Amos 3:9-15

9 Publish in the fortresses at Ashdod, and in the fortresses in Eretz Mitzrayim, and say, Assemble yourselves upon harei Shomron, and behold the great tumults in the midst thereof, and the oppression in the midst thereof.

10 For they have no da’as to do right, saith Hashem, who store up chamas and shod in their fortresses.

11 Therefore thus saith Adonoi Hashem: An adversary shall surround the land; and he shall bring down thy strongholds from thee, and thy fortresses shall be plundered.

12 Thus saith Hashem: As the ro’eh taketh out of the mouth of the aryeh two legs, or a piece of an ozen; so shall the Bnei Yisroel be saved that dwell in Shomron—with the corner of a mittah (bed), and the edge of a couch.

13 Hear ye, and testify in Bais Ya’akov, saith Adonoi Hashem Elohei HaTzva’os,

14 On the Yom that I visit her to punish the peysha’im of Yisroel, I will also visit to punish the mizbechot of Beit-El; and the horns of the mizbe’ach shall be cut off, and fall to ha’aretz.

15 And I will strike the bais hachoref with the bais hakayitz; and the batim (houses) of ivory shall perish, and the batim rabbim (great houses) shall have an end, saith Hashem.

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.