Amos 3:5

Can 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? CAN A BIRD FALL IN A SNARE UPON THE EARTH WHERE NO GIN IS SET FOR HIM? When a bird, trying to fly upwards, is made to fall upon the earth by an earth-snare, it is a plain proof that the snare is there; so Israel, now that thou art falling, infer thence that it is in the snare of the divine judgment that thou art entangled (Ludovicus de Dieu). Rather, as Israel was then in prosperity under Jeroboam II, the idea is, Israel was seemingly then rising, as the bird does in its upward flight; but the word of God, as spoken by His prophets, is the "snare" or net which, though unseen, is now gathering about Israel, and will bring him down suddenly. SHALL ONE TAKE UP A SNARE FROM THE EARTH, AND HAVE TAKEN NOTHING AT ALL? The bird-catcher does not remove...

The third similitude now follows, _Will a bird fall on the earth, he says, without a fowler? _The Prophet means here that nothing happens without being foreseen by God; for as nets are laid for birds, so God ensnares men by his hidden punishments. Unexpectedly indeed calamity comes, and it is commonly ascribed to chance; but the Prophet here reminds us that God stretches his nets, in which men are caught, though they think that chance rules, and observe not the hand of God. They are deceived, he says; for the bird foresees not the ensnaring prepared for him; but yet he falls not on the earth without the fowler: for nets weave not themselves by chance, but they are made by the industry of the man who catches birds. So also calamities do not happen by chance, but proceed from the secret purpose of God. But we must observe, that similitudes ought not to be too strictly applied to the subjec...

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...

Verse Amos 3:5. _CAN A BIRD FALL IN A SNARE_] Can ye, as a sinful people, fall into calamities which I have not appointed? _SHALL_ ONE _TAKE UP A SNARE - AND HAVE TAKEN NOTHING_] Will the _snare_ _be removed before it has caught the expected prey_? - shall I remove my judgments till they are fully accomplished? This is a curious passage, and deserves farther consideration. The original, literally translated, is nearly as follows: "Shall the trap arise from the ground; and catching, shall it not catch?" Here is a plain allusion to such traps as we employ to catch _rats, foxes_, c. The jaws of the trap opening backward, press strongly upon a spring so as to keep it down and a key passing over one jaw, and hooking on a table in the centre, the trap continues with expanded jaws, till any thing touch the table, when the key, by the motion

CAN A BIRD FALL IN A SNARE - Again, the bird taken in the snare is the image of those drawn down from heaven, where ‘our conversation is Philippians 3:20 and the soul may rise free toward its God , “drawn up by the Spirit to high and heavenly things.” Such souls being allured by the things of earth, are entangled and taken by Satan; as, on the other hand, “the soul, escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowler Psalms 124:7, is a soul, set free by Christ and restored to heaven. In the last likeness, the prophet comes nearer to the people themselves, and the trumpet is, at once, the well-known token of alarm among people, and of the loud voice of God, wakening them to repentance...

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

CAN A BIRD FALL IN A SNARE UPON THE EARTH, WHERE NO GIN [IS] FOR HIM?.... No, there must be a snare set, or a bird can never be taken in it; and that is done, not by chance, but with the design of the fowler; yea, with the knowledge and will of God himself, Matthew 10:29; the design of this is to show, that no judgment or affliction comes upon a people, or they into one, by chance, or without the appointment of God; they are his nets and snares, which he on purpose spreads and sets for persons, to take them in; and unless he did do so, they would not fall into any; see Job 5:6; SHALL [ONE] TAKE UP A SNARE FROM THE EARTH; the Targum adds, out of its time: AND HAVE TAKEN NOTHING AT ALL? when men set a snare to catch anything, do they take it up before anything is caught? they do

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...

SNARE. net. Hebrew. _phah_. GIN. a snare, or trap. Gin is short for the Old French engin, which is from Latin. _ingeninm;_ hence, something _ingenious._...