzziah went into the
temple to offer sacrifices to God on the altar 2 Chronicles 26:16-23. God
punishes
Uzziah
with leprosy. The reason is that Uzziah couldn’t be both king and priest. A priest forbade him to offer
sacrifices since Uzziah was not a priest. Uzziah pointed at the priest and
ordered him executed. Before he could withdraw his arm, Uzziah was struck with
leprosy. He had to live separate the rest of his days.
Why? Because only one Jew will ever achieve this
goal of King and Priest. The Man, Jesus.
His tribe is Judah (no priests ever came from Judah). Therefore, Jesus’ priesthood will be from the
order of Melchizedek (Hebrews 6:20 through 7:1-28). Melchizedek was a priest and a king, too, and
you meet him in Genesis (14:17-20).
I would point
out that Melchizedek was not a Jew nor is he the pre-incarnate Christ appearing
in the life of Abram in Genesis. He is a
representative of the type of office which Jesus will fulfill many centuries
later.
As Uzziah
tried to perform priestly duties in the temple, God struck him with leprosy. From that day on he lived apart from
society. According to the Law, he would have to cry unclean, every time anyone
came near him.
He begin his
reign as a good king, but ended as a bad one.
The very year
King Uzziah dies, 739 B.C., Isaiah is called.
That year is
significant as you will learn later.
His
son, Jotham reigned while his father was living by himself in a house built
behind the king’s house in Jerusalem.
The
earthquake mentioned here is one that occurred along Great Rift Valley. The
Jordan River Valley was a part of this Great Rift Valley. The Rift extends to
the southernmost part of Africa.
The
first verse identifies both the speaker, his audience and time frame.
The
speaker is Amos from Tekoa, a small town in Judah.
His
audience is Israel, the ten northern tribes who split from Judah when Solomon’s
son, Rehoboam became king. At the time Jeroboam became king of the ten tribes called
Israel. He was a wicked king. He caused the people of Israel to worship calves
which he placed at Bethel and Damascus.
The
time frame is mentioned in 2 Kings 14:23-15:7. It is the beginning of the reign
of Jeroboam II (796 BC) and before the death of Uzziah (739 BC). The time frame
gives credence and historical value to the book as being authentic. Zechariah
14:5 also mentions an earthquake during Uzziah’s reign.
V 2 “He said,
“The Lord roars from Zion
And from Jerusalem He
utters His voice;
And the shepherds’ pasture
grounds mourn,
And the summit of
Carmel dries up.”
During
Biblical times, Shepherds were at the bottom rung of society. In this case God
uses one of low, socioeconomic class to deliver his message. Remember, too,
that it was shepherds who were visited with the information of Jesus’ birth,
Luke 2. Also, David went from a lowly shepherd to king of Israel. God can use
whomever he chooses for his purposes. He doesn’t necessarily call those who are
qualified. He qualifies those whom he chooses.
Amos’
first words tells the people of the Northern Tribes that they are worshiping
the wrong god and at the wrong place. The Place to worship God is in the Temple
in Jerusalem. Today, there is no specific place to worship God. We are required
to worship him in Spirit and truth, John 4.
The
reference to Carmel here could be about God and Baal. God struck the top of
Mount Carmel with fire to show the Baal worshipers that he alone is God (1
Kings 18:36-39). Amos’ audience in Israel should know the historical reference.
V 3 “Thus says the Lord, For three transgressions of Damascus
and for four I will not revoke its punishment,
Because they threshed
Gilead with implements of sharp iron.
A
bit of history might be appropriate here. During this time in Palestine, the
country was inhabited by seven other small nations besides Israel. All these
nations were in danger because of Assyria’s push to Egypt.
Please
note, however, that the threat wasn’t from Assyria as Amos points out. The
threat came from the Lord who will use Assyria for his purpose. Since these
neighbors are Gentile, God reminds that his moral standards aren’t merely for
the Jews. Most countries today have as their laws, most of the Ten
Commandments.
Amos
delivers his “Oracles or Judgments” to show that Israel or her neighbors can
escape from the flaunting of his royal judgments.
The
poetic words, “For three transgressions of . . . and for four” indicates
the certainty of the judgment coming about. He issues these same poetic words
to all seven Gentile neighbors of Israel and to Israel as well, c. f. Proverbs 30:15,
18, 21 these are certainties presented by Solomon).
In
that day the farmers threshed wheat by dragging an iron instrument with iron
teeth over it. Therefore, Damascus (capital of Aram) will be threshed as surely
as the farmer threshes his wheat. Damascus had taken Gilead the same by
comparison.
V 4 “So I will send
fire upon the house of Hazael, and it will consume the citadels of Ben-hadad.
Jeroboam
II destroyed Syria (Aram) and King Ben-hadad (2 Kings 14:28). Notice that fire
is the means of Judgment for all these countries. The gates were set on fire in
order to gain access to the cities..
V 5 “I will also break
the gate bar of Damascus, And cut off the inhabitant from the valley of
Aven, And him who holds the scepter, from Beth-eden; So the people of Aram will
go exiled to Kir, Says the Lord.
A
broken gate bar would indicate freedom to go through the gate to invade the city.
If fire was set to the gate, the gate bar would burn, too.
No
matter, the inhabitants of Damascus along with their king “who holds the
scepter” would be taken into captivity the same as the inhabitants of Israel
would be taken into captivity.
Some
debate over the name “Kir.” Kir means enclosure. Most likely the peoples were
taken to a prison camp, a place walled off to house them until final
disbursement. Kir may not have been a city at all.
V 6 “Thus says the Lord, “For three transgressions of Gaza
and for four I will not revoke its punishment, Because they deported an
entire population to deliver it up to Edom.”
