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Text -- Amos 6:4 (NET)

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Context
6:4 They lie around on beds decorated with ivory, and sprawl out on their couches. They eat lambs from the flock, and calves from the middle of the pen.
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Names, People and Places, Dictionary Themes and Topics

Dictionary Themes and Topics: TRICLINIUM | STALL | PALESTINE EXPLORATION, 2B | Music | MEALS, MEAL-TIME | JEROBOAM | Ivory | Gluttony | Feasts | Eating | Dwellings | Conscience | Confidence | Church | COMMERCE | CALF | Bed | BED; BEDCHAMBER; BEDSTEAD | Amusements and Worldly Pleasures | AMOS (1) | more
Table of Contents

Word/Phrase Notes
Wesley , JFB , Clarke , Calvin , TSK

Word/Phrase Notes
Barnes , Poole , Haydock , Gill

Verse Notes / Footnotes
NET Notes

Verse Range Notes
TSK Synopsis , Maclaren , MHCC , Matthew Henry , Keil-Delitzsch , Constable , Guzik

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Commentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per phrase)

Wesley: Amo 6:4 - -- That out of laziness or luxury, lay themselves to rest.

That out of laziness or luxury, lay themselves to rest.

Wesley: Amo 6:4 - -- The very best in all their flock.

The very best in all their flock.

JFB: Amo 6:4 - -- (See Amo 2:8).

(See Amo 2:8).

JFB: Amo 6:4 - -- That is, adorned, or inlaid, with ivory (Amo 3:15).

That is, adorned, or inlaid, with ivory (Amo 3:15).

JFB: Amo 6:4 - -- In luxurious self-indulgence.

In luxurious self-indulgence.

JFB: Amo 6:4 - -- Picked out as the choicest, for their owners selfish gratification.

Picked out as the choicest, for their owners selfish gratification.

Clarke: Amo 6:4 - -- That lie upon beds of ivory - The word הוי hoi , wo, is understood at the beginning of each of the first, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth verses...

That lie upon beds of ivory - The word הוי hoi , wo, is understood at the beginning of each of the first, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth verses. The beds mentioned here may be either sofas to recline on at table, or beds to sleep on; and these among the ancients were ornamented with ivory inlaid. They were called lectos eburatos by Plautus, lectos eburnos by Horace, "ivory beds."Probably those ornamented with shells, or mother-of-pearl, may be intended. Several works of this kind may be still seen in Palestine and other places. I have before me a cross brought from Jerusalem, incrusted all over with mother-of-pearl, and various figures chased on it

There must have been a great deal of luxury and effeminacy among the Israelites at this time; and, consequently, abundance of riches. This was in the time of Jeroboam the second, when the kingdom had enjoyed a long peace. The description in the fourth, fifth, and sixth verses, is that of an Asiatic court even in the present day.

Calvin: Amo 6:4 - -- Amos still pursues the reproof we have noticed at the beginning of the chapter, — that the chief men, of whom he speaks, cast away from them all ca...

Amos still pursues the reproof we have noticed at the beginning of the chapter, — that the chief men, of whom he speaks, cast away from them all cares and anxieties, and indulged in pleasures, while the whole country was miserably distressed. We must ever bear in mind what I have already said, — that luxury is not simply reprehended by the Prophet, as some incorrectly think, without sufficiently considering what is said, for it is not what the Prophet treats of; but he upbraids the Israelites for setting up an iron neck against God’s judgments, yea, for shamelessly trifling with God, while he was endeavoring to lead them by degrees to repentance. The Prophet complains that nothing availed with them.

He then says, first, that they slept on ivory beds. To use ivory beds was not in itself bad, except that excess is ever to be condemned; for, when we give up ourselves to pomps and pleasures, we certainly are not then free from sin: indeed, every desire for present things, which exceeds moderation, is ever justly reprehensible. And when men greedily seek splendor and display, or become ambitious and proud, or are given to delicacies, they are guilty of vices ever condemned by God. But it might be, that one used an ivory bed, who was yet willing to lie on the ground: for we know that there was then a great abundance of ivory, and that it was commonly used in Asia. Italy formerly knew not what it was to use a bed of ivory, that is, before the victory of Lucius Scipio: but after the king Antiochus was conquered, then Italy freely used ivory beds and fineries; and thus luxury broke down their courage and effeminated them.

