Amos 3:1-9

1 Listen to this word that the Lord has spoken against you, people of Israel, against the whole family he brought out of Egypt.
2 "I have chosen only you out of all the families of the earth, so I will punish you for all your sins."
3 Two people will not walk together unless they have agreed to do so.
4 A lion in the forest does not roar unless it has caught an animal; it does not growl in its den when it has caught nothing.
5 A bird will not fall into a trap where there is no bait; the trap will not spring shut if there is nothing to catch.
6 When a trumpet blows a warning in a city, the people tremble. When trouble comes to a city, the Lord has caused it.
7 Before the Lord God does anything, he tells his plans to his servants the prophets.
8 The lion has roared! Who wouldn't be afraid? The Lord God has spoken. Who will not prophesy?
9 Announce this to the strong buildings of Ashdod and to the strong buildings of Egypt: "Come to the mountains of Samaria, where you will see great confusion and people hurting others."

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.

Scripture taken from the New Century Version. Copyright © 1987, 1988, 1991 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.