Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 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.
12. That they may possess the remnant of Edom &c.] i.e. that the empire of David may be restored to its former limits. The allusion is to the nations the Philistines, Moab, Ammon, Aram of Zobah, Damascus, Edom, &c. which, though they had been conquered by David (2 Samuel 8, &c.), had afterwards revolted: these, Amos promises, should again be incorporated in the restored empire of David.
the remnant of Edom ] No doubt Edom is named specially on account of the ancient rivalry subsisting between it and Israel; in the happy future which the prophet here anticipates, he pictures it as reduced to a mere remnant (cf. Amo 1:12; Oba 1:18-21). This seems better than to suppose an allusion to recent defeats, whether the victory of Amaziah (2Ki 14:7), which, however, must have taken place some 30 years previously, or the subjugation by Uzziah, which appears to be presupposed by 2Ki 14:22 (cf. 2Ki 16:6 R.V. marg.).
and all the nations, over whom my name has been called ] viz. in token of conquest, or ownership. The reference is to the nations which, as just stated, had been conquered by David: in virtue of their subjugation by him, they had passed under the dominion of Jehovah. The sense of the expression, over whom my name was called, appears clearly from 2Sa 12:28, where Joab, while besieging Rabbah of the Ammonites, invites David to come and take it himself “lest I (emph.) take the city, and my name be called over it,” i.e. lest I get the credit of having captured it, and it be counted as my conquest. The phrase expresses thus the fact of ownership whether acquired by actual conquest or otherwise (cf. Isa 4:1). It is used especially of the people of Israel, Jerusalem, or the temple, as owned by Jehovah: see Deu 28:10; Jer 7:10-11; Jer 7:14; Jer 7:30; Jer 14:9; Jer 15:16 (of Jeremiah himself), Jer 25:29, Jer 32:34, Jer 34:15; 1Ki 8:43 (= 2Ch 6:33); Isa 63:19; 2Ch 7:14; Dan 9:18-19; and the newly-recovered Hebrew text of Sir 47:18 . In A.V., R.V., the phrase is often, unfortunately, represented by the obscure paraphrase, “called by my name”; but the literal rendering, which is both clearer and more forcible than the paraphrase, is sometimes added in the margin of R.V. (e.g. 1Ki 8:43).
that doeth this ] An epithet confirmatory of the preceding promise; cf. Jer 33:2.
Amo 9:11-12 stands in the LXX. (cod. B) thus: , , (A b Q* ) , , 12 (A+ ) (A+ ), , . In Act 15:17 the verses are quoted by St James or by St Luke in his report of St James’ speech in this form ( , , , , , ), for the purpose of shewing that God’s having visited the Gentiles “to take out of them a people to his name” was in accordance with the teaching of the prophets. The passage illustrates the freedom which New Testament writers allow themselves in quoting from the Old Testament. Not only are there many minor variations from the text of the LXX.; but in the most important part of the quotation, the rendering adopted implies a reading of the Hebrew text ( “that the remnant of men may seek [the Lord],” for “that they may inherit the remnant of Edom”), which cannot be right, and can hardly even express a thought implicit in Amos’ words, though it is no doubt one found in other prophets, viz. that the ultimate aim of Israel’s restoration is to exert upon the nations a spiritual influence, and bring them to the knowledge of the true God (cf. Isa 55:5). (“the Lord”), to which nothing corresponds in the Heb., has been supplied, it will be observed, in order to provide the verb “seek” with an object. The text of the Vatican MS. of the LXX. (cod. B) is purer and more original than that of the Alexandrian MS. (cod. A): the quotation in the Acts agrees in several particulars with the latter against the former; and it is not improbable that the text of cod. A has been corrected on the basis of the quotation. In Psalms 14 (13) 3, the composite quotation of St Paul (Rom 3:13-18) has found its way even into the text of Cod. B.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
That they may possess – rather, inherit
The remnant of Edom – The restoration was not to be for themselves alone. No gifts of God end in the immediate object of His bounty and love. They were restored, in order that they, the first objects of Gods mercies, might win others to God; not Edom only, but all nations, upon whom, God says, My Name is called. Plainly then, it is no temporal subjugation, nor any earthly kingdom. The words, upon whom the name is called, involve, in any case, belonging to, and being owned by, him whose name is called upon them. It is said of the wife bearing the name of the husband and becoming his, let thy name be called upon us Isa 4:1. When Jacob especially adopts Ephraim and Manasseh as his he says, let my name be named upon them, and the name of My fathers, Abraham and Isaac Gen 48:16. In relation to God, the words are used of persons and of places especially appropriated to God; as the whole Jewish Church and people, His Temple 1Ki 8:43; Jer 7:10-11, Jer 7:14, Jer 7:30; Jer 34:15, His prophets Jer 15:16, the city of Jerusalem Dan 9:18-19 by virtue of the temple built there. Contrariwise, Isaiah pleads to God, that the pagan were never called by Thy Name Isa 63:19. This relation of being called by the Name of God, was not outward only, nor was it ineffective. Its characteristics were holiness imparted by God to man, and protection by God. Thus Moses, in his blessing on Israel if obedient, says, The Lord shall establish thee an holy people unto Himself, as He hath sworn to thee, if thou shalt keep the commandments of the Lord thy God, and walk in His ways; and all the people of the earth shall see that the Name of the Lord thy God is called upon thee, and they shall fear thee Deu 28:9-10. And Jeremiah says to God , Thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of my heart, for Thy name was called upon me, O Lord God of Hosts.
