Bible Commentaries
Amos 3

Verse 1

Family, including all the posterity of Jacob. (Worthington) --- He afterwards addresses the ten tribes in particular. (St. Jerome) (Calmet)

Verse 2

Known, with love, (Haydock) and favoured with the law, &c. Above all, styling you my people, Exodus xix. 6., and Ezechiel xx. 5. (Calmet) --- Visit. That is, punish. (Challoner) --- I will treat you like my children, that I may spare you in eternity. (Calmet)

Verse 3

Agreed? As t hey cannot do this well, so neither can man be acceptable to God, unless he keep his laws. (Worthington) --- The prophet here proves his mission, intimating that if he were not inspired, he would soon be open to detection. He had been banished from Bethel, chap. vii. By many similes, he shows that the event will prove the sincerity of his character, and that he cannot resist the holy spirit which is in him.

Verse 4

Nothing? Thus, shall I inveigh against your crimes, if there were no need?

Verse 5

Somewhat? When the prophet speaks, has he no reason? God shews that he has sent him, by inflicting the punishments which he denounces.

Verse 6

Afraid. Yet you can hear these terrible truths without consternation! Will you therefore escape? (Calmet) --- Evil. He speaks of the evil of sin, of which God is not the author. (Challoner) --- All evil of punishment is sent by God, either to reclaim sinners or to be the beginning of sorrows, if they die impenitent. (Worthington) --- You know that He rewards or punishes. If, therefore, what I foretell come to pass, do not blame me.

Verse 7

Prophets. In vain then would you silence them, chap. ii. 12, and vii. 12. He always tends to the conclusion, ver. 8. (Calmet)

Verse 9

Azotus. Septuagint, "Assyrians." --- Follies. Septuagint, "wonders." Let you greatest enemies know what crimes you commit against yourselves (Haydock) and others.

Verse 11

About, As oxen tread out corn, going round a tree. (Calmet) --- Septuagint, "Tyre even all round, thy land shall be a desert." Tsar means "Tyre and tribulation," according to St. Jerome’s master. (Haydock)

Verse 12

Ear: things of small value. Thus few even of the poor will escape the Assyrians. (Menochius) --- Damascus. Some render "couch side." But there is no proof of this being accurate. Jeroboam II subdued Damascus, and reigned in prosperity. Who would then have thought that Israel should so soon be removed into Media? (Calmet) --- Septuagint, "over-against the tribe of Juda, and in Damascus, priests hear," &c. They probably left hares, (Haydock) "couches," (Aquila) untranslated, and some person has substituted "priests." (St. Jerome) --- Only the miserable (Menochius) or fugitives escape the enemy. (Haydock)

Verse 14

CHAPTER III.

Bethel. Manahem seems to have sent one of the calves to engage Phul to come to his assistance, Osee x. 5., and 4 Kings xv. 19. Salmanasar had both, Osee viii. 5. Josias afterwards defiled the profane altars, 4 Kings xxiii. 15. --- Horns, made of brass, which the Assyrians carried off. (Calmet) --- The fairest possessions of sinners will at last perish. (Worthington)

Verse 15

Winter. Septuagint, "winged house," to keep off cold, (St. Jerome) or to give air. (Calmet) --- Summer-house. The noblemen had such is cooler regions. (Menochius) --- The kings of Persia passed the summer at Ecbatana. (Xen. Cyr. viii.) --- Palladius (i. 12.) orders that the summer apartments must look to the north. --- Ivory. Many ornaments of this nature appeared in them, (Calmet) whence Achab’s palace was so called, 3 Kings xxii. 39. (Haydock)