John Calvin Commentary Amos 6:9

"And it shall come to pass, if there remain ten men in one house, that they shall die." — Amos 6:9 (ASV)

The Prophet here amplifies the calamity that was near the people; as if he had said that God would not now take moderate vengeance on that reprobate people, for He had accomplished nothing by dealing moderately with them: therefore, the heaviest vengeance was near at hand, which would reduce the people to nothing.

This is the meaning of the Prophet’s words when he says that ten, if remaining in the same house, would die. But in naming ten survivors, he implies that a slaughter had already occurred, which had taken away either half or at least some part of the family, since ten remained.

At the same time, this number shows how severe and dreadful a judgment of God awaited that people, that ten would be taken away together. But it rarely happens, even when a terrible pestilence prevails, that such a large family entirely perishes. When three out of four, or five or six out of eight, are taken away, it is a reduction that usually greatly terrifies people; but when ten are taken away together, and no one is left, it is evidence of an awful vengeance.

We see then that the Prophet here pronounces utter ruin upon the people, because they could not be reformed by milder punishments: when God tried to recall them to a sound mind, He accomplished nothing. Therefore, there was no remedy for their desperate diseases: it was consequently necessary to entirely remove those who were thus incurable. Perish then shall the ten, who shall remain in one house.