Amos 6:1

The prophet began this message by announcing coming woe (Heb. hoy, cf. Amos 5:18). Those who felt at ease in Zion (Jerusalem) and secure in Samaria were the subjects of his message. Those who felt comfortable in Samaria, partially because it stood on a high hill that was easily defensible, were the distinguished men. They regarded Israel, and Judah, as the foremost of the nations of their day. They were the men to whom the rest of the house of Israel (the people of the Northern Kingdom) came for advice and or justice.

"With masterly irony, Amos addressed the self-satisfied rich, secure in their affluence (Amos 6:1; cf. Luke 6:24-25; Luke 12:13-21)." [Note: McComiskey, p. 317.]

"God doesn’t look at the talent of national leaders, the extent of a nation’s army, or the prosperity of its economy. God looks at the heart, and the heart of the two Jewish kingdoms was far from the Lord." [Note: Wiersbe, p. 360.]

This is the last reference to the people of Zion in this message; from now on Amos spoke only of the Northern Kingdom. Perhaps he referred to the Judean leaders because they were also guilty of the same sins (cf. Isaiah 32:9-11), but God had not decreed destruction against them yet.