John Trapp on Amos 6:1

CHAP. VI.

Verſe 1.In utramv is aurem dorin. WOe to them that are at eaſe in Zion] that lye ſleeping on both ſides, and ſlighting the former menaces, as Leviathan doth the ironweapons Iob. 41.27. that live as if ye were out of the reach of Gods rod: and as for all your enemies, ye puff at them, ſaying: We ſhall not be moved, we ſhall never be in adverſity, Pſal. 10.5, 6. To theſe ſleepers in Zion, God here ſends forth his ſummons (the word Hoi ſignifieth as well Heus as Vae, Ho, as Wo, Eſay 55.1. Zach. 2.6. Ho, ho, come forth) that were quiet and ſtill, Zach. 1.11. lulled aſleep by Satan, or rather caſt into a dead lethargy: Sampſon-like their enemies are upon them, and they faſt aſleep the while: Iſhboſheth-like they ſtretch themſelves upon their beds of ivory, till they loſe, not their precious lives onely, but their immortall ſouls. Security uſhereth in deſtruction: thoſe that are at eaſe in Zion, ſhall be raiſed by a dreadfull Woe rung in their ears, that ſhall make their hearts fall down, and their hairs ſtand upright. In the froth of carnall ſecurity and ſenſuall delights is bred that worm of conſcience that never dieth, Mar. 9. and here begins to grub and gnaw: like as while the Crocodile ſleepeth with open mouth, the Ichneumon, or Indian Rat ſhoots himſelf into his bowels: after which he never is at eaſe, as having his entrails daily devoured: ſo that one while he will be in the water, and anon after on the land, till life fails him.

and truſt in the mountain of Samaria,] Are carnally confident and ſecure, as good David alſo was, when gotten upon his ſtrong mountain, Pſal. 30.6, 7. [non-Latin text not transcribed]. Septuag. but was ſoon confuted: Thou didſt hide thy face and I was troubled. The beſt are apt by reſt, to contract ruſt: and being full-fed to wax wanton, Deut. 32.15. To affect more mundi delicias quam Chriſti divitias, as One ſaith, the worlds dainties then Chriſts comforts: to truſt in uncertain riches, then to rely upon the living God, who giveth them all things richly to enjoy. This muſt be lookt to:1 Tim. 6.17. for it hath a woe hanging at the heels of it, Jer. 17.5, 6. Pſal. 52.7, 9.

which are named chief of the Nations,] Heb. expreſſely named, declared, notified, celebrated, chief,] the head, or firſt fruits; the head and height, Principium, id eſt, praecipuum gentium: So Amalec is called the firſt of the Nations, Numb. 24.20. haply they held themſelves ſo:Juſtin. lib. 2. as the Egyptians afterwards boaſted much of their Antiquity, and the Chinois at this day do of their excellency, and perſpicuity above other Nations. Many wicked ones are of great renown in this world, Pſal. 73.4, 6. and ſtand much upon their titles and termes of honour: who yet in the next generation ſhall be utterly forgotten, Pſal. 109.13. for that their names are not written in heaven, Rev. 17.8. and look how much they have glorified themſelves, and lived deliciouſly, ſo much torment and ignominy ſhall be given them, Rev. 18.7.

To whom the houſe of Iſrael came.] The whole houſe of Iſrael, viz. the two tribes to Zion, the ten to Samaria, Vel ſacrorum causà, vel judiciorum, ſaith Druſius, as to places of worſhip, and beſies, courts of Juſtice. Others ſence it thus, The houſe of Iſrael came unto them, that is, the Iſraelites invaded thoſe nations, that once held Zion and Samaria, and ſucceeded them therein: not by any ſtrength of their own, but by Gods mighty hand and out-ſtretched arm, which they (ungratefull wretches) acknowledge not: but came in for themſelves, ſo Ribera rendreth it, [non-Latin text not transcribed] Quaſi ſibi tantum nati, ſe ſolos eſſe aliquid, as if they were the onely proprietaries, the ſole owners of all; and owed no ſervice to any chief-Lord. Such inſolency grows from ſecurity. See Job 21.23.