Judgment upon Damascus, Aven and Syria Amos 1:5

As Amos “the herdsman” began his prophesy, he proclaimed how “the LORD” would “send a fire into the house of Hazael” and the result of this would “devour the palaces of Benhadad”. In chapter one and verse five of his prophesy, Amos shared about the judgment against “Damascus, Aven and Syria” where we read:

I will break also the bar of Damascus, and cut off the inhabitant from the plain of Aven, and him that holds the scepter from the house of Eden: and the people of Syria shall go into captivity unto Kir, says the LORD.

The verse begins, “I will break also the bar of Damascus, and cut off the inhabitant from the plain of Aven, and him that holds the scepter from the house of Eden:” Amos began with the words, “I will break” or “destroy, hurt, tear, give birth to, crush and quench” “also the bar” which means “gates, fortress and prison” “of Damascus” which means “silent is the sackcloth weaver” and was “an ancient trading city, capital of Syria which was located in the plain east of Hermon, 130 (205 km) miles northeast of Jerusalem”, “and cut off” or “cut down, hew, chew and destroy” “the inhabitant” which refers to “dwell, remain, sit and abide” “from the plain” or “valley and wide expanse between mountains” “of Aven” which means “vanity” and was “a name used contemptuously for idolatrous places of worship in Egypt such as On, Bethel or a town or region in Syria”, “and him” or “the person” “that holds” which means “grasps, supports, attains, lays hold of, attains and keeps” “the scepter” or “rod, staff, branch, offshoot, club and truncheon” “from the house” which refers to “dwelling, habitation, shelter or abode” “of Eden” which means “pleasure or house of delight” and was “the first habitat of man after the creation”. Though Damascus had “gates and fortresses” to protect them, “the LORD” would easily “destroy” them, and “Aven” and “Eden” would be stripped of their “dwellings” and “power”.

The verse goes on to say, “and the people of Syria shall go into captivity unto Kir, says the LORD.” Amos continued, “and the people” or “nation, persons, members, compatriots, country-men, kinsmen and kindred” “of Syria” which means “exalted” and was “the Syrian or Aramean people” “shall go into captivity” which means “uncover, remove, depart or go into exile” “unto Kir” which means “wall” and was “a place in Mesopotamia”, “says” or “utters, declares or proclaims” “the LORD” which refers to “Yehovah or Jehovah who is the existing One and the proper name for the one true God”. Not only would “Damascus”, “Aven” and “Eden” be affected by the judgment of “the LORD”, “Syria” would would be made “captive” by the people of “Kir”.

When we consider these words of Amos, we understand the “LORD's” widespread judgment against people who opposed Judah and Israel. When God's judgment comes, no one should desire to be in His path, and when God offers Jesus Christ to stand with us to prevent the inevitable, we should receive His offer with gladness of heart. May all who oppose God and His people beware, and may all who read these words receive Jesus Christ as Savior and LORD.

Next time Amos shares how God will proclaim judgment upon “Gaza”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.