Amos 3:11

Judgment

⁹ Proclaim to the citadels of Ashdod and to the citadels of Egypt: “Assemble on the mountains of Samaria; see the great unrest in the city and the acts of oppression in her midst.”

¹⁰ “For they know not how to do right,” declares the LORD. “They store up violence and destruction in their citadels.”

Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: “An enemy will surround the land; he will pull down your strongholds and plunder your citadels.”

¹² This is what the LORD says: “As the shepherd snatches from the mouth of the lion two legs or a piece of an ear, so the Israelites dwelling in Samaria will be rescued having just the corner of a bed or the cushion of a couch.

¹³ Hear and testify against the house of Jacob, declares the Lord GOD, the God of Hosts.

This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: “An enemy will surround the land; he will pull down your strongholds and plunder your citadels.”
KJV: Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; An adversary there shall be even round about the land; and he shall bring down thy strength from thee, and thy palaces shall be spoiled.
WEB: Therefore the Lord GOD says: “An adversary will overrun the land; and he will pull down your strongholds, and your fortresses will be plundered.”
ASV: Therefore thus saith the Lord Jehovah: An adversary [there shall be], even round about the land; and he shall bring down thy strength from thee, and thy palaces shall be plundered.
DARBY: Therefore thus saith the Lord Jehovah: An adversary! even round about the land! And he shall bring down thy strength from thee, and thy palaces shall be pillaged.
BLB: Therefore, thus says the Lord YHWH: “An enemy will surround the land, and he will bring down from you your strongholds and plunder your citadels.”

ÅB: Derfor sier Herren, Israels Gud, så: Fiender skal komme og omringe hele landet. Og de skal styrte ned din borg, så du mister ditt vern, og dine palasser skal bli plyndret.
OTB: Derfor, dette er hva Den suverene Herren sier:
"En fiende skal omringe landet
og rive ned deres forsvar,
og deres festninger skal bli plyndret."
B1930: Derfor sier Herren, Israels Gud, så: Fiender skal komme og omringe hele landet. Og de skal styrte ned din borg, så du mister ditt vern, og dine palasser skal bli plyndret.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

2 Kings 18:9–11
In the fourth year of Hezekiah’s reign, which was the seventh year of the reign of Hoshea son of Elah over Israel, Shalmaneser king of Assyria marched against Samaria and besieged it.
Read in context
Amos 6:14
For behold, I will raise up a nation against you, O house of Israel,” declares the LORD, the God of Hosts, “and they will oppress you from Lebo-hamath to the Brook of the Arabah.”
Read in context
Amos 2:5
So I will send fire upon Judah to consume the citadels of Jerusalem.”
Read in context
2 Kings 17:3–6
Shalmaneser king of Assyria attacked him, and Hoshea became his vassal and paid him tribute.
Read in context
2 Kings 15:19
Then Pul king of Assyria invaded the land, and Menahem gave Pul a thousand talents of silver in order to gain his support and strengthen his own grip on the kingdom.
Read in context
Isaiah 8:7–8
the Lord will surely bring against them the mighty floodwaters of the Euphrates — the king of Assyria and all his pomp. It will overflow its channels and overrun its banks.
Read in context
Hosea 11:5–6
Will they not return to the land of Egypt and be ruled by Assyria because they refused to repent?
Read in context
Isaiah 10:9–11
“Is not Calno like Carchemish? Is not Hamath like Arpad? Is not Samaria like Damascus?
Read in context