A2 F1 3:1-15. The whole family from Egypt.
F2 4:1-13. The Northern Kingdom. [Kine of Basham.]
F3 5:1-6:14. Lamentations. "Woe, Woe."
F1 G 1. Call to Hear.
H 2-. Yahaveh. "I have known."
J -2. Threatening.
G 3-9. Call to answer.
H 10. Israel. "They know not."
J 11-15. Threatening.
689-687 B.C.
Amos 3)
1 Hear this word that the LORD has spoken against you, O sons of Israel, against the whole family which I brought up from the land of Egypt (see Ex. 12:51,&c.), saying,
2 You only have I known of all the families of the earth (see Deut. 7:6):
therefore I will visit upon you (see Ex. 32:34) for all your iniquities.
3 Can two walk together, except they have met together by appointment [of time and place]? (This is the 1st of 5 parables. The answer to each is self evident.)
4 Will a lion roar in the thicket, when he has no prey? will a young lion cry out of his den, if he have taken nothing?
5 Can a bird fall in a net upon the earth, where no snare (or, trap. Gin is short for the Old French engin, which is from ingenium; hence, something ingenious) is for him? shall one take up a snare from the earth, and have taken nothing at all?
6 Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not run together? shall there be calamity (evil inflicted in judgment) in a city, and the LORD has not done it? (With the true meaning of 'evil' there is no need to do violence to the Hebrew to defend Yehovah's righteous dealings.)
7 No: (cp. Job 31:18. Mic. 6:4. The reason follows and is explained) for the Lord GOD does (Heb. 'sah = work, execute [Ex. 12:12. Num. 5:30; 33;4. Deut. 10:18; 33:21,&c) nothing, but He reveals His secret counsel to His servants the prophets. (As He did to Abraham, His 'prophet' [Gen. 20:7] in Gen. 18;17, &c., and has since done by His prophets. Cp. Gen. 6:13. Ps. 25:14. John 15:15.)
8 The lion has roared, who will not fear? the Lord GOD has spoken, who can but prophesy? (God speaks through the prophets. See Heb. 1:1.)
9 Publish in the palaces (see 1;4) at Ashdod, and in the palaces in the land of Egypt, and say, 'Assemble yourselves upon the mountains of Samaria, and behold the great tumults in the midst thereof, and oppressive acts (oppressed by violent and forcible extractions. See Lev. 19:13. Deut. 24:14) in the midst thereof.'
10 For they know not to do straight-forward, says the LORD, who store up violence and robbery in their palaces."
11 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; "An adversary [shall come] there (cp. 2 Kings 17:3,6; 18:9,10,11) and shall be even round about the land; and he shall bring down your strength from you, and your palaces shall be spoiled."
12 Thus says the LORD; "Just as the shepherd rescues (like a brand plucked from the burning) out of the mouth of the lion two legs, or the tip of an ear; so shall the son of Israel be taken out that dwell in Samaria in the corner of a bed, and in Damascus in [the corner of] a couch. (I.e. luxuriously. Cp. 6:1-4.)
13 Hear you, and testify in the house of Jacob (i.e. the whole of the natural seed. See v.1), says the Lord GOD (Adonai Yehovah), the God of hosts (The Elohim of Sabaioth.),
14 That in the day that I shall visit the transgressions of Israel upon him (see Ex. 32:34) I will also visit the altars of Beth-el: and the horns of the altar shall be cut off, and fall to the earth.
15 And I will smite the winter house (cp. Jer. 36:22) with the summer house (cp. Judg. 3:20); and the houses of ivory (put for the parts inlaid, paneled, or overlaid with ivory. Cp. 1 Kings 22:39. Ps. 45:8) shall perish, and many houses shall have an end, says the LORD.