Amos 3:2-12

2 1"You only have I known of all the families of the earth; 2therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities.
3 "Do two walk together, unless they have agreed to meet?
4 Does a lion roar in the forest, when he has no prey? Does a young lion cry out from his den, if he has taken nothing?
5 Does a bird fall in a snare on the earth, when there is no trap for it? Does a snare spring up from the ground, when it has taken nothing?
6 3Is a trumpet blown in a city, and the people are not afraid? 4Does disaster come to a city, unless the LORD has done it?
7 "For the Lord GOD does nothing 5without revealing his secret to his servants the prophets.
8 The lion has roared; who will not fear? 6The Lord GOD has spoken; who can but prophesy?"
9 Proclaim to the strongholds in 7Ashdod and to the strongholds in the land of Egypt, and say, "Assemble yourselves on 8the mountains of Samaria, and see the great tumults within her, and 9the oppressed in her midst."
10 "They do not know how to do right," declares the LORD, 10"those who store up violence and robbery in their strongholds."
11 Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: 11"An adversary shall surround the land and bring down[a] your defenses from you, and 12your strongholds shall be plundered."
12 Thus says the LORD: 13"As the shepherd rescues from the mouth of the lion two legs, or a piece of an ear, 14so shall the people of Israel 15who dwell in Samaria be rescued, with the corner of a couch and part[b] of a bed.

Amos 3:2-12 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.

Cross References 15

  • 1. Deuteronomy 7:6; Deuteronomy 10:15; Psalms 147:19, 20; [Hosea 5:3; Hosea 13:5; Micah 2:3]
  • 2. [Matthew 10:15; Matthew 11:21, 22; Luke 10:13, 14; Luke 12:47; Romans 2:9]
  • 3. Ezekiel 33:4; See Joel 2:1
  • 4. [Isaiah 45:7; Lamentations 3:38; Micah 1:12]
  • 5. Genesis 18:17; [Jeremiah 15:1]
  • 6. [Numbers 22:38]
  • 7. Amos 1:8
  • 8. Amos 4:1; Amos 6:1; [1 Kings 16:24]
  • 9. Psalms 94:5, 6; Psalms 103:6; See 1 Kings 21:1-16
  • 10. [Amos 6:3; Isaiah 3:14, 15]; See Micah 6:10-12
  • 11. [2 Kings 17:5, 6]; See 2 Kings 18:9-12
  • 12. [Isaiah 39:6]
  • 13. [Exodus 22:13]
  • 14. See Jeremiah 31:8, 9
  • 15. [Amos 6:4]

Footnotes 2

  • [a]. Hebrew An adversary, one who surrounds the land - he shall bring down
  • [b]. The meaning of the Hebrew word is uncertain
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.