Ashdod, Ashkelon, Ekron and the Philistines Amos 1:8

Amos the prophet “herdsman” was commissioned by the LORD to pronounce judgment upon the enemies of Israel and Judah. Among them were “Damascus, Avan, Syria and Gaza”. In chapter one and verse eight of his prophesy, Amos included “Ashdod, Ashkelon, Ekron and the remnant of the Philistines” to be “cut off” where we read:

And I will cut off the inhabitant from Ashdod, and him that holdeth the scepter from Ashkelon, and I will turn my hand against Ekron: and the remnant of the Philistines shall perish, says the Lord GOD.

The verse begins, “And I will cut off the inhabitant from Ashdod, and him that holdeth the scepter from Ashkelon, and I will turn my hand against Ekron:” Amos began with the words, “and I will cut off” or “eliminate, kill, hew and cut down” “the inhabitant” which refers to “dweller, one who remains, sits and abides” “of Ashdod” which means “powerful” and was “a major Philistine city on the Mediterranean Sea west from Jerusalem and is modern Esdud”, “and him” or “the person whether male or female” “that holds” which means “grasps, supports, attains, lays hold of and seizes” “the scepter” or “rod, staff, branch, offshoot, club and shaft” “from Ashkelon” which means “the fire of infamy and I shall be weighed” and was “a maritime city of the Philistines which was southwest of Jerusalem”, “and I will turn” or “return, go back, restore, refresh and repair” “my hand” which means “the hand of strength and power” “against Ekron” which means “emigration or torn up by the roots” and was “the most northerly of the five principal cities of the Philistines which was located in the lowlands of Judah and later given to Dan”. “Ashdod, Ashkelon and Ekron” were destroyed as the LORD “cut off” all their “inhabitants”.

The verse continues, “ and the remnant of the Philistines shall perish, says the Lord GOD.” Amos added, “and the remnant” or “rest, residue, remainder and descendants” “of the Philistines” which means “immigrants” and was “inhabitants of Philistia which were descendants of Mizraim who immigrated from Caphtor (Crete?) to the western seacoast of Canaan” “shall perish” or “vanish, go astray, be destroyed and exterminated”, “says” or “utters, declares and proclaims” “the Lord God” which refers to “the title which was spoken in place of Yahweh in Jewish display of reverence whose name is Jehovah which is used primarily in the combination Lord Jehovah”. The entire group of people known as “the Philistines” were eliminated by the judgment of God.

When we consider these words of Amos, we see the complete judgment of God against the foes of Israel and Judah. “The Philistines” and their major cities were enemies of God's people, and the LORD would not permit them to escape His judgment for it. We must be aware that God shows His favor upon His people, and the same is true for His Son Jesus Christ. Lest we be found as “enemies” of God, let us align ourselves with Jesus and never give aid to those who oppose His people.

Next time Amos shares how God will judge “Tyrus”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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