View Amos 6 in the note window.
The security of Israel and Judah, ver. 1 - 6.
Their punishment, ver. 7 - 14.
1: At ease - That neither fear nor believe the threatened judgments
of God. In Zion - That is put for the kingdom of the two tribes, and
principally the inhabitants of Jerusalem. Samaria - Woe to them also
who rely upon the strength, wealth, and policy of the kingdom of Samaria
or Israel. Which - Which two cities, Zion and Samaria.
Named chief - Accounted the chief cities of that part of the world.
To whom - To which place all Israel had recourse, the two tribes to
Zion, the ten tribes to Samaria.
2: Pass ye - Run over the history of that great and ancient city.
Hemath - Head of the Syrian kingdom, lately overthrown by
Tiglath - Pilneser, and a fresh instance of God's just indignation
against secure sinners. Gath - The chief city of the Philistines,
a few years before wasted by the arms of Hazael; by these examples
learn to amend your ways, or expect to perish in them.
Greater - That is, greater than these kingdoms of Israel and Judah,
and their borders, or bounds, greater than these of Israel and
Judah.
3: Ye - That flatter yourselves the day of darkness foretold, is far
off. The seat - The judgment seat which should relieve the oppressed, is
made a seat of violence.
4: That lie - That out of laziness or luxury, lay themselves to rest.
And eat - The very best in all their flock.
5: That chant - That in a time of deep mourning entertain themselves
with songs, and musical instruments.
6: In bowls - Not in little vessels, but probably bowls: they drank
these filled as full as they could hold too, and in design to drink each
other down. And anoint - In those hot countries this anointing was much
used. Not grieved - Nothing affected with the calamities of their country.
7: The banquet - The feastings of voluptuous ones shall cease.
8: The excellency - All that the seed of Jacob accounts a glory
and excellency to them, all their external privileges and worship.
9: Remain - Escaping the enemies sword. Ten men - Many men, a
certain number for an uncertain. They shall die - Tho' they escape
a while, they shall not finally escape.
10: Uncle - Or near kinsman, instead of those who were wont to do
this, and were paid for it; but now none of these remaining, the next
to the dead must, as well as he is able, take him up on his shoulders,
and carry him. That burneth - Though the Jews mostly buried, yet in
some cases they burned the dead bodies, as in this of pestilence.
The bones - The flesh being consumed, the bones are reserved to be buried.
Unto him - Any one he sees near the house out of which the bones are
carried. Is there yet any - Is any one living in your house.
Hold thy tongue - Do not complain, lest thou thyself be killed, lest
all be rifled. For - It is too late to seek God, who is executing his
immutable decree.
11: For behold - It seems to be the continued speech of him who
took care of the dead, ver.(10), God hath sent out war, famine, and
pestilence. The great house - The palaces of great men shall have great
breaches made in them, and the cottages of poor men shall, by lesser
strokes, be ruined.
12: Shall horses - If prophets exhort or advise, it does no more good
than if you would run your horses upon the precipices of rocks.
13: Who rejoice - In your victories, alliances, and idols.
Have we not - We have raised ourselves to greatness by our wisdom
and courage.
14: Hemath - A city of Syria, bordering on Israel, north - east.
The wilderness - Which is the south - west parts of Canaan.
So all your country shall be destroyed.
