Amos 1:4 - Exposition

Fire . Material fire, though elsewhere the term is used metaphorically for war and its evils (comp. Numbers 21:28 ; Psalms 78:63 ; Jeremiah 48:45 ). This passage of Amos, combined with verse 14, is quoted by Jeremiah ( Jeremiah 49:27 ), where he is pronouncing the doom of Damascus. House of Hazael … palaces of Benhadad. The two expressions are parallel, or they may signify the family of Hazael, and Damascus itself with its magnificent royal palaces. There were three kings of Syria named Benhadad. The first of the name made alliance with Asa, and fought successfully against Baasha ( 1 Kings 15:20 ); Benhadad II . was the contemporary of Ahab, and carded on war for many years with the northern kingdom ( 1 Kings 20:1-43 ). He was murdered either by Hazael or his servants ( 2 Kings 8:15 ). Benhadad III ; the son of Hazael, was a monarch of small ability, and Syria under his sway sank into insignificance ( 2 Kings 13:4 , etc.; 2 Kings 14:27 ; 2 Kings 15:17 ). All this happened before the time of Amos, who probably refers to all the kings of that name, Benhadad, "Son of the Sun," being the title of the dynasty.