Amos 6:1-7
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Contents
Outline and brief summary
The relationship of Amos 6:1-7 to the rest of Amos 5:18-6:14 is discussed at Amos 5:18-6:14. This first half of chapter 6 can be outlined as follows:
- • Woe to: those who trust in their own strength (6:1-7)
- a. woe to those who trust in the strength of Samaria (1-2)
- b. who enjoy plenty but do not see Israel’s sickness (3-6a)
- b. but do not recognize Israel’s moral sickness (6b)
- a. therefore you will be among the first to go captive (7)
- a. woe to those who trust in the strength of Samaria (1-2)
This section pronounces woe upon those who are at ease in Zion, which includes also the Southern Kingdom of Judah, and who trust in the strength and recent military success of Samaria, capitol of the Northern Kingdom of Israel (6:1).
The reference to Calneh, Hamath (now Hama), and Gath (6:2) could be interpreted as a statement that the Northern Kingdom is greater than they, and yet it will still be brought down into captivity. Or it is possible that those cities had been recently conquered and that Amos is saying the Northern Kingdom will be conquered just as they were. There is not a definitive interpretation for this verse.
In either case, those who now enjoy the fruits of the Northern Kingdom’s outward success (6:3-6a) while oblivious to its underlying moral sickness (6:6b) will be the first to go into captivity when the Northern Kingdom falls (6:7).
Detailed discussion
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Questions for further thought and study
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Footnotes
Additional sources and links
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