The Lord begins with Damascus, one of the most ancient enemies of Israel when in Canaan. The three or four transgressions means many and for every one of which the Lord will account with them, and a dreadful account it will be when it comes. All the palaces of their kings shall be destroyed, and the inhabitants of their cities shall be punished. And these things were literally accomplished, as we read 2 Kings 16:9. If the Reader compares dates, he will find the distance between the prophecy and the accomplishment near fifty years.
Related Commentaries of Amos 1:3
Amos 1:3-5
3 Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Damascus, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they have threshed Gilead with threshing instruments of iron:
4 But I will send a fire into the house of Hazael, which shall devour the palaces of Benhadad.
5 I will break also the bar of Damascus, and cut off the inhabitant from the plaina of Aven, and him that holdeth the sceptre from the house of Eden: and the people of Syria shall go into captivity unto Kir, saith the LORD.