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 9:9

9:9 “For look, I am giving a command

and I will shake the family of Israel together with all the nations.

It will resemble a sieve being shaken,

when not even a pebble falls to the ground. ⁶ 

Amos 9:12

9:12 As a result they ⁷  will conquer those left in Edom ⁸ 

and all the nations subject to my rule.” ⁹ 

The Lord, who is about to do this, is speaking!

[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.”

[9:9]  ⁶ tn Heb “like being shaken with a sieve, and a pebble does not fall to the ground.” The meaning of the Hebrew word צְרוֹר (tsÿror), translated “pebble,” is unclear here. In 2 Sam 17:13 it appears to refer to a stone. If it means “pebble,” then the sieve described in v. 6 allows the grain to fall into a basket while retaining the debris and pebbles. However, if one interprets צְרוֹר as a “kernel of grain” (cf. NASB, NIV, NKJV, NLT) then the sieve is constructed to retain the grain and allow the refuse and pebbles to fall to the ground. In either case, the simile supports the last statement in v. 8 by making it clear that God will distinguish between the righteous (the grain) and the wicked (the pebbles) when he judges, and will thereby preserve a remnant in Israel. Only the sinners will be destroyed (v. 10).

[9:12]  ¹¹ sn They probably refers to the Israelites or to the Davidic rulers of the future.

[9:12]  ¹² tn Heb “take possession of the remnant of Edom”; NASB, NIV, NRSV “possess the remnant of Edom.”

[9:12]  ¹³ tn Heb “nations over whom my name is proclaimed.” The Hebrew idiom indicates ownership, sometimes as a result of conquest. See 2 Sam 12:28.