Amos 3:9-11

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 3:9

Publish in the palaces at Ashdod, and in the palaces in the land of Egypt ,.... This is spoken to the prophets, to publish and declare in all the courts of the Philistines and Egyptians, and among all the princes and great men therein, the sins of the people of Israel, and the punishment God threatened them with; and let them, even these very Heathens, judge whether there was not a just proportion between them, and whether their sins did not deserve such calamities to be brought upon them,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Amos 3:10

For they know not to do right, saith the Lord ,.... What is just and fight between man and man, no, not in one single instance; they did not regard it, or advert to it; they were under no concern about it; and were so much under the power of their lusts, that they knew not how to do it; and had used themselves so long to such wicked and unjust ways, that they had lost at least the practical knowledge of doing justice; they knew what was right in the theory, but not in the practice; bribes... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Amos 3:11

Therefore thus saith the Lord God ,.... Because of these tumults and riots, oppression and injustice, violence and robbery: an adversary there shall be even round about the land : not Tyre, as Theodoret renders the word; but the king of Assyria, who invaded the land of Israel in the days of Hoshea, took Samaria, and carried Israel captive, and placed them in foreign countries, 2 Kings 17:6 ; and he shall bring down thy strength from thee ; take away their riches, demolish their... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Amos 3:9

Publish in the palaces - The housetops or flat roofs were the places from which public declarations were made. See on Isaiah 21:1 ; (note), and on Matthew 10:27 ; (note). See whether in those places there be not tumults, oppressions, and rapine sufficient to excite my wrath against them. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Amos 3:10

For they know not to do right - So we may naturally say that they who are doing wrong, and to their own prejudice and ruin, must certainly be ignorant of what is right, and what is their own interest. But we say again "There are none so blind as those who will not see." Their eyes, saith the Lord, they have closed. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Amos 3:11

An adversary, round about the land - Ye shall not be able to escape, wherever ye turn, ye shall meet a foe. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Amos 3:9

Verse 9 Amos begins here to set judges over the Israelites; for they would not patiently submit to God’s judgment: and he constitutes and sets over them as judges the Egyptians and Idumeans. This prophecy no doubt increasingly exasperated the minds of the people, who were already very refractory and rebellious; but yet this was necessary. God, indeed, had cited them to his tribunal, as long as a hope of reconciliation remained: when they became angry on account of God’s threatening, clamored... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Amos 3:10

Verse 10 In this verse he confirms what I have already said of oppressions: he says that they despised every thing right. But not to know this lessens not their guilt, as though they ignorantly offended; but the Prophet means, on the contrary, that they had cast away far from them everything that was just and allowed themselves all liberty in sinning, without any discrimination, without any shame; as though he said, “They are brute animals, who are void of all judgments of all reason, and of... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Amos 3:11

Verse 11 The Prophet here announces the punishment God would inflict on the Israelites. An enemy, he says, and indeed one around you, etc. Some think צר, tsar, to be a verb in the imperative mood; but this cannot be maintained. But Amos, here declares that an enemy was near the Israelites, who would besiege them on every side. The ungodly are ever wont to seek escapes, and if they see the smallest hole, they think that they can escape. Strange is the presumption of men with regard to God: when... read more

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