Amos 6:5

5 You make up songs on your harps, and, like David, you compose songs on musical instruments.

Amos 6:5 Meaning and Commentary

Amos 6:5

That chant to the sound of the viol
Or psaltery; an instrument of twelve cords, and that gave twelve sounds, as Josephus

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FOOTNOTES:

F24 says, being stricken with the fingers; and to these sounds these men chanted or quivered, made like sounds with their voice, which they raised higher or lower, according to the sound of the instrument: they "particularized", as the word signifies ^F25; or observed the divisions and distinctions of notes and sounds, by the modulation of their voice: [and] invent to themselves instruments of music, like David:
not content with old ones, such as were used in former times, they invented new instruments and new tunes, and new songs to sing to them; as David made songs and invented several instruments of music to sing them upon and to, in religious worship, and for the praise and glory of God; so these men invented new ones to indulge their carnal mirth and jollity, in which they thought themselves to be justified by the example of David.
F24 Antiqu. l. 7. c. 19. sect. 3.
F25 (Myjrwph) "particularizantes", Montanus; "qui particularia habent cantica", Pagninus; "qui particulatim canunt", Vatablus, Mercerus; "variis modulationibus concinunt", Tigurine version.

Amos 6:5 In-Context

3 You put off the day of punishment, but you bring near the day when you can do evil to others.

4 You lie on beds decorated with ivory and stretch out on your couches. You eat tender lambs and fattened calves.

5 You make up songs on your harps, and, like David, you compose songs on musical instruments.

6 You drink wine by the bowlful and use the best perfumed lotions. But you are not sad over the ruin of Israel,

7 so you will be some of the first ones taken as slaves. Your feasting and lying around will come to an end.