Amos 3:9-15

9 Proclaim to the strongholds in 1Ashdod and to the strongholds in the land of Egypt, and say, "Assemble yourselves on 2the mountains of Samaria, and see the great tumults within her, and 3the oppressed in her midst."
10 "They do not know how to do right," declares the LORD, 4"those who store up violence and robbery in their strongholds."
11 Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: 5"An adversary shall surround the land and bring down[a] your defenses from you, and 6your strongholds shall be plundered."
12 Thus says the LORD: 7"As the shepherd rescues from the mouth of the lion two legs, or a piece of an ear, 8so shall the people of Israel 9who dwell in Samaria be rescued, with the corner of a couch and part[b] of a bed.
13 "Hear, 10and testify against the house of Jacob," declares the Lord GOD, 11the God of hosts,
14 "that on the day I punish Israel for his transgressions, 12I will punish the altars of Bethel, and 13the horns of the altar shall be cut off and fall to the ground.
15 14I will strike 15the winter house along with 16the summer house, and 17the houses of ivory shall perish, and the great houses[c] shall come to an end," declares the LORD.

Amos 3:9-15 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 17

  • 1. Amos 1:8
  • 2. Amos 4:1; Amos 6:1; [1 Kings 16:24]
  • 3. Psalms 94:5, 6; Psalms 103:6; See 1 Kings 21:1-16
  • 4. [Amos 6:3; Isaiah 3:14, 15]; See Micah 6:10-12
  • 5. [2 Kings 17:5, 6]; See 2 Kings 18:9-12
  • 6. [Isaiah 39:6]
  • 7. [Exodus 22:13]
  • 8. See Jeremiah 31:8, 9
  • 9. [Amos 6:4]
  • 10. [Psalms 50:7; Psalms 81:8]
  • 11. Amos 4:13; Ps. 80:4, 7, 14
  • 12. [Hosea 10:15]; See 1 Kings 13:1-3
  • 13. [2 Kings 23:15]
  • 14. [Amos 6:11]
  • 15. Jeremiah 36:22
  • 16. Judges 3:20
  • 17. 1 Kings 22:39; Psalms 45:8

Footnotes 3

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