Amos 3:3-13

3 Will two people walk together unless they have agreed to do so?[a]
4 Does a lion roar in the forest, when it has no prey? Does a young lion cry out from its den if it has caught nothing?
5 Will a bird fall into a trap on the ground when there is no bait for it? Will a trap spring up from the ground when it has taken nothing?
6 If a ram's horn is blown in a city, won't people tremble? If disaster falls on a city, is it the LORD who has done it?
7 Surely the LORD God does nothing without revealing his secret to his servants the prophets.
8 A lion has roared; who will not fear? The LORD God has spoken; who can but prophesy?
9 Proclaim it to the palaces of Ashdod and to the palaces in the land of Egypt. Say, "Gather yourselves on Mount Samaria, and see the great turmoil in the city, and what violent deeds are inside it."
10 They don't know how to do right, says the LORD— those who store up violence and robbery in their palaces.
11 Therefore, the LORD my God proclaims: An enemy will surround the land; he will bring you down from your protected places, and your palaces will be robbed.
12 The LORD proclaims: Just as the shepherd rescues two legs or the piece of an ear from the mouth of the lion, so will the people of Israel be rescued. Those who live in Samaria will escape with the corner of a bed, and those in Damascus with a piece of a couch.
13 Hear this and speak against the house of Jacob, says the LORD God, the God of heavenly forces:

Amos 3:3-13 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO AMOS 3

In this chapter the prophet goes on with his prophecy against Israel, whom God had highly favoured, and yet sinned against him, and therefore must expect to be punished by him; and the rather, since he and they were not agreed; and therefore there could be no communion between them, Am 3:1-3; and by various similes are set forth the cause of divine judgments, the certain design of them, and their continuance, till the end is answered; which should be attended to, since every thing of this kind is of God, who giving his prophets notice of it, they are under an absolute necessity of declaring it; nor should they be blamed for it, Am 3:4-8; and even the Heathen nations are appealed unto as witnesses of the sins of Israel, that caused such a denunciation of wrath; their tumults, oppression, injustice, violence, and robbery, Am 3:9,10; wherefore an adversary is threatened to be sent among them, that should utterly destroy them, so that few should escape, Am 3:11,12; particularly their idolatry and luxury seem to have been reigning sins, which had a great hand in bringing on their rum, and for which the Lord would punish them, Am 3:13-15.

Footnotes 2

  • [a]. Or Will two walk together unless they have agreed?
  • [b]. Heb uncertain
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