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COMMENTARY ON THE BOOK OF AMOS
with Yair Davidiy [Amos 1:1] THE WORDS OF AMOS, WHO WAS AMONG THE HERDMEN OF TEKOA, WHICH HE SAW CONCERNING ISRAEL IN THE DAYS OF UZZIAH KING OF JUDAH, AND IN THE DAYS OF JEROBOAM THE SON OF JOASH KING OF ISRAEL, TWO YEARS BEFORE THE EARTHQUAKE. Among the Herdmen of Tekoa The Hebrew “nokdim” denotes sheep farmer though some say the term encompasses herders of cattle as well. Amos was also a keeper of sycamore trees the fruit of which could then be used for human consumption though some say it was given to the sheep. There is a tradition that Amos was actually rich, a kind of big “rancher.” Tekoa is in southern Judah though some say there was another place by the same name in the north. [Amos 1:2] AND HE SAID, THE LORD WILL ROAR FROM ZION, AND UTTER HIS VOICE FROM JERUSALEM; AND THE HABITATIONS OF THE SHEPHERDS SHALL MOURN, AND THE TOP OF CARMEL SHALL WITHER. [Amos 1:3] THUS SAITH THE LORD; FOR THREE TRANSGRESSIONS OF DAMASCUS, AND FOR FOUR, I WILL NOT TURN AWAY THE PUNISHMENT THEREOF; BECAUSE THEY HAVE THRESHED GILEAD WITH THRESHING INSTRUMENTS OF IRON: Damascus is Aram: the original city of Damascus was probably on the Euphrates and not the city called Damascus today which was further south. See “Lost Israelite Identity.” As stated we believe descendants of Gilead to be dominant in the west USA. [Amos 1:4] BUT I WILL SEND A FIRE INTO THE HOUSE OF HAZAEL, WHICH SHALL DEVOUR THE PALACES OF BENHADAD. [Amos 1:5] I WILL BREAK ALSO THE BAR OF DAMASCUS, AND CUT OFF THE INHABITANT FROM THE PLAIN OF AVEN, AND HIM THAT HOLDETH THE SCEPTRE FROM THE HOUSE OF EDEN: AND THE PEOPLE OF SYRIA SHALL GO INTO CAPTIVITY UNTO KIR, SAITH THE LORD. KIR was in the Caucasus region. [Amos 1:6] THUS SAITH THE LORD; FOR THREE TRANSGRESSIONS OF GAZA, AND FOR FOUR, I WILL NOT TURN AWAY THE PUNISHMENT THEREOF; BECAUSE THEY CARRIED AWAY CAPTIVE THE WHOLE CAPTIVITY, TO DELIVER THEM UP TO EDOM: Gaza was a major city of the Phillistines. A portion of the LTTS were forcibly taken overseas in ships by Phillistines and Phoenecians and re-settled. “Edom” was linked with Assyria. In modern terms Edom represents primarily Germany and Rome. I believe Edomites and Hittites to have also settled amongst the Japanese. It is interesting to note that the Japanese and Germans are the major fundraisers for the Palestinians. My father’s sister was a nurse for the British in the 2nd World War. I believe she was in the RAF like my father. She was on a ship that was taken captive by the Japanese off Singapore. She never returned from her captivity. [Amos 1:7] BUT I WILL SEND A FIRE ON THE WALL OF GAZA, WHICH SHALL DEVOUR THE PALACES THEREOF: [Amos 1:8] AND I WILL CUT OFF THE INHABITANT FROM ASHDOD, AND HIM THAT HOLDETH THE SCEPTRE FROM ASHKELON, AND I WILL TURN MINE HAND AGAINST EKRON: AND THE REMNANT OF THE PHILISTINES SHALL PERISH, SAITH THE LORD GOD. [Amos 1:9] THUS SAITH THE LORD; FOR THREE TRANSGRESSIONS OF TYRUS, AND FOR FOUR, I WILL NOT TURN AWAY THE PUNISHMENT THEREOF; BECAUSE THEY DELIVERED UP THE WHOLE CAPTIVITY TO EDOM, AND REMEMBERED NOT THE BROTHERLY COVENANT: TYRUS is Tyre the major Phoenician city. We saw the link of Ephraim with Tyre in Hosea. [Amos 1:10] BUT I WILL SEND A FIRE ON THE WALL OF TYRUS, WHICH SHALL DEVOUR THE PALACES THEREOF. [Amos 1:11] THUS SAITH THE LORD; FOR THREE TRANSGRESSIONS OF EDOM, AND FOR FOUR, I WILL NOT TURN AWAY THE PUNISHMENT THEREOF; BECAUSE HE DID PURSUE HIS BROTHER WITH THE SWORD, AND DID CAST OFF ALL PITY, AND HIS ANGER DID TEAR PERPETUALLY, AND HE KEPT HIS WRATH FOR EVER: [Amos 1:12] BUT I WILL SEND A FIRE UPON TEMAN, WHICH SHALL DEVOUR THE PALACES OF BOZRAH. Teman was one portion of Edom The region known as Edom contained only a small portion of the Edomite people. Cf. The extract from “Ephraim”: TEMAN was an ethnic group once scattered here and there throughout the Middle East. The Temenu had had a centre in Gozan in northern Syria on the Khabor River. This was also the area of the Mitanni of "Indo European" culture. These polities were destroyed and their inhabitants moved elsewhere. Later the Neo Assyrians were to deport Israelites to these same areas. At all events, the Temmenu were to become an important element in ancient Mesopotamia and Babylon and are assumed to have been Aramaic in language and culture. The "Tummana" (i.e. Temeni) were located in northern Anatolia in Hittite territory whence developed a migration to Germany. The early founders of Rome traditionally came from Anatolia and in the later Roman Empire the population of Rome was largely of Syrian, Anatolian, and related Eastern origin. In the Book of Maccabees and History of Josephus it is related how both the Spartans of Greece and Romans of Republican Rome established contact with the then-independent kingdom of Judah and how both claimed to be related to the Jews through a mutual descent from Abraham. Esau and Jacob were twin-brothers sons of Isaac son of Abraham. One authority states that the Romans owe their origins to the Albanes of Latinium in Peloponesus (southern Greece) descendants of the Laconian-Spartans and Ausones migrating to Italy where they intermixed with the Sabines and Ombrians. Alexander the Great King of Macedonia and onetime conqueror of much of the then known world claimed descent from the Temenidae descendants of Temenus one time king of Argos in Greece. The Temenidae came to Macedon in ca.650 b.c.e. Amongst the Thracian (modern Romania) and Anatolian (modern Turkey) peoples were the Edoni, and Odomants. "Who cut the skin of the membrum of the Odomants?" says a passage from Aristophanes apparently referring to circumcission. The Edons and Odomants are believed to have been descendants of Edom. The "Kiasos" were a mystical dynasty of the Edones and have a name recalling that of Kas or Kos the national god of Edom. Julius Kaesar (i.e. Caesar) gave his family name to the Rulers of Rome. In his honour were retained the titles of Kaiser and Czar. Alexander the Great, Caesar, and several of the Roman Emperors are considered