Amo 1:10 | KingComments | STEP | Tyre, which stands for the whole of Phoenicia, has committed the same sin as the Philistines. They too have sold Israelite prisoners. Because of their sin, they also broke the covenant. In the time of David and Solomon there was a covenant between Israel and Tyre ( ). Other Scriptures show the friendly relationship that existed between Israel and Tyre for a longer period of time ( ; ; ). The evil done to covenant brethren is worse than the evil done by an enemy. It is treason. You do not expect a friend to harm you. Amos does not mention that Tyre invaded Israel; the ‘deportation’ of is missing here. Possibly Tyrus acted as a ‘middleman’, who probably bought from Syria or others and resold to Edom. Tyre is known to have traded in people ( ). As far as we know Israel has never waged war with Tyre. Nevertheless, Tyre has traded treacherously and as a trading city it has wanted to enrich itself even by trading in people who on top of that belong to the people of God. God will therefore also execute His judgment on that people. All his wealth will perish. The merchants are all princes who live in luxury houses, palaces. Of all this splendor, nothing will remain. For us Christians, the judgment of Tyre is the serious warning that God’s judgment is on those who treacherously break up the fraternal fellowship. This breaking takes place when a Christian pursues his own interests and not those of the Lord. We see it, for example, in the life of a Christian who is full of commitment to his career, so that there is no more time for personal contact with God. In such a situation, the Christian virtues slowly but surely disappear. Such a person may still want to be called a Christian in name, attend Christian meetings and even take part in the Lord’s Supper, but the Christian values are ‘sold’. God sees through that. He does not let Himself be deceived and judges those who do such things ( ).

‏ Amos 1:10

Judgment on Tyre

Tyre, which stands for the whole of Phoenicia, has committed the same sin as the Philistines. They too have sold Israelite prisoners. Because of their sin, they also broke the covenant. In the time of David and Solomon there was a covenant between Israel and Tyre (1Kgs 5:12). Other Scriptures show the friendly relationship that existed between Israel and Tyre for a longer period of time (2Sam 5:11; 1Chr 14:1; 2Chr 2:11-16). The evil done to covenant brethren is worse than the evil done by an enemy. It is treason. You do not expect a friend to harm you.

Amos does not mention that Tyre invaded Israel; the ‘deportation’ of Amos 1:6 is missing here. Possibly Tyrus acted as a ‘middleman’, who probably bought from Syria or others and resold to Edom. Tyre is known to have traded in people (Eze 27:13).

As far as we know Israel has never waged war with Tyre. Nevertheless, Tyre has traded treacherously and as a trading city it has wanted to enrich itself even by trading in people who on top of that belong to the people of God. God will therefore also execute His judgment on that people. All his wealth will perish. The merchants are all princes who live in luxury houses, palaces. Of all this splendor, nothing will remain.

For us Christians, the judgment of Tyre is the serious warning that God’s judgment is on those who treacherously break up the fraternal fellowship. This breaking takes place when a Christian pursues his own interests and not those of the Lord. We see it, for example, in the life of a Christian who is full of commitment to his career, so that there is no more time for personal contact with God.

In such a situation, the Christian virtues slowly but surely disappear. Such a person may still want to be called a Christian in name, attend Christian meetings and even take part in the Lord’s Supper, but the Christian values are ‘sold’. God sees through that. He does not let Himself be deceived and judges those who do such things (1Cor 11:27-31).