Amos 3:3-13

3 Do two people walk together unless they've agreed to do so?
4 Does a lion roar in the bushes when it doesn't have any food? Does it growl in its den when it hasn't caught anything?
5 Does a bird fall into a trap on the ground where no one has set a trap for it? Does a net spring up from the earth when there isn't anything for it to catch?
6 When someone blows a trumpet in a city, don't the people tremble with fear? When trouble comes to a city, hasn't the LORD caused it?
7 The LORD and King never does anything without telling his servants the prophets about it.
8 A lion has roared. Who isn't afraid? The LORD and King has spoken. Who can do anything but prophesy?
9 Speak to the people in the forts of Ashdod and Egypt. Tell them, "Gather together on the mountains of Samaria. Look at the great trouble in that city. Its people are committing many crimes."
10 "They do not know how to do what is right," announces the Lord. "They pile up stolen goods in their forts."
11 So the LORD and King says, "Enemies will take over your land. They will pull down your places of safety. They will rob your forts."
12 The LORD says, "Suppose a shepherd saves only two leg bones from a lion's mouth. Or he might save only a piece of an ear. That is how the Israelites will be saved. They sit in Samaria on the edge of their beds. They lie down in Damascus on their couches."
13 "Listen to me," announces the LORD. "Witness against the people of Jacob," says the LORD God who rules over all.

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.

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