I will come now to our Prophet: it might have been that ivory was not then so valuable in Judea: they might then have used ivory beds without blame. But Amos ever regards the miseries of those times. The rich then ought to have given up all their luxuries, and to have betaken themselves to dust and ashes, when they saw that God was incensed with them, when they saw that the fire of his vengeance was kindled. We now then perceive why Amos was so indignant against those who slept on ivory beds.

He adds, And who extend themselves on their beds: for סרח , sarech, is properly to extend; it means also to become fetid; and further, it means to be superfluous; and therefore some render the words, “upon ivory beds and superfluities;” but this is strained, and agrees not with what follows, upon their couches. The Prophet then, I have no doubt, points out here the manners of those who so heedlessly indulged themselves: “Ye extend,” he says, “your legs and your arms on your couches, as idle men, accustomed to indulgences, are wont to do. But the Lord will awaken you in a new way; his scourges ought to have roused you, but ye remain asleep. Hence, since God could not terrify you by his rods, nothing more remains but to draw you forth against your will to be punished.” This was the reason why the Prophet said that they extended themselves on their couches.

Ye eat also the lambs from the flock, and the calves from the midst of the rich pasture, or of the stall. I prefer taking מרבק , merebek, for folds. Since then they loved fat meat, the Prophet reproves this luxury: he had indeed in view, as it has been already said, the then calamitous time; for if the rich had in their usual way feasted, and had even taken fat meat, they would not have deserved so severe a punishment: but when the Lord called them to mourning, and when the signals of his wrath spread horror all around, it was a stupidity not to be endured, for them to continue their indulgences, which they ought, on the contrary, to have renounced. Indeed, this passage agrees with that of Isaiah, to which I have already referred. It now follows —

TSK: Amo 6:4 - -- lie : Isa 5:11, Isa 5:12, Isa 22:13; Luk 16:19; Rom 13:13, Rom 13:14; Jam 5:5 beds : Either sofas to recline on at table, or beds to sleep on; which a...

lie : Isa 5:11, Isa 5:12, Isa 22:13; Luk 16:19; Rom 13:13, Rom 13:14; Jam 5:5

beds : Either sofas to recline on at table, or beds to sleep on; which among the ancients, were ornamented with ivory inlaid.

stretch themselves upon their couches : or, abound with superfluities, 1Sa 25:36-38; Psa 73:7; Luk 12:19, Luk 12:20

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Commentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per Verse)

Barnes: Amo 6:4 - -- That lie upon beds (that is, sofas) of ivory - that is, probably inlaid with ivory. The word might, in itself, express either the bed, in which...

That lie upon beds (that is, sofas) of ivory - that is, probably inlaid with ivory. The word might, in itself, express either the bed, in which they slept by night, or the divan, on which the Easterns lay at their meals; "and stretch themselves,"literally, "are poured"out , stretching their listless length, dissolved, unnerved, in luxury and sloth, "upon their couches,"perhaps under an awning: "and eat the lambs,"probably "fatted lambs (as in Deu 32:14; Psa 37:20; 1Sa 15:9; Jer 51:40), out of the flock,"chosen, selected out of it as the best, and "calves out of the midst of the stall;"that is, the place where they were tied up (as the word means) to be fatted. They were stall-fed, as we say, and these people had the best chosen for them.

