Amos 3:2-12

2 "1You only have I chosen among all the families of the earth; Therefore * I will 2punish you for all your iniquities."
3 Do two men walk together unless they have made an appointment?
4 Does a 3lion roar in the forest when he has no prey? Does a young lion growl * from his den unless * he has captured something?
5 Does a bird fall into a trap on the ground when there is no bait in it? Does a trap spring up from the earth when it captures nothing at all?
6 If a 4trumpet is blown in a city will not the people tremble? If a 5calamity occurs in a city has not the LORD done it?
7 Surely the Lord GOD does nothing * Unless * He 6reveals His secret counsel To His servants the prophets.
8 A 7lion has roared! Who will not fear? The 8Lord GOD has spoken! 9Who can but prophesy?
9 Proclaim on the citadels in 10Ashdod and on the citadels in the land of Egypt and say, "Assemble yourselves on the 11mountains of Samaria and see the great tumults within her and the 12oppressions in her midst.
10 "But they 13do not know how to do what is right," declares the LORD, "these who 14hoard up violence and devastation in their citadels."
11 Therefore, thus says the Lord GOD, "An 15enemy, even one surrounding the land, Will pull down your strength from you And your 16citadels will be looted."
12 Thus says the LORD, "Just as the shepherd 17snatches from the lion's mouth a couple of legs or a piece of an ear, So will the sons of Israel dwelling in Samaria be snatched away - With the 18corner of a bed and the 19cover of a couch!

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 19

  • 1. Genesis 18:19; Exodus 19:5, 6; Deuteronomy 4:32-37; Deuteronomy 7:6
  • 2. Jeremiah 14:10; Ezekiel 20:36; Daniel 9:12; Romans 2:9
  • 3. Psalms 104:21; Hosea 5:14; Hosea 11:10
  • 4. Jer 4:5, 19, 21; Jeremiah 6:1; Hosea 5:8; Zephaniah 1:16
  • 5. Isaiah 14:24-27; Isaiah 45:7
  • 6. Genesis 6:13; Genesis 18:17; Jeremiah 23:22; Daniel 9:22; John 15:15
  • 7. Amos 1:2
  • 8. Jonah 1:1-3; Jonah 3:1-3
  • 9. Jeremiah 20:9; Acts 4:20
  • 10. 1 Samuel 5:1
  • 11. Amos 4:1; Amos 6:1
  • 12. Amos 5:11; Amos 8:6
  • 13. Psalms 14:4; Jeremiah 4:22; Amos 5:7; Amos 6:12
  • 14. Habakkuk 2:8-10; Zephaniah 1:9; Zechariah 5:3, 4
  • 15. Amos 6:14
  • 16. Amos 2:5
  • 17. 1 Samuel 17:34-37
  • 18. Psalms 132:3
  • 19. Esther 1:6; Esther 7:8; Amos 6:4

Footnotes 13

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