Amos 9:14

Amo 9:14 And I will bring again the captivity of my people of Israel, and they shall build the waste cities, and inhabit [them]; and they shall plant vineyards, and drink the wine thereof; they shall also make gardens, and eat the fruit of them.

Ver. 14. And I will bring again the captivity of my people] There is an elegance in the original that cannot be translated into English, and God seems delighted with such alliteration, as hath been before observed; to show the lawful use of rhetoric in divine discourses, so it be not affected, abused, idolized. This promise is fulfilled when believers are by the gospel brought "from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins," Act 26:18, and be set free from the tyranny of corruption and terror of death, Heb 2:14-15 Col 1:13 Luk 1:74 Zec 9:11 Psa 68:19.

And they shall build the waste cities] Restore the sincere service of God, as those noble reformers did in all ages; fetching the Church, as it were, out of the wilderness, where she had long lain hidden, Rev 12:6, and whence she is said at length to come "leaning upon her beloved," Son 8:5.

And they shall plant vineyards] That is, particular Churches.

And drink the wine thereof] Have the fruit and comfort of their labours in the Lord, which they shall see not to be in vain, 1Co 15:58.

They shall also make gardens, and eat of the fruit] While they shall see their people to be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of Jesus Christ, 2Pe 1:8, but far off flourishing, Psa 92:13, actuosi et fructuosi, Isa 51:3. The Popish commentators (as it is the manner of many of them to mar and bemire the text with their absurd glosses) by cities here would have men to understand the state of married people, by vineyards their prelates, and by gardens monks. Is not this to wrest the Scriptures, and so to set them on the rack, as to make them speak more than ever they intended? Is it not to compel them to go two miles when they are willing to go but one? Is it not to taw them, and gnaw them, as Tertullian saith that Marcion, the heretic (that Mus Ponticus, as he therefore calls him), did, to make them serviceable to his vile purposes?

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Amo 9:14-15. I will bring again the captivity of my people — I will restore them to their own country, and settle them in it. See the following verse, and notes on Isa 11:12; and Eze 28:25. They shall build the waste cities, &c. — Compare the texts referred to in the margin. This and the following part of the verse contains a promise that they should enjoy the fruit of their labours, in opposition to that curse denounced against them, chap. Amo 5:11; Deu 28:30, that they should build houses and not dwell in them. I will plant them, &c., they shall no more be pulled up — This part of the prophecy will receive its completion on the future restoration of the Jews to their own land.

Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

9:14-15 God promised not to completely destroy his people (9:8) but to bring the surviving remnant back to the land (see Hos 2:23).

Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

The accomplishment thereof is under Christ, when they are planted in this Church, out of the which they can never be pulled, after they are once grafted therein.

Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain. Text via Bolls.life.

build the waste cities-- (Isa 61:4; Eze 36:33-36).

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Verse 14. They shall plant vineyards, and drink the wine] When threatened with great evils, Am 5:11, it is said, "They shall plant pleasant vineyards but shall not drink the wine of them." Previously to their restoration, they shall labour for others; after their restoration, they shall labour for themselves.

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

As the prophecy we have noticed was one difficult to be believed, especially when the people were led away into exile, the Prophet comes to the help of this lack of faith, and shows that this would be no hindrance to God to lead his people to the felicity of which he speaks. These things seem indeed to be quite contrary, the one to the other, — that the people, spoiled of all dignity, should be driven to a far country to live in miserable exile, and that they should also be scattered into various parts and oppressed by base tyranny; — and that at the same time a most flourishing condition should be promised them, and that such an extension of their kingdom should be promised them, as had never been previously witnessed. Lest then their present calamities should fill their minds with fear and bind them fast in despair; he says that the Israelites shall return from exile, not indeed all; but as we have already seen, this promise is addressed to the elect alone: at the same time he speaks here simply of the people. But, this prophecy is connected with other prophecies: it ought not therefore to be extended except to that remnant seed, of whom we have before taken notice.