Israel then, or the Jewish Church, was to inherit, or take into itself, not Edom only, but all nations, and that, by their belonging to God. Edom, as the brother of Israel and yet his implacable enemy, stands as a symbol of all who were alien from God, over against His people. He says, the residue of Edom, because he had foretold the destruction which was first to come upon Edom; and Holy Scripture everywhere speaks of those who should be converted, as a remnant only. The Jews themselves are the keepers and witnesses of these words. Was it not foretold? It stands written. Is it not fulfilled? The whole world from this country to China, and from China round again to us, as far as it is Christian, and as, year by year, more are gathered into the fold of Christ, are the inheritance of those who were the seed of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
James quoted these words in the Council of Jerusalem, to show how the words of the prophet were in harmony with what Peter had related, how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for His Name Act 15:14. He quotes the words as they stood in the version which was understood by the Gentiles who came from Antioch. In it the words are paraphrased, but the meaning remains the same. The Greek translators took away the metaphor, in order, probably, to make the meaning more intelligible to Greeks, and paraphrased the Hebrew words, imagining other words, as like as might be to the Hebrew. They render, that the residue of men may seek, and all the nations upon whom My name is called. The force of the prophecy lies in these last words, that the Name of God should be called upon all nations. James, then, quoted the words as they were familiar to his hearers, not correcting those which did not impair the meaning. The so doing, he shows us incidentally, that even imperfection of translation does not empty the fullness of Gods word. The words, shall seek the Lord, although not representing anything expressed here in the original, occur in the corresponding prophecy of Isaiah as to the root of Jesse, In that day there shall be a root (that is, a sucker from the root) of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people, and to it shall the Gentiles seek Isa 11:10. It may be, that James purposely uses the plural, the words of the prophets, in order to include, together with the prophet Amos, other prophets who had foretold the same thing. The statements, that the Jewish Church should inherit the Gentiles, that the Name of God should be called upon the Gentiles, and that the Gentiles should seek the Lord, are parts of one whole; that they should be called, that they should obey the call, and, obeying, he enrolled in the one family of God.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 12. That they may possess the remnant of Edom] Bp. Newcome translates this clause as follows: “That the residue of men may seek Jehovah, and all the heathen who are called by my name.” Here, instead of Edom, he reads Adam, men or mankind, which is the reading of the Arabic, and some MSS. of the Syriac, and of Ac 15:17.
The Pachomian MS. of the Septuagint adds here, , that they may seek me. And the Arabic has [Arabic] the Lord; and in stead of yireshu, “they shall possess,” the learned bishop seems to have read yidreshu, “they may seek;” and thus the text resembles the quotation by St. James, Ac 15:17, “That the residue of men might seek after the Lord.” It is strange that not one of the MSS. collated by Kennicott and De Rossi, nor any of my own, favours or countenances any of these alterations. I am of opinion, therefore, that we must dismiss all these conjectural emendations, and take the Hebrew text as we find it. That it speaks of the conversion of the Jews in Gospel times, we have the authority of the New Testament as above to prove; and if we cannot make the words, as they stand there, entirely to agree with the words here, the subject is not affected by it. The Jews shall be converted and restored, and this text in both covenants is a proof of it.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
That they; literally and historically the Jews, or they of the two tribes, and with them such of the ten tribes as did unite to them, and returned to Jerusalem.
May possess, both the lands of Edom, and some of the posterity of Edom; these as servants, the other as their propriety. The remnant, left by Nebuchadnezzar, or that fled out of his reach and lived privately where they could find a hiding-place till Israels return.
Of Edom; the posterity of Esau, wasted by Nebuchadnezzar, and ruined so that they never did recover to be a kingdom, but who remained of them did shelter themselves as retainers to other nations, and among these some did betake themselves to the Jews, and lived under them. Though formerly they had been desperate enemies to the Jews, Edomites, who cried, Rase, rase, Psa 137:7, shall now assist as servants in laying the foundations, and building Jerusalem.
All the heathen, i.e. round about, as Moabites, Ammonites, &c., by usual phrase called all the heathen.
Which are called by my name: these words either must refer to heathen and Edomites proselyted, or they are by a trajection laid here, but in construction are to be joined with the foregoing words thus. That they which are called by my name may possess, & c.
Saith the Lord; this immutably confirms the promise.
