Judaism 101 Trei-Asar Amos - the third in the traditional listing by CHAZAL of the group of Prophets known as the "Trei-Asar," the "Twelve." A herdsman from Tekoah in Yehudah (Amos 1:1) and declaring that he was neither a Prophet nor the son of a Prophet (Amos 7:14), Amos nevertheless scaled the greatest heights of Prophecy. For each of "Damesek" (Damascus), Capital of Aram, that destroyed the Kingdom of Israel and exiled the Ten Tribes, "Azah" (Gaza), Capital of the Land of the Philistines, that fought against the People of G-d almost throughout the Biblical Period and stole their Holy Ark, until it was retrieved by David, "Tzor" (Tyre), Capital of Phoenecia, that delivered a captivity to Edom, and "Edom" itself, Amos declares in the Name of HaShem, "For three of your transgressions I would have forgiven you, but not for the fourth." And then, to show that G-d plays no favorites, Amos cries out to Yehudah and Israel, "For three transgressions I would have forgiven, but not for your fourth!" And what were the transgressions of the House of Yehudah? "Thus says the L-rd,
And the sins of the House of Israel? "Thus says the L-rd, The Prophet gives advice, "Seek good and not evil, that you may live
" He declares what HaShem hates, "Woe to them that are at ease in Zion, For the result will be disaster, "The L-rd G-d has sworn by Himself, But, at the "end of days," "In that day will I raise up "And I will return the captivity of My People Israel, According to the RAMBAM, Amos was a link in the Chain of "Mesorah," and received the Tradition of Torah from Hoshea and his court. Trei-Asar Index I Glossary Index
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