: "He shews how they ‘ draw nigh the seat of violence.’ They lay on beds or couches of ivory, and expended thereon the money wherewith their poor brethren were to be fed. Go now, I say not into the houses of nobles, but into any house of any rich man, see the gilded and worked couches, curtains woven of silk and gold, and walls covered with gold, while the poor of Christ are naked, shivering, shriveled with hunger. Yet stranger is it, that while this is everywhere, scarce anywhere is there who now blames it. Now I say, for there were formerly. ‘ Ye array,’ Ambrose says , ‘ walls with gold, men ye bare. The naked cries before your door and you neglect him; and are careful with what marbles you clothe your pavement. The poor seeketh money, and hath it not; man asketh for bread, and thy horse champeth gold. Thou delightest in costly ornaments, while others have not meal. What judgment thou heapest on thyself, thou man of wealth! Miserable, who hast power to keep so many souls from death, and hast not the will! The jewel of thy ring could maintain in life a whole population.’ If such things are not to be blamed now, then neither were they formerly."

Poole: Amo 6:4 - -- The woe is to be added to them that, either out of laziness or luxury, and to please the flesh, lay themselves to rest upon beds of ivory on beaut...

The woe is to be added to them that, either out of laziness or luxury, and to please the flesh, lay themselves to rest

upon beds of ivory on beautiful, rich beds, bought with the gain of bribes and oppression.

Stretch themselves upon their couches: this somewhat explains the former; they did extremely indulge their pride and luxury, and on beds or couches laid themselves to feast, when God called them to mourn and weep.

Eat with excess, as Mat 24:37,38 Lu 12:19,20 .

The lambs out of the flock the very best in all their flock, and probably they chose them out first, before they set out lambs for sacrifices; or else these gluttonous judges and rulers eat the best lambs, not of their own, but out of poor oppressed men’ s flocks.

The calves those that were fattest too,

out of the midst of the stall kept on purpose to make them most delicious and nourishing meat.

Haydock: Amo 6:4 - -- Ivory, with which the beds for eating were adorned, ver. 7. (Calmet) --- Wanton. Hebrew, "stretch themselves out upon their," &c. (Haydock)

Ivory, with which the beds for eating were adorned, ver. 7. (Calmet) ---

Wanton. Hebrew, "stretch themselves out upon their," &c. (Haydock)

Gill: Amo 6:4 - -- 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 mad...

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 of Jonathan and Jerusalem on Gen 50:1. Joseph made his father Jacob to lie on a bed of ivory. Indeed, the Latin interpreters of these Targums render it a cedar bed; but Buxtorf t conjectures that ivory is meant by the word used; and so Bochart u translates it; on these they lay either for sleep and rest, or to eat their meals;

and stretch themselves upon their couches; for the same purposes, living in great splendour, and indulging themselves in ease and sloth; as it was the custom of the eastern countries, and is of the Arabs now; that they make little or no use of chairs, but either sitting cross legged, or lying at length, have couches to lie on at their meals; and when they indulge to ease, they cover or spread their floors with carpets, which for the most part are of the richest materials. Along the sides of the wall or floor, a range of narrow beds or mattresses is often placed upon these carpets; and, for their further ease and convenience, several velvet or damask bolsters are placed upon these, or mattresses w, to lean upon, and take their ease; see Eze 13:18; and thus, and in some such like manner, did the principal men of the people of Israel indulge themselves. Some render it, "abound with superfluities"; the Septuagint and Vulgate Latin versions, "are lascivious"; and the Arabic version, "burn in lust"; and so some of the Jewish writers interpret it of their committing adulteries, and all uncleanness, on their beds and couches;

and eat the lambs out of the flock; pick the best and fattest of them for their use: so the Targum,

"eat the fat of the sheep:''

and the calves out of the midst of the stall; where they are put, and kept to be fattened; from thence they took what they liked best, and perhaps not out of theft own flocks and stalls, but out of others, and with which they pampered themselves to excess.

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Commentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes

NET Notes: Amo 6:4 Heb “beds of ivory.”

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Commentary -- Verse Range Notes

TSK Synopsis: Amo 6:1-14 - --1 The wantonness of Israel,7 shall be plagued with desolation;12 and their incorrigibleness shall end in affliction.

Maclaren: Amo 6:1-8 - --The Carcass And The Eagles 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 ...

