Amos, Chapter 1 (Continued)

6. This verse has the same formula of doom as in the case of Damascus.

The prophecy is against the Philistines and the reason for their punishment is "that they deported an entire population to deliver it up to Edom."

Presumably this entire population consisted of Jews, inhabitants of Judah (?) The sins of these nations seem to be various harms done to Judah and Israel.

To what historical event does this refer?

7. The defenses of Gaza will be destroyed: "I will send fire upon the wall of Gaza and it will consume her citadels.

The inhabitants of Ashdod will be exiled or destroyed: "I will also cut off the inhabitants from Ashdod."

The king of the Philistines, or a king of the Philistines, the king of Ashkelon, will be deposed or exiled or destroyed: "and him who holds the scepter, from Ashkelon."

The inhabitants of Ekron will be destroyed last of all: "I will even unleash My Power upon Ekron, and the remnant of the Philistines will perish."

The cities mentioned here are Gaza, Ashdod, Ashkelon, and Ekron. Gath is also one of the five royal cities of the Philistine, but is not mentioned here. (Smith observes that Gath is also not mentioned by the later prophets Zephaniah and Zechariah, and thinks that this is because Gath was destroyed by that time. But Amos is not a later propet and he doesn't mention it either.)

Zephaniah 2:4 "For Gaza will be abandoned, and Ashkelon a desolation; Ashdod will be driven out at noon, and Ekron will be uprooted." (This sounds a lot like the prophecy of Amos.)

Zechariah 9:5-6 "Ashkelon will see it and be afraid, Gaza too will writhe in great pain; also Ekron, for her expectation has been confounded. Moreover the king will perish from Gaza, and Ashkelon will not be inhabited. And a mongrel race will dwell in Ashdod and I will cut off the pride of the Philistines." (Also sounds like Amos.)