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Divinity for Advanced Secondary Schools

Amos’ condemnation of the of Gilead during military campaigns.
neighbouring states (Amos 1:3-15) They were very hostile and mistreated
In his ministry, Prophet Amos the people of Gilead. God would smash
condemned the neighbouring states down the walls of their cities to ashes
for various reasons. Amos wanted to and take some to exile (Amos 1:3).
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show that Yahweh is a universal God.
Therefore, he had the right to pronounce Amos condemned Tyre for violating
judgment upon all the states because he the treaty of friendship with other
was a God of all the people and not only nations and enslaved the neighbouring
for the Israelites. Amos wanted to show communities. God was going to send
that Yahweh is the master of the whole
universe. He had the right to judge all fire to burn down the walls of Tyre and
since no God was above Him. their fortresses and would be invaded by
a foreign army (Amos 1:9).
Amos also wanted to allow the Israelites
to repent and ask for forgiveness. He Philistia was condemned for sending
believed that the Israelites would repent people into slavery as opposed to the law
if they heard about his prophecies. It (Ex. 21:15). As a punishment, God sent
was a technique of getting an audience fire, destroying the wall of Philistia and
from the Israelites. Amos thought that if their King. Their children and women
the Israelites heard about his prophecies, were to be tortured to death (Amos 1:6).
they would be willing to listen to him The Ammonites were condemned for
if he began to prophesy to them. He killing the people of Gilead and the
wanted to show that salvation was for unborn babies (Amos 1:13). God was to
all people. Therefore, he wanted the send fire upon the city walls of Rabbah
Israelites and people of other nations to and burn down the fortresses, and their
prepare for salvation.
King and his officers would go into

Furthermore, he wanted to show the exile.
omnipotence of God; that is, God is
powerful and master of the entire world, Amos condemned the Moabs for killing
even the Gentiles. Amos was sending the people of Gilead to the extent that
a warning to the people in the distant they dishonoured the bones of the king
lands that God was also watching over of Edom by burning them to ashes. God
them. In addition, Amos wanted to do was to send fire to burn down the walls
away with the Israelites’ monopoly over of their cities, and their king was to be
God. They thought that God was for taken to exile (Amos 2:1-3).
them alone.
Amos condemned Damascus for their Judah was condemned for despising the
savage and cruelty against the people teachings of the Lord and breaking the

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