Thus says the LORD: “For three transgressions of Damascus, and for four, I will not revoke the punishment, because they have threshed Gilead with threshing sledges of iron.
“For three transgressions of Gaza, and for four, I will not revoke the punishment, because they carried into exile a whole people to deliver them up to Edom.
“For three transgressions of Tyre, and for four, I will not revoke the punishment
“For three transgressions of Edom, and for four, I will not revoke the punishment,
“For three transgressions of the Ammonites, and for four, I will not revoke the punishment,
“For three transgressions of Moab, and for four, I will not revoke the punishment,
“For three transgressions of Judah, and for four, I will not revoke the punishment, because they have rejected the law of the LORD…”
“For three transgressions of Israel, and for four, I will not revoke the punishment, because they sell the righteous for silver, and the needy for a pair of sandals…”
In the first two chapters of Amos, God addresses eight nations and the certain consequences of violating the values of Almighty God.
When we have, “Thus says the LORD… for three transgressions… and for four” it is emphasizing the ongoing nature of what follows, that these reproaches had become a way of life to the nation being recognized. While we may not recognize these as ‘big deal’ transgressions, God is adamant that they are unacceptable to Him and the He will tolerate no wavering from the consequences He has determined.
All of these peoples were either descendants of Abraham or had lived in relationship with the Israelites over the past seven centuries and knew well the requirements of God for basic moral rights. They had God’s witness in their midst and each had earlier prophecies directing them to change their ways or God would give them the consequences of their transgressions against His order. They were without excuse yet they ignored God. How drastic of an action must God take to get mankind to acknowledge His order?