Amos 3

God will punish Israel for their ungratefulness verse 1 &c. he showeth that his threatening and punishments are just and sure, 3.upbraideth them with their unpliableness against all warnings 6. God call the heathen to witness against Israel 9. to whom he gives notice of the enemies approach 11. whose force but few shall escape with great hazards 12. he foretelleth the destruction of their idolatry and pride,13.

1. Hear this word which the Lord speaketh against ye children of Israel namely against the whole generation which I brought up out of the land of Egypt saying:

2. You alone have I known of all Generations of the earth: [i.e chosen and accepted of you in an extra-ordinary manner. Compare Hosea 13:5 and see Psal. 1. on verse 6.] therefore will I visit all your unrightiousnesse’s upon you.

3. Shall two walk together, [Here God begins by severall similitudes to show unto the people, that the prophets had sufficient ground to reprove them, and to threaten and to foretell them all manner of judgements: and that by way of warning, that yet they might escape the approaching evils by serious repentance; in regard they were no vain threatenings] unless they be met together? [Oth. Unless they be agreed ? and my faithful servants, (implies God) are of one mind; (see Hosea 9:8. Malachi 2:6.) and ye must likewise agree with me and my prophets, if ye mean to keep me your friend and guide; otherwise I must forsake you.]

4. Will a Lion roar in the wood, when he hath no prey? Will a young Lion lift up [Heb.give] his voice, unless he hath caught (somewhat) ? [God and his prophets reprove and threaten not without great reason, and instant necessity; therefore the Israelites had need to awake, before God do deliver them up for a spoil to the enemy: which danger was as surely drawing on, as it is sure the Lion hath caught a prey, when once he begins to roar.]

5. Will a bird fall into the gin upon the ground, [or, gin of the ground i.e. set or laid on the ground] when there is no gin for him? [the least mis-fortunes are governed by Gods Providence; therefore the Israelites had great reason in all theirs to look up to God, with whom they had to do, and whose nets and gins they should not be able to escape unless they repented] will a man take up the snare from the ground having taken nothing at all? [Heb. taking, (or, catching) shall have taken (or caught) nothing.]

6. Shall the trumpet be blown in the city, that the people do not tremble; [Yet ye nevertheless be not troubled at all the threatnings and reproof-sermons, which I cause to be made unto you. Others, hastily or trembling run, come on,as Hose. 3. 5. and chapter 11. 11.] shall there be an evil in the city unless the LORD do it [meaning the evil of punishment. See Gen. 19 on vers. 16. and Compare Isaiah 45:7.]

7. Certainly [The two following verses serve for explaination and application of the precedent similitudes] the LORD will do nothing unless he hath revealed his secret [i.e. his councel and determination of extraordinary judgements, and general plague and calamities] to his servants the Prophets. [to give warning thereof unto his people beforehand.]

8. The Lion hath roared [i.e. the LORD hath made his anger known, and charged his servants to prophesie thereof. See above chapter 1. 2. and Hosea 11:10.] who should not be afraid? The LORD hath spoken who should not prophesie?

9. Cause it to be heard in the palaces of Asdod, and in the palaces, in the land of Egypt. [Here the LORD manifests that Israels wickedness and unthankfulness was so great and heinous, that the very heathen nations being called to be judges thereof, would detest and abhor them for it, and justify God in his punishments. Compare Mich. 2, etc] gather yourselves upon the mountains of Samaria, [whereof there were many, which lying pretty close to that on which Samaria it self lay, East, North and South of it; whence one might (in a manner) over-hear and overlook what was done in Samaria] and see the great commotions [or, stirs, tumults, disorders and confusions] in the midst of her, and the oppressed within her.]

10. For they know not how to do that which is right [Compare Jeremiah 4:22.] Speaketh the LORD: those that gather treasures in their palaces through violence and destruction. [i.e. gotten by force oppression and robberies.]

11. Therefore now saith the LORD: the enemy! [An abrupt speech, as it is the manner to cry out, when the enemy unawareness and suddenly makes an inroad, and surpriseth all passages: the Enemy, the enemy, every where, round about: or understand thereupon, is coming, and he shall, etc meaning salmonasser the King of Assyria; See 2. Kings 17. 5, 6. and compare Hosea 8:1.] and that round about the land: [See of the like use of the Hebr letter vau, for, and that or, even, Jer. 17. on verse 10. Joel 2. verse. 12. 31. etc.] he shall throw down thy strength from thee [O Samaria] and thy palaces shall be despoiled.

12. Thus saith the LORD: like as a Shepheard rescues two legs, or a piece of an ear [the Hebrew word here used, is found no where else] out of the Lions mouth, so shall the children of Israel be rescued: [by this similitude God shewes, that but a very few, and those not without a great deal of hazard and danger, should escape the common judgement] those that sit at Samaria, in the corner of the bed, [or, bedstead] and on the frame of a couch [or, foot, side, Heb. Demeschek a word no where else occurring in holy writ. Some take it for Damaschek, i.e. Damascus, and render it, in a couch of Damascus, or, a costly stately Damascus or Syrian couch. In this latter part of the verse ( according to some,) are described the voluptuous and luxurious Israelites, that lived carelessly, and slighted Gods threatenings of the approaching miseries. See below chapter 6. 4. Some understand it of the sick or bedrid, or such as seek to hide themselves in corners or secret places, which the enemies in the first heat of murdering and plundering sometimes heeds not, and so they may escape.]

13. Hearken and testifie in the house of Jacob:[Here God addresseth his speech to the prophet and the faithful remnant in Israel] Saith the Lord LORD, the God of hosts.

14. That I, in the day when I shall visit Israels transgressions upon him, shall likewise make visitations upon the altars of Bethel:[See Hosea 4:15. and 10. 15. with the annotate. The sence is, besides the people I will also cause to be destroyed, whatsoever they designed and appointed for idolatry and superstition, all their idolatrous stuff and furniture] and the horns of the Alter shall be cut off, and fall to the ground.

15. And I will smite the winter-house with the summer-house, [i.e. I will destroy whatsoever they built and used for their pride and pleasure. This hath respect to the custom of the great ones, who had built themselves all countrey over very fair and sumptuous houses of pleasure and Retirement, and many Royall and princely palaces, ( with the less hinderance or annoyance of either heat in summer, or cold in winter.) to enjoy their pleasures, and voluptuous entertainments: Compare Judges 3:20. Jeremiah 36:22. with annotate,] and the ivory houses [see 1. Kings 22. on vers. 39] Shall perish, and the great houses take an end, saith the LORD.