MHCC: Amo 6:1-7 - --Those are looked upon as doing well for themselves, who do well for their bodies; but we are here told what their ease is, and what their woe is. Here...

Matthew Henry: Amo 6:1-7 - -- The first words of the chapter are the contents of these verses; but they sound very strangely, and contrary to the sentiments of a vain world: Woe...

Keil-Delitzsch: Amo 6:4-6 - -- This forgetfulness of God shows itself more especially in the reckless licentiousness and debauchery of these men. Amo 6:4. "They who lie upon beds...

Constable: Amo 1:3--7:1 - --II. Prophetic messages that Amos delivered 1:3--6:14 The Book of Amos consists of words (oracles, 1:3-6:14) and ...

Constable: Amo 3:1--6:14 - --B. Messages of Judgment against Israel chs. 3-6 After announcing that God would judge Israel, Amos deliv...

Constable: Amo 6:1-14 - --5. The fifth message on complacency and pride ch. 6 In this lament Amos announced again that Isr...

Constable: Amo 6:4-7 - --The luxurious indulgence of the Samaritans 6:4-7 6:4-6 Amos described the luxury and self-indulgence that characterized the leaders of Samaria during ...

Guzik: Amo 6:1-14 - --Amos 6 - Woe to the Pride of Jacob A. Woe to those who are at ease in Zion. 1. (1-2) Comparing Israel to her pagan neighbors. Woe to you who are a...

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Introduction / Outline

JFB: Amos (Book Introduction) AMOS (meaning in Hebrew "a burden") was (Amo 1:1) a shepherd of Tekoa, a small town of Judah, six miles southeast from Beth-lehem, and twelve from Jer...

JFB: Amos (Outline) GOD'S JUDGMENTS ON SYRIA, PHILISTIA, TYRE, EDOM, AND AMMON. (Amo 1:1-15) CHARGES AGAINST MOAB, JUDAH, AND LASTLY ISRAEL, THE CHIEF SUBJECT OF AMOS' P...

TSK: Amos 6 (Chapter Introduction) Overview Amo 6:1, The wantonness of Israel, Amo 6:7, shall be plagued with desolation; Amo 6:12, and their incorrigibleness shall end in afflictio...

Poole: Amos (Book Introduction) THE ARGUMENT IF we might be allowed to make a conjecture at the quality of our prophet’ s sermons by the signification of his name, we must co...

Poole: Amos 6 (Chapter Introduction) CHAPTER 6 The voluptuousness of Israel, Amo 6:1-6 , shall be punished with desolation, Amo 6:7-11 . Their perversion of justice and vain confidence...

MHCC: Amos (Book Introduction) Amos was a herdsman, and engaged in agriculture. But the same Divine Spirit influenced Isaiah and Daniel in the court, and Amos in the sheep-folds, gi...

MHCC: Amos 6 (Chapter Introduction) (Amo 6:1-7) The danger of luxury and false security. (Amo 6:8-14) Punishments of sins.

Matthew Henry: Amos (Book Introduction) An Exposition, with Practical Observations, of The Prophecy of Amos Though this prophet appeared a little before Isaiah, yet he was not, as some have ...

Matthew Henry: Amos 6 (Chapter Introduction) 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 p...

Constable: Amos (Book Introduction) Introduction Title and Writer The title of the book comes from its writer. The prophet...

Constable: Amos (Outline) Outline I. Prologue 1:1-2 A. Introduction 1:1 B. Theme 1:2 ...

Constable: Amos Amos Bibliography Alter, Robert. The Art of Biblical Poetry. New York: Basic, 1985. Andersen, F...

Haydock: Amos (Book Introduction) THE PROPHECY OF AMOS. INTRODUCTION. Amos prophesied in Israel about the same time as Osee, and was called from following the cattle to denoun...

Gill: Amos (Book Introduction) INTRODUCTION TO AMOS This book in the Hebrew Bibles is called "Sepher Amos", the Book of Amos; and, in the Vulgate Latin and Syriac versions, the P...

Gill: Amos 6 (Chapter Introduction) 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 name...

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