Amos Chapter 6
From The Open Bible Project
6:1 Woe to those who are at ease in Zion, and to those who are secure on the mountain of Samaria, the notable men of the chief of the nations, to whom the house of Israel come!
- (a) The Prophet threatens the wealthy, who did not regard God’s plagues, nor threatenings by his Prophets.
- (b) These two cities were famous from their first inhabitants the Canaanites: and seeing that before they did not avail those that were born here, why should you think that they should save you who were brought in to dwell in other men’s possessions?
6:2 Go to Calneh, and see; and from there go to Hamath the great; then go down to Gath of the Philistines. are they better than these kingdoms? or is their border greater than your border?
- (c) If God has destroyed these excellent cities in three different kingdoms, that is Babylon, Syria, and that of the Philistines, and has narrowed their wide borders more than yours yet are, do you think that you are better, or that you will escape?
6:3 Those who put far away the evil day, and cause the seat of violence to come near;
- (d) You that continue still in your wickedness, and think that God’s plagues are not at hand, but give yourselves to all idleness, lustfulness, and disorder.
6:4 Who lie on beds of ivory, and stretch themselves on their couches, and eat the lambs out of the flock, and the calves out of the midst of the stall;
6:5 who strum on the strings of a harp; who invent for themselves instruments of music, like David;
- (e) As he caused different types of instruments to be made to serve God’s glory, so these did strive to invent as many to serve their unrestrained affections and lusts.
6:6 who drink wine in bowls, and anoint themselves with the best oils; but they are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph.
- (f) They did not pity their brethren, of which many were now slain and carried away captive.
6:7 Therefore they will now go captive with the first who go captive; and the feasting and lounging will end.
- (g) Some read "the sorrow of them that stretched themselves is at hand".
6:8 "The Lord Yahweh has sworn by himself," says Yahweh, the God of Armies: "I abhor the pride of Jacob, and detest his fortresses. Therefore I will deliver up the city with all that is in it.
- (h) Read (Jeremiah 51:14).
- (i) That is, the riches and pomp.
6:9 It will happen, if there remain ten men in one house, that they shall die.
6:10 "When a man's relative carries him, even he who burns him, to bring bodies out of the house, and asks him who is in the innermost parts of the house, 'Is there yet any with you?' And he says, 'No;' then he will say, 'Hush! Indeed we must not mention the name of Yahweh.'
- (k) The destruction will be so great, that almost none will be left to bury the dead: and therefore they will burn them at home, to carry out the burnt ashes with more ease.
- (l) That is, to some neighbour that dwells near by.
- (m) They will be so astonished at this destruction, that they will not boast any more of the name of God, and that they are his people: but they will be silent when they hear God’s name, and abhor it, as those that are desperate, or reprobate.
6:11 "For, behold, Yahweh commands, and the great house will be smashed to pieces, and the little house into bits.
6:12 Do horses run on the rocky crags? Does one plow there with oxen? But you have turned justice into poison, and the fruit of righteousness into bitterness;
- (n) He compares them to barren rocks, upon which it is in vain to bestow labour: showing that God’s benefits can have no place among them.
- (o) Read (Amos 5:7).
6:13 you who rejoice in a thing of nothing, who say, 'Haven't we taken for ourselves horns by our own strength?'
- (p) That is, power and glory.
6:14 For, behold, I will raise up against you a nation, house of Israel," says Yahweh, the God of Armies; "and they will afflict you from the entrance of Hamath to the brook of the Arabah."
- (q) From one corner of the country to another.
