Amos 6:4

“That lie upon beds of ivory, etc.] That were made of it, or inlaid with it, or covered with it, as the Targum; nor was it improbable that these were made wholly of ivory, for such beds we read of: Timaeus saysf161, the Agrigentines had beds entirely made of ivory; and Horacef162 also speaks of such beds: and if any credit can be given to the Targums of Jonathan and Jerusalem on (<015001>Genesis 50:1). Joseph made his father Jacob to lie on a bed of ivory. Indeed, the Latin interpreters of these Targums render it a cedar bed; but Buxtorff163 conjectures that ivory is meant by the word used; and so Bochartf164 translates it; on these they lay either for sleep and rest, or to eat their meals;…”

“(See Amo 2:8). beds of ivory--that is, adorned, or inlaid, with ivory (Amo 3:15). stretch themselves--in luxurious self-indulgence. lambs out of the flock--picked out as the choicest, for their owners selfish gratification.”

“That lie upon beds (that is, sofas) of ivory - that is, probably inlaid with ivory. The word might, in itself, express either the bed, in which they slept by night, or the divan, on which the Easterns lay at their meals; “and stretch themselves,” literally, “are poured” out , stretching their listless length, dissolved, unnerved, in luxury and sloth, “upon their couches,” perhaps under an awning: “and eat the lambs,” probably “fatted lambs (as in Deuteronomy 32:14; Psa 37:20; 1 Samuel 15:9; Jeremiah 51:40), out of the flock,” chosen, selected out of it as the best, and “calves out of the midst of the stall;” that is, the place where they were tied up (as the word means) to be fatted. They…”

“That lie - That out of laziness or luxury, lay themselves to rest. And eat - The very best in all their flock. Amos 6:5”

“6:4 Meat was typically used to honor distinguished guests. The common food was bread, fruit, vegetables, and dairy products. The everyday use of meat shows the opulence of the wealthy classes.”

“lie: Isa 5:11, Isa 5:12, Isa 22:13; Luk 16:19; Rom 13:13, Rom 13:14; Jam 5:5 beds: Either sofas to recline on at table, or beds to sleep on; which among the ancients, were ornamented with ivory inlaid. stretch themselves upon their couches: or, abound with superfluities, Sa1 25:36-38; Psa 73:7; Luk 12:19, Luk 12:20 Amos 6:5”

“This forgetfulness of God shows itself more especially in the reckless licentiousness and debauchery of these men. Amo 6:4. "They who lie upon beds of ivory, and stretch themselves upon their couches, and eat lambs from the flock, and calves out of the fattening stall. Amo 6:5. Who prattle to the tune of the harp; like David, they invent string instruments. Amo 6:6. Who drink wine out of sacrificial bowls, and anoint themselves with the best oils, and do not afflict themselves for the hurt of Joseph." They lie stretched, as it were poured out (סרחים), upon beds inlaid with ivory, to feast and fill their belly with the flesh of the best lambs and fattened calves, to the playing of harps and…”