For thus saith the Lord GOD; The city that went out by a thousand shall leave an hundred, and that which went forth by an hundred shall leave ten, to the house of Israel.
For thus saith the Lord GOD; The city that went out by a thousand shall leave an hundred (כִּי כֹה אָמַר אֲדֹנָי יְהוִה הָעִיר הַיֹּצֵאת אֶלֶף תַּשְׁאִיר מֵאָה, ki khoh amar Adonai YHWH ha'ir hayotset eleph tash'ir me'ah)—this verse quantifies the catastrophic military losses described in verse 2's funeral lament. The phrase "went out" (yatsa, יָצָא) means marching out to battle. Cities that fielded 1,000 soldiers will see 900 killed—90% casualty rate. The phrase and that which went forth by an hundred shall leave ten means cities fielding 100 soldiers will lose 90—again, 90% casualties. This isn't normal attrition but near-total annihilation.
The title "Lord GOD" combines Adonai (אֲדֹנָי, sovereign master) with YHWH (יְהוִה, the covenant name)—emphasizing both sovereign authority and covenant relationship. The Lord who made covenant with Israel now announces covenant curse. Deuteronomy 28:62 warned: "You shall be left few in number, whereas you were as the stars of heaven for multitude; because you would not obey the voice of the LORD your God." Amos announces this curse's fulfillment. The 90% casualty rate would devastate Israel's ability to field armies, ensuring swift conquest.
Historical Context
Ancient warfare often involved entire male populations—cities contributed soldiers proportional to their size. A 90% loss rate would mean virtually every family losing fathers, sons, brothers. This scale of devastation actually occurred during Assyria's conquest. Assyrian annals boast of massive Israelite casualties and deportations. The northern kingdom never recovered—Assyria deported surviving elites and repopulated the land with foreigners, creating the mixed population later called Samaritans (2 Kings 17:24-41). Amos's specific numbers (1000→100, 100→10) emphasize the mathematical precision of coming judgment—not vague threat but specific prediction. When it literally fulfilled within 30 years, it vindicated Amos as true prophet.
Questions for Reflection
How do specific numerical predictions (90% casualties) demonstrate God's sovereign control over historical events?
What does it mean that covenant curses (Deuteronomy 28) are as certain as covenant blessings?
How should the church respond when seeing spiritual decline that mirrors Israel's trajectory toward judgment?
Analysis & Commentary
For thus saith the Lord GOD; The city that went out by a thousand shall leave an hundred (כִּי כֹה אָמַר אֲדֹנָי יְהוִה הָעִיר הַיֹּצֵאת אֶלֶף תַּשְׁאִיר מֵאָה, ki khoh amar Adonai YHWH ha'ir hayotset eleph tash'ir me'ah)—this verse quantifies the catastrophic military losses described in verse 2's funeral lament. The phrase "went out" (yatsa, יָצָא) means marching out to battle. Cities that fielded 1,000 soldiers will see 900 killed—90% casualty rate. The phrase and that which went forth by an hundred shall leave ten means cities fielding 100 soldiers will lose 90—again, 90% casualties. This isn't normal attrition but near-total annihilation.
The title "Lord GOD" combines Adonai (אֲדֹנָי, sovereign master) with YHWH (יְהוִה, the covenant name)—emphasizing both sovereign authority and covenant relationship. The Lord who made covenant with Israel now announces covenant curse. Deuteronomy 28:62 warned: "You shall be left few in number, whereas you were as the stars of heaven for multitude; because you would not obey the voice of the LORD your God." Amos announces this curse's fulfillment. The 90% casualty rate would devastate Israel's ability to field armies, ensuring swift conquest.