Amos 6:14 Study Bible: For, look, I will raise up against you a nation, house of Israel," says the LORD, the God of hosts; "and they will afflict you from Lebo Hamath to the brook of the Arabah."

◄ Amos 6:14 ►

For behold, I will raise up a nation against you, O house of Israel," declares the LORD, the God of Hosts, "and they will oppress you from Lebo-hamath to the Brook of the Arabah."

Study Bible

For behold
This phrase serves as a divine alert, calling the audience to pay attention to the forthcoming declaration. In Hebrew, "behold" is often used to emphasize the importance and certainty of what follows. It is a reminder that God's words are not to be taken lightly, as they carry the weight of divine authority and impending action.

I will raise up a nation against you
The phrase indicates God's sovereign control over the nations. The Hebrew verb for "raise up" suggests an active and deliberate action by God. Historically, this refers to the Assyrian Empire, which God used as an instrument of judgment against Israel. This highlights the theme of divine retribution and the fulfillment of prophetic warnings when a nation turns away from God's commandments.

O house of Israel
This term refers specifically to the Northern Kingdom of Israel, distinct from Judah. The "house" signifies not just a political entity but a covenant community that has strayed from its obligations to God. The use of "house" underscores the familial and covenantal relationship that Israel has violated, leading to their impending judgment.

declares the LORD, the God of Hosts
This declaration is made with the full authority of Yahweh, the covenant name of God, emphasizing His role as the commander of heavenly armies. "The God of Hosts" underscores His omnipotence and the certainty that His will shall be accomplished. It serves as a reminder of God's ultimate power over all creation, including the nations He raises up for His purposes.

and they will oppress you
The oppression mentioned is both a physical and spiritual consequence of Israel's disobedience. The Hebrew root for "oppress" conveys a sense of crushing or pressing down, indicating severe hardship and subjugation. This is a fulfillment of the covenant curses outlined in Deuteronomy, where disobedience leads to foreign domination.

from Lebo-hamath to the Brook of the Arabah
These geographical markers define the extent of Israel's territory, from the northern boundary at Lebo-hamath to the southern boundary at the Brook of the Arabah. This phrase signifies total domination and the complete subjugation of the land. Historically, it reflects the Assyrian conquest that led to the exile of the Northern Kingdom. It serves as a sobering reminder of the consequences of national sin and the loss of divine protection.

Persons / Places / Events

1. The LORD, the God of Hosts
This title emphasizes God's supreme authority and power over all heavenly armies, underscoring His ability to execute judgment.

2. House of Israel
Refers to the Northern Kingdom of Israel, which was often characterized by idolatry and social injustice during the time of Amos.

3. Lebo-hamath
A northern boundary of Israel, indicating the extent of the land that would experience oppression.

4. Brook of the Arabah
A southern boundary, suggesting the comprehensive nature of the coming judgment across the entire land of Israel.

5. A Nation
Though not specified in this verse, historically, this refers to Assyria, which God used as an instrument of judgment against Israel.

Teaching Points

God's Sovereignty in Judgment
God is sovereign and uses nations as instruments of His will. This should remind us of His ultimate control over world events and our need to trust in His plans.

The Consequences of Sin
Persistent sin and rebellion against God lead to judgment. We must examine our lives for areas of disobedience and seek repentance.

The Call to Social Justice
The context of Amos highlights Israel's social injustices. As believers, we are called to uphold justice and righteousness in our communities.

The Importance of Boundaries
The mention of geographical boundaries (Lebo-hamath to the Brook of the Arabah) signifies the totality of God's judgment. We should consider the boundaries in our lives that God has set for our protection and blessing.

Bible Study Questions

1. How does understanding God's sovereignty over nations affect your view of current world events?

2. In what ways can we identify and address areas of persistent sin in our lives to avoid God's discipline?

3. How can the church today actively promote social justice in a way that aligns with biblical principles?

4. What are some "boundaries" God has set in your life, and how do they serve as protection rather than restriction?

5. How can the account of Israel's judgment serve as a warning and a lesson for modern believers in maintaining faithfulness to God?

Connections to Other Scriptures

2 Kings 17
This chapter details the fall of the Northern Kingdom to Assyria, fulfilling the prophecy of Amos.

Isaiah 10
Describes Assyria as the rod of God's anger, used to discipline Israel, similar to the message in Amos.

Deuteronomy 28
Lists blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience, including oppression by foreign nations, which aligns with the judgment pronounced in Amos.

