Amos 6:2

“Pass ye unto Calneh, and see, etc.] What is become of that city, which was in the land of Shinar, an ancient city, as early as the days of Nimrod, and built by him, and was with others the beginning of his kingdom, (<011010>Genesis 10:10); it belonged to Babylon, and is by Jarchi here interpreted by it, being put for Babel, as he supposes. According to Jeromf151, it is the same city, sometimes called Seleucia, in his days Ctesiphon; very probably it had been lately taken by the king of Assyria, and therefore made mention of; (see <231009>Isaiah 10:9); where it is called Calno; and from thence go ye to Hamath the great; the same with Antiochia, as Jarchi and Jerom; called the great, to…”

“Calneh--on the east bank of the Tigris. Once powerful, but recently subjugated by Assyria (Isa 10:9; about 794 B.C.). Hameth--subjugated by Jeroboam II (Kg2 14:25). Also by Assyria subsequently (Kg2 18:34). Compare Amo 6:14. Gath--subjugated by Uzziah (Ch2 26:6). be they better--no. Their so recent subjugation renders it needless for Me to tell you they are not. And yet they once were; still they could not defend themselves against the enemy. How vain, then, your secure confidence in the strength of Mounts Zion and Samaria! He takes cities respectively east, north, south, and west of Israel (compare Nah 3:8).”

“Pass over to Calneh - He bids them behold, east, north, and west, survey three neighboring kingdoms, and see whether God had not, even in the gifts of this world, dealt better with Israel. Why then so requite Him? “Calneh” (which Isaiah calls “Calno” Isaiah 10:9, Ezekiel, “Canneh Ezekiel 27:23), was one of the four cities, built by Nimrod “in the land of Shinar Genesis 10:10, the beginning of his kingdom.” From that time, until this of Amos, no mention of it occurs. It, probably, was more than once conquered by the Assyrians , lying, as it did, on the Tigris, some 40 miles perhaps from Babylon. Hence, it was said, under its new name Ctesiphon , to have been built, that is, rebuilt, by the…”

“Pass ye - Run over the history of that great and ancient city. Hemath - Head of the Syrian kingdom, lately overthrown by Tiglath - Pilneser, and a fresh instance of God's just indignation against secure sinners. Gath - The chief city of the Philistines, a few years before wasted by the arms of Hazael; by these examples learn to amend your ways, or expect to perish in them. Greater - That is, greater than these kingdoms of Israel and Judah, and their borders, or bounds, greater than these of Israel and Judah. Amos 6:3”

“6:2 Calneh and Hamath were Aramean city-states under Israelite influence (see 2 Kgs 14:28). Calneh fell to Assyria in 738 BC, and Hamath was forced to pay tribute shortly thereafter. Uzziah had broken down the wall of Gath (2 Chr 26:6), but it also fell to Assyria in 711 BC. • You are no better: Israel itself fell in 722 BC.”

“Pass: Jer 2:10, Jer 2:11; Nah 3:8 Calneh: Gen 10:10; Isa 10:9, Calno Hamath: Kg2 17:24, Kg2 17:30, Kg2 18:34, Kg2 19:13 Gath: Sa1 17:4, Sa1 17:23; Ch2 26:6 better: Isa 10:9-11, Isa 36:18, Isa 36:19, Isa 37:12, Isa 37:13; Eze 31:2, Eze 31:3; Nah 3:8 Amos 6:3”

“Amo 6:2 states what the princes of Israel are to see in the cities mentioned, - namely, that they are not better off (טובים denoting outward success or earthly prosperity) than these two kingdoms, i.e., the kingdoms of Judah and Israel, and that their territories are not larger than theirs. It is very evident that this does not apply to cities that have been destroyed. The double question ה ... אם requires a negative answer. Amo 6:3. assigns the reason for the woe pronounced upon the sinful security of the princes of Israel, by depicting the godless conduct of these princes; and this is appended in the manner peculiar to Amos, viz., in participles. These princes fancy that the evil day,…”