1.
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!
'Woe. The second woe. See Amos 5:18 . them: i.e. the nobles of Judah, in comparison with the nobles of Israel (in Samaria) its the next clause. at ease = careless, secure, or easy-going.
trust = confide. Hebrew. batah. App-69 . Here Part. = them that confide.
which are named = [the men of] men. Compare Numbers 1:17
chief of the nations: i.e.
Israel. Reference to Pentateuch (Exodus 19:5 ). App-92 ,
the house of Israel : i.e. the Northern Kingdom = the People of Israel.
came. Supply the Ellipsis: "came [for judgment and justice]", as shown by the rest of this member ("y1").
2.
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?
Pass = Pass over: i. e, the Euphrates. Compare Jeremiah 2:10 . unto Calneh. The sequence of these cities is logical rather than geographical.
Calneh. On the Tigris. Built by Nimrod (Genesis 10:10 ). Called Calno (Isaiah 10:9 ); Canneh (Ezekiel 27:23 ).
see = consider [its fate]. So in the next two clauses.
Hamath. On the north. Now called Hama , on the Orontes, north of Damascus. Reference to Pent (Genesis 10:18 . Numbers 34:7 , Numbers 34:8 ) Compare Amos 6:14 App-92
Gath. Now Tell es Safi , in the south. See 1 Samuel 5:8 .
be they better : i.e. these nobles and chief men.
these kingdoms: which have been overthrown.
or their border = or [is] their border or boundary greater? &c. your: i.e. the borders of Israel and Judah. Supply the logical Ellipsis : "[yet I overthrew them; how much more shall I judge you! ]".
3.
Ye that put far away the evil day, and cause the seat of violence to come near;
4.
That lie upon beds of ivory, and stretch themselves upon their couches, and eat the lambs out of the flock, and the calves out of the midst of the stall;
5.
That chant to the sound of the viol, and invent to themselves instruments of musick, like David;
chant = break out [in song]. Hebrew. parat. Occurs only here.
instruments of music = instruments of song
like David = as David did
6.
That drink wine in bowls, and anoint themselves with the chief ointments: but they are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph.
wine. Hebrew. yayin . App-27 .
bowls = sacred bowls; not in goblets.
are not greived = do not afflict themselves
affliction = breach: i.e. the breach of the two kingdoms (1 Kings 12 ). Compare Isaiah 30:26 . Jeremiah 6:14 .
Joseph. Put by Figure of speech Synecdoche (of Part), App-6 , for the whole of the ten tribes. A reference to the Patriarch, by application.
7.
Therefore now shall they go captive with the first that go captive, and the banquet of them that stretched themselves shall be removed.
8.
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 Lord God. Hebrew Adonai Jehovah. App-4 . See note on Amos 1:8 .
sworn, &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Genesis 22:16 ) Compare Jeremiah 51:14 .
By Himself = by His soul. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13 .
saith the LORD the God of Hosts = [is] the oracle of Jehovah,
the God of Hosts. the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 .
God . Hebrew. Elohim. App-4 .
I abhor. Hebrew. taab , a Homonym , with two meanings. Here, to abhor. In Psalms 119:20 , Psalms 119:40 , Psalms 119:174 , to desire or long for.
excellency. Figure of speech Ampliatio . It was once such (Compare Amos 8:7 . Psalms 47:4 .Ezekiel 24:21; Ezekiel 24:21 ), but is now no longer so.
all that is therein = the fulness thereof
9.
And it shall come to pass, if there remain ten men in one house, that they shall die.
remain : survive after the seige.
men. Plural of 'enosh App-14 .
die : by pestilence
10.
And a man's uncle shall take him up, and he that burneth him, to bring out the bones out of the house, and shall say unto him that is by the sides of the house, Is there yet any with thee? and he shall say, No. Then shall he say, Hold thy tongue: for we may not make mention of the name of the LORD.
a man's uncle = a relative
him i.e. the corpse burneth. See note on Amos 4:10 . Here, and 1 Samuel 31:12 are the only two places where burning corpses is mentioned, &c. Both are exceptional cases, but it was the common practice of the Horites (Genesis 14:6 ; Deuteronomy 2:12 , Deuteronomy 2:22 ) whose remains were found in the excavations at Gezer. See note on 1 Kings 9:15-17 .
bones; i.e. one reduced to a mere skeleton. Compare Job 7:15 ; Job 19:20 .
him that is, &c. i.e. the survivor.
by the sides of = in the midst of, or hinder part.
any: i.e. any alive or dead.
make mention of = call upon, or invoke. Compare Isaiah 26:13 ; Isaiah 49:1 ; Isaiah 62:6 .
11.
For, behold, the LORD commandeth, and he will smite the great house with breaches, and the little house with clefts.
behold. Figure of speech Asterismos. App-6 .
12.
Shall horses run upon the rock? will one plow there with oxen? for ye have turned judgment into gall, and the fruit of righteousness into hemlock:
Shall horses . . ? will . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis. App-6 . there or, supply "[the seal". for. Supply "[with equal madness]".
hemlock. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 29:18 , same word as `wormwood"). App-92 .
13.
Ye which rejoice in a thing of nought, which say, Have we not taken to us horns by our own strength?
horns =. powers. "Horns" put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Cause), App-6 , for the power put forth by them.
14.
But, behold, I will raise up against you a nation, O house of Israel, saith the LORD the God of hosts; and they shall afflict you from the entering in of Hamath unto the river of the wilderness.
I will raise up, &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 28:49 ). they shall afflict you. Reference to Pentateuch (Exodus 3:9 ; Deuteronomy 26:7 ).
from . . . unto : i.e. through the length and breadth of the land.
Hemath. Same as Hamath (Amos 6:2 ), in the north. the river. Hebrew nahal = torrent, or wady.
the wilderness. Hebrew ha ' arabah = the 'Arabah: i.e. the plain, south of Judah. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 1:1 , &c.)