Bamidbar Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic teachings on the Book of Numbers, dives deep into the prophet Amos's rebuke of those who are "tranquil in Zion" (Amos 6:1). Who are these tranquil people? According to this passage, they are the tribes of Judah and Benjamin, lounging in their luxurious palaces. And the "secure on Mount Samaria" (Amos 6:1)? Those are the Ten Tribes, chilling in Sebastia (another name for Samaria).
But here’s the kicker: Amos isn’t just pointing out their comfy lifestyles. He's zeroing in on their complacency, their lack of concern for the bigger picture. They're so busy enjoying themselves that they’ve forgotten their responsibilities, their connection to something greater.
The text continues, “Those who name themselves the foremost of the nations” (Amos 6:1), who descend from Shem and Ever, from whom Israelites are called Ivrim – Hebrews. Then, “come to them the house of Israel” (Amos 6:1).
The text contrasts the behavior of idolaters, who boast about figures like Bilam, Goliath, and Haman, with the wisdom and might of figures from Israel's history. The Israelites, in turn, can boast of figures such as Ahithophel, Solomon, Samson, David, and Korah. "Everyone agrees with the statement of Israel."
Amos calls them out: “Come to Kalne and see” (Amos 6:2) – that’s Ctesiphon, a major city in Babylon. “And go from there to greater Hamat” (Amos 6:2) – that’s Hamat of Antioch. “And descend to Gat of the Philistines” (Amos 6:2) – those are the steep fortresses of the Philistines. “Are they better than these kingdoms? Is their border greater than your border?” (Amos 6:2).
God, according to the text, is essentially saying: "I've given you an incredible gift, a portion greater than any other nation. Why aren't you honoring that gift? Why aren't you fearing Me?"
The problem? They “spurn the day of evil” (Amos 6:3). They push the thought of exile far from their minds, falsely believing “No harm will befall us” (Micah 3:11). They consort with villainy, like Esau, as it says in (Obadiah 1:10): “For the villainy to your brother Jacob…”
And how are they spending their time? “Who lie on beds of ivory… and sprawl [usruḥim] on their couches” (Amos 6:4). Here, the rabbis get pretty blunt. Usruḥim is connected to the word masrihin, suggesting they’re not just lounging, but defiling their beds with transgressions – swapping wives and engaging in illicit acts.
They’re “eating the fattened sheep from the flock, and the calves from inside the stall” (Amos 6:4). Every tribe had its own day of indulgence, selecting the fattest animal for slaughter. They “strum on the face of the lyre; they considered themselves like David with musical instruments” (Amos 6:5). Just as David sang praises to God, they use lyres to accompany their drunken revelry. They “drink with wine bowls [mizrekei yayin]” (Amos 6:6).
What exactly are mizrekei yayin? Rav says it's congealed wine. Rabbi Yoḥanan says they are small cups. The Rabbis say they are cups with pipes attached! Rabbi Abbahu, quoting Rabbi Ḥanina, specifies they drank from Patgita, whose wine would seduce the body. Other rabbis, again in the name of Rabbi Ḥanina, say they drank from Pelugeta.
They “anoint themselves with virgin oils” (Amos 6:6). Rabbi Yehuda bar Yeḥezkel specifies oil from olives that were one-third ripened, used to remove hair and smooth the skin. Rabbi Yanai says it was oil from Antioch.
But despite all this luxury, "they are not distressed over the destruction of Joseph" (Amos 6:6). They’ve lost sight of the potential consequences of their actions. Joseph, here, represents the kingdom of Israel.
So, what's the consequence? "Therefore, they will now be exiled at the head of the exiles…" (Amos 6:7). The rabbis connect wine with licentiousness, pointing to the placement of the portion of the nazirite (one who abstains from wine) after the portion of the sota (a woman suspected of adultery). Wine can lead one astray, so it's best to abstain. "When a man or a woman will articulate [to take the vow of a nazirite, to abstain for the Lord]."
This passage from Bamidbar Rabbah serves as a potent reminder: comfort can be a dangerous thing. It can lull us into complacency, making us forget our responsibilities and our connection to something larger than ourselves. Are we, perhaps, a little too tranquil in our own Zions? Something to think about, isn't it?
