Amos 3.1-15 goes on with his prophecy against Israel and why judgment is being brought upon them and the nature of them.
v 1…Hear (has the alef-tav here in Hebrew; meaning “head of the covenant”) this word (“davar” in Hebrew and a term for the Messiah-John 1.1-3) which the Lord (Yehovah) has spoken against you, sons of Israel, against the entire family which he brought up from the land of Egypt (all twelve tribes are the ones threatened with destruction).
v 2…”You only have I chosen (Hebrew “yada” or known) among the families of the earth (Rom 9.1-5; Psa 147.19-26); therefore, I will punish you for all your iniquities.”
v 3…Do two men walk together without having met one another (a previous arrangement has been made or common ground; an appointed place; the two meeting here is Yehovah and Amos-v 8).
v 4…Does a lion roar on the forest when he has no prey (Yehovah has Israel and there is no escape)? Does a young lion growl from his den unless he has captured something (parallelism)?
v 5…Does a bird fall into a trap on the ground when there is no bait in it (No- so their sins drew them into this)? Does a trap spring up from the earth when it captures nothing at all (No)?
v 6…If a trumpet is blown in a city will not the people tremble (it forewarns of danger, but Israel was not alarmed although Yehovah threatened judgment)? If a calamity occurs in a city has not the Lord done it (Yes is the answer-Lam 3.37; Deut 32.39; Ecc 7.14)?
v 7…Surely the Lord God (Adonai Yehovah) does nothing unless he reveals his secret counsel (Hebrew “sowd” meaning hidden, secret, mystical deeper meaning) to his servants the prophets (so they can do nothing but prophesy what is going to happen).
v 8…A lion has roared (Yehovah)! Who will not fear? The Lord God has spoken, who can but prophesy (this alludes back to v 3 where the Lord and the prophet have met one another and are at the appointed place).
v 9…Proclaim on the citadels in Ashdod and in the citadels in the land of Egypt and say (the prophets were to make it heard), “Assemble yourselves on the mountains of Samaria and see the great tumults within her and the oppressions in her midst (see the violence and the abominations in the palaces of Samaria; to bear witness against Israel).
v 10…But they do not know how to do what is right (they are accustomed to doing evil),” declares the Lord, “these who hoard up violence and devastation (robbery) in her citadels (stored up treasures gotten by violent means).”
v 11…Therefore, thus says the Lord God, “An enemy (Assyria), even one surrounding the land, will pull down your strength from you and your citadels will be looted (plundered the unjust gain stored up in them).”
v 12…Thus says the Lord God, “Just as the shepherd snatches from the lion’s mouth a couple of legs or a piece of an ear (of the body of the creature being devoured), so will the sons of Israel dwelling in Samaria be snatched away (only a remnant will survive Assyria)-in a corner of a bed; and in Damascus in a couch (meaning all who lied luxuriously and at ease in Samaria and Damascus. They were on the routes of travel for the Assyrians so they would not escape the coming judgment).
v 13…Hear and testify (heathen nations) against the house of Jacob,” declares the Lord God (Adonai Yehovah), the God of hosts (Elohey Tzavaot-God of the armies),
v 14…For on the day that I punish Israel’s transgressions, I will also punish the altars of Bethel (the false worship of Jeroboam-1 Kings 12); the horns of the altar (where the blood was sprinkled) will be cut off (the main altar put up by Jeroboam), and they will fall to the ground.
v 15…I will smite the winter house (in the city for warmth) together with the summer house (in the country-destruction will reach the city and the country); the houses of ivory (1 Kings 22.39) will also perish and the great houses will come to an end (demolished in the coming ruin),” declares the Lord.
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