by some to have been truly great men who contributed to the advance of civilisation. [Amos 1:13] THUS SAITH THE LORD; FOR THREE TRANSGRESSIONS OF THE CHILDREN OF AMMON, AND FOR FOUR, I WILL NOT TURN AWAY THE PUNISHMENT THEREOF; BECAUSE THEY HAVE RIPPED UP THE WOMEN WITH CHILD OF GILEAD, THAT THEY MIGHT ENLARGE THEIR BORDER: [Amos 1:14] BUT I WILL KINDLE A FIRE IN THE WALL OF RABBAH, AND IT SHALL DEVOUR THE PALACES THEREOF, WITH SHOUTING IN THE DAY OF BATTLE, WITH A TEMPEST IN THE DAY OF THE WHIRLWIND: [Amos 1:15] AND THEIR KING SHALL GO INTO CAPTIVITY, HE AND HIS PRINCES TOGETHER, SAITH THE LORD. Amos 2 & 3: Suggestions [Amos 2:1] THUS SAITH THE LORD; FOR THREE TRANSGRESSIONS OF MOAB, AND FOR FOUR, I WILL NOT TURN AWAY THE PUNISHMENT THEREOF; BECAUSE HE BURNED THE BONES OF THE KING OF EDOM INTO LIME: [Amos 2:2] BUT I WILL SEND A FIRE UPON MOAB, AND IT SHALL DEVOUR THE PALACES OF KIRIOTH: AND MOAB SHALL DIE WITH TUMULT, WITH SHOUTING, AND WITH THE SOUND OF THE TRUMPET: [Amos 2:3] AND I WILL CUT OFF THE JUDGE FROM THE MIDST THEREOF, AND WILL SLAY ALL THE PRINCES THEREOF WITH HIM, SAITH THE LORD. [Amos 2:4] THUS SAITH THE LORD; FOR THREE TRANSGRESSIONS OF JUDAH, AND FOR FOUR, I WILL NOT TURN AWAY THE PUNISHMENT THEREOF; BECAUSE THEY HAVE DESPISED THE LAW OF THE LORD, AND HAVE NOT KEPT HIS COMMANDMENTS, AND THEIR LIES CAUSED THEM TO ERR, AFTER THE WHICH THEIR FATHERS HAVE WALKED: As repeated several times these verses (according to the “Natziv” –a foremost commentator) have been used to emphasize the fact that “Judah” (the Jews) and Joseph (the LTTS) had different missions in world history. Judah was supposed to keep the law and when it did not it became culpable whereas “Israel” (the Ten Tribes) was supposed to be strong on social justice and reforming the world. When “Israel” fell down in its social responsibilities it too was guilty. [Amos 2:5] BUT I WILL SEND A FIRE UPON JUDAH, AND IT SHALL DEVOUR THE PALACES OF JERUSALEM. [Amos 2:6] THUS SAITH THE LORD; FOR THREE TRANSGRESSIONS OF ISRAEL, AND FOR FOUR, I WILL NOT TURN AWAY THE PUNISHMENT THEREOF; BECAUSE THEY SOLD THE RIGHTEOUS FOR SILVER, AND THE POOR FOR A PAIR OF SHOES; This verse has been explained in various ways, all of them pertinent. 1. Selling the poor and the righteous shows a breakdown in social justice for which the northern tribes were especially liable, see “The Tribes.” 2. According to a very ancient legend the brothers who sold Joseph to the Ishmaelites bought shoes with the money and their guilt is still borne by their descendants. Maybe in some future scenario the “brothers” (i.e. non-Anglo-Saxon peoples of Israelite heritage in part, such as France, Holland, etc) will again participate in the selling of Joseph to Ishmael (Arab oil?)? 3. THE POOR FOR A PAIR OF SHOES. “Shoes” in Hebrew is “na-alayim” which has the same root as the word for “Locks” but also can connote “heritages.” It has been suggested that at one stage the rich of ancient Israel began a kind of “enclosure” process (similar to that in England in the 1700s) and dispossessed poor people from their ancestral holdings and the verse is referring to this. After the “enclosure” in England there were waves of migration to the USA. It has been claimed that those who were dispossessed were of different type and origin from those who were not. This along with other factors confirms our belief that Tribal groups always tended to stick together and retain their cohesion even though on a superficial level they were intermingled for long periods with other peoples and/or tribes. This also occurs among non-Israelite peoples. I just saw an article on the overseas Chinese where it showed that they all came from one or two minor provinces of China and whole groups of clans (numbering millions of people) of them can be traced back to only a few small villages in specific regions. Until recently the overwhelming majority of people everywhere, (all over the world), usually only married people who lived within a few miles of them. The point is that the idea that everybody belongs to a tribe and that somehow or other the tribes to a degree have always managed to stay together or re-converge with each other after splitting up is statistically feasible. [Amos 2:7] THAT PANT AFTER THE DUST OF THE EARTH ON THE HEAD OF THE POOR, AND TURN ASIDE THE WAY OF THE MEEK: AND A MAN AND HIS FATHER WILL GO IN UNTO THE SAME MAID, TO PROFANE MY HOLY NAME: This is happening today, TV corrupts people, and so does modern society. Sexual immorality once permitted in one area causes a breakdown all over. Things were always bad but as long as people made an effort at restraint society got by. Now everything is permitted and everybody is suffering. At the same time just because a man cannot resist temptation in one area is no reason for him to give up in others. Remember the Kinsey Report? This was a “scientific” official Government-sponsored study that “proved” conclusively (!) that every second man and his dog were sexually immoral. This report was accepted as being “scientifically” proven and policies were adopted on the basis of it and people became less morally restrained because of it. The logic was that if everybody is doing “it” anyway or something like “it” why shouldn’t I? Or why should society bother with restraints? This is the effect the report had. With hindsight it may not seem logical but that is what the report did, it corrupted people. Extracts of the report were serialized in numerous tabloids at a time when other forms of media-expression were less prominent. With hindsight it may not seem logical but that is what the report did, it corrupted people. Now it has been made known that the report was written by a bunch of deviates, based on samples of deviates, and in effect (regarding most people), the report was unreliable and untrue! But the damage has been done. Millions of genuinely good idealistic people gave the energies of their youth and all their lives to Communism whose light went out with a splutter after 50 years of aggressive violent self-assertion. The same will happen to