Amos 6:6

6 Who drink wine in bowls, And anoint themselves with the best oils; But they are not grieved for the affliction 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.

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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 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;

5 Who strum on the strings of a harp; Who invent for themselves instruments of music, like David;

6 Who drink wine in bowls, And anoint themselves with the best oils; But they are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph.

7 Therefore they will now go captive with the first who go captive; And the feasting and lounging will end.

8 "The Lord Yahweh has sworn by himself," says Yahweh, the God of hosts: "I abhor the pride of Jacob, And detest his fortresses. Therefore I will deliver up the city with all that is in it.