Amos 3

This chapter contains a threatening of God’s judgments, first against the twelve tribes in general, and then particularly against the kingdom of Israel, whose capital city’ was Samaria. sel and direction what was proper to be done. (See ii. 11. 1 Kings xxii. 13. 2 Kings iii. 11. xxii. 13. Jer.xxi. 2. Ezek. xx. 2.) The want of this prophetical gift was much lamented in the times of the captivity. (See Ezek. vii. 26. Lament, ii. 9. Psal. Ixxiv. 9.)

Amos 3:1

JtJ-EAR this word that the Lord hath spoken — against the whole family which I brought up from the land of Egypt. All that family of which Jacob, or Israel, was the head: family is equivalent to people, here and in the following verse; and so it is taken Jer. i. 15. viii. 3. x. 25. Nahum iii. 4. Zech. xiv. 18. i

Amos 3:2

You only have I known, of all the families of the earth; therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities. Your punishment shall be exemplary, because you have sinned against a clearer light, and higher obligations. For tho same reason the angel is commanded to begin his execution at the sanctuary, Ezek. ix. G. (Compare Matt. xi. 22. Luke xii. 47.).

Amos 3:3

Can two walk together (as friends), except they be agreed?. So neither can I behave myself towards you as a friend or benefactor, as long as you act in perfect contradiction to my nature and laws by your manifold sins.

Amos 3:4

JWll a lion roar in the forest when he hath no prey?. As a lion doth not use to roar but when he hath his prey in view; so neither doth God denounce his judgments, (compared to the roaring of a lion, ver. 8.) unless your sins have made you proper objects of his displeasure.

Amos 3:5

Can a bird fall in a snare upon the earth where no gin is for hint?. God is said to watch over sinners tobring ew7upon them, Jer. xxxi. 21. Dan. ix. 14. and thus he will deal by this people, unless they repent. Shall one take up a snare from the earth, and have taken up nothing at all?] In like manner you are not to expect that God should remove his judgments till they have attained their proper end, viz. tho people’s repentance. Ver. G. Shall the trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid?] The sounding of the trumpet was the signal of war: such an alUrm is apt to strike men with terror: (see Jer. iv. 12.) and the warnings God gives his people by.the prophets, of the judgments hanging over their heads, ought equally to affect them. Shall there be evil in the city, and the Lord hath not done it?] You may be assured that the calamities you feel, or have just cause to fear, are not the effect of chance, but come upon you by tho especial direction of Providence. (Compare Isa. xlv. 7.).

Amos 3:7

Surely the Lord will do nothing, but he reveals his secrets unto his servants the prophets. There was a succession of prophets among the Jews from Samuel’s time till the captivity: the people commonly consulted them upon extraordinary occasions, and they gave them coun-

Amos 3:8

The lion hathroared, who will not fear?the Lord hath spoken, who can but prophesy?. As the denouncing of the Divine judgments ought to terrify you like the roaring of a lion, (see ver. 4. and i. 2.) so the prophets that are God’s messe gers must obey those commands and instructions he gives them, with whatever perils the discharge of their duty may be attended. (See ii. 12. vi. 12, 13.)

Amos 3:9

Publish ye in the palaces of Ashdod, and in the palaces of the land of Egypt, &c. God calls upon the heathen to be witnesses of his judgments upon his own people, that they may take warning thereby: particularly he gives notice to the Philistines and Egyptians, the Jews’ inveterate enemies, that they may assemble themselves, and with pleasure beholdthe ravages and oppressions which their insulting adversaries will bring upon the kingdom of Israel, whose capital city was Samaria, built upon a hill of the same name: (1 Kings xvi. 24.) or the mountains of Samaria may be equivalent to the mountains of Israel, mentioned Ezek. xxxvi. 8. xxxvii. 22. Samaria being often taken for the whole kingdom of Israel. (See the note upon Hos. viii. 6.)

Amos 3:10

For they know not to do right. u e. They will not know nor learn to do right. (See Jer. v. 4. viii. 7. ix.3.)

Amos 3:11

An adversary shall be even round about the land. Shalmaneser the king of Assyria shall invade the land on every side, shall dismantle its fortresses, and plunder its wealthy palaces.

Amos 3:12

As the shepherd taketh out of the mouth of the lion two legs, or apiece of an ear, &c. When the lion hath for some time ravaged the flock, but is at last frighted away by the noise of the shepherds and their dogs, or by throwing darts and other offensive weapons at him; in such a case the shepherd can hope to save but only some poor remains of the prey the lion had seized upon. And thus shall it be at the sacking of Samaria; but a small remainder of the inhabitants shall escape the search of their enemies, though they try to hide themselves in their most retired apartments. (Compare 1 Kings xx. 30. xxii. 25.) And in Damascus in a couch.] The marginal reading gives a better sense, On the beds feet. They that follow the reading of the text, explain it of those Israelites who lied for refuge to Damascus, there being a confederacy between Israel and Syria; (see Isa. vii. 2.) but Were seized there, upon the taking of Damascus. (Sec i. 5. 2 Kings xvi. 9. compared with xv. 29.) Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria conquered both Israel and Syria. (Sec the places ahovecited, and compare Isa. vii. 16. xvii. 1—3.)

Amos 3:13

Hear ye, and testify in the house of Jacob, &c. The words are directed to the prophets, whom God sends to testify and declare his will.

Amos 3:14

That in the day that J shall visit the transgressions of Israel upon him, I will also visit the altars of Beth-el. In the general destruction of the ten tribes, God’s judgments should be particularly visible upon the places dedicated to idolatrous worship, especially Beth-el, the principal place of that kind. (See ix. 1. IIos. x. 5, 6. 8.) Altars may stand here for altar; as wc read of the calves of vql. iv. Beth-aven, in that place of Hosca, meaning the calf at Beth-el. And the horns of the altar shall be cut off.] They were squares placed at the four corners of the altar, and hollow in the middle, into which some of the blood of the sacrifices was poured out. (See Exod. xxvii. 12. and Dr. Prideaux’s draught of the altar, in the first part of his Conncx. of Script. Hist.)

Amos 3:15

And I ivill smite the winter-house with the summer-house. The great men had their different houses or apartments suited to the several seasons of the year. (See Jer. xxxvi. 21.) And the houses of ivory shall perish.] King Ahab huilt him an ivory house, i. e. ceiled or wainscotted with ivory, (1 Kings xxii. 39.) It is probable other great men followed his example, in adorning their houses after this costly manner. Whereupon the prophet threatens destruction to this piece of pride and state.