Evolution. The same will happen to attacks on the Bible. Some day all of us will have to give an account as to why we let ourselves be misled by any illusions we may have. [Amos 2:8] AND THEY LAY THEMSELVES DOWN UPON CLOTHES LAID TO PLEDGE BY EVERY ALTAR, AND THEY DRINK THE WINE OF THE CONDEMNED IN THE HOUSE OF THEIR GOD. “Wine of the condemned” can actually mean “wine of those who have been fined” or “financially victimised.” Wine applies to strong drink in general, maybe also to drugs. [Amos 2:9] YET DESTROYED I THE AMORITE BEFORE THEM, WHOSE HEIGHT WAS LIKE THE HEIGHT OF THE CEDARS, AND HE WAS STRONG AS THE OAKS; YET I DESTROYED HIS FRUIT FROM ABOVE, AND HIS ROOTS FROM BENEATH. The Amorites and some of the other Canaanites were tall people as confirmed by some recent archaeological finds. Some of the Canaanite peoples were blond BUT so were some of the Israelite Tribes. The Amorites were a Canaanite people. Canaanites went all over: Different peoples amongst whom Canaanites settled include: *Slavic peoples *Germans *North Africans *Caucasian Georgians *West Africans *in addition some claim other peoples as well. *I just saw a paper in which a Hungarian scholar claims that the Magyars (of Hungary) and the Sarmatian aristocracy of Poland were descended from the Canaanites. A British Israelite writer named Waddell about 70-80 years ago claimed the British were descended from a mixture of Israelite Tribes and Hittite- Canaanites. He thought this was a good thing since in his mind the Canaanites were true Aryans and that is what counted in his eyes. He was against the Bible, a pagan, and an anti-Semite. Waddell was something of a scholar and here and there did provide information and leads though mostly the sources he mentioned were untraceable (at least for me). The Kaiser of Germany also believed the Germans to be descended from Hittites. Houston Stuart Chamberlain was a British-born ideological historian in German service. He was once quite important. He identified the Amorites as Germans. In his mind this was a compliment to both of them. [Amos 2:10] ALSO I BROUGHT YOU UP FROM THE LAND OF EGYPT, AND LED YOU FORTY YEARS THROUGH THE WILDERNESS, TO POSSESS THE LAND OF THE AMORITE. [Amos 2:11] AND I RAISED UP OF YOUR SONS FOR PROPHETS, AND OF YOUR YOUNG MEN FOR NAZARITES. IS IT NOT EVEN THUS, O YE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL? SAITH THE LORD. [Amos 2:12] BUT YE GAVE THE NAZARITES WINE TO DRINK; AND COMMANDED THE PROPHETS, SAYING, PROPHESY NOT. [Amos 2:13] BEHOLD, I AM PRESSED UNDER YOU, AS A CART IS PRESSED THAT IS FULL OF SHEAVES. [Amos 2:14] THEREFORE THE FLIGHT SHALL PERISH FROM THE SWIFT, AND THE STRONG SHALL NOT STRENGTHEN HIS FORCE, NEITHER SHALL THE MIGHTY DELIVER HIMSELF: [Amos 2:15] NEITHER SHALL HE STAND THAT HANDLETH THE BOW; AND HE THAT IS SWIFT OF FOOT SHALL NOT DELIVER HIMSELF: NEITHER SHALL HE THAT RIDETH THE HORSE DELIVER HIMSELF. [Amos 2:16] AND HE THAT IS COURAGEOUS AMONG THE MIGHTY SHALL FLEE AWAY NAKED IN THAT DAY, SAITH THE LORD. [Amos 3:1] HEAR THIS WORD THAT THE LORD HATH SPOKEN AGAINST YOU, O CHILDREN OF ISRAEL, AGAINST THE WHOLE FAMILY WHICH I BROUGHT UP FROM THE LAND OF EGYPT, SAYING, [Amos 3:2] YOU ONLY HAVE I KNOWN OF ALL THE FAMILIES OF THE EARTH: THEREFORE I WILL PUNISH YOU FOR ALL YOUR INIQUITIES. [Amos 3:3] CAN TWO WALK TOGETHER, EXCEPT THEY BE AGREED? [Amos 3:4] WILL A LION ROAR IN THE FOREST, WHEN HE HATH NO PREY? WILL A YOUNG LION CRY OUT OF HIS DEN, IF HE HAVE TAKEN NOTHING? [Amos 3:5] CAN A BIRD FALL IN A SNARE UPON THE EARTH, WHERE NO GIN IS FOR HIM? SHALL ONE TAKE UP A SNARE FROM THE EARTH, AND HAVE TAKEN NOTHING AT ALL? [Amos 3:6] SHALL A TRUMPET BE BLOWN IN THE CITY, AND THE PEOPLE NOT BE AFRAID? SHALL THERE BE EVIL IN A CITY, AND THE LORD HATH NOT DONE IT? [Amos 3:7] SURELY THE LORD GOD WILL DO NOTHING, BUT HE REVEALETH HIS SECRET UNTO HIS SERVANTS THE PROPHETS. Note Well: Somewhere in some way everything that happens is revealed in Scripture. [Amos 3:8] THE LION HATH ROARED, WHO WILL NOT FEAR? THE LORD GOD HATH SPOKEN, WHO CAN BUT PROPHESY? [Amos 3:9] PUBLISH IN THE PALACES AT ASHDOD, AND IN THE PALACES IN THE LAND OF EGYPT, AND SAY, ASSEMBLE YOURSELVES UPON THE MOUNTAINS OF SAMARIA, AND BEHOLD THE GREAT TUMULTS IN THE MIDST THEREOF, AND THE OPPRESSED IN THE MIDST THEREOF. [Amos 3:10] FOR THEY KNOW NOT TO DO RIGHT, SAITH THE LORD, WHO STORE UP VIOLENCE AND ROBBERY IN THEIR PALACES. [Amos 3:11] THEREFORE THUS SAITH THE LORD GOD; AN ADVERSARY THERE SHALL BE EVEN ROUND ABOUT THE LAND; AND HE SHALL BRING DOWN THY STRENGTH FROM THEE, AND THY PALACES SHALL BE SPOILED. [Amos 3:12] THUS SAITH THE LORD; AS THE SHEPHERD TAKETH OUT OF THE MOUTH OF THE LION TWO LEGS, OR A PIECE OF AN EAR; SO SHALL THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL BE TAKEN OUT THAT DWELL IN SAMARIA IN THE CORNER OF A BED, AND IN DAMASCUS IN A COUCH. This verse was understood by the Sages (see Yalkut Shimeoni) to mean that all of the northern ten tribes would be exiled except for one-eighth (ca 12%) who would remain and either join up with Judah or in turn be exiled (again by the Assyrians) later. Damascus (as stated before) DID NOT MEAN Damascus of today but rather it meant a city by that name in the north on the Euphrates River as explained at length in “Lost Israelite Identity” by Yair Davidy. [Amos 3:13] HEAR YE, AND TESTIFY IN THE HOUSE OF JACOB, SAITH THE LORD GOD, THE GOD OF HOSTS, [Amos 3:14] THAT IN THE DAY THAT I SHALL VISIT THE TRANSGRESSIONS OF ISRAEL UPON HIM I WILL ALSO VISIT THE ALTARS OF BETHEL: AND THE HORNS OF THE ALTAR SHALL BE CUT OFF, AND FALL TO THE GROUND. [Amos 3:15] AND I WILL SMITE THE WINTER HOUSE WITH THE SUMMER HOUSE; AND THE HOUSES OF IVORY SHALL PERISH, AND THE GREAT HOUSES SHALL HAVE AN END, SAITH THE LORD. “AND THE HOUSES OF IVORY” archaeologists have discovered in the excavations of Samaria evidence that local craftsmen produced ivory carvings of a very high standard. Also in excavations of Assyrian palaces works of ivory (taken as booty) produced in Samaria have been found. The ivory was obtained from elephants