Restore then will I the captivity of my people Israel; and then, They shall build nested cities and dwell there; they shall plant vineyards, and their wine shall they drink; they shall make gardens, and shall eat their fruit. He reminds the people here of the blessings mentioned in the Law. They must indeed have known that the hand of the Lord was opposed to them in their exile. Hence the Prophet now shows, that as soon as the Lord would again begin to be propitious to them, there would be a new state of things; for when God shows his smiling countenance, prosperity follows and a blessed success in all things. This then is what the Prophet now intends to show, that the miserable exiles might not faint in despair, when the Lord chastised them. It follows at last —

John Calvin's Commentaries (1540-1563) — public domain. Text from the Calvin Translation Society English edition (1840s-50s) via the Christian Classics Ethereal Library (ccel.org). Calvin's coverage is partial (roughly two-thirds of the Bible); uncommented books and verses are honest gaps, never fabricated. The 19th-century editor's footnotes and remarks are omitted so the notes are faithfully Calvin's own voice.

14. To the land thus blessed by nature, Israel shall be restored: it shall rebuild its waste places, and dwell in them securely; it shall also enjoy, without interruption or interference, the varied produce of the soil.

I will turn the captivity] The precise sense of the Hebrew expression is disputed; and others—as Ewald, Kuenen, Dillmann (on Job_42:10), Cheyne and Kirkpatrick on Psa_14:7—prefer to render “turn the fortune (lit. turn the turning) of my people,” i.e. effect a decisive and epoch-making change in its lot. In the present passage, however, even though the latter be the true meaning, the general sense remains the same: for, as Amos pictures the people as exiled (Amo_7:17 &c.), the change of fortune which, upon this view would be predicated in the expression, would of course be a return from captivity. Comp. Hos_6:11. The promise of restoration from exile (or captivity) is naturally common in the later prophets: for similar promises in earlier prophets, see Hos_11:10-11.

and they shall build waste cities, and inhabit them] waste cities, as Jer_33:10, Isa_54:3; cf. Eze_36:35. The similar promise in Isa_65:21 may also be compared (“they shall build houses, and inhabit them,”—opposed to Isa_65:22 “they shall not build, and another inhabit”). Contrast ch. Amo_5:11; also Deu_28:30 (“thou shalt build a house, and not inhabit it”), Zep_1:13.

and they shall plant vineyards, and drink the wine thereof] Cf. Isa_65:21 (“they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit thereof”); also Eze_28:26. Contrast ch. Amo_4:9, Amo_5:11; also Deu_28:30; Deu_28:39; Zep_1:13.

and they shall make gardens, and eat the fruit of them] Contrast ch. Amo_4:9.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

And I will bring again the captivity of my people of Israel,.... Which is not to be understood of the captivity of the Jews in Babylon, and their return from thence, with whom some of the ten tribes of Israel were mixed; for they were not then so planted in their own land as no more to be pulled up again, as is here promised; for they afterwards were dispossessed of it by the Romans, and carried captive, and dispersed among the nations again; but the captivity both of Judah and Israel is meant, their present captivity, which will be brought back, and they will be delivered from it, and return to their own land, and possess it as long as it is a land; see Jer 30:3; as well as be freed from the bondage of sit, Satan, and the law, under which they have been detained some hundreds of years; but now shall be delivered into the glorious liberty of the children of God, of Christians, with which Christ has made them free:

and they shall build the waste cities, and inhabit them; literally the cities in Judea wasted by the Turks, and others; and mystically the churches of Christ, of which saints are fellow citizens, and will be in a desolate condition before the conversion of the Jews, and the gathering in the fulness of the Gentiles; but by these means will be rebuilt, and be in a flourishing condition, and fall of inhabitants:

and they shall plant vineyards, and drink the wine thereof; they shall also make gardens, and eat the fruit of them; which, as before, will be literally true; and in a spiritual sense may signify the churches of Christ, compared to vineyards and gardens, which will be planted everywhere, and be set with pleasant and fruitful plants, and will turn to the advantage of those who have been instruments in planting them; see Sol 6:2.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

And I will bring again the captivity of My people - Where all around is spiritual, there is no reason to take this alone as earthly. An earthly restoration to Canaan had no value, except as introductory to the spiritual. The two tribes were, in a great measure, restored to their own land, when Zachariah, being “filled with the Holy Spirit, prophesied,” as then about to accomplished, that “God hath visited and redeemed his people, and hath raised up a horn of salvation to us in the house of His servant David, as He spake by the mouth of His holy prophets - that we, being delivered from the hands of our enemies, might serve Him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before Him” Luk 1:68-70, Luk 1:74-75. So our Lord said; “ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. Whosoever committeth sin, is the servant of sin. If the Son shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed” Joh 8:32, Joh 8:34, Joh 8:36. And Paul, “The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death” Rom 8:2.

