Philistine Boarder Examples Amos 6:2

The LORD through Amos the prophet pronounced judgment and punishment upon the people of Israel. In doing so, he pronounced “woe to them that are at ease in Zion” who “trust in the mountain of Samaria”, and even though they became “the chief of the nations”, this would not preserve them from God's wrath. In chapter six and verse two of his prophesy, Amos referred to the Philistine cities of “Calneh, Hamath and Gath” where we read:

Pass unto Calneh, and see; and from there go 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?

The verse began, “Pass unto Calneh, and see; and from there go to Hamath the great: then go down to Gath of the Philistines:” Amos began with the word, “pass” or “cross, march or go over” “unto Calneh” which means “fortress of Anu” and was “a city of Babylonia named among the cities of Nimrod”, “and see” which means “look at, inspect, perceive and consider”; “and from there go” or “depart, proceed, move and go away” “to Hamath” which means “fortress” and was “the principle city of upper Syria in the valley of the Orontes” “the great” or “the many, abounding, numerous, abundant and enough”: “then go down” or “descend, decline, march or sink down” “to Gath” which means “winepress” and was “one of the five royal or chief cities of the Philistines and the native city of Goliath” “of the Philistines” which means “immigrants” and was “the inhabitants of Philistia and descendants of Mizraim who immigrated from Caphtor to the western seacoast of Caanan”. The LORD desired for Israel to “look at and consider” these Philistine cities as a comparison o themselves.

The verse goes on to say, “be they better than these kingdoms? or their border greater than your border?” Amos continued, “be they better” or “more good, pleasant and agreeable” “than these kingdoms” which means “these dominions, reigns, sovereignties, kingdoms and realms”? “or their border” which refers to “their territories, boundaries and regions” “greater” or “more abounding, numerous and stronger” “than your boarder” which means “Israel's territory, region and boundary”. The LORD desired for Israel to consider whether these Babylonian and Philistine “kingdoms” and their “borders” were “better and greater” than their own.

When we think through these words of Amos, we see how the LORD used pagan cities as a comparison to Israel. Since they had rejected Him and thought themselves “first” over all other “nations”, God made them consider some of their surrounding Babylonian and Philistine neighbors. They were not “better” or “greater” than any of these heathen people. When we consider that God Almighty sent Jesus Christ to save everyone who believes in Him, there is no one “better” or “greater” than us, nor are we “better” and “greater” than they. Jesus Christ came into the world to “save” sinners of which we all are, and praise be to God that He sent His Son to all who will believe.

Next time we see Amos write about Israel putting “far away the evil day”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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