that at that time existed on the north Syrian plains. The tusks of walrus obtained from the seacoasts of Scandinavia were also employed according to Phoenician inscriptions from Tyre. The Phoenician-North Israelite art style is one of the factors linking the northern Israelites to the Scythians and even to the Anglo-Saxons. [See “Lost Israelite Identity” for details.] “Houses of Ivory” evidently means houses of stone or wood with inlaid ivory decorations all over the walls. Or it could mean the houses of ivory carving productions that served as a source of income. [Amos 4:1] HEAR THIS WORD, YE KINE OF BASHAN, THAT ARE IN THE MOUNTAIN OF SAMARIA, WHICH OPPRESS THE POOR, WHICH CRUSH THE NEEDY, WHICH SAY TO THEIR MASTERS, BRING, AND LET US DRINK. BASHAN was east of the Jordan in present-day Syria. It was also known as “Basilia” which name was later applied to Scandinavia which was settled by the Goths from Gad who together with half-Menasseh and Reuben had dwelt in Bashan. It was cattle-raising country. The northern Israelites were great cattle and sheep raisers. “KINE OF BASHAN” means, the women who drive their husbands crazy for more money and cause their husbands to cheat and oppress others in order to meet their wives’ demands. [Amos 4:2] THE LORD GOD HATH SWORN BY HIS HOLINESS, THAT, LO, THE DAYS SHALL COME UPON YOU, THAT HE WILL TAKE YOU AWAY WITH HOOKS, AND YOUR POSTERITY WITH FISHHOOKS Incorrectly translated, as explained in Lost Israelite Identity. The Hebrew has “Tzinot” meaning fleets of ships or “great ships” not HOOKS And “Sirot-dugah” meaning “fishing-boats” not FISHHOOKS! I have explained at length that this verse is referring to a portion of the exiles having been taken across the sea by ship to Spain and elsewhere. One explanation of “Sirot-dugah” (the “Malbim”) appears to say that they will not necessarily be taken away in fishing-boats but rather packed into boats like fish, we would say like “sardines”. [Amos 4:3] AND YE SHALL GO OUT AT THE BREACHES, EVERY COW AT THAT WHICH IS BEFORE HER; AND YE SHALL CAST THEM INTO THE PALACE, SAITH THE LORD. “INTO THE PALACE” in Hebrew is “Harmonah” meaning to the Mountains of Mannae and Armenia as explained in Lost Israelite Identity and justified by the Aramaic (Talmudically-affirmed) translation of Yehonathan. [Amos 4:4] COME TO BETHEL, AND TRANSGRESS; AT GILGAL MULTIPLY TRANSGRESSION; AND BRING YOUR SACRIFICES EVERY MORNING, AND YOUR TITHES AFTER THREE YEARS: [Amos 4:5] AND OFFER A SACRIFICE OF THANKSGIVING WITH LEAVEN, AND PROCLAIM AND PUBLISH THE FREE OFFERINGS: FOR THIS LIKETH YOU, O YE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL, SAITH THE LORD GOD. [Amos 4:6] AND I ALSO HAVE GIVEN YOU CLEANNESS OF TEETH IN ALL YOUR CITIES, AND WANT OF BREAD IN ALL YOUR PLACES: YET HAVE YE NOT RETURNED UNTO ME, SAITH THE LORD. [Amos 4:7] AND ALSO I HAVE WITHHOLDEN THE RAIN FROM YOU, WHEN THERE WERE YET THREE MONTHS TO THE HARVEST: AND I CAUSED IT TO RAIN UPON ONE CITY, AND CAUSED IT NOT TO RAIN UPON ANOTHER CITY: ONE PIECE WAS RAINED UPON, AND THE PIECE WHEREUPON IT RAINED NOT WITHERED. These are forewarnings. When some misfortune strikes a person even to a small degree he should examine his behavior. Perhaps he is being forewarned? [Amos 4:8] SO TWO OR THREE CITIES WANDERED UNTO ONE CITY, TO DRINK WATER; BUT THEY WERE NOT SATISFIED: YET HAVE YE NOT RETURNED UNTO ME, SAITH THE LORD. [Amos 4:9] I HAVE SMITTEN YOU WITH BLASTING AND MILDEW: WHEN YOUR GARDENS AND YOUR VINEYARDS AND YOUR FIG TREES AND YOUR OLIVE TREES INCREASED, THE PALMERWORM DEVOURED THEM: YET HAVE YE NOT RETURNED UNTO ME, SAITH THE LORD. [Amos 4:10] I HAVE SENT AMONG YOU THE PESTILENCE AFTER THE MANNER OF EGYPT: YOUR YOUNG MEN HAVE I SLAIN WITH THE SWORD, AND HAVE TAKEN AWAY YOUR HORSES; AND I HAVE MADE THE STINK OF YOUR CAMPS TO COME UP UNTO YOUR NOSTRILS: YET HAVE YE NOT RETURNED UNTO ME, SAITH THE LORD. [Amos 4:11] I HAVE OVERTHROWN SOME OF YOU, AS GOD OVERTHREW SODOM AND GOMORRAH, AND YE WERE AS A FIREBRAND PLUCKED OUT OF THE BURNING: YET HAVE YE NOT RETURNED UNTO ME, SAITH THE LORD. [Amos 4:12] THEREFORE THUS WILL I DO UNTO THEE, O ISRAEL: AND BECAUSE I WILL DO THIS UNTO THEE, PREPARE TO MEET THY GOD, O ISRAEL. [Amos 4:13] FOR, LO, HE THAT FORMETH THE MOUNTAINS, AND CREATETH THE WIND, AND DECLARETH UNTO MAN WHAT IS HIS THOUGHT, THAT MAKETH THE MORNING DARKNESS, AND TREADETH UPON THE HIGH PLACES OF THE EARTH, THE LORD, THE GOD OF HOSTS, IS HIS NAME. “DECLARETH UNTO MAN WHAT IS HIS THOUGHT”: Even in our innermost thoughts we should try to submit ourselves to God. This is not difficult to do just difficult to keep doing. [Amos 5:1] HEAR YE THIS WORD WHICH I TAKE UP AGAINST YOU, EVEN A LAMENTATION, O HOUSE OF ISRAEL. [Amos 5:2] THE VIRGIN OF ISRAEL IS FALLEN; SHE SHALL NO MORE RISE: SHE IS FORSAKEN UPON HER LAND; THERE IS NONE TO RAISE HER UP. [Amos 5:3] FOR THUS SAITH THE LORD GOD; THE CITY THAT WENT OUT BY A THOUSAND SHALL LEAVE AN HUNDRED, AND THAT WHICH WENT FORTH BY AN HUNDRED SHALL LEAVE TEN, TO THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL. Nine out of ten disappear: This prophecy could be referring to: 1. The whole of Israel, both Judah and the Ten Tribes, in which case after the TTs (and part of Judah) are exiled it may well be that that portion of Judah that remained from the Assyrian Exile accounted for only 10% of the total population of all Israel. OR 2. Only the northern tribes a small portion of whom did remain after the Assyrian Exile. 