Amos 3

1 Ascoltate questa parola che l’Eterno pronunzia contro di voi, o figliuoli d’Israele, contro tutta la famiglia ch’io trassi fuori dal paese d’Egitto:

2 Voi soli ho conosciuto fra tutte le famiglie della terra; perciò io vi punirò per tutte le vostre iniquità.

3 Due uomini camminano eglino assieme, se prima non si sono concertati?

4 Il leone rugge egli nella foresta, se non ha una preda? il leoncello fa egli udir la sua voce dalla sua tana, se non ha preso nulla?

5 L’uccello cade egli nella rete in terra, se non gli è tesa un insidia? La tagliuola scatta essa dal suolo, se non ha preso qualcosa?

6 La tromba suona essa in una città, senza che il popolo tremi? Una sciagura piomba ella sopra una città, senza che l’Eterno ne sia l’autore?

7 Poiché il Signore, l’Eterno, non fa nulla, senza rivelare il suo segreto ai suoi servi, i profeti.

8 Il leone rugge, chi non temerà? Il Signore, l’Eterno, parla, chi non profeterà?

9 Proclamate questo sui palazzi d’Asdod e sui palazzi del paese d’Egitto; dite: "Adunatevi sui monti di Samaria, e vedete che grandi disordini esistono in mezzo ad essa, e quali oppressioni han luogo nel suo seno".

10 Essi non sanno fare ciò ch’è retto, dice l’Eterno; accumulano nei loro palazzi i frutti della violenza e della rapina.

11 perciò, così parla il Signore, l’Eterno: Ecco il nemico, tutt’attorno al paese; egli abbatterà la tua forza, e i tuoi palazzi saran saccheggiati.

12 Così parla l’Eterno: Come il pastore strappa dalla gola del leone due gambe o un pezzo d’orecchio, così scamperanno i figliuoli d’Israele che in Samaria stanno ora seduti sull’angolo d’un divano o sui damaschi d’un letto.

13 Ascoltate questo e attestatelo alla casa di Giacobbe! dice il Signore, l’Eterno, l’Iddio degli eserciti:

14 (H3-13) Il giorno che io punirò Israele delle sue trasgressioni, punirò anche gli altari di Bethel; e i corni dell’altare saranno spezzati e cadranno al suolo.

15 (H3-14) E abbatterò le case d’inverno e le case d’estate; le case d’avorio saranno distrutte, e le grandi case spariranno, dice l’Eterno.

Amos 3 Commentary

Chapter 3

Judgments against Israel. (1-8) The like to other nations. (9-15)

Verses 1-8 The distinguishing favours of God to us, if they do not restrain from sin, shall not exempt from punishment. They could not expect communion with God, unless they first sought peace with him. Where there is not friendship, there can be no fellowship. God and man cannot walk together, except they are agreed. Unless we seek his glory, we cannot walk with him. Let us not presume on outward privileges, without special, sanctifying grace. The threatenings of the word and providence of God against the sin of man are certain, and certainly show that the judgments of God are at hand. Nor will God remove the affliction he has sent, till it has done its work. The evil of sin is from ourselves, it is our own doing; but the evil of trouble is from God, and is his doing, whoever are the instruments. This should engage us patiently to bear public troubles, and to study to answer God's meaning in them. The whole of the passage shows that natural evil, or troubles, and not moral evil, or sin, is here meant. The warning given to a careless world will increase its condemnation another day. Oh the amazing stupidity of an unbelieving world, that will not be wrought upon by the terrors of the Lord, and that despise his mercies!

Verses 9-15 That power which is an instrument of unrighteousness, will justly be brought down and broken. What is got and kept wrongfully, will not be kept long. Some are at ease, but there will come a day of visitation, and in that day, all they are proud of, and put confidence in, shall fail them. God will inquire into the sins of which they have been guilty in their houses, the robbery they have stored up, and the luxury in which they lived. The pomp and pleasantness of men's houses, do not fortify against God's judgments, but make sufferings the more grievous and vexatious. Yet a remnant, according to the election of grace, will be secured by our great and good Shepherd, as from the jaws of destruction, in the worst times.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO AMOS 3

In this chapter the prophet goes on with his prophecy against Israel, whom God had highly favoured, and yet sinned against him, and therefore must expect to be punished by him; and the rather, since he and they were not agreed; and therefore there could be no communion between them, Am 3:1-3; and by various similes are set forth the cause of divine judgments, the certain design of them, and their continuance, till the end is answered; which should be attended to, since every thing of this kind is of God, who giving his prophets notice of it, they are under an absolute necessity of declaring it; nor should they be blamed for it, Am 3:4-8; and even the Heathen nations are appealed unto as witnesses of the sins of Israel, that caused such a denunciation of wrath; their tumults, oppression, injustice, violence, and robbery, Am 3:9,10; wherefore an adversary is threatened to be sent among them, that should utterly destroy them, so that few should escape, Am 3:11,12; particularly their idolatry and luxury seem to have been reigning sins, which had a great hand in bringing on their rum, and for which the Lord would punish them, Am 3:13-15.