Amos 3:3-13

3 Can two walk together without agreeing to meet?[a]
4 Does a lion roar in the forest when it has no prey? Does a young lion growl from its lair unless it has captured [something]?
5 Does a bird land in a trap on the ground if there is no bait for it? Does a trap spring from the ground when it has caught nothing?
6 If a ram's horn is blown in a city, aren't people afraid?[b] If a disaster occurs in a city, hasn't the Lord done it?[c]
7 Indeed, the Lord God does nothing without revealing His counsel to His servants the prophets.[d]
8 A lion has roared; who will not fear? The Lord God has spoken; who will not prophesy?[e]
9 Proclaim on the citadels in Ashdod and on the citadels in the land of Egypt: Assemble on the mountains of Samaria and see the great turmoil in the city and the acts of oppression within it.
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.[f]
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[g] cushion[h] of a couch.[i]
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.

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.

Footnotes 9

  • [a]. LXX reads without meeting
  • [b]. Nm 10:9; Jr 4:19; Jl 2:1
  • [c]. Lm 3:37-39
  • [d]. Gn 18:17; Jr 23:18,22; Jnh 1:2
  • [e]. Jr 6:10-11; 20:9
  • [f]. 2 Kg 17:5-6; 18:9-12
  • [g]. Or Israelites will be rescued, those who sit in Samaria on a corner of a bed or a
  • [h]. Hb obscure
  • [i]. LXX, Aq, Sym, Theod, Syr, Tg, Vg read or in Damascus
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