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Judgment on Israel’s Neighbors

(2 Kings 16:10-18; 2 Chronicles 28:16-21)

¹ These are the words of Amos, who was among the sheepherders^(a) of Tekoa—what he saw concerning Israel two years^(a) before the earthquake, in the days when Uzziah was king of Judah and Jeroboam son of Jehoash^(a) was king of Israel.² He said: “The LORD roars from Zion and raises His voice from Jerusalem; the pastures of the shepherds mourn, and the summit of Carmel withers.”

³ This is what the LORD says: “For three transgressions of Damascus, even four, I will not revoke My judgment^(a), because they threshed Gilead with sledges of iron.⁴ So I will send fire upon the house of Hazael to consume the citadels of Ben-hadad.⁵ I will break down the gates of Damascus and cut off the ruler^(a) of the Valley of Aven^(a) and him who wields the scepter from Beth-eden. The people of Aram will be exiled to Kir,” says the LORD.⁶ This is what the LORD says: “For three transgressions of Gaza, even four, I will not revoke My judgment, because they exiled a whole population to deliver them up to Edom.⁷ So I will send fire upon the walls of Gaza, to consume its citadels.⁸ I will cut off the ruler from Ashdod and him who wields the scepter from Ashkelon. And I will turn My hand against Ekron, and the remnant of the Philistines will perish,” says the Lord GOD.⁹ This is what the LORD says: “For three transgressions of Tyre, even four, I will not revoke My judgment, because they delivered up a whole congregation of exiles to Edom and broke a covenant of brotherhood.¹⁰ So I will send fire upon the walls of Tyre to consume its citadels.”¹¹ This is what the LORD says: “For three transgressions of Edom, even four, I will not revoke My judgment, because he pursued his brother with the sword and stifled all compassion; his anger raged continually, and his fury flamed incessantly.¹² So I will send fire upon Teman to consume the citadels of Bozrah.”¹³ This is what the LORD says: “For three transgressions of the Ammonites, even four, I will not revoke My judgment, because they ripped open the pregnant women of Gilead in order to enlarge their territory.¹⁴ So I will kindle a fire in the walls of Rabbah to consume its citadels amid war cries on the day of battle and a violent wind on the day of tempest.¹⁵ Their king^(a) will go into exile—he and his princes together,” says the LORD.