Amos 6:1

The Party is over for the Rich

6:1 Woe ¹  to those who live in ease in Zion, ² 

to those who feel secure on Mount Samaria.

They think of themselves as ³  the elite class of the best nation.

The family ⁴  of Israel looks to them for leadership. ⁵ 

Amos 6:4-6

6:4 They lie around on beds decorated with ivory, ⁶ 

and sprawl out on their couches.

They eat lambs from the flock,

and calves from the middle of the pen.

6:5 They sing ⁷  to the tune of ⁸  stringed instruments; ⁹ 

like David they invent ¹⁰  musical instruments.

6:6 They drink wine from sacrificial bowls, ¹¹ 

and pour the very best oils on themselves. ¹² 

Yet they are not concerned over ¹³  the ruin ¹⁴  of Joseph.

[6:1]  ¹ tn On the Hebrew term הוֹי (hoy; “ah, woe”) as a term of mourning, see the notes in 5:16, 18.

[6:1]  ² sn Zion is a reference to Jerusalem.

[6:1]  ³ tn The words “They think of themselves as” are supplied in the translation for clarification. In the Hebrew text the term נְקֻבֵי (nÿquvey; “distinguished ones, elite”) is in apposition to the substantival participles in the first line.

[6:1]  ⁴ tn Heb “house.”

[6:1]  ⁵ tn Heb “comes to them.”

[6:4]  ⁶ tn Heb “beds of ivory.”

[6:5]  ¹¹ tn The meaning of the Hebrew verb פָּרַט (parat), which occurs only here in the OT, is unclear. Some translate “strum,” “pluck,” or “improvise.”

[6:5]  ¹² tn Heb “upon the mouth of,” that is, “according to.”

[6:5]  ¹³ sn The stringed instruments mentioned here are probably harps (cf. NIV, NRSV) or lutes (cf. NEB).

[6:5]  ¹⁴ tn The meaning of the Hebrew phrase חָשְׁבוּ לָהֶם (khoshvu lahem) is uncertain. Various options include: (1) “they think their musical instruments are like David’s”; (2) “they consider themselves musicians like David”; (3) “they esteem musical instruments highly like David”; (4) “they improvise [new songs] for themselves [on] instruments like David”; (5) “they invent musical instruments like David.” However, the most commonly accepted interpretation is that given in the translation (see S. M. Paul, Amos [Hermeneia], 206-7).

[6:6]  ¹⁶ sn Perhaps some religious rite is in view, or the size of the bowls is emphasized (i.e., bowls as large as sacrificial bowls).

[6:6]  ¹⁷ tn Heb “with the best of oils they anoint [themselves].”

[6:6]  ¹⁸ tn Or “not sickened by.”

[6:6]  ¹⁹ sn The ruin of Joseph may refer to the societal disintegration in Israel, or to the effects of the impending judgment.