Amos 3:10-15

10 The people are incapable of doing right- the Lord's declaration- those who store up violence and destruction in their citadels.
11 Therefore, the Lord God says: An enemy will surround the land; he will destroy your strongholds and plunder your citadels.[a]
12 The Lord says: As the shepherd snatches two legs or a piece of an ear from the lion's mouth, so the Israelites who live in Samaria will be rescued with [only] the corner of a bed or the[b] cushion[c] of a couch.[d]
13 Listen and testify against the house of Jacob- [this is]*The bracketed text has been added for clarity. the declaration of the Lord God , the God of Hosts.
14 I will punish the altars of Bethel on the day I punish Israel for its crimes; the horns of the altar will be cut off and fall to the ground.[e]
15 I will demolish the winter house and the summer house; the houses [inlaid with] ivory[f] will be destroyed, and the great houses will come to an end- the Lord's declaration.

Amos 3:10-15 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.

Footnotes 6

  • [a]. 2 Kg 17:5-6; 18:9-12
  • [b]. Or Israelites will be rescued, those who sit in Samaria on a corner of a bed or a
  • [c]. Hb obscure
  • [d]. LXX, Aq, Sym, Theod, Syr, Tg, Vg read or in Damascus
  • [e]. Hs 10:1-2
  • [f]. Am 6:4; 1 Kg 22:39; 2 Ch 9:17
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