Amos 6:1-7

Woe to Those at Ease in Zion

1 ¹"Woe to those who are at ease in Zion, and to those who feel secure on ²the mountain of Samaria, ³the notable men of ⁴the first of the nations, to whom the house of Israel comes!

2 Pass over to ⁵Calneh, and see, and from there go to ⁶Hamath the great; then go down to ⁷Gath of the Philistines. ⁸Are you better than these kingdoms? Or is their territory greater than your territory,

3 ⁹O you who put far away the day of disaster ¹⁰and bring near the seat of violence?

4 "Woe to those ¹¹who lie on ¹²beds of ivory ¹³and stretch themselves out on their couches, and eat lambs from the flock ¹⁴and calves from the midst of the stall,

5 ¹⁵who sing idle songs to the sound of the harp and like David ¹⁶invent for themselves instruments of music,

6 ¹⁷who drink wine in bowls and ¹⁸anoint themselves with the finest oils, but are not grieved over the ruin of Joseph!

7 ¹⁹Therefore they shall now be the first of those who go into exile, and the revelry of those who stretch themselves out shall pass away."

Amos 6:1-7 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.

Cross References

• 1. Isaiah 32:9; Zephaniah 1:12; Luke 6:24; James 5:1
• 2. Amos 3:9; Amos 4:1
• 3. [Ezekiel 22:6]
• 4. See Exodus 19:5
• 5. Genesis 10:10; Isaiah 10:9
• 6. 1 Kings 8:65; 2 Kings 18:34; Isaiah 10:9
• 7. See 1 Samuel 17:4
• 8. [Nahum 3:8]
• 9. [Amos 9:10; Ezekiel 12:27]
• 10. See Amos 3:10
• 11. [Amos 3:12]
• 12. [Esther 1:6]
• 13. [Amos 3:12]
• 14. [James 5:5]
• 15. See Amos 5:23
• 16. See Amos 5:23
• 17. [Isaiah 5:12]
• 18. [Daniel 10:3]
• 19. Amos 7:11, 17