SEV Biblia, Chapter 6:1
¶ ¡Ay de los reposados en Sion, y de los confiados en el monte de Samaria, nombrados principales entre las mismas naciones, a cuales vendrn sobre ellos, oh casa de Israel!
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Amos 6:1
Verse 1. Wo to them that are at ease in Zion] For ynnah hashshaanannim, "who dwell at ease," it has been proposed to read ynn[h hashshaanannim, "who confidently lean," the two words differing only in one letter, an [ ain for an a alEphesians They leaned confidently on Zion; supposing that, notwithstanding their iniquities they should be saved for Zion's sake. Thus the former clause will agree better with the latter, "leaning upon Zion," and "trusting in the mountain of Samaria." Those that are at ease may mean those who have no concern about the threatened judgments, and who have no deep concern for the salvation of their own souls. Houbigant would read, "Go to them who despise Zion, and trust in Samaria." So the Septuagint, reading yan soneim, hating, instead of ynna shaanannim, being at rest, tranquil Calmet first proposed this conjecture; Houbigant follows him. Are named chief] Newcome renders, "That are named after the chief of the nations;" and observes, that the Hebrew word ybqn nekubey is an allusion to marking a name or character by punctures. See on Isa. xliv. 5.
They call themselves not after their ancestors, but after the chief of the idolatrous nations with whom they intermarry contrary to the law.
Perhaps the words here rather refer to the mountains and their temples, than to the people. The mountain of Zion, and the mountain of Samaria, were considered the chief or most celebrated among the nations, as the two kingdoms to which they belonged were the most distinguished on the earth.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 1. Woe to them [that are] at ease in Zion , etc.] Or secure there; which was a strong hold, the city of David, the seat of the kings of Judah; where their court was kept, and the princes and chief men resided and thought themselves safe, the place being well fortified with walls, towers, and bulwarks: or at ease; that is, in easy, prosperous, comfortable circumstances of life; as Job was before his troubles, and others he mentions, ( Job 16:12 12:5 21:23); though to be in such a state is not criminal, but a blessing of Providential goodness, for which men should be thankful, and make use of it aright: but woe to the rich in Zion f148 , as the Vulgate Latin Version renders it, when they have nothing else but temporal riches; this is all their portion, and the whole of their consolation, ( Luke 6:24); when they trust in these uncertain riches, and consume them on their lusts, as described in the following verses; are unconcerned at the troubles of others, and give them no relief, but despise them, ( Job 12:5 <19C304> Psalm 123:4); and even are thoughtless about their own future state, and put away the evil day far from them, ( Luke 12:19,20); and such are they who like Moab are at ease from their youth as to their spiritual state, ( Jeremiah 48:11); never had any true sight of sin, or sense of danger; never complain of a body of sin, or are concerned about sins of omission or commission; nor troubled with the temptations of Satan, and have no fears and doubts about their happiness; and such there be who yet are in Zion, or in a church state, which Zion often signifies; and being there, trust in it, and in the privileges of it, and so are secure, and at ease; such are the foolish virgins and hypocrites, who place their confidence in a profession of religion, in being church members, and in their submission to external ordinances, and so cry Peace, peace, to themselves, when, destruction is at hand: and are moreover at ease, and wholly unconcerned about the affairs of Zion, both temporal and spiritual, and especially the latter; they do not trouble themselves about the doctrines they hear, whether truth or error; and about the success of them, whether they are made useful for conversion and edification; and about the continuance of a Gospel ministry, and a succession in it; and about the discipline of the church of God, and the walk of professors; or about what trials and afflictions are like to come upon the churches; or about the judgments of God in the earth; and therefore such carnal secure persons are either called upon to awake out of their sleep, and come off of their beds of ease, and shake off their vain confidence and carnal security; for the word may be rendered ho f149 , as a note of calling, as in ( Isaiah 55:1 Zechariah 2:6); or a threatening of calamity is denounced upon them, that the day of the Lord should come upon them as a thief in the night, or as a snare upon them that dwell on earth, and they be surprised with the midnight cry, and with the terrors of devouring flames, as the foolish virgins and hypocrites in Zion will, ( Matthew 25:6,7 Isaiah 33:14). The Septuagint, Syriac, and Arabic versions, render it, who despise Zion, or neglect her; and the word is sometimes used of insolent persons, and to express their insolence; (see Isaiah 37:29); and so may be understood, not of the Jews in Jerusalem, but of the ten tribes, as the following clause; who despised Zion, the city of solemnities, the temple; and, the worship of God there, and set up the calves at Daniel and Bethel, and worshipped them; and therefore a woe is denounced upon them; and trust in the mountain of Samaria ; in the city of Samaria, built on a mountain, a strong fortified city, where they thought themselves safe; the royal city of the kings of Israel, the head of Ephraim, and the metropolis of the ten tribes, who here are intended: though the words may be rendered, and the sense given a little different from this, as woe to the confident ones that ate in Samaria f150 ; not that put their trust in Samaria, but dwell there; but, however, are confident in their own strength, wealth, and might.
The Targum is, that trust in the fortress of Samaria; (see 1 Kings 16:24); [which are] named the chief of the nations ; the persons at ease in Zion, and trusted in Samaria, were the principal men of both nations, Judah and Israel; or these cities of Zion and Samaria were the chief of the said nations: Zion, Which was near Jerusalem, and includes it, was the metropolis of Judea; as Samaria was the head city of Ephraim, or the ten tribes. The Targum is, that put the name of their children, as the name of the children of the nations; as the Jews did in later times, giving their children the names of Alexander, Antipater, etc. to whom the house of Israel came ; meaning not to the seven nations, of which the two named cities were chief, into which Israel entered, and took possession of, and dwelt in; for Samaria never belonged to them, but was built by Omri king of Israel, long after the entrance of the Israelites into the land of Canaan, ( 1 Kings 16:24); but the cities of Zion and, Samaria, into which the whole house of Israel came, or had recourse unto, at certain times: the ten tribes came to Samaria, where their kings resided, the court was kept, and the seats of judgment were; and the two tribes came to Zion, to Jerusalem, to the temple there, to worship the Lord.
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
הוי 1945 השׁאננים 7600 בציון 6726 והבטחים 982 בהר 2022 שׁמרון 8111 נקבי 5344 ראשׁית 7225 הגוים 1471 ובאו 935 להם 1992 בית 1004 ישׂראל׃ 3478
