Albert Barnes Commentary Amos 6:1

"Woe to them that are at ease in Zion, and to them that are secure in the mountain of Samaria, the notable men of the chief of the nations, to whom the house of Israel come!" — Amos 6:1 (ASV)

Woe to them that are at ease - The word always means those who are recklessly at their ease, “the careless ones,” such as those whom Isaiah bids (Isaiah 32:9–11), rise up, tremble, be troubled, for many days and years shall you be troubled. It is that luxury and ease, which sensualizes the soul, and makes it dull, stupid, hard-hearted.

By one earnest, passing word, the prophet warns his own land, that present sinful ease ends in future woe. Woe unto them that laugh now: for they shall mourn and weep (Luke 6:25). Rup.: “He foretells the destruction and captivity of both Judah and Israel at once; and not only that captivity at Babylon, but that by which they are dispersed to this day.” Luxury and deepest sins of the flesh were rife in that generation (Romans 2:21–24; Luke 11:39, 11:42; Matthew 23:14, 23:23, 23:26), which killed Him who for our sakes became poor.

And trust in the mountain of Samaria - Not in God. Samaria was strong (see the note above at Amos 3:9), resisted for three years, and was the last city of Israel which was taken. The king of Assyria came up throughout all the land and went up to Samaria, and besieged it (2 Kings 17:5). Benhadad, in that former siege, when God delivered them (2 Kings 7:6), attempted no assault, but famine only.

Which are named the chief of the nations - Literally, “the named of the chief of the nations,” that is, those who, in Israel, which by the distinguishing favor of God were “chief of the nations,” were themselves, marked, distinguished, “named.” The prophet, by one word, refers them back to those first princes of the congregation, of whom Moses used that same word (Numbers 1:17). They were heads of the houses of their fathers (Numbers 1:4), renowned of the congregation, heads of thousands in Israel (Numbers 1:16).

As, if anyone were to call the Peers, “Barons of England,” he would carry us back to the days of Magna Charta, although six centuries and a half ago, so this word, occurring at that time, here only in any Scripture since Moses, carried back the thoughts of the degenerate aristocracy of Israel to the faith and zeal of their forefathers, “what” they ought to have been, and “what” they were.

As Amalek of old was first of the nations (Numbers 24:20) in its enmity against the people of God, having, first of all, shown that implacable hatred, which Ammon, Moab, Edom, evinced afterward, so was Israel “first of nations,” as by God. It became, in an evil way, “first of nations,” that is, distinguished above the other nations by rejecting Him.

To whom the house of Israel came, or have come - They were, like those princes of old, raised above others. Israel “came” to them for judgment; and they, regardless of duty, lived only for self-indulgence, effeminacy, and pride. Jerome renders in the same sense, “who enter pompously the house of Israel,” literally, “enter for themselves,” as if they were lords of it, and it was made for them.