Amos 1:6Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The Idumeans, descended from Esau, have always been adversaries of the Israelites; hence, the inhabitants of Gaza, Azotus, Ascalon (or Akkaron), and other foreign people significantly aided in the conquest of the cities of Judah. According to the interpretation from the Septuagint, if we state that they captured the captives of Solomon, the implications are as follows. Solomon was a supreme and authoritative king who exerted control over neighboring nations, allowing him to construct many cities and settle the Israelites within them—an endeavor made possible through Hiram’s assistance. The Second Book of Chronicles recounts: "And it came to pass, that there were twenty years in which Solomon built the house of the Lord and his own house, as well as the cities which Hiram had provided him. Solomon built them, and the children of Israel dwelled therein. And Solomon went to Emaus-Suba and took possession of it; he constructed the supply city in the wilderness and all the fortified cities he established in Hamath, as well as all that he desired to build in Jerusalem, Lebanon, and throughout his kingdom. All the people remaining from the Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites, who were not part of the tribes of Israel, were brought under tribute by Solomon, even to this day (2 Chronicles 8:1-8)." Therefore, having united with the Idumeans, the residents of Gaza and Azotus and others laid waste to these cities known as Solomon's cities, stripping them from the kingdom of Judah and effectively handing them over to the nefarious rulers of the Moabites.

I will wipe out the inhabitants of Azotus, and the tribe of Ascalon will be destroyed, and I will raise My hand against Akkaron, and the rest of the foreigners will perish, says the Lord."

The Lord warns in the scripture that He will visit the sins of the parents upon the children up to the third and fourth generations. This is not due to any inequity in God's judgment, suggesting that some might sin while others face consequences, but rather stems from His immense kindness, as He continually anticipates repentance. He only punishes in the third and fourth generations for the wrongs committed in the first. The Apostle Paul speaks similarly to the Romans, "Or do you take lightly the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? But because of your hardness and unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who will repay each person according to their deeds" (Romans 2:4-6).

The gist of these verses indicates that God waited patiently for their repentance, wanting to avoid punishing those who sinned so they might ultimately find healing. Yet, after repeated transgressions, He is compelled to change His course and administer judgment. Let us now consider the sins committed by the Philistines and their cities, referred to as foreigners in the Septuagint. Throughout the Old Testament, the term ‘foreigners’ specifically points to the Philistines, now identified as Palestinians.

What actions by Gaza incited the Lord's indignation? Gaza captured the people of Judah and sold them to the Idumeans, imprisoning them in Idumea. The phrase ‘perfect captivity,’ as rendered in the Septuagint, refers to the captivity of Solomon, utilizing the Hebrew word ‘salma,’ which denotes perfection or completeness, mistakenly associated with Solomon's name. Translators like Aquila used terms signifying completeness, suggesting that no captives from Solomon's lineage were left unaccounted for in Idumea.

Therefore, God declares He will unleash fire on the structures and foundations of Gaza, consuming all in its path. Similar consequences befall the five cities of Palestine for their offense against the ark (1 Samuel 5). Following Gaza, God addresses Azotus, referred to as ‘Esdod,’ and then Ascalon, issuing a severe warning of destruction for the inhabitants of Azotus and the ruling tribe of Ascalon, leaving no survivors, even among the elderly leaning on their staffs. Again, He raises His hand to strike Akkaron.

Having listed these four cities, He also includes the other regions of the Philistines, declaring, "the rest of the Philistines shall perish." This could refer to the city of Geth or the surrounding villages. In a symbolic interpretation, Gaza, known as ‘Aza’ in Hebrew, signifies strength or power; Solomon represents peace; Idumea connotes bloodshed and earthiness; Azoth, or Esdod, implies a fire of kinship, alternatively understood as the “fire of the lineage.” Ascalon suggests “man-slaying fire,” and Akkaron implies barrenness or extinction.

Thus, Gaza arrogantly claiming strength through knowledge and authority is admonished for capturing Solomon's kin and confining them in Idumea. This can be likened to the Jewish teachers and followers of the letter who reject the life-giving spirit, clinging only to the earthly interpretations of scripture, ignoring the Lord's teachings that invite greater understanding, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear” (Matthew 11:15).

The Apostle distinguishes between two covenants: one linked to Mount Sinai, representing bondage with its children, and the other to the free Jerusalem, the mother of us all (Galatians 4). Accordingly, He states He will send fire against Gaza's walls and the defenses it employs to mask its misguided beliefs. The fire sent by God will consume all that Gaza has constructed on foundations of falsehood.

He will also bring ruin to the inhabitants of Azotus, who likewise belong to the foreigners; such followers of the letter lack fulfillment, finding themselves consumed by fire rather than nurtured. As the Lord destroys the tribe of Ascalon, governed by murderous fire, so too will His penetrating fire bring salvation to the hearts that embrace it, while the fire of judgment will devastate those it reaches.

He will extend His hand against Akkaron, epitomizing barrenness and destruction. Those who fail to grasp the spiritual wisdom will hear, “Give them, O Lord. Give them what? Give them an unfruitful womb and dry breasts” (Hosea 9:14). In conclusion, God states He will obliterate all remnants of the Philistines, whether that be Geth, associated with the devil’s furnace, or other Philistine locales, whose name signifies falling from excess; for when they are intoxicated, they will stumble and fall into a state of degradation.

Instead, I propose that the intended meaning in this context relates to the Philistines, who, due to their geographical closeness to Judah and their continual battles with the Jews, would not sell any captives to foreign nations but rather to the Idumeans—who were notably hostile and aggressive towards the Jewish people. Consequently, the Prophet referred to the captivity of the Jewish captives as the captivity of Solomon, thereby highlighting the honor and prestige associated with the name of the esteemed king. In response to this brutality, God expresses His anger by threatening to set Gaza and the other Philistine cities ablaze. He brings Tyre into the charge of similar wrongdoing, and to reinforce this accusation, He states: