Amos 9:11-15
Chapter 9
11
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.12
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.
13
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.
14
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.
15
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.
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).