Amos 1:15

And their king shall go into captivity, he and his princes together, saith the LORD.

And their king ^{H4428} shall go ^{H1980} into captivity ^{H1473}, he and his princes ^{H8269} together ^{H3162}, saith ^{H559} the LORD ^{H3068}.

Their king will go into exile, he and his princes together," says ADONAI.

Their king will go into exile— he and his princes together,” says the LORD.

and their king shall go into captivity, he and his princes together, saith Jehovah.

Commentary on Amos 1:15 (KJV)

This verse concludes the prophecy against the Ammonites, a nation located east of the Jordan River, known for their cruelty in warfare (see Amos 1:13). It pronounces the specific judgment that will befall their leadership.

Context

Amos, a shepherd from Tekoa, prophesied during the reigns of Uzziah king of Judah and Jeroboam II king of Israel (around 760-750 BC). His book begins with a series of oracles against surrounding nations—Damascus, Gaza, Tyre, Edom, Ammon, and Moab—before turning his focus primarily to the kingdom of Israel. These initial prophecies establish God's sovereignty over all nations, not just Israel and Judah, and condemn them for specific acts of cruelty and injustice against their neighbors. Verse 15 is the final word in the oracle directed at the Ammonites, specifically targeting their capital city Rabbah (mentioned in the preceding verse, Amos 1:14) and its rulers.

Key Themes

Divine Judgment on Nations: The passage underscores God's authority to judge Gentile nations for their sins, demonstrating His moral governance over the entire world.
Accountability of Leadership: The specific mention of the "king" and "princes" highlights that national leaders are held responsible by God for the actions and state of their people.
Certainty of God's Word: The phrase "saith the LORD" emphasizes the absolute certainty and divine authority behind this pronouncement of judgment. What God declares will inevitably come to pass.
Captivity as Punishment: Exile and captivity were common forms of judgment in the ancient Near East, and God declares this fate for the Ammonite rulers.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "saith the LORD" translates the Hebrew "נְאֻם יְהוָה" (neum YHWH), a common prophetic formula that strongly asserts the divine origin and authority of the message. It leaves no doubt that this is not merely Amos's opinion but a direct declaration from God Himself.

Reflection

Amos 1:15 serves as a powerful reminder that God sees and will judge the actions of all people and nations, including those in positions of power. Leaders are not exempt from divine accountability. The judgment pronounced here against the Ammonite king and princes for their nation's cruelty ultimately came to pass, demonstrating that God's word is reliable and His justice will prevail. This historical event points to a broader truth: that God's ultimate plan and righteous judgment will be fully realized.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Jeremiah 49:3

Howl, O Heshbon, for Ai is spoiled: cry, ye daughters of Rabbah, gird you with sackcloth; lament, and run to and fro by the hedges; for their king shall go into captivity, [and] his priests and his princes together.