Sermons

God Chastising Nations by Nations	D. Thomas	Amos 6:14
The Hand of God Seen in National Retribution	J.R. Thomson	Amos 6:14

People

Amos, David, Hemath, Jacob, Joseph

Places

Ashteroth-karnaim, Brook of the Arabah, Calneh, Gath, Hamath, Lebo-hamath, Lo-debar, Samaria, Zion

Topics

Affirmation, Afflict, Arabah, Armies, Behold, Brook, Cruelly, Declares, Desert, Entering, Entrance, Hamath, Hemath, Hosts, Lebo, Nation, O, Oppress, Oppressed, Raise, Raising, River, Ruling, Says, Stir, Stream, Surely, Torrent, Valley, Wilderness

Dictionary of Bible Themes

Amos 6:12

4498 ploughing
4500 poison

Library

The Carcass and the Eagles
'Woe to them that are at ease in Zion, and trust in the mountain of Samaria, which are named chief of the nations, to whom the house of Israel came! 2. Pass ye unto Calneh, and see; and from thence go ye to Hamath the great; then go down to Gath of the Philistines: be they better than these kingdoms? or their border greater than your border? 3. Ye that put far away the evil day, and cause the seat of violence to come near; 4. That lie upon beds of ivory, and stretch themselves upon their couches, …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

June the Twenty-Fourth at Ease in Zion
"Woe to them that are at ease in Zion!" --AMOS vi. 1-7. I would be delivered from the folly of confusing ease and rest. There is an infinite difference between comforts and comfort. It is one thing to lie down on a luxurious couch: it is a very different thing to "lie down in green pastures" under the gracious shepherdliness of the Lord. The ease which men covet is so often a fruit of stupefaction, the dull product of sinful drugs, the wretched sluggishness of carnal gratification and excess. …
John Henry Jowett—My Daily Meditation for the Circling Year

A Sermon for the Time Present
I am going to begin with the last verse of the text, and work my way upwards. The first; head is, a trying day for God's people. They are sorrowful because a cloud is upon their solemn assembly, and the reproach thereof is a burden. Secondly, we will note a glorious ground of consolation. We read in the seventeenth verse, "The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing." And, thirdly, …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 33: 1887

Whether it is Proper to Christ to be Head of the Church?
Objection 1: It seems that it is not proper to Christ to be Head of the Church. For it is written (1 Kings 15:17): "When thou wast a little one in thy own eyes, wast thou not made the head of the tribes of Israel?" Now there is but one Church in the New and the Old Testament. Therefore it seems that with equal reason any other man than Christ might be head of the Church. Objection 2: Further, Christ is called Head of the Church from His bestowing grace on the Church's members. But it belongs to others …
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica

Of Christian Liberty.
1. Connection of this chapter with the previous one on Justification. A true knowledge of Christian liberty useful and necessary. 1. It purifies the conscience. 2. It checks licentiousness. 3. It maintains the merits of Christ, the truth of the Gospel, and the peace of the soul. 2. This liberty consists of three parts. First, Believers renouncing the righteousness of the law, look only to Christ. Objection. Answer, distinguishing between Legal and Evangelical righteousness. 3. This first part clearly …
John Calvin—The Institutes of the Christian Religion

Of Orders.
Of this sacrament the Church of Christ knows nothing; it was invented by the church of the Pope. It not only has no promise of grace, anywhere declared, but not a word is said about it in the whole of the New Testament. Now it is ridiculous to set up as a sacrament of God that which can nowhere be proved to have been instituted by God. Not that I consider that a rite practised for so many ages is to be condemned; but I would not have human inventions established in sacred things, nor should it be …
Martin Luther—First Principles of the Reformation

The Prophet Amos.
GENERAL PRELIMINARY REMARKS. It will not be necessary to extend our preliminary remarks on the prophet Amos, since on the main point--viz., the circumstances under which he appeared as a prophet--the introduction to the prophecies of Hosea may be regarded as having been written for those of Amos also. For, according to the inscription, they belong to the same period at which Hosea's prophetic ministry began, viz., the latter part of the reign of Jeroboam II., and after Uzziah had ascended the …
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament

Tiglath-Pileser iii. And the Organisation of the Assyrian Empire from 745 to 722 B. C.
TIGLATH-PILESER III. AND THE ORGANISATION OF THE ASSYRIAN EMPIRE FROM 745 to 722 B.C. FAILURE OF URARTU AND RE-CONQUEST Of SYRIA--EGYPT AGAIN UNITED UNDER ETHIOPIAN AUSPICES--PIONKHI--THE DOWNFALL OF DAMASCUS, OF BABYLON, AND OF ISRAEL. Assyria and its neighbours at the accession of Tiglath-pileser III.: progress of the Aramaeans in the basin of the Middle Tigris--Urartu and its expansion into the north of Syria--Damascus and Israel--Vengeance of Israel on Damascus--Jeroboam II.--Civilisation …
G. Maspero—History Of Egypt, Chaldaea, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, V 7

The Wrath of God
What does every sin deserve? God's wrath and curse, both in this life, and in that which is to come. Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire.' Matt 25: 41. Man having sinned, is like a favourite turned out of the king's favour, and deserves the wrath and curse of God. He deserves God's curse. Gal 3: 10. As when Christ cursed the fig-tree, it withered; so, when God curses any, he withers in his soul. Matt 21: 19. God's curse blasts wherever it comes. He deserves also God's wrath, which is …
Thomas Watson—The Ten Commandments

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