Amos 3:1-11

1 Listen to this message which I, the LORD, have spoken against you Israelites, against your whole family that I brought out of Egypt.

2 Out of all the families on earth, I have known no one else but you. That is why I am going to punish you for all your sins.

3 Do two people ever walk together without meeting first?

4 Does a lion roar in the forest if it has no prey? Does a young lion growl in its den unless it has caught something?

5 Does a bird land in a trap on the ground if there's no bait in it? Does a trap spring up from the ground unless it has caught something?

6 If a ram's horn sounds an alarm in a city, won't the people be alarmed? If there is a disaster in a city, hasn't the LORD done it?

7 Certainly, the Almighty LORD doesn't do anything unless he [first] reveals his secret to his servants the prophets.

8 The lion has roared. Who isn't afraid? The Almighty LORD has spoken. Who can keep from prophesying?

9 Announce in the palaces of Ashdod and in the palaces of Egypt, "Gather together on the mountains of Samaria. See the widespread confusion and oppression in Samaria."

10 Those who collect profits in their palaces through violent and destructive acts don't know how to do what is right, declares the LORD.

11 This is what the Almighty LORD says: An enemy will surround your land, strip you of your defenses, and loot your palaces.

Amos 3:1-11 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.