Amos 6:5-7

6:5 They sing ¹  to the tune of ²  stringed instruments; ³ 

like David they invent ⁴  musical instruments.

6:6 They drink wine from sacrificial bowls, ⁵ 

and pour the very best oils on themselves. ⁶ 

Yet they are not concerned over ⁷  the ruin ⁸  of Joseph.

6:7 Therefore they will now be the first to go into exile, ⁹ 

and the religious banquets ¹⁰  where they sprawl on couches ¹¹  will end.

[6:5]  ¹ tn The meaning of the Hebrew verb פָּרַט (parat), which occurs only here in the OT, is unclear. Some translate “strum,” “pluck,” or “improvise.”

[6:5]  ² tn Heb “upon the mouth of,” that is, “according to.”

[6:5]  ³ sn The stringed instruments mentioned here are probably harps (cf. NIV, NRSV) or lutes (cf. NEB).

[6:5]  ⁴ tn The meaning of the Hebrew phrase חָשְׁבוּ לָהֶם (khoshvu lahem) is uncertain. Various options include: (1) “they think their musical instruments are like David’s”; (2) “they consider themselves musicians like David”; (3) “they esteem musical instruments highly like David”; (4) “they improvise [new songs] for themselves [on] instruments like David”; (5) “they invent musical instruments like David.” However, the most commonly accepted interpretation is that given in the translation (see S. M. Paul, Amos [Hermeneia], 206-7).

[6:6]  ⁵ sn Perhaps some religious rite is in view, or the size of the bowls is emphasized (i.e., bowls as large as sacrificial bowls).

[6:6]  ⁶ tn Heb “with the best of oils they anoint [themselves].”

[6:6]  ⁷ tn Or “not sickened by.”

[6:6]  ⁸ sn The ruin of Joseph may refer to the societal disintegration in Israel, or to the effects of the impending judgment.

[6:7]  ⁹ tn Heb “they will go into exile at the head of the exiles.”

[6:7]  ¹⁰ sn Religious banquets. This refers to the מַרְזֵחַ (marzeakh), a type of pagan religious banquet popular among the upper class of Israel at this time and apparently associated with mourning. See P. King, Amos, Hosea, Micah, 137-61; J. L. McLaughlin, The “Marzeah” in the Prophetic Literature (VTSup). Scholars debate whether at this banquet the dead were simply remembered or actually venerated in a formal, cultic sense.

[6:7]  ¹¹ tn Heb “of the sprawled out.” See v. 4.