Amos 2:3

Old Testament Minor Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Amos 2:3 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “and I will cut off the judge from the midst thereof, and will slay all the princes thereof with him, saith Jehovah.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

and I will cut off the judge from the midst thereof, and will slay all the princes thereof with him, saith Jehovah.
Amos 2:3 — American Standard Version

Context — Amos 2

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
3and I will cut off the judge from the midst thereof, and will slay all the princes thereof with him, saith Jehovah.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And I will cut off the judge from the midst thereof, etc.] Either from the midst of Moab, the country in general; or from Kerioth in particular, so Kimchi; meaning their principal governor, their king, as Aben Ezra; for kings sometimes have acted as judges, took the bench, and sat and administered justice to their subjects: and I will stay all the princes thereof with him, saith the Lord; the king, and the princes of the blood, and his nobles; so that there should be none to succeed him, or to protect and defend the people; the destruction should be an entire one, and inevitable, for the mouth of the Lord had spoken it. This was fulfilled at the same time as the prophecy against the children…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“the judge--the chief magistrate, the supreme source of justice. "King" not being used, it seems likely a change of government had before this time substituted for kings, supreme judges.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“And I will cut off the judge - The title “judge” (shophet) is nowhere used absolutely of a king. Holy Scripture speaks in several places of “all the judges of the earth” Job 9:24; Psalms 2:10; Psalms 148:11; Proverbs 8:16; Isaiah 40:23. Hosea Hosea 13:10, under “judges,” includes “kings and princes,” as judging the people. The word “judge” is always used as one invested with the highest, but not regal authority, as of all the judges from the death of Joshua to Samuel. In like way it (Sufetes) was the title of the chief magistrates of Carthage , with much the same authority as the Roman Consuls . The Phoenician histories, although they would not own that Nebuchadnezzar conquered Tyre, still…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“The judge - The governor that is, every one of them. Amos 2:4”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Num 24:17; Jer 48:7, Jer 48:25 Amos 2:4”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification