Amos 3:1-9

1 Hear this word that the LORD has spoken against you, children of Yisra'el, against the whole family which I brought up out of the land of Mitzrayim, saying:
2 "You only have I chosen of all the families of the eretz. Therefore I will punish you for all of your sins."
3 Do two walk together, Unless they have agreed?
4 Will a lion roar in the thicket, When he has no prey? Does a young lion cry out of his den, If he has caught nothing?
5 Can a bird fall in a trap on the eretz, Where no snare is set for him? Does a snare spring up from the ground, When there is nothing to catch?
6 Does the shofar alarm sound in a city, Without the people being afraid? Does evil befall a city, And the LORD hasn't done it?
7 Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, Unless he reveals his secret to his servants the prophets.
8 The lion has roared. Who will not fear? The Lord GOD has spoken. Who can but prophesy?
9 Proclaim in the palaces at Ashdod, And in the palaces in the land of Mitzrayim, And say, "Assemble yourselves on the mountains of Shomron, And see what unrest is in her, And what oppression is among them."

Amos 3:1-9 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.

The Hebrew Names Version is in the public domain.