Amós 6

ARC · Chapter 6/9

1Ai dos descançados em Sião, e dos seguros no monte de Samaria: que teem nome entre as primeiras das nações, e aos quaes se foi a casa de Israel!

2Passae a Calne, e vêde; e d'ali ide á grande Hamath; e descei a Gath dos philisteos, se são melhores que estes reinos, ou maior o seu termo do que o vosso termo.

3Vós que affastaes o dia mau, e achegaes o assento de violencia.

4Os que dormem em camas de marfim, e se estendem sobre os seus leitos, e comem os cordeiros do rebanho, e os bezerros do meio da manada:

5Que cantam ao som do alaúde, e inventam para si instrumentos musicos, assim como David:

6Que bebem vinho de taças, e se ungem com o mais excellente oleo: mas não se affligem pela quebra de José:

7Portanto agora irão em captiveiro entre os primeiros dos que forem em captiveiro, e cessarão os festins dos estendidos.

8Jurou o Senhor Jehovah pela sua alma (diz o Senhor Deus dos exercitos): Tenho em abominação a soberba de Jacob, e aborreço os seus palacios; e entregarei a cidade e a sua plenitude.

9E acontecerá que, ficando de resto dez homens n'uma casa, morrerão.

10E a alguem tomará o seu tio, ou o que o queima, para levar os ossos fóra da casa; e dirá ao que estiver nos cantos da casa: Está ainda alguem comtigo? E elle dirá: Nenhum. E dirá este: Cala-te, porque não convem fazer menção do nome do Senhor.

11Porque, eis que o Senhor dá ordem, e ferirá a casa grande de quebraduras, e a casa pequena de fendas.

12Porventura correrão cavallos na rocha? arar-se-ha n'ella com bois? porque haveis vós tornado o juizo em fel, e o fructo da justiça em alosna?

13Vós que vos alegraes de nada, vós que dizeis: Não nos temos nós tornado poderosos por nossa força?

14Porque, eis que eu levantarei sobre vós, ó casa de Israel, um povo, diz o Senhor Deus dos Exercitos, e opprimir-vos-hão, desde a entrada de Hamath até ao ribeiro da planicie.

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Summary

Amos denounces the arrogant complacency of Samaria's elite, who live in luxury and pleasure while ignoring the nation's approaching ruin, comparing Israel's pride to other cities already destroyed.

Explanation

'Woe to them that are at ease in Zion, and trust in the mountain of Samaria' describes people so comfortable in their wealth (beds of ivory, refined music, wine by the bowlful, the finest oils) that they had completely lost all sensitivity to the crisis unfolding around them. The reference to being 'not grieved for the affliction of Joseph' is central: the elite feel no compassion for the suffering of the rest of the people. The comparison with cities like Calneh, Hamath, and Gath, already destroyed or weakened, serves as a warning that Samaria is not special or immune to the same fate. The lesson for today: excessive material comfort can numb social and spiritual conscience, making people indifferent to the suffering of others.

Fun facts

  • 'Like David' (v. 5), in mentioning the invention of musical instruments, is an almost ironic reference: David invented instruments to praise God, while Samaria's elite used them merely for self-indulgent entertainment.
  • Archaeological excavations in Samaria confirmed luxurious structures and ivory objects dated to exactly the period of Amos, giving direct historical support to the prophet's criticism of the capital's excessive wealth.

Verse-by-verse explanation

  1. Amós 6:1“At ease in Zion” and “trust in the mountain of Samaria” describes the false security of the elites of both Judah and Israel — the two kingdoms, each in its own capital, thinking nothing could touch them.
  2. Amós 6:2An ironic challenge: go look at other powerful cities that have already fallen, to realize that Israel is no better or safer than they were.
  3. Amós 6:3The elite prefers to ignore the warning of an approaching “evil day,” while continuing to practice violence and injustice day to day.
  4. Amós 6:4Beds of ivory, choice lambs, and music all day describe the luxurious banquets of Samaria’s elite; the problem, stated in the next verse, is that no one there cared about the ruin already knocking at the people’s door.
  5. Amós 6:5Describes this elite’s life of luxury, enjoying refined music, in an ironic comparison with David, who composed music to worship God, not for empty parties.
  6. Amós 6:6Drinking wine by the bowlful and using the most expensive oils while “they are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph” sums up the whole book’s accusation: abundance with no compassion whatsoever for the suffering of the rest of the nation.
  7. Amós 6:7Precisely because of this carefree life of luxury, this elite will be the first to go into exile, putting an end to the parties for good.
  8. Amós 6:8God swears by himself, a solemn expression, that he detests the pride of Israel and will hand the whole city over to destruction.
  9. Amós 6:9Even the few survivors gathered in a single house will end up dying — the scale of the death toll described in blunt terms.
  10. Amós 6:10A scene of intimate horror: a relative comes to collect the bodies, and no one dares even mention the name of the Lord, afraid of drawing more judgment.
  11. Amós 6:11The judgment will strike both the rich (“great house”) and the poor (“little house”) — no one is left out of the destruction.
  12. Amós 6:12“Shall horses run upon the rock? will one plow there with oxen?” are deliberately absurd questions, because what Israel did is just as absurd: turning justice, which should be natural, into poison.
  13. Amós 6:13The elite takes pride in recent military conquests, crediting the success entirely to their own strength, without acknowledging God behind it.
  14. Amós 6:14God’s response to the pride of the previous verse: he himself will raise up an enemy nation, Assyria, to oppress Israel from one end of the territory to the other.

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