Knowing And Known

Audite verbum, quod locutus est Dominus super vos, filii Israel; super omni cognatione, quam eduxi de terra Aegypti dicens: tantummodo vos cognovi ex omnibus cognationibus terrae, idcirco visitabo super vos omnes iniquitates vestras. LXX: Audite, verbum hoc quod locutus est Dominus super vos, domus israel, et contra omnem tribum quam eduxi de terra Aegypti, dicens: Verumtamen vos cognovi de universis tribubus terrae, idcirco ulciscar super vos omnes malitias vestras. Ad filios Israel prophetalis sermo dirigitur, et qui sint isti filii Israel sequens versus ostendit: super omni, inquit, cognatione, quam eduxi de terra Aegypti, quod non solum in decem tribubus, sed in omnibus duodecim, addentes Iudam et Beniamin, debemus accipere. Omnes enim de terra Aegypti eduxit, et ait: tantummodo, sive, ut Symmachus interpretatus est: solos, vos cognovi ex omnibus cognationibus terrae. Et quia solos vos cognovi, qui Creator sum omnium, et vos habui peculiarem populum meum, idcirco super solos vos omnia vestra peccata restituam: potentes enim potenter tormenta patientur; qui autem minimus est, dignus est misericordia. Et in Ezechiele legimus: A sanctis meis incipite. Et iudicium Dei de domo eius dicitur habere principium. Hoc interim iuxta historiam dictum sit. Ceterum quia auditus in Scripturis Sanctis, non solum iste accipitur quem auribus carnis excipimus, sed etiam ille, de quo Dominus ait: qui habet aures audiendi audiat. Unde et omnis populus videbat vocem Dei, proprie ad eos sermo fit Domini, qui sensu vident Dominum, quos eduxit de terra Aegypti; et de potestate Pharaonis, ut nequaquam luto et paleis deservirent exstruentes Aegyptias civitates, et quos ex omnibus tribubus terrae cognovit, dicente Apostolo: nunc autem cognoscentes Deum, magis autem cogniti ab eo. et in alio loco: qui ignorat, ignorabitur. Non ergo omnes cognoscit Dominus, sed eos, qui eius cognitione sunt digni, loquens in Evangelio: recedite a me, operarii iniquitatis, nescio vos. In eo enim quod operarii iniquitatis sunt, ignorantur a Domino. Idcirco inquit quia solos vos cognovi, et meos habui, visitabo super vos omnes iniquitates vestras. Quem diligit Dominus, corripit, et castigat omnem filium quem recipit. Et pulchre dixit: visitabo, et non percutiam, quia plaga Dei visitatio est, atque curatio. Et omnes, inquit, iniquitates sive peccata vestra visitabo, ne quid impercussum remaneat, ne quid non recipiat sanitatem. Hieronymous, Commentariorum In Amos Prophetam, Liber I, Cap III Source: Migne PL 25.1013d-1014c

Hear the word the Lord speaks over you, sons of Israel, over all the people whom I led from the land of Egypt, saying: Only you I have known from all the peoples of the earth, therefore I will visit upon you all your iniquities. The Septuagint has: 'Hear the word the Lord has spoken over you, house of Israel, and against every tribe which I led up from the land of Egypt, saying: Only you I have known from all the tribes of the earth, therefore I will have vengeance on you for all your wickedness.' 1 The prophetic word is directed to the sons of Israel, and who the sons of Israel are the following verse makes clear: 'Over all the people,' He says, 'which I led from the land of Egypt,' which means that we should understand not only the ten tribes here, but all the twelve, adding Judah and Benjamin. For He led them all from the land of Egypt, and He says, 'Only', or according to Symmachus 'Alone', 'you I have known from all the peoples of the earth.' And because I have known you alone, I who am the Creator of all things, I have you as my special people, therefore against you alone I shall return all your sins. 'The stronger shall suffer stronger torments.' 2 He who is least shall be worthy of mercy. And in Ezekiel we read: 'Begin with my holy ones.' 3 And the judgement of God is said to begin with His house. 4 This, then, was said in the historical sense. But there is another hearing in the Holy Scriptures, not only a receiving which is the taking up with the ears of flesh, but indeed that concerning which the Lord says: 'He who has ears let him hear.' 5 Whence all the people saw the voice of God, 6 but especially those to whom the word of the Lord comes, who see God with understanding, those whom He led from the land of Egypt, and from the power of the Pharaoh, that they no more slave with mud and straw to raise the cities of Egypt, and He knew them from all the tribes of the earth, as the Apostle says: 'Now even knowing God, or rather known by God.' 7 And in another place, 'He who does not know, shall not be known.' 8 Therefore not all know God, but those who are worthy of knowing Him, as it is said in the Gospel: 'Begone from me, you workers of iniquity, I do not know you.' 9 For in that they are workers of iniquity, they do not know God. Therefore He says: 'Because I have known you alone, and I have you as mine, I shall visit on you all your iniquities.' He whom the Lord loves He corrects, and He reproves every son whom he receives. 10 And well it is said, 'I shall visit upon you,' and not 'I shall strike', because the visitation of God is a blow and also a cure. And all your iniquities or sins, He says, I shall visit upon you, lest you remain unpunished, lest you lack all health. Saint Jerome, Commentary on Amos, Book 1, Chap 3 1 Amos 6.1 2 Wisdom 6.7 3 Ezek 9.6 4 1 Pet 4.17 5 Lk 8.8 6 Exod 20.18 7 Galat 4.9 8 1 Cor 14.38 9 Lk 13.27 10 Hebr 12.7-11