Amos 1:7-8

1:7 So I will set Gaza’s city wall ¹  on fire;

fire ²  will consume her fortresses.

1:8 I will remove ³  the ruler ⁴  from Ashdod, ⁵ 

the one who holds the royal scepter from Ashkelon. ⁶ 

I will strike Ekron ⁷  with my hand; ⁸ 

the rest of the Philistines will also die.” ⁹ 

The sovereign Lord has spoken!

[1:7]  ¹ sn The city wall symbolizes the city’s defenses and security.

[1:7]  ² tn Heb “it”; the referent (the fire mentioned in the previous line) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[1:8]  ³ tn Heb “cut off.”

[1:8]  ⁴ tn Heb “the one who sits.” Some translations take this expression as a collective singular referring to the inhabitants rather than the ruler (e.g., NAB, NRSV, NLT).

[1:8]  ⁵ sn Ashdod was one of the five major Philistine cities (along with Ashkelon, Ekron, Gaza, and Gath).

[1:8]  ⁶ sn Ashkelon was one of the five major Philistine cities (along with Ashdod, Ekron, Gaza, and Gath).

[1:8]  ⁷ sn Ekron was one of the five major Philistine cities (along with Ashdod, Ashkelon, Gaza, and Gath).

[1:8]  ⁸ tn Heb “I will turn my hand against Ekron.” For other uses of the idiom, “turn the hand against,” see Ps 81:14; Isa 1:25; Jer 6:9; Zech 13:7.

[1:8]  ⁹ tn Heb “and the remnant of the Philistines will perish.” The translation above assumes that reference is made to other Philistines beside those living in the cities mentioned. Another option is to translate, “Every last Philistine will die.”