24 matching verse commentaries
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
INTRODUCTION TO Amos 6 This chapter seems to be directed both to the two tribes of Judah and Benjamin, and the ten tribes of Israel, under the names of Zion and Samaria, and to the principal men in both; who are reproved and threatened for their carnal security and self-confidence, being in no fear of the evil day, though they had no reason for it...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
Woe to them [that are] at ease in Zion,.... Or "secure" (c) there; which was a strong hold, the city of David, the seat of the kings of Judah; where their court was kept, and the princes and chief men resided and thought themselves safe, the place being well fortified with walls, towers, and bulwarks: or "at ease"; that is, in easy, prosperous,...
Matthew Henry - Complete Commentary - Matthew Henry
In this chapter we have, I. A sinful people studying to put a slight upon God's threatenings and to make them appear trivial, confiding in their privileges and pre-eminences above other nations (ver. 2, 3), and their power (ver. 13), and wholly addicted to their pleasures, ver. 4-6. II. A serious prophet studying to put a weight upon God's...
Spurgeon - Verse Expositions - Charles H. Spurgeon
Woe to them that are at ease in Zion, and trust in the mountain of Samaria, which are named chief of the nations, to whom the house of Israel came! It was a time of great sin, and also of great judgment, yet there were some in Zion who were quite at ease under all that was happening. No sense of sin grieved them, no thought of coming judgment...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
Pass ye unto Calneh, and see,.... What is become of that city, which was in the land of Shinar, an ancient city, as early as the days of Nimrod, and built by him, and was with others the beginning of his kingdom, Genesis 10:10; it belonged to Babylon, and is by Jarchi here interpreted by it, being put for Babel, as he supposes. According to Jerom...
Spurgeon - Verse Expositions - Charles H. Spurgeon
Pass ye unto Calneh, and see; and from thence go ye to Hamath the great; then go down to Gath of the Philistines: be they better than these kingdoms? or their border greater than your border? The Lord points to other cities which had been destroyed, — to Calneh, and Hamath, and Gath, which he had smitten because of the sin of the people who had...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
Ye that put far away the evil day,.... The day of Israel's captivity, threatened by, the Lord, and prophesied of by the prophets; by this prophet, and by Hoshea and others: this they endeavoured to put out of their minds and thoughts, and supposed it to be at a great distance, yea, hoped it never would be; and like the Jews, with respect to their...
Spurgeon - Verse Expositions - Charles H. Spurgeon
Ye that put far away the evil day, — Ye who say, “There is time enough yet. Let us see a little more of life; why need we be in a hurry to seek salvation?” “Ye that put far away the evil day,” — Amo_6:3. And cause the seat of violence to come near; For, when men try to postpone thoughts about “the judgment” which is to follow “after death,” they...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
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 (r), the Agrigentines had beds entirely made of ivory; and Horace (s) also speaks of such beds: and if any credit can be given to the Targums...
Spurgeon - Verse Expositions - Charles H. Spurgeon
That lie upon beds of ivory, They were men of wealth, who spent their money upon all manner of luxuries while the poor of the land were perishing through want. Amo_6:4. And stretch themselves upon their couches, and eat the lambs out of the flock, and the calves out of the midst of the stall; It was, as I have said, a time of danger, when war was...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
That chant to the sound of the viol,.... Or psaltery; an instrument of twelve cords, and that gave twelve sounds, as Josephus (x) 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...
Spurgeon - Verse Expositions - Charles H. Spurgeon
That chant to the sound of the viol, and invent to themselves instrument of music, like David; But not for the same purpose as David played and sang; his instruments of music were used for spiritual solace and the worship of God; but these people set their wits to work to find out how their music might inflame their lusts, and be a vehicle for the...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
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...
Spurgeon - Verse Expositions - Charles H. Spurgeon
That drink wine in bowls, For seldom can a careless man crown the edifice of his sin without indulging in drunkenness; he must have the sensual delight that he finds in “the flowing bowl.” Amo_6:6. And anoint themselves with the chief ointments: but they are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph. It is not wrong for a person, to whom God has...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
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...
Spurgeon - Verse Expositions - Charles H. Spurgeon
Therefore now shall they go captive with the first that go captive, and the banquet of them that stretched themselves shall be removed. Whenever God does come forth to execute judgment upon the ungodly, he will first pick out those who have defied him the most. Those who have the proudest spirit and the hardest heart shall be the first to feel the...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
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" (c); of Israel, of the ten tribes, remarkable for their pride; hence called the...
Spurgeon - Verse Expositions - Charles H. Spurgeon
The Lord GOD hath sworn by himself, saith the LORD the God of hosts, I abhor the excellency of Jacob, and hate his palaces: therefore will I deliver up the city with all that is therein. The next chapter shows that, even when God was very angry with the wicked, there was still wonderful power in prayer. This exposition consisted of readings from...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
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...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
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...