Chapter 3

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,

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 17:18-23 .

3:2  You only have I known of all the families of the earth: therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities.

therefore

It is noteworthy that Jehovah's controversy with the Gentile cities which hated Israel is brief: "I will send a fire." But Israel had been brought into the place of privilege and so of responsibility, and the Lord's indictment is detailed and unsparing. Cf. Matthew 11:23 ; Luke 12:47 Luke 12:48 .