Amos 3:3-8

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]

Amos 3:3-8 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

• [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