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“To those who despise Zion and trust in Mount Samaria” (Amos 6:1), that is, on the church of idols, which was built and glorified in Samaria. The Israelites disparaged the obvious benefits shown to them in the city of God, Zion, but trusted in the walls and glorious churches of Samaria. “Woe to those who scatter the princes of the people and drive away the children of Israel to themselves!” The Greek translation says: “grasping the firstfruits of tongues” (Amos 6:1); and in the Hebrew text we read: “who call themselves princes of the tongues,” and not princes of his people. “Go to Chalan, all of you, and see, and go from there to Hamath the great and bring down the foreigners from there to Gath” (Amos 6:2). As if mocking these cities, the prophet says: “Look and understand; they perished not because they had no protection, but because they did not remember the name of the Lord.” And, turning to the Israelites, he continues: “It was not your small number or the poverty of your wealth that destroyed you, but the cause of your destruction was the multitude of your wicked deeds, just as those cities perished not because their borders were no greater than your borders” (Am. 6:2). “Sleeping on a bed of ivory and tender-hearted in their beds” (Amos 6:4). The prophet describes their shameless lust, for such were their sins. “Like David,.. - who, at the inspiration of the Spirit, struck the strings, - they invent musical instruments for themselves” in order to play their horses in rapture (Am. 6:5). “They who drink strained wine ... and did not suffer anything in the contrition of Joseph,” because their only concern is about fun; they care about this, and do not want to think about the captivity of Joseph. In another sense, the prophet reproaches them for their greed for pleasures, because they, indulging in amusements, are not touched by the contrition of the poor, whom he represents under the image of Joseph, because he also suffered from his brothers, as the poor suffer from them. And also under the image of those who drink “strained wine” are meant those who have comprehended the power of the Divine Scriptures, but do not care about preventing simple people from perishing. (Amos 6:6) are the spiritual instructions of those who, although versed in the Scriptures, remain in slavery to sin, and themselves do not fulfill what they teach others. “And it shall come to pass that if ten men remain in one house, they will die” (Amos 6:9). There will be righteous people left who will take the bones out of the house. “And the Lord will smite the great house with trampling, that is, the high house of which Israel was proud, and the small house with discord” (Am. 6:11), that is, the house of Rezin (Racin), Damascus, because he will lead them into captivity. “Suppose horses were married in stones (on a rock) and pulled a plow over stones?” Just as horses cannot run over a rock, so the Gentiles could not overcome the Israelites; and just as stones are not inferior to a farmer's plow, so the Jews would not have fallen from the sword of the Syrians. But “as you turn back... judgment... to sorrow... and... righteousness in wormwood, rejoicing over a single word” ( Am. 6:12–13 ), that is, about idols and about Rezina, “this brand is smoking with it” ( Is. 7: 4); and “saying: “Have we not taken the city with our strength” ( Am. 6:13)? Haven’t we ourselves gathered an army and Didn’t money conquer the city with its power? “Then, behold, I will raise up a tongue against you, the house of Israel, says the Lord God of hosts,” that is, I will raise up the Assyrians and Babylonians against both kingdoms of Israel. “And they will crush you from the entrance... even to the watercourses of the desert” (Amos 6:14). These are the two borders of Israel, northern and southern. Thus, God will crush with His rod the horns, that is, the heads of His enemies, who trusted in their strength. And He threatens that the people who, with the help of God, defeated and crushed the pagan nations, will themselves be crushed by the pagans when God forsakes them for their sins. This also applies to the devil, whose head was crushed by the cross. You might be interested in: