Amos 3:13Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

To the descendants of Levi; for not all had succumbed to temptation like those who erred in Samaria. They turned away from Samaritan worship and returned to Jerusalem. The second book of Chronicles notes this, first mentioning Rehoboam, and then it discusses his authority: “And Judah and Benjamin were under him. And the priests and the Levites, who were in all Israel, gathered together to him from all parts; for the Levites had abandoned their villages and went up to Judah, to Jerusalem, since Jeroboam and his sons had expelled them, so that they could not serve the Lord; and they offered sacrifices on the high places” (2 Chronicles 11:12-15). As they were understandably aggrieved at the loss of their heritage and ministry, he appropriately commanded them to proclaim the downfall of idols and the desolation of Samaria, as a source of comfort, teaching them that those who sought God's wisdom and cherished the Lord would not perish with the others and would escape His judgment. He declares that when He stretches out His hand against Israel for their transgressions, He will also bring judgment upon the tribes of Bethel; the horns of the altar will be shattered and fall to the ground. Will the desolation of Samaria stop there, and will those tasked with this destruction be satisfied merely with tearing down shrines and altars? Certainly not. He states, “I will crush and smite the house of the winter palace.” This refers to the people of Samaria, who indulged in luxury and wealth, constructing grand residences for both winter and summer. The winter home, referred to metaphorically as a house with a “preklet” (περίπτερον), is designed to be shielded on all sides from winter's grasp, while the summer abode is described as a lighter structure, open to the winds. Thus, he asserts that along with the fallen altars, he will also destroy both winter and summer homes. The dwellings made from the bones of elephants shall also be brought to ruin. Remember, during Ahab's reign, he built such a dwelling. He further proclaims that many other homes will also be destroyed, suggesting the residences of lesser-known individuals or those of humble status. In the end, all of Samaria will face ruin as every house is devastated. So, what lessons ought we, who desire wisdom, to take from this? If we neglect justice, we gain nothing from worldly prosperity—neither wealth, fame, nor any other form of luxury; for “the treasures of the lawless shall not avail them,” as it is written, “but truth shall deliver from death” (Proverbs 10:2). Therefore, it is more pleasing to God that we cherish justice and heavenly treasures, aspiring solely for the highest goods, and find strength in our faith in Him; for all earthly matters are fleeting and of little worth, while those eternal truths endure forever.

I will strike the residences of the pronged and the summer house, the ivory houses will be destroyed, and many others will perish, says the Lord.

The term 'priest' that we have placed at the beginning here, according to the LXX translation, does not appear in the Hebrew text, which instead uses the term 'ares,' translated by Aquila as 'bed.' It is my belief that the LXX adopted this Hebrew term; however, some, not comprehending it, read ίίερε῀ις instead of 'ares,' meaning 'priests.' The prophetic declaration urges the house of Jacob, referring to the ten tribes, to first listen and then witness what the Lord has spoken. When I initiate, He says, to confront the house of Israel for its sins and to recompense it appropriately, and when the time of captivity arrives, the altars at Bethel, where the golden calves were erected, will be destroyed, and the horns of the altar, which fell apart when Jeroboam reached out his hand (1 Kings 13), will be severed and fall, becoming desolate at the hands of the Assyrians.

‘I will strike the winter house alongside the summer house,’ which can be understood literally: they were so affluent that they possessed both winter and summer abodes, one facing north and the other south, to shield themselves from cold and heat. We may refer to the kingdom of Israel as the winter house, characterized by spiritual coldness and a lack of reverence towards God, with many tumultuous storms; whereas Judah and Jerusalem can be seen as the summer house, where the temple stood, and sacrifices were offered regularly, allowing the warmth of faith to thrive. ‘And perish,’ He states, ‘the ivory houses.’ This may also be taken literally, as it is noted that Ahab, king of Israel, lived in such opulence that he constructed an ivory house (1 Kings 22). The Hebrew text refers to ‘houses of teeth,’ meaning ‘houses of elephants.’ In the forty-fourth Psalm, it is written, 'of the houses of ivory, of which the daughters of kings shall cheer thee in thy honour' (Ps. 44:9).

When the Lord begins to scrutinize Israel, which previously acknowledged God in their hearts, for their transgressions, He will also address the altars at Bethel—not the singular altar found in the church, but the numerous altars of heretics, reflecting the various divisions among them. They hold as many altars as there are factions. He will also sever the horns of the altar—the sole altar they arrogantly claim. These horns, representing their pride, will collapse to the ground. He shall strike the winter house, referring to those heretics who overly discipline themselves through fasting and abstinence, such as Tatian and Manes (Manicheans), as well as the summer house, including the Nicolaitans, Eunomians, and the new adherents of age-old heresies, who indulge in every pleasure to satisfy their bellies. The ivory houses, constructed with ornate eloquence, will be brought to ruin, and many structures scattered throughout the world will fall away. For when the singular truth rises, the multitude of falsehoods will be annihilated. In place of ‘winter house,’ the LXX translates it as οῖκον τὸν περίπτερον, which we have chosen to render as ‘crenellated house,’ as it has small doors at the windows reminiscent of crenellations that serve as a barrier against severe cold.