Amos 3:2,Amos 3:3

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Amos 3:1-2

Amos 3:1-2. Hear this word against the whole family, &c. All that family of which Jacob, or Israel, was the head. The word family is equivalent to people here and in the following verse. You only have I known Acknowledged, by revealing myself to you, protecting you, and conferring on you peculiar privileges. Therefore will I punish you Your sins, therefore, shall be punished, and that in an exemplary manner; because you have sinned against greater light and higher obligations... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Amos 3:1-8

3:1-6:14 REASONS FOR ISRAEL’S PUNISHMENTThe prophet’s responsibility (3:1-8)Many Israelites thought that because they were God’s people, they could do as they liked without fear of punishment. On the contrary, says Amos, God’s choice of them to be his people is all the more reason why he will punish them if they are disobedient (3:1-2).To prevent the people from thinking that he is making idle threats, Amos points out that he has good reason for speaking with such boldness. He gives a list of... read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Amos 3:2

"You only have I known of all the families of the earth: therefore I will visit upon you all your iniquities."You only have I known ..." "The word `known' in this context is a covenant word, used to describe a relationship instead of cognition."[4] It means, "Jehovah chose Israel alone to be his people."[5] To infer from this that God had no information of other nations, or that, in any sense, he was unaware of them, "would be a limitation upon God's nature,"[6] and also a notion utterly... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Amos 3:2

Amos 3:2. You only have I known— "You have I chosen from amongst all people, for mine inheritance and my kingdom. I have distinguished you with particular favours and privileges, and therefore expected from you greater returns of gratitude. Disappointing me of these returns, you must expect severer chastisement." read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Amos 3:2

2. You only have I known—that is, acknowledged as My people, and treated with peculiar favor (Exodus 19:5; Deuteronomy 4:20). Compare the use of "know," Psalms 1:6; Psalms 144:3; John 10:14; 2 Timothy 2:19. therefore I will punish—the greater the privileges, the heavier the punishment for the abuse of them; for to the other offenses there is added, in this case, ingratitude. When God's people do not glorify Him, He glorifies Himself by punishing them. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Amos 3:1-2

Israel’s unique relationship with Yahweh 3:1-2Amos called all the Israelites to hear a message from their Lord. He referred to them as those whom Yahweh had redeemed from Egypt, reminding them of the unique privilege they enjoyed. He also mentioned that the Israelites, among all the peoples of the world, had a special relationship to the Lord. "You only" is in the emphatic first position in the Hebrew sentence. This is an allusion to the covenant that God had made with the Israelites at Mt.... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Amos 3:1-15

The First Address1-8. A call to attention. 9, 10. The oppressions practised by the powerful. 11-15. The disasters which should overtake them, their sanctuary and their palaces.1. ’Race’ would be a more correct word than family. Judah is included in the appeal, but immediately drops out of sight again.2. In the Bible to know frequently means to care for, to be deeply interested in (Genesis 18:19; Hosea 13:5; Nahum 1:7; Job 22:13; Psalms 1:6; Psalms 73:11; Proverbs 2:10; Galatians 4:9): at... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Amos 3:2

(2) Known.—The knowledge of God is love. There was special knowledge and intimacy between God and Israel. Upon such knowledge followed advantages and privileges innumerable.Therefore I will . . .—This may mean, in proportion to your privileges will be your doom—but more probably that this intimacy of knowledge is the ground of gracious chastisement. For nation or man to be allowed to go on in sin without rebuke is the greatest curse that can befall it or him. read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - Amos 3:1-15

CIVILIZATION AND JUDGMENTAmos 3:1-15 - Amos 4:3WE now enter the Second Section of the Book of Amos: chapters 3-6. It is a collection of various oracles of denunciation, grouped partly by the recurrence of the formula "Hear this word," which stands at the head of our present chapters 3, 4, and 5, which are therefore probably due to it; partly by two cries of "Woe" at Amos 5:18 and Amos 6:1; and also by the fact that each of the groups thus started leads up to an emphatic, though not at first... read more

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - Amos 3:1-15

II. THE PROPHETIC MESSAGES UNCOVERING THE CONDITION OF THE PEOPLE CHAPTER 3 The First Discourse 1. There is cause for judgment (Amos 3:1-8 ) 2. The coming judgment visitation (Amos 3:9-15 ) Amos 3:1-8 . “Hear this word that the LORD hath spoken against you, O children of Israel, against the whole family which I brought up from the land of Egypt, saying, You have I only known of all the families of the earth, therefore will I punish you for all your iniquities.” This is the solemn... read more