3. Some event in the future. [Amos 5:4] FOR THUS SAITH THE LORD UNTO THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL, SEEK YE ME, AND YE SHALL LIVE: [Amos 5:5] BUT SEEK NOT BETHEL, NOR ENTER INTO GILGAL, AND PASS NOT TO BEERSHEBA: FOR GILGAL SHALL SURELY GO INTO CAPTIVITY, AND BETHEL SHALL COME TO NOUGHT. BEERSHEBA was in the south, in the territory of Simeon which is usually assumed to have been under control of Judah BUT both archaeology and the Bible suggest that somehow it was actually counted with northern Israel! A recent article in “Tribesman” discussed this. [Amos 5:6] SEEK THE LORD, AND YE SHALL LIVE; LEST HE BREAK OUT LIKE FIRE IN THE HOUSE OF JOSEPH, AND DEVOUR IT, AND THERE BE NONE TO QUENCH IT IN BETHEL. “THE HOUSE OF JOSEPH” is referring to the northern Ten tribes of Israel. [Amos 5:7] YE WHO TURN JUDGMENT TO WORMWOOD, AND LEAVE OFF RIGHTEOUSNESS IN THE EARTH, [Amos 5:8] SEEK HIM THAT MAKETH THE SEVEN STARS AND ORION, AND TURNETH THE SHADOW OF DEATH INTO THE MORNING, AND MAKETH THE DAY DARK WITH NIGHT: THAT CALLETH FOR THE WATERS OF THE SEA, AND POURETH THEM OUT UPON THE FACE OF THE EARTH: THE LORD IS HIS NAME: [Amos 5:9] THAT STRENGTHENETH THE SPOILED AGAINST THE STRONG, SO THAT THE SPOILED SHALL COME AGAINST THE FORTRESS. [Amos 5:10] THEY HATE HIM THAT REBUKETH IN THE GATE, AND THEY ABHOR HIM THAT SPEAKETH UPRIGHTLY. AMOS 5:11] FORASMUCH THEREFORE AS YOUR TREADING IS UPON THE POOR, AND YE TAKE FROM HIM BURDENS OF WHEAT: YE HAVE BUILT HOUSES OF HEWN STONE, BUT YE SHALL NOT DWELL IN THEM; YE HAVE PLANTED PLEASANT VINEYARDS, BUT YE SHALL NOT DRINK WINE OF THEM. [Amos 5:12] FOR I KNOW YOUR MANIFOLD TRANSGRESSIONS AND YOUR MIGHTY SINS: THEY AFFLICT THE JUST, THEY TAKE A BRIBE, AND THEY TURN ASIDE THE POOR IN THE GATE FROM THEIR RIGHT. [Amos 5:13] THEREFORE THE PRUDENT SHALL KEEP SILENCE IN THAT TIME; FOR IT IS AN EVIL TIME. [Amos 5:14] SEEK GOOD, AND NOT EVIL, THAT YE MAY LIVE: AND SO THE LORD, THE GOD OF HOSTS, SHALL BE WITH YOU, AS YE HAVE SPOKEN. [Amos 5:15] HATE THE EVIL, AND LOVE THE GOOD, AND ESTABLISH JUDGMENT IN THE GATE: IT MAY BE THAT THE LORD GOD OF HOSTS WILL BE GRACIOUS UNTO THE REMNANT OF JOSEPH. Note here: THE REMNANT OF JOSEPH is being exhorted to ESTABLISH JUDGMENT IN THE GATE – this strengthens our observation that JUSTICE and everything connected with it is what is required of the LTTS. [Amos 5:16] THEREFORE THE LORD, THE GOD OF HOSTS, THE LORD, SAITH THUS; WAILING SHALL BE IN ALL STREETS; AND THEY SHALL SAY IN ALL THE HIGHWAYS, ALAS! ALAS! AND THEY SHALL CALL THE HUSBANDMAN TO MOURNING, AND SUCH AS ARE SKILFUL OF LAMENTATION TO WAILING. [Amos 5:17] AND IN ALL VINEYARDS SHALL BE WAILING: FOR I WILL PASS THROUGH THEE, SAITH THE LORD. [Amos 5:18] WOE UNTO YOU THAT DESIRE THE DAY OF THE LORD! TO WHAT END IS IT FOR YOU? THE DAY OF THE LORD IS DARKNESS, AND NOT LIGHT. [Amos 5:20] SHALL NOT THE DAY OF THE LORD BE DARKNESS, AND NOT LIGHT? EVEN VERY DARK, AND NO BRIGHTNESS IN IT? [Amos 5:21] I HATE, I DESPISE YOUR FEAST DAYS, AND I WILL NOT SMELL IN YOUR SOLEMN ASSEMBLIES. [Amos 5:22] THOUGH YE OFFER ME BURNT OFFERINGS AND YOUR MEAT OFFERINGS, I WILL NOT ACCEPT THEM: NEITHER WILL I REGARD THE PEACE OFFERINGS OF YOUR FAT BEASTS. [Amos 5:23] TAKE THOU AWAY FROM ME THE NOISE OF THY SONGS; FOR I WILL NOT HEAR THE MELODY OF THY VIOLS. AMOS 5:24] BUT LET JUDGMENT RUN DOWN AS WATERS, AND RIGHTEOUSNESS AS A MIGHTY STREAM. [Amos 5:25] HAVE YE OFFERED UNTO ME SACRIFICES AND OFFERINGS IN THE WILDERNESS FORTY YEARS, O HOUSE OF ISRAEL? [Amos 5:26] BUT YE HAVE BORNE THE TABERNACLE OF YOUR MOLOCH AND CHIUN YOUR IMAGES, THE STAR OF YOUR GOD, WHICH YE MADE TO YOURSELVES. “TABERNACLE OF YOUR MOLOCH” is translated from the Hebrew, “Siccuth Malcecem” which could be translated as “Siccuth your king.” [Amos 5:27] THEREFORE WILL I CAUSE YOU TO GO INTO CAPTIVITY BEYOND DAMASCUS, SAITH THE LORD, WHOSE NAME IS THE GOD OF HOSTS. “BEYOND DAMASCUS” means beyond some place in the north on the Euphrates River – not the present-day Damascus. Amos 6 [Amos 6:1] 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! I do not know how this passage pulls together. BUT In modern present-day terms it is pertinent: Samaria was the region to the north. Samaria was the name of a city that served for a good period as the capital of the northern kingdom so the name is used synonymously for the whole northern kingdom of ‘Israel” to which the Ten Tribes belonged. Samaria was either in the territory of Menaseh or Issachar. At all events “Samaria” means the northern tribes and in prophetical terms may apply to the USA. [Amos 6:1] WOE TO THEM THAT ARE AT EASE IN ZION, i.e. the Jewish Zionists in Israel. AND TRUST IN THE MOUNTAIN OF SAMARIA, i.e. the Lost Tribes in America (Samaria = Joseph, Menasseh): The Prophets (and Talmud, etc) repeat and emphasize that Judah and “Israel” (LTTS) are destined to be re-united but very often the prophets also frequently warn Judah AGAINST too close an association with “Israel.” The present day Jews in Israel put too much trust in the USA who indeed are their only friend and support but have let them down in the past and are liable to let them down again. Billy Clinton is claimed to have connived at Ehud Barak receiving an illegal 80 million dollars in order to confirm his election. Now Ehud Barak is giving away much of Judah and Samaria and the Golan to the Arabs who are backed financially by Germany and Japan. Somebody could somehow make an issue of this in a normal country could they not? The major newspapaers in Israel are also owned by adverse interests. I just attended a demonstration against giving up the Golan. It was the biggest demonstration ever held in The Kings of Israel Square (now renamed Rabin Circle) but the two major newspapers said that only 150,000 attended. When a smaller demonstration (some years ago) was held in the same place for something the “liberals” symparthised with they said 500,000 plus were there. American journals are even worse sometimes; ‘Time’ magazine is influenced by oil interests and has covert Nazis on its staff or editorial board that sometimes influence its reporting and choice of articles. WHICH ARE NAMED CHIEF OF THE NATIONS, The USA, Britain, and France are all in their own ways “Chief of the nations.” TO WHOM THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL CAME! Much of the LTTS is now in America (=Samaria?). [Amos 6:2] 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? [Amos 6:3] YE THAT PUT FAR AWAY THE EVIL DAY, AND CAUSE THE SEAT OF VIOLENCE TO COME NEAR; [Amos 6:4] THAT LIE UPON BEDS OF IVORY, AND STRETCH THEMSELVES UPON THEIR COUCHES, AND EAT THE LAMBS OUT OF THE FLOCK, AND THE CALVES OUT OF THE MIDST OF THE STALL; [Amos 