Amos 1:15
And their king shall go into captivity, he and his princes together, saith the LORD.
Original Language Analysis
וְהָלַ֥ךְ
shall go
H1980
וְהָלַ֥ךְ
shall go
Strong's:
H1980
Word #:
1 of 8
to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)
ה֧וּא
H1931
ה֧וּא
Strong's:
H1931
Word #:
4 of 8
he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demo
Historical Context
The Babylonian exile fulfilled this prophecy. Archaeological evidence shows Rabbah was destroyed in the 6th century BC. Ironically, Ammonites had long practiced child sacrifice to Molech, and now their god and king both went into captivity—helpless before the covenant God of Israel.
Questions for Reflection
- What false 'kings' or authorities do people trust in today instead of the LORD—government, wealth, ideology, self?
- How does the exile of both human rulers and false gods demonstrate that all idolatry ends in captivity?
- In what ways might Christians today be trusting in political power rather than the kingdom of God?
Analysis & Commentary
Their king shall go into captivity, he and his princes together (וְהָלַךְ מַלְכָּם בַּגּוֹלָה, v'halach malkam bagolah)—The Hebrew מַלְכָּם (malkam) is a wordplay: it means both 'their king' and references Molech/Milcom, the Ammonite deity to whom children were sacrificed (1 Kings 11:5, 33). Both human rulers and false gods prove powerless before Yahweh. Saith the LORD (אָמַר יְהוָה, amar YHWH) is the prophetic authentication formula—this is not Amos's opinion but God's irrevocable decree.
The collapse of both political and religious systems signifies total judgment. No refuge remains—not in military might, political alliances, or false worship. This pattern repeats throughout history when nations trust in anything besides the true God.