Amos 3:4-5

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 3:4

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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Amos 3:4

Will a lion roar - Should I threaten such a judgment without cause? read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Amos 3:5

Can a bird fall in a snare - Can ye, as a sinful people, fall into calamities which I have not appointed? Shall one take up a snare - and have taken nothing - Will the snare be removed before it has caught the expected prey? - shall I remove my judgments till they are fully accomplished? This is a curious passage, and deserves farther consideration. The original, literally translated, is nearly as follows: "Shall the trap arise from the ground; and catching, shall it not catch?" Here is... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Amos 3:4

Verse 4 The second similitude follows, Will a lion roar in the forest without a prey? Will a lion send forth his voice from his den when he has caught nothing? By this verse he intimates that God does not cry out for nothing by his Prophets; for ungodly men supposed that the air was only made to reverberate by an empty sound, when the Prophets threatened, “These,” they said, “are mere words;” as though indeed they could not find that the necessity of crying arose from themselves, because they... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Amos 3:5

Verse 5 The third similitude now follows, Will a bird fall on the earth, he says, without a fowler? The Prophet means here that nothing happens without being foreseen by God; for as nets are laid for birds, so God ensnares men by his hidden punishments. Unexpectedly indeed calamity comes, and it is commonly ascribed to chance; but the Prophet here reminds us that God stretches his nets, in which men are caught, though they think that chance rules, and observe not the hand of God. They are... 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 3:3-8

Before announcing more particularly the coming judgment, Amos, by a series of little parables or comparisons, establishes his right to prophesy, and intimates the necessity laid upon him to deliver his message. He illustrates the truths that all effects have causes, and that from the cause you can infer the effect. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Amos 3:3-8

No smoke without fire. God cannot utter empty threats. His every declaration is bona fide. When he roars he is about to rend. Let, then, the doomed sinner tremble. For all his insensibility he is no better than a dead man. I. SIN INVOLVES DISCONNECTION FROM A HOLY GOD . "Can two walk together," etc.? This deep principle involves that: 1 . Israel, quarrelling with God, cannot reckon on his company. For so far God had associated with them. In Egypt, in the wilderness,... read more

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