Woe to them that are at ease in Zion, and trust in the mountain of Samaria, which are named chief of the nations, to whom the house of Israel came!
Woe to them that are at ease in Zion. The Hebrew expresses reckless ease and carelessness х hasha'ªnaniym (H7600)]. Compare Isaiah 32:9-11, "Rise up, ye women that are at ease; hear my voice, ye careless daughters," etc. Also, Luke 6:24-25, "Woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received your consolation. Woe unto you that are full! for ye shall hunger. Woe unto you that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep."
And trust in the mountain of Samaria - which was so strong that it resisted the Assyrian king three years before it was taken (2 Kings 17:5-6). Amos foretells woe alike to Judah and to Israel.
Which are named chief of the nations - i:e., you nobles, so eminent in influence that your names are celebrated among the chief nations (Ludovicus de Dieu). Hebrew, 'Men designated by name among the first-fruits of the nations' - i:e., men of note in Israel, the people chosen by God as first of the nations, (Exodus 19:5: cf. Numbers 24:20, "Amalek, was the first of the nations.") (Piscator.) literally, 'the named of the chief of nations' - i:e., those who in Israel, which, by the distinguishing grace of God, was chief of the nations, were themselves named (Pusey). Amos refers by contrast to Numbers 1:16, "There were the renowned of the congregation, princes of the tribes of their fathers, heads of thousands in Israel." How sadly degenerate are those of name and princely station in Israel now!
To whom the house of Israel came - i:e., the princes, to whom the Israelites used to repair for the decision of controversies, recognizing their authority (Maurer). Israel came to them for judgment, but they thought only of their luxury and "ease." I prefer to refer "which" to the antecedent "Zion" and "Samaria;" these were "named" or esteemed "chief" strongholds among the pagan "nations" to whom the house of Israel came, when it entered Canaan; Amos 6:2 accords with this.