Amo 6:4-7 | NET2full | STEP | They lie around on beds decorated with ivory and sprawl out on their couches . They eat lambs from the flock and calves from the middle of the pen .

‏ Amos 6:4-7

4 They lie around on beds decorated with ivory ^{▼▼tn Heb “beds of ivory.”}
and sprawl out on their couches.
They eat lambs from the flock
and calves from the middle of the pen.
5 They sing ^{▼▼tn The meaning of the Hebrew verb פָּרַט (parat), which occurs only here in the OT, is unclear. Some translate “strum,” “pluck,” or “improvise.”} to the tune of ^{▼▼tn Heb “upon the mouth of,” that is, “according to.”} stringed instruments; ^{▼▼sn The stringed instruments mentioned here are probably harps (cf. NIV, NRSV) or lutes (cf. NEB).}
like David they invent ^{▼▼tn The meaning of the Hebrew phrase חָשְׁבוּ לָהֶם (khashevu 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”; and (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).} musical instruments.
6 They drink wine from sacrificial bowls ^{▼▼sn Perhaps some religious rite is in view, or the size of the bowls is emphasized (i.e., bowls as large as sacrificial bowls).}
and pour the very best oils on themselves. ^{▼▼tn Heb “with the best of oils they anoint [themselves].”}
Yet they are not concerned over ^{▼▼tn Or “not sickened by.”} the ruin ^{▼▼sn The ruin of Joseph may refer to the societal disintegration in Israel, or to the effects of the impending judgment.} of Joseph.
7 Therefore they will now be the first to go into exile, ^{▼▼tn Heb “they will go into exile at the head of the exiles.”}
and the religious banquets ^{▼▼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.} where they sprawl on couches ^{▼▼tn Heb “of the sprawled out.” See v. 4.} will end.