That is what is written: “Woe! The tranquil in Zion…” (Amos 6:1), this is the tribes of Judah and Benjamin, who would recline in the palaces of pleasure. “And the secure on Mount Samaria” (Amos 6:1), these are the Ten Tribes who resided securely in Sebastia.36This is another name for Samaria. “Those who name themselves the foremost of the nations” (Amos 6:1), who descend from two eponyms, Shem and Ever, as from there, Israel are called Hebrews [ivrim]. “And come to them the house of Israel” (Amos 6:1). Idolaters, when they eat and drink, they engage in trivial matters: ‘Who is as wise as Bilam; who is as mighty as Goliath; who is as wealthy as Haman?’ Then Israel comes and they say to them: ‘Was Aḥitofel not wise, was Solomon not wise; was Samson not mighty, was David not mighty; was Koraḥ not wealthy, was Solomon not wealthy, as it is stated in his regard: “The king caused silver to be in Jerusalem like stones…”’ (I Kings 10:27). Everyone agrees with the statement of Israel. “Come to Kalne and see” (Amos 6:2), this is Ketisifon.37A great city in Babylon. “And go from there to greater Ḥamat” (Amos 6:2), this is Ḥamat of Antioch. “And descend to Gat of the Philistines” (Amos 6:2), these are the steep fortresses of the Philistines. “Are they38The cities mentioned. better than these kingdoms?” (Amos 6:2). This is Zion and Samaria. “Is their border greater than your border?” (Amos 6:2). The Holy One blessed be He said to them: ‘It is a great and excellent portion that I have given you, that none of all the nations has one greater and more excellent than your portion. Why, then, do you not perform My will and you do not fear Me, that I will bring upon you a punishment because you do not place My words upon your heart?’ That is what is written: “Who spurn the day of evil” (Amos 6:3) – this is the day of exile that they distance from their heart, and are not concerned about it. Rather, they say: “No harm will befall us” (Micah 3:11). “While you convene a session of villainy” (Amos 6:3) – you presented yourselves to reside alongside villainy, this is Esau, just as it says: “For the villainy to your brother Jacob…” (Obadiah 1:10). “Who lie on beds of ivory” (Amos 6:4); on beds from an elephant.39The Aramaic phrase means beds of ivory. “And sprawl [usruḥim] on their couches” (Amos 6:4); that they sully [masrihin] their beds with transgressions, as they would swap their wives with one another and sully their beds with semen that is not theirs. “Eating the fattened sheep from the flock, and the calves from inside the stall” (Amos 6:4). Come and see, each tribe had a day of debauchery of its own. When he would seek to go to his debauchery, he would pass his entire flock before him, would take the fattest of them, stand over it, and slaughter it. “Who strum on the face of the lyre; they considered themselves like David with musical instruments” (Amos 6:5). Just as David would sing to the Holy One blessed be He by means of lyres, so, they prepared lyres for themselves, to sing over wine. That is what is written: “Who drink with wine bowls [mizrekei yayin]” (Amos 6:6). Rav, Rabbi Yoḥanan, and the Rabbis, Rav said: Congealed wine.40It is possible to toss [lizrok] cups of congealed wine from one to another, to whet their appetites for drink. Rabbi Yoḥanan said: Small cups.41One tosses the small amount of wine from the cup directly into one’s throat. The Rabbis say: Cups that have pipes attached to them.42When placed on their sides, a flow of liquid emerged from the pipe directly into the mouth of the drinker. From where would they drink? Rabbi Abbahu said in the name of Rabbi Ḥanina: From Patgita, whose wine would seduce the body. The Rabbis said in the name of Rabbi Ḥanina: From Pelugeta. “And anoint themselves with virgin oils” (Amos 6:6); Rabbi Yehuda bar Yeḥezkel said: Oil from olives that were one-third ripened, that removes hair and smooths the skin. Rabbi Yanai said: Oil from Antioch. Even after all this goodness, “but they are not distressed over the destruction of Joseph” (Amos 6:6).43They did not take to heart the destruction that their sinful ways would bring to them. Joseph represents the kingdom of Israel, as opposed to the kingdom of Judah. What will their end be? Because of wine they were seduced and strayed. That is what is written: “Therefore, they will now be exiled at the head of the exiles…” (Amos 6:7). We have learned that wherever there is wine, there is licentiousness. That is why the Holy One blessed be He wrote the portion of the nazirite after the portion of the sota, because wine causes licentiousness. Therefore, a person should abstain from wine because it will lead him astray. That is why it is stated: “When a man or a woman will articulate [to take the vow of a nazirite, to abstain for the Lord].”