6:5] THAT CHANT TO THE SOUND OF THE VIOL, AND INVENT TO THEMSELVES INSTRUMENTS OF MUSICK, LIKE DAVID; [Amos 6:6] THAT DRINK WINE IN BOWLS, AND ANOINT THEMSELVES WITH THE CHIEF OINTMENTS: BUT THEY ARE NOT GRIEVED FOR THE AFFLICTION OF JOSEPH. [Amos 6:7] THEREFORE NOW SHALL THEY GO CAPTIVE WITH THE FIRST THAT GO CAPTIVE, AND THE BANQUET OF THEM THAT STRETCHED THEMSELVES SHALL BE REMOVED. [Amos 6:8] THE LORD GOD HATH SWORN BY HIMSELF, SAITH THE LORD THE GOD OF HOSTS, I ABHOR THE EXCELLENCY OF JACOB, AND HATE HIS PALACES: THEREFORE WILL I DELIVER UP THE CITY WITH ALL THAT IS THEREIN. [Amos 6:9] AND IT SHALL COME TO PASS, IF THERE REMAIN TEN MEN IN ONE HOUSE, THAT THEY SHALL DIE. [Amos 6:10] AND A MAN'S UNCLE SHALL TAKE HIM UP, AND HE THAT BURNETH HIM, TO BRING OUT THE BONES OUT OF THE HOUSE, AND SHALL SAY UNTO HIM THAT IS BY THE SIDES OF THE HOUSE, IS THERE YET ANY WITH THEE? AND HE SHALL SAY, NO. THEN SHALL HE SAY, HOLD THY TONGUE: FOR WE MAY NOT MAKE MENTION OF THE NAME OF THE LORD. When the Assyrians exiled the LTTS they forced them to abandon their religion and adopt the Assyrian one. Some sources claim the Assyrians were tolerant in religious matters but this appears to be inaccurate and the Assyrians themselves make mention of their coercing others. The LTTS were already probably more than half-pagan at the time of their exile. [Amos 6:11] FOR, BEHOLD, THE LORD COMMANDETH, AND HE WILL SMITE THE GREAT HOUSE WITH BREACHES, AND THE LITTLE HOUSE WITH CLEFTS. [Amos 6:12] SHALL HORSES RUN UPON THE ROCK? WILL ONE PLOW THERE WITH OXEN? FOR YE HAVE TURNED JUDGMENT INTO GALL, AND THE FRUIT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS INTO HEMLOCK: [Amos 6:13] YE WHICH REJOICE IN A THING OF NOUGHT, WHICH SAY, HAVE WE NOT TAKEN TO US HORNS BY OUR OWN STRENGTH? These are considered to plays on words: A THING OF NOUGHT = lodebar a city, HORNS = a city and province east of the Jordan, in Hebrew “Karnayim”. Several Hebrew place names have this root “keren” (meaning horn), it also meant horn in Celtic British and many Celtic place names incorporated the root as described in “Lost Israelite Identity.” Cornwall in Britain still retain the root “corn” (= keren = horn). AMOS 6:14] BUT, BEHOLD, I WILL RAISE UP AGAINST YOU A NATION, O HOUSE OF ISRAEL, SAITH THE LORD THE GOD OF HOSTS; AND THEY SHALL AFFLICT YOU FROM THE ENTERING IN OF HEMATH UNTO THE RIVER OF THE WILDERNESS. [Amos 7:1] THUS HATH THE LORD GOD SHEWED UNTO ME; AND, BEHOLD, HE FORMED GRASSHOPPERS IN THE BEGINNING OF THE SHOOTING UP OF THE LATTER GROWTH; AND, LO, IT WAS THE LATTER GROWTH AFTER THE KING’S MOWINGS. [Amos 7:2] AND IT CAME TO PASS, THAT WHEN THEY HAD MADE AN END OF EATING THE GRASS OF THE LAND, THEN I SAID, O LORD GOD, FORGIVE, I BESEECH THEE: BY WHOM SHALL JACOB ARISE? FOR HE IS SMALL. [Amos 7:3] THE LORD REPENTED FOR THIS: IT SHALL NOT BE, SAITH THE LORD. [Amos 7:4] THUS HATH THE LORD GOD SHEWED UNTO ME: AND, BEHOLD, THE LORD GOD CALLED TO CONTEND BY FIRE, AND IT DEVOURED THE GREAT DEEP, AND DID EAT UP A PART. [Amos 7:5] THEN SAID I, O LORD GOD, CEASE, I BESEECH THEE: BY WHOM SHALL JACOB ARISE? FOR HE IS SMALL. [Amos 7:6] THE LORD REPENTED FOR THIS: THIS ALSO SHALL NOT BE, SAITH THE LORD GOD. [Amos 7:7] THUS HE SHEWED ME: AND, BEHOLD, THE LORD STOOD UPON A WALL MADE BY A PLUMBLINE, WITH A PLUMBLINE IN HIS HAND. [Amos 7:8] AND THE LORD SAID UNTO ME, AMOS, WHAT SEEST THOU? AND I SAID, A PLUMBLINE. THEN SAID THE LORD, BEHOLD, I WILL SET A PLUMBLINE IN THE MIDST OF MY PEOPLE ISRAEL: I WILL NOT AGAIN PASS BY THEM ANY MORE: [Amos 7:9] AND THE HIGH PLACES OF ISAAC SHALL BE DESOLATE, AND THE SANCTUARIES OF ISRAEL SHALL BE LAID WASTE; AND I WILL RISE AGAINST THE HOUSE OF JEROBOAM WITH THE SWORD. “THE HIGH PLACES OF ISAAC” Amos uses ISAAC as a term for the northern tribes, later derivations of this term such as Ishkuza, Zohak, Saka, would be applied to the Scythians. [Amos 7:10] THEN AMAZIAH THE PRIEST OF BETHEL SENT TO JEROBOAM KING OF ISRAEL, SAYING, AMOS HATH CONSPIRED AGAINST THEE IN THE MIDST OF THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL: THE LAND IS NOT ABLE TO BEAR ALL HIS WORDS. [Amos 7:11] FOR THUS AMOS SAITH, JEROBOAM SHALL DIE BY THE SWORD, AND ISRAEL SHALL SURELY BE LED AWAY CAPTIVE OUT OF THEIR OWN LAND. Amos prophesied that the northern Ten tribes would be exiled. [Amos 7:12] ALSO AMAZIAH SAID UNTO AMOS, O THOU SEER, GO, FLEE THEE AWAY INTO THE LAND OF JUDAH, AND THERE EAT BREAD, AND PROPHESY THERE: [Amos 7:13] BUT PROPHESY NOT AGAIN ANY MORE AT BETHEL: FOR IT IS THE KING'S CHAPEL, AND IT IS THE KING’S COURT. Bethel is Beit-el north of Jerusalem. Like all of Israel it is a very beautiful area. For a time I lived there. I think there is some significance in the fact that I lived in such places as Shiloh, the Old City of Jerusalem, Hebron, Susia, and Beth-el, and the New City of Jerusalem whilst I was researching the works I have authored. Remember the satellite picture with the Hebrew names seen from above of Luz, Ephraim, and the name of God? These were all centered around Bethel. Bethel was on the border between Benjamin and Judah. [Amos 7:14] THEN ANSWERED AMOS, AND SAID TO AMAZIAH, I WAS NO PROPHET, NEITHER WAS I A PROPHET’S SON; BUT I WAS AN HERDMAN, AND A GATHERER OF SYCOMORE FRUIT: [Amos 7:15] AND THE LORD TOOK ME AS I FOLLOWED THE FLOCK, AND THE LORD SAID UNTO ME, GO, PROPHESY UNTO MY PEOPLE ISRAEL. [Amos 7:16] NOW THEREFORE HEAR THOU THE WORD OF THE LORD: THOU SAYEST, PROPHESY NOT AGAINST ISRAEL, AND DROP NOT THY WORD AGAINST THE HOUSE OF ISAAC. “THE HOUSE OF ISAAC” meaning the northern Ten Tribes. Spelled with an “s” (or “sh”) sound (according to the northern dialect) instead of the usual “Tsedeh”. This makes the transition from “Isaac” to Saxe” or “Saxon” as in “Anglo-Saxon” much more feasible. People sometimes criticise these types of derivation but they are reasonable. “Sak” in the Iranian area was a recognised nick-name for somebody named Isaac as well as being a term applied to the Scythians. We have also shown in our works that the Scythians revered an ancestral figure named after Joseph. We