11. The LORD promises that as a consequence of Israel's rebellion and disobedience, another nation will attack and conquer them: "An enemy, even one surrounding the land, will pull down your strength from you and your citadels will be looted."
12. The conqueror will be like a lion who devours its prey, all but a few body parts that the shepherd is able to snatch out of the lion's mouth. I suppose this means that all but a few of the people of Israel will be killed and the few who escape will do so with barely any of their possessions ("the corner of a bed and the cover of a couch.")
13. Amos refers to God here as Lord YHWH, the God of Hosts. This name describes God in the most respectful, worshipful terms.
God is calling upon someone to testify against Israel, the house of Jacob.
14. God focuses here on the altars of Bethel--the city in which Jeroboam places one of the golden calves, as Smith points out. It is a place of false worship, where the people of Israel went instead of to Jerusalem.
In the day that God bring destruction upon Israel, He will also bring destruction upon the altars of Bethel.
"I will also punish the altars of Bethel; the horns of the altar will be cut off, and they will fall to the ground."
15. Apparently some of the people of Israel were wealthy enough to have summer and winter houses. Some houses were made of ivory or were otherwise luxurious and spacious. God will bring destruction on all of the accumulated wealth of Israel, as judgment upon their sins.
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