Amos 3:1-7

1 Sons of Israel, hear ye the word which the Lord spake on you, and on all the kindred, which I led out of the land of Egypt, and said, (Israelites, hear ye the word which the Lord spoke about you, yea, about all the tribes, whom he led out of the land of Egypt, and he said,)

2 Only I knew you of all the kindreds of earth; therefore I shall visit on you all your wickednesses. (It was only you I knew, and cared for, out of all the families, or all the nations, of the earth; and so I shall punish you for all your wickednesses.)

3 Whether twain shall go together, no but it accord to them? (Shall two walk together, unless both of them agree?)

4 Whether a lion shall roar in a forest, no but he have prey? Whether the whelp of a lion shall give voice from his den, no but he take anything? (Shall a lion roar in a forest, unless he first have some prey? Shall a lion's cub give voice from his cave, unless he first catch something?)

5 Whether a bird shall fall into a snare of (the) earth, without a fowler? Whether a snare shall be taken away from (the) earth, before that it take something? (Shall a bird fall into a snare on the ground, without a fowler having first set it there? Shall a snare spring from the ground, before that it catch something?)

6 Whether a trump shall sound in a city, and the people shall not dread? Whether evil shall be in a city, which evil the Lord shall not make? (Shall a trumpet sound in a city, and the people have no fear? Shall evil be in a city, which evil the Lord did not send?/which evil the Lord shall not come to fight against?)

7 For the Lord God shall not make a word, no but he show his private to his servants (the) prophets. (For the Lord God shall not do anything, unless first he tell his secret, or his private, plans to his servants, the prophets.)

Amos 3:1-7 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.