Amos 6:8-14

8 The LORD God has solemnly sworn, says the LORD, the God of heavenly forces: I reject the pride of Jacob. I hate his fortresses. I will hand over the city and all that is in it.

9 If ten people remain in one house, then they will die.

10 If a relative, someone who burns the dead, picks up the body to bring it out of the house, and says to someone inside the house, "Is anyone else with you?" the answer will be, "No." Then the relative will say, "Hush! We mustn't mention the name of the LORD."

11 Look, the LORD is giving an order; he will shatter the great house into bits and the little house into pieces.

12 Do horses run on rocks? Does one plow the sea with oxen? But you have turned justice into poison and the fruit of righteousness into bitterness—

13 you who rejoice in Lo-debar, who say, "Haven't we by our own strength taken Karnaim for ourselves?"

14 Indeed, I will raise up against you a nation, house of Israel, says the LORD God of heavenly forces, and they will oppress you from Lebo-hamath to the desert ravine.

Amos 6:8-14 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO AMOS 6

This chapter seems to be directed both to the two tribes of Judah and Benjamin, and the ten tribes of Israel, under the names of Zion and Samaria, and to the principal men in both; who are reproved and threatened for their carnal security and self-confidence, being in no fear of the evil day, though they had no reason for it no more than other people, Am 6:1-3; are charged with wantonness, luxury, intemperance, and want of sympathy with those in distress, Am 6:4-6; therefore are threatened to be carried captive first, and their city to be delivered up; which, for the certainty of it, is not only said, but swore to, Am 6:7,8; and a great mortality in every house, and the destruction of all houses, both great and small, Am 6:9-11; and since a reformation of them seemed impracticable, and not to be expected, but they gloried in their wealth, and boasted of their strength, therefore they should be afflicted by a foreign nation raised against them, which affliction should be general, from one end of the country to the other, Am 6:12-14.