Amos 3:12-15

Punishment for Israel's transgressions -- Amos 3:12-15: Under the Law of Moses if a person was keeping animals and one of the animals was torn he could bring some parts of the animal and not be responsible for paying for it. (Exodus 22:10-13) "Thus says the LORD: "As the shepherd rescues from the mouth of the lion two legs, or a piece of an ear, so shall the people of Israel who dwell in Samaria be rescued, with the corner of a couch and part of a bed." (Amos 3:12) Only a few from Samaria would escape with their lives and with some small, broken possession. This is all a prediction of the Assyrian captivity of Israel.

The message that Amos delivered against the house of Israel was the message that the Almighty God instructed him to speak. God would punish Israel for her transgressions. He promised, (1) To d d destroy the altars at Bethel, (2) That the horns of the altar shall be cut off and fall to the ground, (3) To tear down their winter homes and summer homes, and (4) That all their mansions would be gone forever. Extravagance marked the lives of the pleasure-mad leaders of Israel. Now they, their possessions, the people and the nation of Israel would fall because of continual transgressions against the will of God.