Amos 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, HEAR THIS WORD ... O CHILDREN OF ISRAEL, AGAINST THE WHOLE FAMILY WHICH I BROUGHT UP FROM THE LAND OF EGYPT - "against" (literally, upon) not merely the ten tribes, but "the whole family brought up from Egypt:" all the descendants of Jacob, including Judah and Benjamin. Compare , "this evil family;" and , on "family" for the nation. However, as the prophecy following refers to the ten tribes, they must be chiefly, if not solely, meant; they were the majority of the nation; and so Amos concedes, what they so often boasted, that they were the elect people of God (Calvin); but this only heightens their sin....

The Prophet wished doubtless by these words to confirm his own authority, for he saw that his doctrine was regarded with contempt: and it is probable that the words recited here were not only once delivered by him, but had been often repeated. We know how great was the pride and confidence of that people: it was therefore needful to beat it down, that they might be habituated to dread and fear, when God reproved them by his Prophets. It was then the common mode of speaking, when he said, _Hear the word which God has spoken concerning your, O children of Israel. _He brings forward here the name of God, that they might know that they had not to do with a mortal man, or with a shepherd, such as he was. We then observe here, what I have just referred to, and that is, that the Prophet seeks to strengthen his authority as a teacher, that he might gain more respect among the people. But he adds...

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...

CHAPTER III _This chapter begins with reproving the twelve tribes in_ _general_, 1, 2; _and then particularly the kingdom of Israel, whose capital was_ _Samaria. Thee prophet assures them that, while they were at_ _variance with God, it would be unreasonable in them to expect_ _his presence or favour_, 3-8. _Other neighbouring nations are then called upon to take warning_ _from the judgments about to be inflicted upon the house of_ _Israel, which would be so general that only a small remnant_ _should escape them_, 9-15....

Amos, like Hosea, rebukes Israel directly, Judah indirectly. He had warned each nation separately. Now, ere he concentrates himself on Israel, he sums up what he had before said to Judah and in the Person of God. “Ye have been alike in My gifts to you, alike in your waste of them and your sins; alike ye shall be in your punishment.” What was said to Israel was said also to Judah: what was directed first to the former people, belongs to us, the later. What Jesus said to the Apostles, He said also to the Church, and to single souls, “What I say unto you, I say unto all, Watch” Mark 13:37. HEAR YE THIS WORD - With that solemn threefold call, so frequent in the Old Testament, he summons them thrice Amos 3:1;...

EXPOSITION VERSE 1-CH. 6:14 Part II. THREE ADDRESSES PARTICULARIZING THE SINS OF ISRAEL AND ANNOUNCING IMMINENT JUDGMENT. AMOS 3:1 _§ 1. First address: the prophet begins by showing Israel's ingratitude for past mercies _(Amos 3:1, Amos 3:2)_, and his own commission to announce the coming judgment _(Amos 3:3). They have drawn this upon themselves by iniquities which astonish even heathen

HEAR THIS WORD THAT THE LORD HATH SPOKEN AGAINST YOU, O CHILDREN OF ISRAEL,.... The prophecy against Israel begins in the preceding chapter, where notice is taken of their sins, at least some of them, and of their aggravated circumstances, and sure destruction; and here they are called upon to hearken and listen to what the Lord by his prophet had spoken, and was about to speak unto them; and to "receive" this word, as the Targum; to receive it as the word of God, and not men, and with all humility and reverence; and to take it, and apply it to themselves, to whom it justly belonged; and to make a proper use and improvement of it by humiliation and reformation. A word this was, AGAINST THE WHOLE FAMILY WHICH I BROUGHT UP FROM THE LAND OF EGYPT; it was but a family that went down into Egypt, and, though it greatly increased there, it was no more when it was brought up from thence: a fami...

WHOLE FAMILY The language here, and the expression "house of Jacob," (Amos 3:13) evidently gives the prophecy a wider application than to "Israel," the ten-tribe northern kingdom, though the judgment was, in the event, executed first upon the northern kingdom. (2 Kings 17:18)....

II. THE PROPHETIC MESSAGES UNCOVERING THE CONDITION OF THE PEOPLE CHAPTER 3 The First Discourse _ 1. There is cause for judgment (Amos 3:1) _ 2. The coming judgment visitation (Amos 3:9) Amos 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, You have I only known of all the families of the earth, therefore will I punish you for all your iniquities.” This is the solemn beginning of the special messages addressed to the nation by the humble herdman of Tekoa. The Lord had singled them out from the other nations. He had separated them unto Himself. With His mighty power and outstretched arm He had del

ISRAEL'S RESPONSIBILITY AND THE PROPHET'S OBLIGATION. Amos, after addressing the children of Israel, includes Judah by adding the whole family, unless this is a gloss, as it may be, since the inclusion of Judah here seems inappropriate. Yahweh had selected Israel for special notice and favour. On that account its apostasy and sin were all the more deserving of punishment. The law of cause and effect applies here as elsewhere. When two walk in accord (so Ehrlich, comparing Genesis 22:8), the reason is that they have made an appointment (_mg.)._ When a lion roars, it is because he scents the prey. When vv. young lion growls from his lair, it is because he has made a capture. When a bird falls on the ground, it is because a boomerang has struck it. When a trap springs up from the ground, it is because it has caught something. When a horn is blown in the city, it is because there is some cau...