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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Amos 6:1-7

The first words of the chapter are the contents of these verses; but they sound very strangely, and contrary to the sentiments of a vain world: Woe to those that are at ease! We are ready to say, Happy are those that are at ease, that neither feel any trouble nor fear any, that lie soft and warm, and lay nothing to heart; and wise we think are those that do so, that bathe themselves in the delights of sense and care not how the world goes. Those are looked upon as doing well for themselves... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Amos 6:8-14

In the former part of the chapter we had these secure Israelites loading themselves with pleasures, as if they could never be made merry enough; here we have God loading them with punishments, as if they could never be made miserable enough. And observe, I. How strongly this burden is bound on, not to be shaken off by their presumption and security; for it is bound by the Lord the God of hosts, by his mighty, his almighty, hand, which none can resist; it is bound with an oath, which puts the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Amos 6:4

That lie upon beds of ivory ,.... That were made of it, or inlaid with it, or covered with it, as the Targum; nor was it improbable that these were made wholly of ivory, for such beds we read of: Timaeus says F18 Apud Aelian. Var. Hist. l. 12. c. 29. , the Agrigentines had beds entirely made of ivory; and Horace F19 "----Rubro ubi cocco Tincta super lectos cauderet vestis eburnos". Horat. Serm. l. 2. Satyr. 6. v. 102. also speaks of such beds: and if any credit can be given to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Amos 6:5

That chant to the sound of the viol ,.... Or psaltery; an instrument of twelve cords, and that gave twelve sounds, as Josephus F24 Antiqu. l. 7. c. 19. sect. 3. says, being stricken with the fingers; and to these sounds these men chanted or quivered, made like sounds with their voice, which they raised higher or lower, according to the sound of the instrument: they "particularized", as the word signifies F25 הפורטים "particularizantes", Montanus; "qui particularia habent... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible 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... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Amos 6:7

Therefore now shall they go captive with the first that go captive ,.... That is, these men, who were the first and chief in the nation, who would not believe the day of Israel's captivity would ever come; or, however, had very distant apprehensions of it; but indulged and gratified their several senses of tasting, hearing, smelling, in a carnal way, and had no sympathy with and compassion upon their afflicted brethren; these should be the first the enemy should lay hold upon, and carry... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Amos 6:8

The Lord God hath sworn by himself ,.... Because he could swear by no greater, Hebrews 6:13 ; which shows the importance and certainty of the thing sworn to, and is as follows: saith the Lord, the God of hosts, I abhor the excellency of Jacob ; or, "the pride of Jacob" F3 את גאון "superbiam", V. L. Pagninus, Montanus; "fastium", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, Drusius. ; of Israel, of the ten tribes, remarkable for their pride; hence called the crown of pride, Isaiah 28:3... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Amos 6:9

And it shall come to pass ,.... When the city is delivered up and taken: if there remain ; who are not carried captive, or destroyed by the sword: ten men in one house ; that is, many, a certain number for an uncertain: that they shall die ; either with famine, or by the pestilence, though they have escaped the other calamities; so general shall the destruction be, by one means or another. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Amos 6:10

And a man's uncle shall take him up ,.... That is, his father's brother, as Kimchi; or his near kinsman, as the Targum; to whom the right of inheritance belongs, and also the care of his funeral; he shall take up the dead man himself, in order to inter him, there being none to employ in such service; the mortality being so universal, either through the pestilence raging everywhere, or through the earthquake, men being killed by the fall of houses upon them; which Aben Ezra takes to be the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Amos 6:11

For, behold, the Lord commandeth ,.... Hath determined and ordered the judgment before, and what follows: Kimchi paraphrases it, hath decreed the earthquake, as in Amos 3:15 ; of which he understands the following: and he will smite the great house with breaches ; or "droppings" F8 רסיסים "guttis, seu stillis", Piscator; ψεκαδες , "quae est minuta et rorans pluvia", Drusius. ; so that the rain shall drop through: and the little house with clefts ; so that it shall fall... read more

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