Charles Ellicott Commentary Amos 3

Children of Israel rather than “house of Israel” is a phrase not as usual in Amos. Therefore, in many manuscripts, the latter phrase is substituted. There is, however, significance in the former, as Amos addresses both kingdoms in the phrase “the whole family.” Yet the kingdom of the Ten Tribes seems to be primarily in the mind of the prophet.

Known— The knowledge of God is love. There was special knowledge and intimacy between God and Israel. Upon such knowledge followed advantages and privileges innumerable.

Therefore I will ...—This may mean, in proportion to your privileges will be your doom—but more probably that this intimacy of knowledge is the ground of gracious chastisement. For nation or man to be allowed to go on in sin without rebuke is the greatest curse that can befall it or him.

Two. —Who are the two here represented? Some commentators say, two prophets; Rosenmüller, “God and the prophet.”

But Grotius, Lowth, Henderson, and Pusey refer it, with more reason, to God and Israel, the expression denoting not merely God’s knowledge of a man, but man’s response to God.

His practical obedience, his communion of heart and will, are described as “walking with” or “before God” (Genesis 5:22; Genesis 6:9; Genesis 17:1; Psalms 56:13; Psalms 116:9).

Will God, then, walk with man, guiding, shielding, strengthening him, if man is not in harmony with Him? This is the first of a series of parabolic maxims, all of which require a negative answer (Leviticus 26:23–24). Each states an event closely and indissolubly related to another in the bond of cause and effect. All these symbolic utterances point to the climax in Amos 3:7-8.

Lion.— The questions suggest that the prey is being seized. This is intimated by the lion’s roar, the loud roar of the lion in the forest, and the growl of the famished young lions in the den. Aben-Ezra interprets it this way, but G. Baur thinks that Caphir distinguishes a “hunting lion” from the beast that growls in its lair . Amos, by his graphic representation of the terrifying threat, signifies that nations, and kingdoms, and this family of Israel are, at the present moment, trembling in the grasp of the great Avenger.

Can a bird. —Better, Does the snare rise up from the ground, and take nothing at all?" The English Version's "take up" is due to the ambiguity of the Hebrew. The idea is that Israel "like a silly dove" is falling into snares. The snare, even now, may be seen springing from the earth. The armies and politics of the nation that will enclose Israel are already in motion.