Amos 3

King James Version

Full text for Amos Chapter 3

1¶ 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,

2You only have I known of all the families of the earth: therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities.

3Can two walk together, except they be agreed?

4Will a lion roar in the forest, when he hath no prey? will a young lion cry out of his den, if he have taken nothing?

5Can a bird fall in a snare upon the earth, where no gin [is] for him? shall [one] take up a snare from the earth, and have taken nothing at all?

6Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid? shall there be evil in a city, and the LORD hath not done [it]?

7Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.

8The lion hath roared, who will not fear? the Lord GOD hath spoken, who can but prophesy?

9¶ Publish in the palaces 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 the oppressed in the midst thereof.

10For they know not to do right, saith the LORD, who store up violence and robbery in their palaces.

11Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; An adversary [there shall be] even round about the land; and he shall bring down thy strength from thee, and thy palaces shall be spoiled.

12Thus saith the LORD; As the shepherd taketh out of the mouth of the lion two legs, or a piece of an ear; so shall the children of Israel be taken out that dwell in Samaria in the corner of a bed, and in Damascus [in] a couch.

13Hear ye, and testify in the house of Jacob, saith the Lord GOD, the God of hosts,

14That in the day that I shall visit the transgressions of Israel upon him I will also visit the altars of Bethel: and the horns of the altar shall be cut off, and fall to the ground.

15And I will smite the winter house with the summer house; and the houses of ivory shall perish, and the great houses shall have an end, saith the LORD.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

The LORD addresses Israel, reminding them of their unique covenant relationship and declaring that their iniquities will lead to punishment. Through a series of rhetorical questions, Amos establishes that divine judgment is not arbitrary but a direct consequence of their actions. The chapter emphasizes that God reveals His plans to His prophets before acting.

Medium Summary

The LORD declares His intent to punish Israel, the only family He has known among all the earth, for their transgressions. Amos uses vivid analogies, such as a lion roaring only when it has prey or a trumpet sounding only when there is cause for alarm, to illustrate that God's impending judgment is a certain and logical outcome of Israel's sin. He asserts that the Lord GOD does nothing without first revealing His secret to His servants the prophets. The prophet then calls for pagan nations, like Ashdod and Egypt, to witness the great tumults and oppression within Samaria, highlighting Israel's moral decay. Consequently, an adversary will surround the land, spoiling their palaces and bringing down their strength.

Long Summary

The chapter opens with the LORD addressing the children of Israel, the entire family He brought out of Egypt, reminding them of their unique and intimate relationship with Him. He states that because He has known them above all other families of the earth, He will punish them for all their iniquities, implying a greater accountability. Amos then poses a series of rhetorical questions to demonstrate the principle of cause and effect: two cannot walk together unless agreed, a lion roars only with prey, a bird falls into a snare only if one is set, and evil in a city is ultimately from the LORD. These questions underscore the certainty and divine origin of the coming judgment. Crucially, the text declares that the Lord GOD will do nothing without first revealing His secret to His servants the prophets, establishing the divine authority behind Amos's message. The prophet then issues a command to publish in the palaces of Ashdod and Egypt, inviting these pagan nations to assemble upon the mountains of Samaria to witness the great tumults and oppression within, exposing Israel's public shame and moral corruption. The LORD proclaims that Israel's inability to do right, evidenced by their storing up violence and robbery in their palaces, will lead to an adversary surrounding the land, bringing down their strength and spoiling their luxurious homes. The LORD illustrates the extent of the coming destruction with the imagery of a shepherd rescuing only two legs or a piece of an ear from a lion, signifying that only a small, barely rescued remnant will remain from Samaria. Finally, the LORD declares that on the day He visits Israel's transgressions, He will also visit the altars of Bethel, cutting off their horns, and will smite both the winter and summer houses, causing the houses of ivory and great houses to perish.

Core Concepts

  • Divine Election and AccountabilityThe LORD reminds Israel that He uniquely 'known' them among all families of the earth, which, rather than granting immunity, leads to greater accountability and punishment for their iniquities.
  • Cause and Effect of JudgmentThrough rhetorical questions, the chapter establishes that divine judgment is not arbitrary but a logical and inevitable consequence of Israel's actions, much like natural phenomena have discernible causes.
  • Prophetic RevelationA foundational principle is stated: the Lord GOD does nothing without first revealing His 'secret' or plan to His servants the prophets, validating Amos's message as divinely inspired.
  • Samaria's Corruption and OppressionThe chapter exposes the deep moral decay within Samaria, characterized by 'great tumults' and 'oppressed' people, as well as the storing up of 'violence and robbery' in their palaces.
  • Inevitable Adversary and SpoilAs a direct result of their unrighteousness, an adversary will surround Israel, bringing down their strength and spoiling their luxurious palaces, signifying a coming military defeat and plunder.
  • Remnant ImageryThe vivid metaphor of a shepherd rescuing only 'two legs, or a piece of an ear' from a lion illustrates that only a very small, barely salvaged remnant of Israel will survive the impending judgment.
  • Destruction of Idolatry and LuxurySpecific judgment is pronounced upon the altars of Bethel, where idolatry was practiced, and upon the opulent 'houses of ivory' and 'great houses,' symbolizing the end of their sinful wealth and false worship.