Amos 3:2,Amos 3:3

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

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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Amos 3:2

You only have I known - I have taken no other people to be my own people. I have approved of you, loved you, fed, sustained, and defended you; but because you have forsaken me, have become idolatrous and polluted, therefore will I punish you. And the punishment shall be in proportion to the privileges you have enjoyed, and the grace you have abused. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Amos 3:2

Verse 2 The Prophet afterwards declares what he had in charge, Only you have I known of all the families of the earth: I will therefore visit you for your iniquities. Many think that he still concedes to the Israelites what they were wont to boast of, — that they were separated from the common class of men, because the Lord had adopted them: but it seems rather to be a reproach cast on them. God then brings forward here his benefits, of which we noticed yesterday a similar instance, that he... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Amos 3:1-2

The judgment of apostates a foregone conclusion. This chapter, like Amos 5:1-27 . and 6; opens with a call to attention. God is going to speak, and his voice is worth listening to. He is going to speak a word, moreover, the issues of which are capital. To attend to his communication is as vitally important as dutiful. I. GOD , WHO HAD ONLY SPOKEN ABOUT THE HEATHEN , SPEAKS TO ISRAEL . Syria and Edom and Tyre may never have heard of the doom to which they were... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Amos 3:1-2

Sin against light and love. This language of reproach and threatening was addressed to Israel and Judah. Yet all who occupy a parallel position of privilege, and who are guilty of similar insensibility, ingratitude, and apostasy, are subject to the condemnation and the penalty pronounced upon the favoured but sinful descendants of Israel. I. UNPARALLELED FAVOURS ARE RECOUNTED . As a matter of history, Israel had been treated in a singular manner, with unique favour. However we... 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 3:2

Have I known; i.e. loved, acknowledged, chosen. So in Hosea 13:5 God says. "I knew thee in the wilderness;" and St. Paul ( 2 Timothy 2:19 ), "The Lord knoweth them that are his" (comp. Nahum 1:7 ). The peculiar relation in which God allowed Israel to stand to him is much dwelt upon (see Deuteronomy 4:8 , Deuteronomy 4:20 ; Deuteronomy 14:2 ; 2 Samuel 7:23 ; 1 Chronicles 17:21 ). Therefore I will punish you; literally, visit upon you. They must not presume upon their... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Amos 3:2

The inevitable punishment of Christian sin. "You only have I known of all the families of the earth, therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities." These words are at once an accusation, a condemnation, and a sentence. What God had done for Israel in vain was a ground and the measure of what he now must do against them. Blessing abused is but the faggot feeding the fire of merited curse. They had given themselves up to wickedness, and the fire tongue of a lofty privilege sits above... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Amos 3:2

You only have I known of all the families of the earth; therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities - Such is the one law of God. The nearer anyone is brought unto God, the worse is his fall, and, his trial over, the more heavily is he punished. Nearness to God is a priceless, but an awesome gift. The most intense blessing becomes, by the abuse of free will, the most dreadful woe. For the nearer God places anyone to His own light, the more malignant is the choice of darkness instead of... read more

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

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Amos 3:2

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Amos 3:2

The Pulpit Commentary - Amos 3:1-2

The Pulpit Commentary - Amos 3:1-2

The Pulpit Commentary - Amos 3:1-15

The Pulpit Commentary - Amos 3:2

The Pulpit Commentary - Amos 3:2

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Amos 3:2

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