Amos 9:1-15

The Restoration of God's People. This section is probably a post-exilic appendix to the book. The point of view has changed, the fate of Israel being quite different from that contemplated in the rest of the book, and the ideas reflecting the mind of a much later Jewish community.

Yahweh will destroy, but He will not utterly destroy (cf. end of Amos 9:8, if genuine). Israel must be sifted and scattered among the nations (Amos 9:9). But it shall be like the sifting of corn in a sieve. The chaff is scattered, but the compact grains (rather than least grain) remain. The guilty indeed must suffer (Amos 9:10), and it is useless to say Disaster shall not touch or befall us (so translate with Kent). But for the faithful remnant a glorious day is dawning (Amos 9:11), the happy Messianic age, in which Israel will be reunited to Judah, as they were united in the happy days of old. Yahweh will repair the ruin in order that those over whom my name is called may inherit the remnant of Edom and all the nations (Amos 9:12; so translate with Ehrlich). In this glorious Messianic age seedtime and harvest will follow in rapid succession, and the harvests be wonderfully rich and abundant (Amos 9:13). The exiles shall return and enjoy a happiness and prosperity (Amos 9:14) that shall not again be interrupted (Amos 9:15). This is the promise of Yahweh, says the prophet, who has become again thy God.

Amos 9:13. the plowman shall overtake the reaper: Ehrlich reading wל -nâ gas, the plowman shall press the reaper. The plowman will press the reaper to finish his work, that he may start plowing the field again. sweet wine: the word denotes either must or wine made by a process in which fermentation was artificially arrested (ICC on Joel 1:5). and all the hills shall melt: Riessler would add, with milk (ḥ?â lâ b), comparing Jl. 4:18.

Amos 9:14. And I will bring again the captivity of: or, and I will turn the fortune of: more literally restore the restoration of.