Amos 6:6

6 who drink strained wine, and anoint themselves with the best ointment; and have suffered nothing on occasion of the calamity of Joseph.

Amos 6:6 Meaning and Commentary

Amos 6:6

That drink wine in bowls
Not in small cups or glasses, but in large bowls, that they might drink freely, even to drunkenness; hence we read of the drunkards of Ephraim, or the ten tribes, ( Isaiah 28:1 ) ; or "drink in bowls of wine"; which is much to the: same sense. The Targum is,

``that drink wine in silver phials;''
and anoint themselves with the, chief ointments;
which Jarchi says was balsam, and the best is that which grew about Jericho; this they did not for moderate refreshment, but for pleasure, and to indulge themselves in luxury: but they are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph;
or the "breach" of him F26; that was made upon him by some enemy or another: either what had been already made; Kimchi thinks it respects the carrying captive of some before the reign of Jeroboam; or it may regard the distress Pul king of Assyria gave to Israel, in the times of Menahem; or the carrying captive the inhabitants of several places by Tiglathpileser, king of Assyria, in the times of Pekah, ( 2 Kings 15:19 2 Kings 15:29 ) ; or else, as Jarchi thinks, this refers to some breach and affliction to come, which these men were unconcerned about; even what they heard from the mouth of the prophets should come to them; that the kingdom of the house of Israel should case, and be utterly took away, ( Hosea 1:4 Hosea 1:6 ) ; which was fulfilled by Shalmaneser, who carried Israel captive into the cities of the Medes, ( 2 Kings 17:6 ) ; but the prophecy of this did not trouble them, or make them sick at heart, as the word F1 signifies, nor any present affliction that might attend them; they did not weep with them that weep, were men of hard hearts, that had no sympathy with their brethren and fellow creatures. It is thought that here is some allusion to the attitude of Joseph's brethren to him, when in the pit, and sold by them into Egypt; or to the chief butler's forgetfulness of him, when advanced, and amidst his cups.
FOOTNOTES:

F26 (rbv le) "super contritione", Pagninus, Montanus; "propter confractienem Josephi", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator; "ob fractionem Josephi", Cocceius.
F1 (wlxn al) "neque afficiuntur argritudine", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, Cocceius.

Amos 6:6 In-Context

4 who sleep upon beds of ivory, and live delicately on their couches, and eat kids out of the flocks, and sucking calves out of the midst of the stalls;
5 who excel in the sound of musical instruments; they have regarded them as abiding, not as fleeting ;
6 who drink strained wine, and anoint themselves with the best ointment; and have suffered nothing on occasion of the calamity of Joseph.
7 Therefore now shall they depart into captivity from the dominion of princes, and the neighing of horses shall be cut off from Ephraim.
8 For the Lord has sworn by himself, , Because I abhor all the pride of Jacob, I do also hate his countries, and I will cut off city with all who inhabit it.

The Brenton translation of the Septuagint is in the public domain.