Albert Barnes Commentary Amos 3:15

"And I will smite the winter-house with the summer-house; and the houses of ivory shall perish, and the great houses shall have an end, saith Jehovah." — Amos 3:15 (ASV)

And I will smite the winter house with the summer house - Upon idolatry, there follow luxury and pride. “So wealthy were they,” says Jerome, “as to possess two sorts of houses, the ‘winter house’ being turned to the south, the ‘summer house’ to the north, so that, according to the variety of the seasons, they might moderate for them the heat and cold.” Yet of these luxuries (so much more natural in the East where summer heat is so intense, and there is so little provision against cold) the only instance expressly recorded, besides this place, is the “winter house” of Jehoiakim. In Greece and Rome, this purpose was achieved, as with us, by north and south rooms in the same house. These, which Amos rebukes, were like our town and country houses, separate residences, since they were to be destroyed, one upon the other.

“Ivory houses” were houses, paneled, or inlaid, with ivory. Such a palace Ahab built (1 Kings 22:39). Even Solomon “in all his glory” had only an ivory throne (1 Kings 10:18).

Elsewhere, ivory palaces (Psalms 45:8) are only mentioned as part of the symbolic glory of the King of glory, the Christ. He adds, and the great (or many) houses shall have an end, says the Lord.

So prosperous were they in outward appearance when Amos foretold their destruction. The desolation would be wide as well as mighty. Everything else will pass away, and the Lord alone will remain in that Day.

“What then should we, if we would be right-minded, learn from this? How utterly useless will all earthly brightness be—all wealth, glory, or anything else of luxury—if the love of God is lacking and righteousness is not prized by us! For treasures of wickedness profit nothing; but righteousness delivereth from death (Proverbs 10:2).”