Bible Commentaries
Amos 9

Verses 1-15

Amos 9:1-10 The Vision of the Lord Standing by the Altar - Amos 9:1-10 gives the fifth vision that the prophet received from the Lord called the Vision of the Lord Standing by the Altar.

Amos 9:11-15 Prophecy of the Restoration of Israel Sometimes called the “salvation oracle,” [38] Amos 9:11-15 gives a prophecy of the restoration of Israel following Amos’ five visions.

[38] John H. Sailhamer, Introduction to Old Testament Theology (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan Publishing House, c1995), 250-1.

Amos 9:11-15 Prophecy of the Restoration of Israel (Ezekiel 36:1 to Ezekiel 37:28 ) Amos 9:11-15 is clearly a prophecy of the restoration of the nation of Israel in the last days. We find a similar prophecy of this restoration in Ezekiel 36:1 to Ezekiel 37:28.

Symbolic of the Church - Some scholars interpret this passage in Amos 9:11-15 as a prophecy for the Church, so that it refers to the great harvest of souls in the last days. The house of David would be symbolic of prayer where churches intercede to God for the harvest of souls. The harvest of souls is directly linked to the prayer efforts of the Church. Todd Bentley speaks regarding this two-fold process in the context of the great harvest that will precede the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.

“While traveling to an evening crusade I was caught up in an interactive vision. I saw the great harvest field already white. The angels were working in this field. Then Jesus came to me. I knew in my spirit He was the Lord of the Harvest, but He came to me dressed as the Good Shepherd (John 10:0) and holding a staff. I wondered why the Lord of Psalms 23:0 was the Lord of the Harvest. Then I understood this is not just about winning souls, but also about discipling these same souls. Jesus doesn’t want to just be savior, but He also wants to be the great overseer of their souls and He wants to lead them into the depth of Psalms 23:0. He desires to restore their souls and to lead them beside the still waters. Immediately, these Scriptures came to my mind: Psalms 24:1, Revelation 11:15, Isaiah 40:15, Psalms 2:8.

“This was a faith level where whole cities and nations can be saved in a day. The Lord said to me, ‘Todd, enter into My harvest power! It’s the Harvest of Amos 9:13, “Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that the plowman shall overtake the reaper, and the treader of grapes him that soweth seed; and the mountains shall drop sweet wine, and all the hills shall melt.”’

“There is coming an acceleration of the laws of sowing and reaping. The seed will be planted and as soon as the seed is sown, it will be reaped. There will be harvest until the days of sowing and sowing until the days of harvest a holy overlapping of continual sowing and reaping. When this acceleration happens, men and women will cry out, ‘What must I do to be saved?’

“As I continued to walk in the harvest I noticed a tent in the field and asked, ‘Lord, what is that tent doing in the harvest and why does it look so old and ragged? It’s not as glorious and golden as these fields.’ The Lord responded, ‘Todd, this is the tabernacle of David and it looks that way because, for many, prayer is so inviting. It is a matter of perspective and priority. To many, prayer is tedious work, but to others it is the glory. Most importantly, the tabernacle releases the Amos 9:13 harvest.’

“In the book of Acts, Paul, Barnabas, Peter and their ministry teams are seeing tremendous harvest in cities. Churches are being planted and the Holy Ghost is falling on the Gentile believers as well as the Jews. In Acts 15:0 they meet for the Jerusalem council and give reports of the harvest and discuss whether Gentile believers need to be circumcised. In the midst of this James quotes Amos 9:11-12, ‘In that day will I raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen, and close up the breaches thereof; and I will raise up his ruins, and I will build it as in the days of old: That they may possess the remnant of Edom, and of all the heathen, which are called by my name, saith the LORD that doeth this.’

I said, ‘God there it is again the great harvest and the house of David.’ Night and day prayer, 24 hours a day, seven days a week is already taking place in the Church. These houses of prayer are essential to the releasing of an end-time signs and wonders movement, healing revival and the geographic healing centers.” [39]

[39] Todd Bentley, Journey Into the Miraculous (Victoria, BC, Canada: Hemlock Printers, Ltd., 2003), 327-9.

Amos 9:12 That they may possess the remnant of Edom, and of all the heathen, which are called by my name, saith the LORD that doeth this.

Amos 9:12 Comments - Sailhamer believes the reference to the tabernacle of David possessing the remnant of Edom in Amos 9:12 reflects back upon the imagery of Numbers 24:17, which prophesies that the Star of Jacob will possess Edom. He explains that the term “Edom” is used here to refer to Israel’s long-time enemy, and to refer collectively to all of Israel’s historical enemies, stating that the name “Edom can mean, “humanity.” Thus, this prophecy of Amos refers to the “universal rule of the future King.” He supports this view by referring the reading of Amos 9:12 in the Septuagint, “and the rest of mankind and all the nations will seek (the Lord)…,” saying his view reflects an early, Jewish interpretation of this verse. [40]

[40] John H. Sailhamer, Introduction to Old Testament Theology (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan Publishing House, c1995), 250-1.

Numbers 24:17, “I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth. And Edom shall be a possession, Seir also shall be a possession for his enemies; and Israel shall do valiantly. Out of Jacob shall come he that shall have dominion, and shall destroy him that remaineth of the city.”

Amos 9:13 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that the plowman shall overtake the reaper, and the treader of grapes him that soweth seed; and the mountains shall drop sweet wine, and all the hills shall melt.

Amos 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.

Amos 9:15 And I will plant them upon their land, and they shall no more be pulled up out of their land which I have given them, saith the LORD thy God.