Amos 1:3 — Meaning and Application

The words of Amos, who was among the herdmen of Tekoa, which he saw concerning Israel in the days of Uzziah king of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash king of Israel, two years before the earthquake.

And he said, The LORD will roar from Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the habitations of the shepherds shall mourn, and the top of Carmel shall wither.

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: {and...: or, yea, for four} {turn...: or, convert it, or, let it be quiet}

But I will send a fire into the house of Hazael, which shall devour the palaces of Benhadad.

I will break also the bar of Damascus, and cut off the inhabitant from the plain of Aven, and him that holdeth the sceptre from the house of Eden: and the people of Syria shall go into captivity unto Kir, saith the LORD. {the plain...: or, Bikathaven} {the house...: or, Betheden}