6:1 Woe to a them [that are] at ease in Zion, and trust in the
mountain of Samaria, b [which are] named chief of the
nations, to whom the house of Israel came!
(a) The Prophet threatens the wealthy, who did not regard
God's plagues, nor threatenings by his Prophets.
(b) These two cities were famous from their first
inhabitants the Canaanites: and seeing that before they
did not avail those that were born here, why should you
think that they should save you who were brought in to
dwell in other men's possessions?
6:2 Pass ye unto Calneh, and see; and from thence go ye to
Hamath the great: then go down to Gath of the Philistines:
[be c they] better than these kingdoms? or their border
greater than your border?
(c) If God has destroyed these excellent cities in three
different kingdoms, that is Babylon, Syria, and that of
the Philistines, and has narrowed their wide borders
more than yours yet are, do you think that you are
better, or that you will escape?
6:3 Ye that put far away the d evil day, and cause the seat of
violence to come near;
(d) You that continue still in your wickedness, and think
that God's plagues are not at hand, but give yourselves
to all idleness, lustfulness, and disorder.
6:5 That chant to the sound of the viol, [and] invent to
themselves instruments of musick, like e David;
(e) As he caused different types of instruments to be made
to serve God's glory, so these did strive to invent as
many to serve their unrestrained affections and lusts.
6:6 That drink wine in bowls, and anoint themselves with the
chief ointments: but they are not f grieved for the
affliction of Joseph.
(f) They did not pity their brethren, of which many were now
slain and carried away captive.
6:7 Therefore now shall they go captive with the first that go
captive, and the g banquet of them that stretched
themselves shall be removed.
(g) Some read "the sorrow of them that stretched themselves
is at hand".
6:8h The Lord GOD hath sworn by himself, saith the LORD the
God of hosts, I abhor i the excellency of Jacob, and hate
his palaces: therefore will I deliver up the city with all
that is therein.
(h) Read (Jer 51:14).
(i) That is, the riches and pomp.
6:10 And a man's uncle k shall take him up, and he that
burneth him, to bring out the bones out of the house, and
shall say unto him that [is] by the l sides of the house,
[Is there] yet [any] with thee? and he shall say, No. Then
shall he say, m Hold thy tongue: for we may not make
mention of the name of the LORD.
(k) The destruction will be so great, that almost none will
be left to bury the dead: and therefore they will burn
them at home, to carry out the burnt ashes with more
ease.
(l) That is, to some neighbour that dwells near by.
(m) They will be so astonished at this destruction, that
they will not boast any more of the name of God, and
that they are his people: but they will be silent when
they hear God's name, and abhor it, as those that are
desperate, or reprobate.
6:12 Shall horses n run upon the rock? will [one] plow [there]
with oxen? for ye have turned judgment into gall, and the
fruit of righteousness into o hemlock:
(n) He compares them to barren rocks, upon which it is in
vain to bestow labour: showing that God's benefits can
have no place among them.
(o) Read (Am 5:7).
6:13 Ye which rejoice in a thing of nought, which say, Have we
not taken to us p horns by our own strength?
(p) That is, power and glory.
6:14 But, behold, I will raise up against you a nation, O house
of Israel, saith the LORD the God of hosts; and they shall
afflict you from the entering in of q Hemath unto the
river of the wilderness.
