Amos 3:12 NIV

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 3:12

Thus saith the Lord, as the shepherd taketh out of the mouth of the lion ,.... Or what the lion has left, to show to his master that it had been seized and torn by a beast of prey; for otherwise it is a most daring thing, and not usual, for a shepherd to take anything out of a lion's mouth, though David did: and here it is said to be not a whole sheep, or a lamb, but two legs, or a piece of an ear ; the body of the creature being devoured by the lion, only some offal left he cared not... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Amos 3:12

As the shepherd taketh out of the mouth of the lion - Scarcely any of you shall escape; and those that do shall do so with extreme difficulty, just as a shepherd, of a whole sheep carried away by a lion, can recover no more than two of its legs, or a piece of its ear, just enough to prove by the marks on those parts, that they belonged to a sheep which was his own. So shall the children of Israel be taken out - Those of them that escape these judgments shall escape with as great... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Amos 3:12

Verse 12 In the next verse he leaves some hope, though this is not avowedly done. For when he says that some would be saved, as when a shepherd snatches from the jaws of a lion the ear of a sheep or two legs, it is not the Prophet’s design to mitigate the severe judgment of which he had before spoken; but shows, on the contrary, that when any should be saved, it would not be because the people would defend themselves, or were able to resist; but that it would be as when a trembling shepherd... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Amos 3:1-15

§ 1. First address: the prophet begins by showing Israel's ingratitude for past mercies ( Amos 3:1 , Amos 3:2 ) , and his own commission to announce the coming judgment ( Amos 3:3-8 ) . They have drawn this upon themselves by iniquities which astonish even heathen nations; and they shall be punished by the overthrow of the kingdom and the destruction of their city ( Amos 3:9-15 ) . read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Amos 3:9-12

The prophet gets his heavy commission. It is Jehovah that speaks. He addresses the prophets (Keil), or the heathen (Lange), or the heathen through the prophets. The passage is a summons to the nations to appear as witnesses of Israel's flagrant sin, and her dreadful punishment. There are many articles in her predicted woe. Not least of these is condemnation by the heathen, who for less heinous sins were to be themselves destroyed. When a professed follower of God apostatizes in such a... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Amos 3:9-15

Having vindicated his own commission, Amos proclaims what God purposes to do unto Israel. He is bidden to summon the heathen Ashdod and Egypt to bear witness to the iniquities of Samaria, which should bring about the overthrow of the kingdom, the destruction of the city with its altars and palaces, and the exile of the people. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Amos 3:12

The prophet shows that the chastisement is inevitable, and that only the smallest remnant, the most worthless among the inhabitants, and they with much difficulty, can escape. The illustration from a common incident in a shepherd's life is very natural in Amos. Taketh ; better, rescueth . So below, shall be taken out; shall be rescued . The usual explanation is that a shepherd attacks the lion which has seized one of his sheep, and rescues from it the most worthless parts—"a couple of... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Amos 3:12

As the shepherd taketh - (Rather, rescueth) out of the mouth of the lion two legs (Properly, the shank, the lower part of the leg below the knee, which in animals is dry, and bone only and worthless) “or apiece” (the tip) “of an ear, so” (that is, so few and weak, so bared and spoiled, a mere remnant,) “shall the children of Israel be taken out” (rather, “rescued”) “that” now “dwell” at ease “in Samaria in the corner of a bed, and in Damascus” , in “a couch,” or rather “in Damascus, a couch.”... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Amos 3:12

Amos 3:12. As the shepherd taketh out of the mouth of the lion two legs, &c. When a 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 darts and other offensive weapons thrown at him, then all that, in such a case, the shepherd can hope to save will be but some poor remains of the prey that the lion hath seized. And thus shall it be at the taking of Samaria: only a small remainder of the inhabitants shall escape the... read more

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

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Amos 3:12

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Amos 3:12

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Amos 3:12

The Pulpit Commentary - Amos 3:1-15

The Pulpit Commentary - Amos 3:9-12

The Pulpit Commentary - Amos 3:9-15

The Pulpit Commentary - Amos 3:12

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Amos 3:12

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Amos 3:12

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