Gaza
was a Philistine nation. All the cities of the Philistine (5) are mentioned by
Amos except Gath.
The
event mentioned here is not known. When they deported an entire population of
Jews to Edom isn’t known. They do help Edom whenever the Babylonians capture
Judah 586 BC. However, the event that Amos describes seems to have taken place
during his day.
V 7 “So I will send
fire upon the wall of Gaza and it will consume her citadels.”
Again,
the punishment is by fire.
V 8 “I will also cut
off the inhabitant from Ashdod, and him who holds the scepter, from Ashkelon; I
will even unleash My power upon Ekron, and the remnant of the Philistines will
perish,” says the Lord God.”
Again,
three more countries in Philistia to be destroyed by God. He uses the Assyrian
army to his purpose of destroying the Philistines because of their mistreatment
of his chosen people.
V 9 “Thus says the Lord, “For three transgressions of Tyre
and for four I will not revoke its punishment, Because they delivered up
an entire population to Edom and did not remember the covenant of brotherhood.”
Tyre
was one of two major Phoenician cities. You know the other city, Sidon, because
Jesus mentions it often. He used them together most often, eg. Matthew 11:21;
22; 15:21; Mark 3:8; 7:31 and others.
Tyre
means “flint.” Most likely because it was built on a rock in the sea. The city
was deemed impregnable until Alexander the Great built a causeway out to it in
the 4th century.
The
phrase “delivered up an entire people” is reference to slave trade of which was
a part of the trade industry of Tyre. Captured soldiers usually became slaves.
Here, an entire captured population was sold to Edom as slaves.
In
1 Kings 9:13, Hiram calls Solomon, “My brother.” Usually, when kings made
covenant, they became or referred to one another as “brother.” Hiram and David
made a covenant in 2 Samuel 5:11. Covenants would be everlasting. Here, Tyre
doesn’t honor the covenant.
V 10 “So I
will send fire upon the wall of Tyre and it will consume her citadels.”
Although
the punishment by fire doesn’t occur until much later, Tyre was captured. A
city that couldn’t be taken was! God’s timeline and ours aren’t always the
same, is it?
V 11 “Thus says
the Lord, “For three transgressions
of Edom and for four I will not revoke its punishment,
Because he pursued his brother with the sword, While he stifled his compassion; His anger also tore continually, and he maintained his fury forever.”
Because he pursued his brother with the sword, While he stifled his compassion; His anger also tore continually, and he maintained his fury forever.”
Edom
revolted, and in conjunction with the Arabs and the Philistines, attacked
Jerusalem. They carried off the Royal household (2 Chronicles 21:16-17; Obadiah
10-14). This occurred in the reign of Jehoram.
Because
of these atrocities, Edom would not escape punishment. Edom was located in a
mountainous region. It was thought that their lofty position couldn’t be
penetrated by an enemy.
V 12 “So I will send
fire upon Teman and it will consume the citadels of Bozrah.”
Teman
was the grandson of Esau. Often Edom is referred to as Teman. We will find this
reference several times throughout our study of the minor prophets.
Remember
the name “Bozrah.” The city will play an important role in the second coming of
Christ. Bozrah was one of the northernmost cities of Edom. Amos lists the
southernmost city, Teman, and the city furthest north, Bozrah, which indicates
that the whole country from north to south would be destroyed.
V 13 “Thus says
the Lord, “For three
transgressions of the sons of Ammon and for four I will not revoke
its punishment, because they ripped open the pregnant women of
Gilead In order to enlarge their borders.”
Remember
Ammonites. They were the people derived from the incest of Lots younger
daughter with her father (Genesis 19:34-38).. Their country was located between
Moab and Aram.
Destroying
the offspring of pregnant women apparently was a manner of keeping a descendant
from reclaiming the land.
Kings
of this era bragged about “enlarging their borders” by taking land from nearby
countries. Look at the Chronicles of Israel. Chronicles and Kings are full of
captured peoples and lands.
V 14 “So I will kindle
a fire on the wall of Rabbah and it will consume her citadels amid war
cries on the day of battle, and a storm on the day of tempest.”
“Rabbah”
is a shorter form of Rabbah of the Ammonites. The modern location of this city
is Amman in Jordan.
Again,
the punishment is by fire. “Storms and whirlwinds” are often comparative words
used for a battle. They are also used for the wrath of God.
V 15 “Their king
will go into exile, He and his princes together,” says the Lord.
Ammon wasn’t taken by Shalmaneser III (858-824 B.C.). The common
practice was to take the captured king and his household into exile.
Shalmaneser III was an Assyrian king and Ammon became a vassal country to
Assyria.
Lots of history in this chapter. As you know, history is my favorite!
Hope you enjoyed it.
Seven Gentile
Nations Living Around Israel
1 Damascus – capital of Aram
2. Gaza – a Philistine country
3. Ashdod – another Philistine country
4. Ashkelon – another Philistine country
5. Ekron – another Philistine country
A
Philistine country not destroyed is Gath. Remember the giant that David killed
was from Gath.
Don’t
know why Gath wasn’t destroyed.
6. Tyre – although it took 13 years, Assyria did take Tyre.
However, they got nothing for their efforts
because
Tyre had a fort off shore where all the money and valuables were kept. It
wasn’t until
the
fourth century by Alexander the Great. He build a causeway out to the fort
using the debris
from the destroyed houses to
build a road to the fort called Tyre.
7. Edom – Esau’s country. It was mountainous and the
citizens felt they couldn’t be taken. Yet, they
were.
These are the seven Gentile countries around Judah and
Israel that Amos prophesied against.
Blessings,
Howard
Howard
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