SEV Biblia, Chapter 6:4
los que duermen en camas de marfil, y se extienden sobre sus lechos; y comen los corderos del rebaño, y los becerros de en medio del engordadero;
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Amos 6:4
Verse 4. That lie upon beds of ivory] The word ywh 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.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 4. That lie upon beds of ivory , etc.] 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 f161 , the Agrigentines had beds entirely made of ivory; and Horace also speaks of such beds: and if any credit can be given to the Targums of Jonathan and Jerusalem on ( Genesis 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 conjectures that ivory is meant by the word used; and so Bochart 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 f165 , to lean upon, and take their ease; (see Ezekiel 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.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 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 is a description of the pride, security, and sensuality for which God would reckon. Careless sinners are every where in danger but those at ease in Zion, who are stupid, vainly confident, an abusing their privileges, are in the greatest danger. Yet many fanc themselves the people of God, who are living in sin, and in conformit to the world. But the examples of others' ruin forbid us to be secure Those who are set upon their pleasures are commonly careless of the troubles of others, but this is great offence to God. Those who place their happiness in the pleasures of sense, and set their hearts upo them, shall be deprived of those pleasures. Those who try to put the evil day far from them, find it nearest to them.
Original Hebrew
השׁכבים 7901 על 5921 מטות 4296 שׁן 8127 וסרחים 5628 על 5921 ערשׂותם 6210 ואכלים 398 כרים 3733 מצאן 6629 ועגלים 5695 מתוך 8432 מרבק׃ 4770
