Amos 6:1

CHAPTER VI

The prophet reproves his people for indulging themselves in

luxurious ease, and forming alliances with their powerful

idolatrous neighbours, 1.

He asks if their lands or their lot be better than their

own, 2,

that they should choose to worship the gods of the heathen,

and forsake Jehovah. Then follows an amplification of the sin

which the prophet reproves, 3-6;

to which he annexes very awful threatenings, confirmed by the

oath of Jehovah, 7, 8.

He next particularly specifies the punishment of their sins by

pestilence, 9-11;

by famine, or a drought that should harden the earth so that it

could not be tilled, 12;

and by the sword of the Assyrians, 14.

NOTES ON CHAP. VI

Verse Amos 6:1. Wo to them that are at ease in Zion] For השאננים hashshaanannim, "who dwell at ease," it has been proposed to read השעננים hashshaanannim, "who confidently lean," the two words differing only in one letter, an ע ain for an א aleph. They leaned confidently on Zion; supposing that, notwithstanding their iniquities they should be saved for Zion's sake. Thus the former clause will agree better with the latter, "leaning upon Zion," and "trusting in the mountain of Samaria." Those that are at ease may mean those who have no concern about the threatened judgments, and who have no deep concern for the salvation of their own souls. Houbigant would read, "Wo to them who despise Zion, and trust in Samaria." So the Septuagint, reading שנאים soneim, hating, instead of שאננים shaanannim, being at rest, tranquil. Calmet first proposed this conjecture; Houbigant follows him.

Are named chief] Newcome renders, "That are named after the chief of the nations;" and observes, that the Hebrew word נקבי nekubey is an allusion to marking a name or character by punctures. See on Isaiah 44:5. They call themselves not after their ancestors, but after the chief of the idolatrous nations with whom they intermarry contrary to the law.

Perhaps the words here rather refer to the mountains and their temples, than to the people. The mountain of Zion, and the mountain of Samaria, were considered the chief or most celebrated among the nations, as the two kingdoms to which they belonged were the most distinguished on the earth.