Amos 1:14
But I will kindle a fire in the wall of Rabbah, and it shall devour the palaces thereof, with shouting in the day of battle, with a tempest in the day of the whirlwind:
Original Language Analysis
וְהִצַּ֤תִּי
But I will kindle
H3341
וְהִצַּ֤תִּי
But I will kindle
Strong's:
H3341
Word #:
1 of 12
to burn or set on fire; figuratively, to desolate
רַבָּ֔ה
of Rabbah
H7237
רַבָּ֔ה
of Rabbah
Strong's:
H7237
Word #:
4 of 12
rabbah, the name of two places in palestine, east and west
בִּתְרוּעָה֙
thereof with shouting
H8643
בִּתְרוּעָה֙
thereof with shouting
Strong's:
H8643
Word #:
7 of 12
clamor, i.e., acclamation of joy or a battle-cry; especially clangor of trumpets, as an alarum
בְּי֥וֹם
in the day
H3117
בְּי֥וֹם
in the day
Strong's:
H3117
Word #:
8 of 12
a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso
מִלְחָמָ֔ה
of battle
H4421
מִלְחָמָ֔ה
of battle
Strong's:
H4421
Word #:
9 of 12
a battle (i.e., the engagement); generally, war (i.e., war-fare)
Cross References
Jeremiah 49:2Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will cause an alarm of war to be heard in Rabbah of the Ammonites; and it shall be a desolate heap, and her daughters shall be burned with fire: then shall Israel be heir unto them that were his heirs, saith the LORD.Deuteronomy 3:11For only Og king of Bashan remained of the remnant of giants; behold, his bedstead was a bedstead of iron; is it not in Rabbath of the children of Ammon? nine cubits was the length thereof, and four cubits the breadth of it, after the cubit of a man.Amos 2:2But I will send a fire upon Moab, and it shall devour the palaces of Kerioth: and Moab shall die with tumult, with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet:Isaiah 30:30And the LORD shall cause his glorious voice to be heard, and shall shew the lighting down of his arm, with the indignation of his anger, and with the flame of a devouring fire, with scattering, and tempest, and hailstones.2 Samuel 12:26And Joab fought against Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and took the royal city.
Historical Context
Amos prophesied around 760-750 BC during Jeroboam II's reign. Ammon, descended from Lot (Genesis 19:38), had longstanding enmity with Israel. They committed atrocities against Gilead (Amos 1:13), including ripping open pregnant women to expand territory—crimes that demanded divine retribution.
Questions for Reflection
- How does God's sovereignty over nations challenge modern nationalism and the belief that any country is beyond judgment?
- What 'palaces' of accumulated wealth in your life might represent injustice or oppression of others?
- How should the certainty of divine judgment against evil comfort those who suffer injustice today?
Analysis & Commentary
I will kindle a fire in the wall of Rabbah (אַצִּית אֵשׁ בְּחוֹמַת רַבָּה, atsit esh b'chomat rabbah)—God's judgment comes as consuming fire against Ammon's capital. The Hebrew אַצִּית (atsit, 'I will kindle') emphasizes divine agency; this is not merely human warfare but Yahweh's direct intervention. With shouting in the day of battle, with a tempest in the day of the whirlwind combines military siege (תְּרוּעָה, teruah, the war cry) with natural disaster imagery—God orchestrates both human armies and cosmic forces for judgment.
Rabbah (modern Amman, Jordan) represented Ammonite pride and military power. The 'palaces' (אַרְמְנוֹתֶיהָ, armenoteha) symbolize accumulated wealth gained through oppression. This prophecy was fulfilled when Nebuchadnezzar conquered Ammon in 582 BC, though Christ ultimately judges all nations at His return (Matthew 25:31-46).