Amos 3

7–8 Amos says that the Lord reveals at least part of His plans to prophets like himself. When the lion (God) has roared (spoken), the prophet has no choice but to prophesy, to speak God’s words.

9 Two groups of people are now called as witnesses to observe the sin of Samaria (representing Israel, the northern kingdom) and to testify against her (verse 13): the Philistines (represented by Ashdod) and the Egyptians. Even these wicked pagans will be able to recognize how sinful Israel has become.

10–12 The Israelites’ sin is particularly bad because they hoard plunder and loot from their own people, from the poor and weak among them (verse 10). Therefore, says the Lord, an enemy (Assyria) will come and plunder what they have plundered—a fitting punishment (verse 11). And only a remnant of Israel will survive—two leg bones or a piece of an ear (verse 12). But Israel as a nation will be destroyed, just as a sheep is devoured by a lion.

13–15 In verse 13, the Philistines and Egyptians are called upon to testify against the house of Jacob (Israel, the northern kingdom). The Lord tells them that He will destroy the altars of Bethel¹² (verse 14) and tear down the Israelites’ expensive houses (verse 15). In this way, God will deal with the two major aspects of the Israelites’ sin: their idolatry and their misuse of wealth and power.¹³