Amos 6:12-17 ASV

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 6:12

Shall horses run upon the rocks? or will one plough there with oxen ?.... Will any man be so weak and foolish, to propose or attempt a race for horses upon rocks, where they and their riders would be in danger of breaking their necks? or would any man act so unwise a part, as to take a yoke of oxen to plough with them upon a rock, where no impression can be made? as vain and fruitless a thing it would be to attempt to bring such persons under a conviction of their sins, and to repentance... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Amos 6:13

Ye which rejoice in a thing of nought ,.... In their wealth and riches, which are things that are not, because of the uncertainty of them; and, in comparison of true riches, have no solidity and substance in them, Proverbs 23:5 ; or in any of the things of this world, the lusts of it, the honours of it, human wisdom or strength; all are things of nought, of no worth, give no satisfaction, and are of no continuance, and not to be gloried in, Jeremiah 9:23 ; or in their idols, for an idol... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Amos 6:14

But, behold, I will raise up against you a nation, O house of Israel, saith the Lord, the God of hosts ,.... The Assyrian nation, under its king, Shalmaneser; who invaded Israel, came up to Samaria, and after a three years' siege took it, and carried Israel captive into foreign lands, 2 Kings 17:5 ; and they shall afflict you ; by battles, sieges, forages, plunders, and burning of cities and towns, and putting the inhabitants to the sword: from the entering in of Hamath unto the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Amos 6:12

Shall horses run upon the rock - First, they could not do it, because they were unshod; for the shoeing of horses with iron was not then known. Secondly, If they did run on the rock, it would be useless to their owner, and hurtful to themselves. Thirdly, And it would be as useless to plough on the rock with oxen; for there it would be impossible to sow with any advantage. Fourthly, Just as useless and injurious would it be to put gall in the place of judgment, and hemlock in the place of... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Amos 6:13

Ye which rejoice in a thing of naught - In your idols: for an idol is nothing in the world. Have we not taken to us horns - We have arrived to power and dignity by our strength. Horns were the symbols of power and authority. So Horace: - Vina parant animos: tum pauper cornua sumet . "Wine repairs our strength, and furnishes the poor with horns." At such times they think themselves as great as the greatest. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Amos 6:14

I will raise up against you a nation - The Assyrians under Pul, Tiglath-pileser, and Shalmaneser, who subdued the Israelites at various times, and at last carried them away captive in the days of Hosea, the last king of Israel in Samaria. From the entering in of Hamath (on the north) unto the river of the wilderness - Besor, which empties itself into the sea, not far from Gaza, and was in the southern part of the tribe of Simeon. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Amos 6:12

Verse 12 This verse interpreters misrepresent; for some think that the Prophet, by these figurative expressions, means, that the people were wholly unprofitable as to any thing good; as some one says, “The slothful ox wishes for the saddle, the horse wishes to plough.” They therefore suppose that this is the meaning of the words, “Ye are no more fitted to lead a good life than a horse is to run on a rock, or an ox to plough on a rock.” Others think that the Prophet complains that the order of... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Amos 6:13

Verse 13 This verse will seem better connected with the last, if we bear in mind the view to which I have referred: for the Prophet inveighs again against the careless contempt with which the Israelites were filled. Ye rejoice, he says, in a thing of nought A thing of nought he calls those fallacies, by which they were wont to deceive, not only others, but also their own selves. For hypocrites not only falsely pretend the name of God, but also deceive themselves by self flatteries, when they... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Amos 6:14

Verse 14 At last follows a denunciation, and this is the close of the chapter. God then after having seriously exposed the vices which prevailed among the people of Israel, again declares that vengeance of which he had shortly before reminded then; but with this difference only — that God now points out the kind of punishment which he would inflict on the Israelites. He had said before, ‘Behold God commands;’ and then he had spoken of calamity, but expressed not whence that calamity would come:... read more

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

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Amos 6:12

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Amos 6:13

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Amos 6:14

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Amos 6:12

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Amos 6:13

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Amos 6:14

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Amos 6:12

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Amos 6:13

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Amos 6:14

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