And they shall build the waste - (Rather “shall build waste”) “cities.” “As they who are freed from captivity and are no longer in fear of the enemy, “build cities and plant vineyards” and gardens,” so shall these unto God. “This,” says one of old , “needs no exposition, since, throughout the world, amid the desert of pagandom, which was before deserted by God, Churches of Christ have arisen, which, for the firmness of faith may be called “cities,” and, for the gladness of “hope which maketh not ashamed, vineyards,” and for the sweetness of charity, gardens; wherein they dwell, who have builded them through the word; whence they drink the wine of gladness, who formed them by precepts; whence they eat fruits, who advanced them by counsels, because, as “he who reapeth,” so he too who “buildeth” such “cities,” and he who “planteth” such “vineyards,” and he who “maketh” such “gardens, receiveth wages and gathereth fruit unto life eternal” Joh 4:36.

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

CHAPTER IX.

George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).

What is contained in this verse is an express promise of a return to captive Israel, and it is an implicit stating of the time when those former promises, Amo 9:11-13, should be fulfilled.

I will bring again: Cyrus was the person who proclaimed liberty of return to captive Israel, but God stirred up his spirit to do this, and it was God’s eminent work; he was seen in it, as Psa 126:3,4.

The captivity of my people of Israel; of those Shalmaneser carried captive and those Nebuchadnezzar carried captive, both falling under the disposal of Cyrus by his conquest over Babylon; by which means Israel, the remnant of the ten tribes, as well as the two tribes, had leave to return.

They shall build the waste cities, of Judah and of Israel too, as well as Jerusalem, many of which we meet with in the latter histories of the Jews and their wars.

Inhabit them; so they did from the time of their return till the Roman captivity, and were not by the space of six hundred years pulled out of their habitation.

Shall plant vineyards, and drink the wine thereof; be blessed in the increase of them and enjoy it, freed from that curse, Deu 28:39.

Shall also make gardens, and eat the fruit of them; these, planted for delight, should be blessed too; both vineyards and gardens should be fruitful, and they that planted them should dwell in their houses safely, and eat the fruit of them.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

14. To this fertile soil the exiles will be brought back, there to live in prosperity and happiness.

Bring again the captivity of my people — See on Hos_6:11, and p. 133.

Build the waste cities — Destroyed by the invader (Amo_3:15; Amo_5:11; compare Jer_33:10; Isa_54:3).

Inhabit — Compare the threat in Amo_5:11.

Plant vineyards,… drink the wine — Compare Amo_4:9; Amo_5:11; for a similar promise see Isa_65:21; Eze_28:26.

Make gardens,… eat the fruit — They will be permitted to enjoy the fruit of their labor (compare Amo_4:9).

Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

I will bring again the captivity; i.e. I will repair the misery which they have suffered. The expression is here metaphorical, and does not necessarily refer to any restoration to an earthly Canaan. Shall build the waste cities. (Isa_54:3) All these promised blessings are inmarked contrast to the punishments threatened. (Deu_28:30, Deu_28:33, Deu_28:39; compare similar premises in Isa_65:21, etc.)

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

I will plant them upon their land, and they will never again be uprooted from the land

Bringing the people back to their land and keeping them safe from enemies is spoken of as if Israel were a plant that Yahweh would put in the ground and not let anyone pull the plant up from the ground. AT: "I will cause them to live in the land forever like a plant that is never uprooted" (See: Metaphor)

they will never again be uprooted from the land

This can be stated in active form. AT: "no one will ever again uproot them from the land" (See: Active or Passive)

uprooted

for a plant and its roots to be pulled out of the ground

translationWords

captive

people of God

ruin

vineyard

wine

Yahweh

God

unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.