Amos uses the shocking insult "cows of Bashan" to describe the wealthy elite of Samaria. Commentators explain that Bashan was famous for its rich pastures and fat cattle. The metaphor paints a picture of people who, through excessive luxury and wealth, have become lazy, unfeeling, and morally dull, losing their compassion just as an animal lacks moral sense. This applies to both men who became effeminate and women who became cruel.