Amos 3:1-15

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Amos 3:1-8

The scope of these verses is to convince the people of Israel that God had a controversy with them. That which the prophet has to say to them is to let them know that the Lord has something to say against them, Amos 3:1. They were his peculiar people above others, knew his name, and were called by it; nevertheless he had something against them, and they were called to hear what it was, that they might consider what answer they should make, as the prisoner at the bar is told to hearken to his... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Amos 3:9-15

The Israelites are here again convicted and condemned, and particular notice given of the crimes they are convicted of and the punishment they are condemned to. 1. Notice is given of it to their neighbours. The prophet is ordered to publish it in the palaces of Ashdod, one of the chief cities of the Philistines; nay, the summons must go further, even to the palaces in the land of Egypt. ?The great men of both those nations, that dwell in the palaces, that are inquisitive concerning the affairs... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Amos 3:1

Hear this word that the Lord hath spoken against you, O children of Israel ,.... The prophecy against Israel begins in the preceding chapter, where notice is taken of their sins, at least some of them, and of their aggravated circumstances, and sure destruction; and here they are called upon to hearken and listen to what the Lord by his prophet had spoken, and was about to speak unto them; and to "receive" this word, as the Targum; to receive it as the word of God, and not men, and with all... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Amos 3:2

You only have I known of all the families of the earth ,.... All the families or nations of the earth, and all the inhabitants of it, are known by the Lord, as he is the omniscient God; but none had been known by him as a family, or a nation, with that love and affection as this family had been, or distinguished by his favours and blessings as they, not only temporal, but spiritual; besides the land of Canaan, and all the good things in it, they had the law of the Lord, his word, worship,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Amos 3:3

Can two walk together except they be agreed? Unless they meet together, and appoint time and place, when and where they shall set out, what road they will take, and whither they will go; without such consultation and agreement, it cannot be thought they should walk together; and not amicably, unless united in friendship, and are of the same affection to each other, and of the same sentiments one with another; or it is much if they do not fall out by the way. The design of these words is to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Amos 3:4

Will a lion roar in the forest when he hath no prey ?.... He will not, unless he has it in his sight, or in his paws; he roars when he first sees it, whereby he terrifies the creature, that it cannot move till he comes up to it; and when he has got it in his paws, he roars over it, to invite others to partake with him. Now prophecy from the Lord is compared to the roaring of a lion, Amos 1:2 ; and this is never in a way of judgment without a cause; the sin of men, or of a nation, which... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Amos 3:5

Can a bird fall in a snare upon the earth, where no gin is for him ?.... No, there must be a snare set, or a bird can never be taken in it; and that is done, not by chance, but with the design of the fowler; yea, with the knowledge and will of God himself, Matthew 10:29 ; the design of this is to show, that no judgment or affliction comes upon a people, or they into one, by chance, or without the appointment of God; they are his nets and snares, which he on purpose spreads and sets for... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Amos 3:6

Shall a trumpet be blown in the city ,.... Meaning not any trumpet blown, as the silver trumpet for the gathering of the people to worship, or the jubilee trumpet, which proclaimed liberty to them, or any other, expressive of joy and gladness; but the sound of the trumpet, the alarm of war, or what is blown by the watchmen on the walls, descrying an enemy, or some danger, near: and the people not be afraid ? they must, they usually are, lest their lives, and their children's, should be... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Amos 3:7

Surely the Lord God will do nothing ,.... In the world, in a nation or city; no remarkable event has happened, or shall happen, to the sons of men: but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets ; what he willed and determined to do, which was a secret in his own breast, till revealed; and this generally, and for the most part, he makes known to those that fear and serve him; and especially to whom he employs in public service, as his prophets and ministers, previous to his... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Amos 3:8

The lion hath roared, who will not fear ?.... Amos said this from his own experience, who, having been a herdsman in the wilderness of Tekoa, had often heard a lion roar, which had put him into a panic, both for himself, and the cattle he kept; the figure is explained in the next clause: the Lord God hath spoken, who can but prophesy ? whether it be to foretell future events, which the Lord has made known shall come to pass; or to preach the word, which is to prophesy to edification, to... read more

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