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Amos 3

15 verses

TL;DR

Amos warns Israel that the LORD will bring judgment for their oppression and iniquity, using vivid imagery of lions, snaring, and ruined altars.

Summary

Amos 3 opens with the LORD declaring a warning to the children of Israel, asserting that He alone knows them and will punish them for their wrongdoings. He employs animal and natural metaphors—lions, birds, snare, trumpet—to illustrate the certainty of divine judgment. The prophet instructs people to gather in Samaria and observe the turmoil caused by oppression. He announces that an adversary will arise to shatter Israel’s strength and corrupt its palaces, and that even the children of Israel will be taken down. Amos further condemns Israel’s idolatrous practices at Bethel, promising to cut off the horns of the altar and bring destruction upon grand houses. The chapter culminates in a declaration that the LORD’s judgment will be complete and irreversible.

Outline
  1. 1. Lord’s warning and the certainty of judgment
  2. 2. Animal and city imagery to illustrate impending calamity
  3. 3. The destruction of idolatry and the certainty of divine retribution
Themes
Judgment and divine sovereigntySocial injustice and oppressionProphetic authority and warning
Keywords
prophecyjudgmentinjusticeliontrumpetsnarealtarsidolatry
People
AmosLORD (God)
Places
AshdodSamariaEgyptBethelDamascusmountains of Samaria
Things
liontrumpetbirdsnarealtarshorns of the altarhouses of ivorygreat houses
Key Verses
  • Amos 3:1: Introduces the central warning of divine judgment against Israel.
  • Amos 3:6: Highlights the inevitability of the Lord’s proclamation and the prophetic role.
  • Amos 3:14: Shows the targeted destruction of idolatrous worship at Bethel.
Questions
  • How does Amos use animal imagery to convey the certainty of judgment?
  • In what ways does Amos link social injustice to the impending divine wrath?
  • What does the destruction of the altar in Bethel symbolize in the broader context of Israel’s faith?
  • How might the imagery of the lion and trumpet affect contemporary readers?
  • What lessons about prophetic authority can we draw from Amos 3?
Sentiment

negative
The chapter presents a stern warning and harsh judgment, reflecting a negative tone.