Amos 5:3

“For thus saith the Lord God, etc.] This is a reason why there were none to raise her up: since the city that went out [by] a thousand shall leave an hundred; that is, the city in which there were a thousand constantly going in and out; or which sent, caused to go out, or furnished, a thousand men upon occasion for war, had only a hundred persons left in it; or there remained but a hundred of the thousand they sent out, the rest being destroyed by one means or another: and that which went forth [by] an hundred shall leave ten, to the house of Israel; where there were a hundred persons going out and coming in continually; or which sent out a hundred men to the army to fight their battles had…”

“went out by a thousand--that is, "the city from which there used to go out a thousand" equipped for war. "City" is put for "the inhabitants of the city," as in Amo 4:8. shall leave . . . hundred--shall have only a hundred left, the rest being destroyed by sword and pestilence (Deu 28:62).”

“The city that went out by a thousand - (that is, probably that sent out a thousand fighting men, as the word “went out” is often used for, “went out” to fight,) “shall have” literally, “shall retain, an hundred.” She was to be decimated. Only, the tenth alone was to be reserved alive; the nine-tenths were to be destroyed. And this, alike in larger places and in the small. The city “that went forth an hundred shall retain ten.” Smaller places escape for their obscurity, the larger from their strength and situation. One common doom was to befall all. Out of all that multitude, one tithe alone was to he preserved , “dedicated to God,” that remnant which God always promised to reserve. return to…”

“By a thousand - That sent out one thousand soldiers. An hundred - Shall lose nine parts of them. Amos 5:4”

“5:3 This verse is a reversal of the promises made in Lev 26:8.”

“The city: Deu 4:27, Deu 28:62; Isa 1:9, Isa 10:22; Eze 12:16; Rom 9:27 Amos 5:4”