may not have expressed ourselves as well as we could have but the facts are there and cannot be easily dismissed. [Amos 7:17] THEREFORE THUS SAITH THE LORD; THY WIFE SHALL BE AN HARLOT IN THE CITY, AND THY SONS AND THY DAUGHTERS SHALL FALL BY THE SWORD, AND THY LAND SHALL BE DIVIDED BY LINE; AND THOU SHALT DIE IN A POLLUTED LAND: AND ISRAEL SHALL SURELY GO INTO CAPTIVITY FORTH OF HIS LAND. The Commentators emphasize that if we live good lives we will be blessed in the long run. This is true. You can bring many examples of good people who apparently suffered needlessly. However, if you look at things over several generations in most cases you see that families that were religious were better off in numerous ways. In the end, all the promises of the Bible come true. [Amos 8:1] THUS HATH THE LORD GOD SHEWED UNTO ME: AND BEHOLD A BASKET OF SUMMER FRUIT. [Amos 8:2] AND HE SAID, AMOS, WHAT SEEST THOU? AND I SAID, A BASKET OF SUMMER FRUIT. THEN SAID THE LORD UNTO ME, THE END IS COME UPON MY PEOPLE OF ISRAEL; I WILL NOT AGAIN PASS BY THEM ANY MORE. This entails a play on words the same word translated as “summer fruit” (“Kaitz”) in Hebrew also means “end.” [Amos 8:3] AND THE SONGS OF THE TEMPLE SHALL BE HOWLINGS IN THAT DAY SAITH THE LORD GOD: THERE SHALL BE MANY DEAD BODIES IN EVERY PLACE; THEY SHALL CAST THEM FORTH WITH SILENCE. [Amos 8:4] HEAR THIS, O YE THAT SWALLOW UP THE NEEDY, EVEN TO MAKE THE POOR OF THE LAND TO FAIL, [Amos 8:5] SAYING, WHEN WILL THE NEW MOON BE GONE, THAT WE MAY SELL CORN? AND THE SABBATH, THAT WE MAY SET FORTH WHEAT, MAKING THE EPHAH SMALL, AND THE SHEKEL GREAT, AND FALSIFYING THE BALANCES BY DECEIT? [Amos 8:6] THAT WE MAY BUY THE POOR FOR SILVER, AND THE NEEDY FOR A PAIR OF SHOES; YEA, AND SELL THE REFUSE OF THE WHEAT? [Amos 8:7] THE LORD HATH SWORN BY THE EXCELLENCY OF JACOB, SURELY I WILL NEVER FORGET ANY OF THEIR WORKS. [Amos 8:8] SHALL NOT THE LAND TREMBLE FOR THIS, AND EVERY ONE MOURN THAT DWELLETH THEREIN? AND IT SHALL RISE UP WHOLLY AS A FLOOD; AND IT SHALL BE CAST OUT AND DROWNED, AS BY THE FLOOD OF EGYPT. [Amos 8:9] AND IT SHALL COME TO PASS IN THAT DAY, SAITH THE LORD GOD, THAT I WILL CAUSE THE SUN TO GO DOWN AT NOON, AND I WILL DARKEN THE EARTH IN THE CLEAR DAY: [Amos 8:10] AND I WILL TURN YOUR FEASTS INTO MOURNING, AND ALL YOUR SONGS INTO LAMENTATION; AND I WILL BRING UP SACKCLOTH UPON ALL LOINS, AND BALDNESS UPON EVERY HEAD; AND I WILL MAKE IT AS THE MOURNING OF AN ONLY SON, AND THE END THEREOF AS A BITTER DAY. [Amos 8:11] BEHOLD, THE DAYS COME, SAITH THE LORD GOD, THAT I WILL SEND A FAMINE IN THE LAND, NOT A FAMINE OF BREAD, NOR A THIRST FOR WATER, BUT OF HEARING THE WORDS OF THE LORD: [Amos 8:12] AND THEY SHALL WANDER FROM SEA TO SEA, AND FROM THE NORTH EVEN TO THE EAST, THEY SHALL RUN TO AND FRO TO SEEK THE WORD OF THE LORD, AND SHALL NOT FIND IT. [Amos 8:13] IN THAT DAY SHALL THE FAIR VIRGINS AND YOUNG MEN FAINT FOR THIRST? [Amos 8:14] THEY THAT SWEAR BY THE SIN OF SAMARIA, AND SAY, THY GOD, O DAN, LIVETH; AND, THE MANNER OF BEERSHEBA LIVETH; EVEN THEY SHALL FALL, AND NEVER RISE UP AGAIN. “THEY THAT SWEAR BY THE SIN OF SAMARIA”, = the idols of the USA? “AND SAY, THY GOD, O DAN, = of Scandinavia? LIVETH; “AND, THE MANNER OF BEERSHEBA LIVETH; = of the Irish? “EVEN THEY SHALL FALL, AND NEVER RISE UP AGAIN. The LTTs shall no longer practice idolatry. So far, it may not seem that Amos has told us much about the LTTs but he has confirmed much that is self-evident. The northern Tribes and Judah are separate entities. The LTTs were to be exiled completely and separately. The LTTs are powerful, -more powerful than Judah- and Judah is advised not to draw too closely to them until the end times or until they change. The LTTs are also idolatrous. This is the message of Amos and the other prophets, we may not like it but this is the apparent situation. The LTTs are referred to as “House of Isaac” reminding us of the evident meaning of “Saxon” in Anglo-Saxon. Chapter Nine is problematic. The Abarbanel understands all of Amos up to chapter nine to be speaking of the northern tribes and chapter nine to be centered on Judah. All other commentators either understand all of Amos to be speaking of Israel in general or of the Ten Tribes in particular. This last opinion is our own view on the whole with momentary exceptions. [AMOS 9:1] I SAW THE LORD STANDING UPON THE ALTAR: AND HE SAID, SMITE THE LINTEL OF THE DOOR, THAT THE POSTS MAY SHAKE: AND CUT THEM IN THE HEAD, ALL OF THEM; AND I WILL SLAY THE LAST OF THEM WITH THE SWORD: HE THAT FLEETH OF THEM SHALL NOT FLEE AWAY, AND HE THAT ESCAPETH OF THEM SHALL NOT BE DELIVERED. [Amos 9:2] THOUGH THEY DIG INTO HELL, THENCE SHALL MINE HAND TAKE THEM; THOUGH THEY CLIMB UP TO HEAVEN, THENCE WILL I BRING THEM DOWN: >Date: Fri, 21 Jan 2000 13:32:54 +0800 >From: Frank Tyson <enoch@ca.com.au> >X-Accept-Language: en >To: britam@netvision.net.il >Subject: Amos 9:2 > >Hi Yair, Forgive my limited capacity to expound but Amos 9:2 is intriguing. >I think it is beyond doubt that the subject matter here is the LTTS and given >that the LTTS exist today in the U.S.A., Britain,S.A, Australia, N.Z. and >Western Europe, could it be that Amos 9:2 is refering to the Mining and >excavation capacities of these nations and also to the space exploration >endeavours of the U.S.A,. or is this over simplistic? >Amos 9:2 Though they dig into hell, thence my hand shall take them, though >they climb into heaven; thence will I bring them down. Shalom, Frank > >britam@netvision.net.il wrote: > >> >[Amos 9:2] THOUGH THEY DIG INTO HELL, THENCE SHALL MINE HAND TAKE THEM; >> THOUGH THEY CLIMB UP TO HEAVEN, THENCE WILL I BRING THEM DOWN: >> > [Amos 9:3] AND THOUGH THEY HIDE THEMSELVES IN THE TOP OF CARMEL, I WILL SEARCH AND TAKE THEM OUT THENCE; AND THOUGH THEY BE HID FROM MY SIGHT IN THE BOTTOM OF THE SEA, THENCE WILL I COMMAND THE SERPENT, AND HE SHALL BITE THEM: “CARMEL” is in the northern Galilee adjoining the present-day city of Haifa. It is in territory of northern Israel. [Amos 9:4] AND THOUGH THEY GO INTO CAPTIVITY BEFORE THEIR ENEMIES, THENCE WILL I COMMAND THE SWORD, AND IT SHALL SLAY THEM: AND I WILL SET MINE EYES UPON THEM FOR EVIL, AND NOT FOR GOOD. [Amos 9:5] AND THE LORD GOD OF HOSTS IS HE THAT TOUCHETH THE LAND, AND IT SHALL MELT, AND ALL THAT DWELL THEREIN SHALL MOURN: AND IT SHALL RISE UP WHOLLY LIKE A FLOOD; AND SHALL BE DROWNED, AS BY THE FLOOD OF EGYPT. Some of the LTTS were also taken into Egypt. This has not been examined enough. Irish legends also refer to this. I dealt at great length with Irish legends in “Lost Israelite Identity” and even included a two Appendices to both paraphrase these legends and quote them verbatim. Even so, as I research more I am even more impressed with the underlying historical reliability behind these legends. [Amos 9:6] IT IS HE THAT BUILDETH HIS STORIES IN THE HEAVEN, AND HATH FOUNDED HIS TROOP IN THE EARTH; HE THAT CALLETH FOR THE WATERS OF THE SEA, AND POURETH THEM OUT UPON THE FACE OF THE EARTH: THE LORD IS HIS NAME. [Amos 9:7] ARE YE NOT AS CHILDREN OF THE ETHIOPIANS UNTO ME, O CHILDREN OF ISRAEL? SAITH THE LORD. HAVE NOT I BROUGHT UP ISRAEL OUT OF THE LAND OF EGYPT? AND THE PHILISTINES FROM CAPHTOR, AND THE SYRIANS FROM KIR? “ETHIOPIANS” is translated from the Hebrew “Cushiim” instead of the normal “Cushim.” The Lost Ten Tribes after their exile had a major center east of the Caspian Sea which was also known as “Cush”. From this area came the Anglo-Saxons, Scandinavians, and others who migrated westward. This is described in detail in “The Tribes.” [Amos 9:8] BEHOLD, THE EYES OF THE LORD GOD ARE UPON THE SINFUL KINGDOM, AND I WILL DESTROY IT FROM OFF THE FACE OF THE EARTH; SAVING THAT I WILL NOT UTTERLY DESTROY THE HOUSE OF JACOB, SAITH THE LORD. “ HOUSE OF JACOB” refers to the northern Ten Tribes of Israel though this usage requires clarification since when “Jacob” and “Israel” are juxtapositioned in one passage then “Jacob” appears to refer to Judah according to most (but not all) opinions. [Amos 9:9] FOR, LO, I WILL COMMAND, AND I WILL SIFT THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL AMONG ALL NATIONS, LIKE AS CORN IS SIFTED IN A SIEVE, YET SHALL NOT THE LEAST GRAIN FALL UPON THE EARTH. That’s right. The dispersed of Israel and the exiled will always stay together or if not will somehow intermarry with each other or if not their children (even from mixed marriages) will still be counted as Israel. We do not know everything (Quote of the year?). Our studies and what we have shown of them demonstrate very well that somehow or other most of the northern Tribes managed to stay together. A Talmudic sources say that the Jews of Judah were destined to be dispersed all over but the Ten Tribes to remain together in one or two or three places or more places but at all events as coherent entities. [Amos 9:10] ALL THE SINNERS OF MY PEOPLE SHALL DIE BY THE SWORD, WHICH SAY, THE EVIL SHALL NOT OVERTAKE NOR PREVENT US. [Amos 9:11] IN THAT DAY WILL I RAISE UP THE TABERNACLE OF DAVID THAT IS FALLEN, AND CLOSE UP THE BREACHES THEREOF; AND I WILL RAISE UP HIS RUINS, AND I WILL BUILD IT AS IN THE DAYS OF OLD: “ THE TABERNACLE OF DAVID” is the Temple and Jewish sources indicate that the Lost Ten Tribes must return in order to enable the Temple to be rebuilt. They also indicate that a few return at first and these prepare the way for the others. [Amos 9:12] THAT THEY MAY POSSESS THE REMNANT OF EDOM, AND OF ALL THE HEATHEN, WHICH ARE CALLED BY MY NAME, SAITH THE LORD THAT DOETH THIS. [Amos 9:13] BEHOLD, THE DAYS COME, SAITH THE LORD, THAT THE PLOWMAN SHALL OVERTAKE THE REAPER, AND THE TREADER OF GRAPES HIM THAT SOWETH SEED; AND THE MOUNTAINS SHALL DROP SWEET WINE, AND ALL THE HILLS SHALL MELT. [Amos 9:14] AND I WILL BRING AGAIN THE CAPTIVITY OF MY PEOPLE OF ISRAEL, AND THEY SHALL BUILD THE WASTE CITIES, AND INHABIT THEM; AND THEY SHALL PLANT VINEYARDS, AND DRINK THE WINE THEREOF; THEY SHALL ALSO MAKE GARDENS, AND EAT THE FRUIT OF THEM. [Amos 9:15] AND I WILL PLANT THEM UPON THEIR LAND, AND THEY SHALL NO MORE BE PULLED UP OUT OF THEIR LAND WHICH I HAVE GIVEN THEM, SAITH THE LORD THY GOD. This applies to all of the Tribes but in a sense it is more immediately (at present) pertinent to the Jews of Judah since they were the ones who suffered most from exile being without a country to call their own and even when they were guests in foreign lands they were frequently expelled and made to wander again. OK, we went through Hosea, Joel, Amos and confirmed quite a few of our most important points. Not only that we saw too that the overall context, the imparted atmosphere, and direction, etc. all lean to support our major claims. Judah and Israel (=LTTS, Samaria, Joseph) were both destined to be exiled but separately. The LTTS were to be powerful but in a religious sense more at variance than Judah. The geographical directions, the psychological background fits well. So far, so good, and there’s more to come. The next book is Obadiah which is short but important. Amos: Judah emphasizes the law, Joseph should be known for social responsibility and justice. ALL the northern 10 tribes were exiled. Part of the exiles were taken away in ships and large boats directly to Spain, Gaul (France) and Britain. Most were taken to the neighborhood of Mannae where they became known as Cimmerians, Scythians, and Goths. In their place of exile they would be known as House of Ischak (Isaac) from which term came various names for the Scythians and ultimately for the Saxons in the Anglo-Saxon forces. Even the Celts of Britain had a tradition that they were descended from Isicon (i.e. Isaac) as will be explained in issue no. 4 of BRIT-AM. AMOS: Highlights Sin of Judah vrs sin of Israel (2:4 2:6) Natziv. (3:7) everything revealed to the Prophets. (3:12) 1/8 to remain. (4:2) ships – exile. (4:3) Armenia, Mani. (5:3) 1/10 to remain. (5:15) to establish justice. (5:27) exiled beyond Damascus. (6:1) Zion and Samaria = Chief of the nations to whom the House of Israel came. (6:10) Exiles forced to abjure. (7:16) House of Isaac (9:2) dig to hell, climb to heaven (mining, shelters, space). (9:8) house of Jacob: Yank, Union Jack BRITAM HOME |