Amos 3

Amos 3:2

HAve I known] Chosen, and accepted to be my people, wherefore your ingratitude and disloyalty is so much the more to be condemned, Deuteronomy 7:6. & Deuteronomy 10:15. and those sinnes of ignorance, which I passe over in others, are in you inexcusable, and proceeding from pure malice. See Ezekiel 20:32.

punish] Heb. visit upon.

Amos 3:3

two walk together] Even as two travellers, whose end of their journey is not the same, cannot long travell the same way so it is impossible that God should continue his grace towards you, seeing his service is not the only aime of all your actions.

Amos 3:4

a lion rore in the forest] Will God threaten by his prophets, except there be some great occasion? Or, thinke ye that God will not at last bring all these threatnings to passe, though he hath had patience for a long time? See Amos 1:2.

cry out of his denne] Heb. give forth his voice.

Amos 3:5

a bird fall] Can any thing come without Gods providence? Matth 10. 29.

a snare] Shall his threatnings be in vain?

Amos 3:6

Shall a trumpet be blon in the citie] When the watchers give a sign, or sound an alarm, the people presently are terrified: and what ought you to do at Gods threatnings, pronounced by his Prophets, for your conversion, towards him, from whom all these calamities proceed.

not be afraid] Or, not run together.

shall there be evil in a citte] Isaiah 45:7.

and the LORD hath not done it] Or, and shall not the LORD do somewhat?

Amos 3:7

revealeth his secret] I do liken the Prophets to watchmen, which discover afarre off the coming of the enemies: for so God ordinarily reveals unto his Prophets, the greatest judgements which he will cause to fall upon his people, to bring them to repentance, Genesis 18:17.

Amos 3:8

The lion hath rored] The fear of Gods majestie doth enforce us to relate his threatnings faithfully unto you, though you hate and disdain us for it.

Amos 3:9

Ashdod] He calleth strangers, as the Philistims and Egyptians, to be witnesses of Gods just judgements against the Israelites for their crueltie and oppression.

oppressed] Or, oppressions.

Amos 3:10

robbery in their palaces] Or, spoil. The fruit of the crueltie and theft appeareth by their great riches, which they have in their houses.

Amos 3:11

And adversarie] Meaning the king of Assyria Shalmaneser, as appeareth by the next verse, for he took Samaria by force, and led away the people captive, 2 Kings 17:6.

Amos 3:12

taketh] Heb. delivereth.

so shall the children of Israel be] In the sacking of the citie a small number of the poorest sort of the people shall escape.

in the corner of a bed] He hath relation to the hiding corners, that are sought for when a citie is taken.

in] Or, on the beds feet.

Amos 3:13

Heare ye] He directeth his words to the prophets, and all true beleevers.

Amos 3:14

visit] Or, punish Israel for.

I will also visit] I will destroy all places and instruments of idolatry, to shew the falshood of it: and make it known that it is the chiefe cause of the peoples ruine.

the horns of the altar] Which were made upon the idols altars, like unto them which were upon the altar of the true God, Exodus 27:2.

Amos 3:15

winter-house with the summer-house] He hath relation to the customes of great men, who are wont to have severall roomes for winter, and for summer. Judg. 3. 20. Jeremiah 36:22. the meaning is, all manner of statelinesse, greatnesse, and commodiousnesse shall be taken away.

ivory] Covered over with ivory. 1 Kings 2:39. & 1 Kings 3:29.