Therefore they shall now be the first of those who go into exile, and the revelry of those who stretch themselves out shall pass away.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Though they prized their preeminence in luxury, now they will lead the procession into exile, their extravagant revelries replaced by the stark reality of judgment. The very sounds of their careless feasting will depart, highlighting how their pursuit of pleasure blinded them to coming devastation.
Therefore they shall now be the first of those who go into exile, and the revelry of those who stretch themselves out shall pass away.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
The prophet Amos has just condemned the wealthy elite of Israel for their extravagant lifestyles, luxurious furnishings, and disregard for the suffering of their people. In response, this verse declares that their privilege will be their downfall, marking them as the first to be led away into exile, and their joyous revelry will be replaced by the silence of their departed prosperity.
They thought they were first in society, but God declares they'll be first in something else entirely. Discover the ironic twist of divine justice.
Amos announces a severe judgment: those who prided themselves on being first will now lead the procession of the captive.
The Ironic 'First'
Their joyful shouts and lavish parties were their god. But what happens when the music stops and judgment arrives?
The vibrant, loud sounds of revelry – the 'banquet' or 'shout' of the self-indulgent – are destined to vanish. This highlights the futility of seeking ultimate satisfaction in worldly pleasures.
The End of the Party
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Understand the original words
galut · Hebrew Noun
A forced removal from one's home or land, often serving as a divine punishment for covenant unfaithfulness, signifying loss, judgment, and displacement.
mirzach · Hebrew Noun
Boisterous, unrestrained merrymaking or partying, often used in scripture to describe a godless or thoughtless celebration that ignores God's ways or coming judgment.
Amos's prophecy was delivered in the shadow of Assyrian dominance and the imminent fall of the Northern Kingdom. The verse powerfully contrasts the opulent, self-indulgent lifestyle of Israel's elite with the harsh reality of exile that was already beginning to take hold, emphasizing that their luxury would be the very first thing stripped away.
Late 8th Century BC
Assyrian Empire Dominance
The Neo-Assyrian Empire, under rulers like Tiglath-Pileser III and Sargon II, exerted significant military and political control over the Levant. Their campaigns led to the devastation of many kingdoms and the deportation of populations.
732 BC
Fall of Damascus
The capital of Aram-Damascus, a key rival to the Northern Kingdom of Israel, fell to the Assyrians. This event marked a significant shift in regional power, increasing pressure on Israel.
c. 724-722 BC
Assyrian Siege of Samaria
Following a period of rebellion and political instability, the Assyrian king Shalmaneser V besieged the capital city of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, Samaria.
722 BC— this verse
Fall of Samaria and Exile
Samaria fell to the Assyrians under Sargon II, leading to the deportation of a significant portion of the Israelite population into Assyrian provinces. This event is often considered the end of the Northern Kingdom of Israel.
c. 701 BC
Sennacherib's Campaign in Judah
The Assyrian king Sennacherib invaded Judah, besieging many of its cities and threatening Jerusalem. While Jerusalem was miraculously spared direct conquest, the kingdom suffered greatly.
This passage describes a similar reckless celebration in the face of disaster, where leaders are urged to mourn and repent, but instead choose feasting and revelry, directly paralleling the sin Amos condemns and the swift judgment that follows.
Luke 12:16-21Jesus tells the parable of the rich fool who hoards his wealth and plans for future comfort, only to have his life taken that night. This highlights the vanity of earthly security and pleasure when one's soul is not right with God, mirroring the doomed luxury of the people Amos addresses.
Jeremiah 16:5This verse uses similar language about the cessation of revelry and the coming of mourning, describing a future desolation where no one will enter a house to lament or offer comfort. It underscores the totality of the destruction that awaits those who ignore God's warnings.
Ezekiel 9:6The commentary mentions 'begin from My sanctuary' in Ezekiel 9:6. This prophecy describes judgment beginning with God's own people and His holy place, showing that even the 'first' and most esteemed will not be spared when judgment comes.
Amos 6:1-6These preceding verses detail the luxurious excesses and complacent pride of the elites in Samaria. Verse 7 directly follows as the consequence of their ungodly lifestyle, showing how their comfort and security will be brutally ripped away by exile.
barnesAmos 6:7: "Therefore now shall they go captive with the first that go captive, and the banquet of them that stretched themselves shall be removed."
Therefore now (that is, shortly) shall they go captive with the first (at the head) of those who go captive - They had sought eminence; they should have it. Jerome: "Ye who are first in riches, shall, the first, endure the yoke of captivity, as it is in Ezekiel, 'begin from My sanctuary' Ezekiel 9:6 , that is, from the destruction of the Temple whic…
clarkeAmos 6:7: "Therefore now shall they go captive with the first that go captive, and the banquet of them that stretched themselves shall be removed."
With the first that go captive - The house of Israel shall be carried into captivity before the house of Judah.
Though they prized their preeminence in luxury, now they will lead the procession into exile, their extravagant revelries replaced by the stark reality of judgment. The very sounds of their careless feasting will depart, highlighting how their pursuit of pleasure blinded them to coming devastation.
The prophet Amos has just condemned the wealthy elite of Israel for their extravagant lifestyles, luxurious furnishings, and disregard for the suffering of their people. In response, this verse declares that their privilege will be their downfall, marking them as the first to be led away into exile, and their joyous revelry will be replaced by the silence of their departed prosperity.
The prophet Amos has just condemned the wealthy elite of Israel for their extravagant lifestyles, luxurious furnishings, and disregard for the suffering of their people. In response, this verse declares that their privilege will be their downfall, marking them as the first to be led away into exile, and their joyous revelry will be replaced by the silence of their departed prosperity.
"Therefore they shall now be the first of those who go into exile, and the revelry of those who stretch themselves out shall pass away.”" — Though they prized their preeminence in luxury, now they will lead the procession into exile, their extravagant revelries replaced by the stark reality of judgment. The very sounds of their careless…
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Last reviewed October 2026