Amos
Chapter 9
Fifth Vision
I saw the Lord standing by the altar, and he said: “Strike the top of the columns so that the beams shake and the roof falls on their heads. Those who are left I will slay with the sword; not one shall flee, not one shall escape.
Though they dig down to the underworld, my hand will pull them out; though they climb up to heaven, I will bring them down.
Though they hide on the top of Carmel, I will find them there and take them;though they hide from me in the depths of the sea, I will command the sea serpent to bite them.
When they are taken captive by their enemies, there I will command the sword to slay them. For I have set my eye upon them, not for help but for harm.”
When the Lord of Hosts touches the earth, it melts, and all who live on it mourn. The world rises and swells, like the Nile, then settles back down, similar to the river of Egypt.
He has created heaven, his upper room, and established the sky’s dome over the earth. He calls forth the waters of the sea and causes them to pour out upon the face of the world: the Lord is his name.
And now the Lord says: “Are you Israelites more to me than the Ethiopians? Did I not bring Israel up from the land of Egypt as I brought the Philistines from Caphtor and the Arameans from Kir?
My eyes are upon your sinful kingdom. I wanted to destroy it completely, but I cannot eradicate the nation of Jacob entirely,” says the Lord.
“This is what I have ordered: I will sift the nation of Israel among the nations, as one sifts with a sieve, letting no pebble pass through.
All sinners among my people shall die, those who say: ‘Evil will not reach or overtake us.’”
Day of Restoration
“On that day, I will restore David’s fallen hut, wall up its breaches, and rebuild its ruined walls; and I will make it like it was in days of old.
They will conquer the rest of Edom and the nearby nations, on which my name has been called,” declares the Lord, the one who will do this.
The Lord also says: “The days are coming when the plowman will overtake the reaper, and the vintager of grapes will overtake the sower. The mountains will drip with sweet wine, and all the hills shall melt.
I will bring back the exiles of my people, Israel; they will rebuild the ruined cities and live in them. They will plant vineyards and enjoy their wine; they will have orchards and eat their fruit.
I will plant them in their own land, and they will never again be uprooted from the land I have given them,” says the Lord your God.
Commentaries
Visions.
The final part of this book includes five visions and oracles, mixed with the encounter between Amos and Amaziah, the high priest of the Temple of Bethel. The main message of the first four visions is clear: Amos does not enjoy predicting misfortune, nor does the Lord take pleasure in destroying his people; however, Israel’s stubbornness in resisting repentance leaves no room for the Lord’s mercy and forgiveness.
Fifth Vision.
In this final vision (1-4), the prophet sees the Lord ultimately coming to carry out His judgment by destroying the temple, probably in Bethel (cf. 3:14), without letting anyone escape His wrath (1). Neither the caves of Mount Carmel nor the depths of the sea will be a safe refuge (2-3). Verses 5-6 form the third doxology, following those in 4:13 and 5:8-9, and introduce the Lord in all His creative and destructive power. The earth trembles, and all nations mourn for Israel (5), which, although it enjoys a special status as the chosen people, must not become complacent because the Lord also loves and protects other peoples (7).
Day of Restoration.
The fall of the Davidic monarchy occurred long after the time of Amos. The restoration of the ruins (11) points to the rebuilding of Jerusalem after its destruction by the Babylonians in 587 B.C. These last verses are likely a post-exilic addition, in line with other prophets, that offsets the theme of judgment with the hope of a time of prosperity and stability (13-15).