Commentaries:
Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown
shepherd—a pastoral image, appropriately used by Amos, a shepherd himself.
piece of . . . ear—brought by the shepherd to the owner of the sheep, so as not to have to pay for the loss (Genesis 31:39; Exodus 22:13). So if aught of Israel escapes, it shall be a miracle of God's goodness. It shall be but a scanty remnant. There is a kind of goat in the East the ears of which are a foot long, and proportionally broad. Perhaps the reference is to this. Compare on the image I Samuel 17:34-35; II Timothy 4:17.
that dwell in Samaria in the corner of a bed—that is, that live luxuriously in Samaria (compare Amos 6:1, Amos 6:4). "A bed" means here the Oriental divan, a raised part of the room covered with cushions.
in Damascus in a couch—Jeroboam II had lately restored Damascus to Israel (II Kings 14:25, II Kings 14:28). So the Israelites are represented as not merely in "the corner of a bed," as in Samaria, but "in a (whole) couch," at Damascus, living in luxurious ease. Of these, now so luxurious, soon but a remnant shall be left by the foe. The destruction of Damascus and that of Samaria shall be conjoined; as here their luxurious lives, and subsequently under Pekah and Rezin their inroads on Judah, were combined (Isaiah 7:1-8; Isaiah 8:4, Isaiah 8:9; Isaiah 17:3). The parallelism of "Samaria" to "Damascus," and the Septuagint favor English Version rather than GESENIUS: "on a damask couch." The Hebrew pointing, though generally expressing damask, may express the city "Damascus"; and many manuscripts point it so. Compare for Israel's overthrow, II Kings 17:5-6; II Kings 18:9-12.
Other Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown entries containing Amos 3:12:
Amos 3:1
Amos 4:1
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