That doeth this; who saith and doth, who willeth and effecteth, whose command is almighty. That this is a prophecy of setting up the kingdom of the Messiah, and bringing in the Gentiles, is very certain, but appertains to the mystic sense, not to the literal, which is our work.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
12. That they may possess . . .remnant of Edom, and of all the heathen“Edom,” thebitter foe, though the brother, of Israel; therefore to be punished(Amo 1:11; Amo 1:12),Israel shall be lord of the “remnant” of Edom left afterthe punishment of the latter. James quotes it, “That theresidue of men might seek after the Lord, and all theGentiles,” c. For “all the heathen” nations standon the same footing as Edom: Edom is the representative ofthem all. The residue or remnant in both casesexpresses those left after great antecedent calamities (Rom 9:27Zec 14:16). Here the conversionof “all nations” (of which the earnest was given inJames’s time) is represented as only to be realized on there-establishment of the theocracy under Messiah, the Heir of thethrone of David (Am 9:11). Thepossession of the heathen nations by Israel is to be spiritual, thelatter being the ministers to the former for their conversion toMessiah, King of the Jews; just as the first conversions of paganswere through the ministry of the apostles, who were Jews. Compare Isa54:3, “thy seed shall inherit the Gentiles“(compare Isa 49:8; Rom 4:13).A remnant of Edom became Jews under John Hyrcanus, and the restamalgamated with the Arabians, who became Christians subsequently.
which are called by mynamethat is, who belong to Me, whom I claim as Mine (Ps2:8); in the purposes of electing grace, God terms them alreadycalled by His name. Compare the title, “the children,”applied by anticipation, Heb 2:14.Hence as an act of sovereign grace, fulfilling His promise, it isspoken of God. Proclaim His title as sovereign, “the Lord thatdoeth this” (“all these things,” Ac15:17, namely, all these and such like acts of sovereign love).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
That they may possess the remnant or Edom, and of all the Heathen, which are called by my name,…. Or that these may be possessed; that is, by David or Christ, who shall have the Heathen given him for his inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for his possession, Ps 2:8; when the remnant, according to the election of grace, in those nations that have been the greatest enemies to Christ and his Gospel, signified by Edom, shall be converted, and call upon the name of the Lord, and worship him; and be called by his name, Christians, and so become his inheritance and possession. The Targum understands, by the Heathen or people, all the people of the house of Israel; and Kimchi, Aben Ezra, and Ben Melech, think the words are to be inverted, thus,
“that all the people on whom my name is called, nay possess the remnant of Edom;”
and the forager says, that all the Edomites shall be destroyed in the days of the Messiah, but Israel shall inherit their land; and Aben Ezra says, that if this prophecy is interpreted of the Messiah, the matter is clear; as it is in the sense we have given, and as the apostle explains it; [See comments on Ac 15:17]. Some render the words, “that the remnant of Edom, and of all the Heathen, that are” (that is, shall be) “called by my name, may possess me the Lord” x. The truth and certainty of its performance is expressed in the following clause,
saith the Lord, that doeth this: whose word is true, whose power is great, whose grace is efficacious, to accomplish all that is here promised and foretold.
x “Ut possideant reliquiae Edom”, De Dieu. See Bishop Chandler’s Defence of Christianity, p. 172.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
By these words the Prophet shows that the kingdom under Christ would be more renowned and larger than it had ever been under David. Since then the kingdom had been greatest in dignity, and wealth, and power, in the age of David, the Prophet here says, that its borders would be enlarged; for then he says, Possess shall the Israelites the remnant of Edom He speaks here in common of the Israelites and of the Jews, as before, at the beginning of the last chapter, he threatened both. But we now apprehend what he means, — that Edom shall come under the yoke.
And it is sufficiently evident why he mentions here especially the Idumeans, and that is because they had been most inveterate enemies; and vicinity gave them greater opportunity for doing harm. As then the Idumeans harassed the miserable Jews, and gave them no respite, this is the reason why the Prophet says that they would come under the power of his elect people. He afterwards adds, that all nations would come also to the Jews. He speaks first of the Idumeans, but he also adds all other nations. I cannot finish today.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
12. The restoration of the dynasty is needed in order that the splendor of the kingdom may be re-established. The new kingdom will be harassed no longer by its neighbors, but will triumph over all.
Remnant of Edom All that may be left of Edom after the conquest. Edom is singled out on account of the long-continued hostility between Israel and Edom (Amo 1:12; Oba 1:18-21; Joe 3:19; Psa 137:7).
All the heathen Better, R.V., “nations.”
Which are (better, R.V. margin, “were”) called by my name Literally, over which my name was called. The meaning of the expression may be gathered from 2Sa 12:28. Joab, while besieging Rabbah of the Ammonites, invited David to come and take the city, “lest I take the city and my name be called over it,” that is, lest I get the credit for the capture. The nations are those conquered by David, for whose conquest he gave the credit and glory to Jehovah. The thought of Amo 9:12 is evidently that the territory of the new kingdom is to be extended as far as during the reign of David (1Ki 4:21).
That doeth this The fact that Jehovah is interested in it assures its fulfillment (Jer 33:2). For a free New Testament application of the verse see Act 15:16-18.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Amo 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.
Ver. 12. That they may possess the remnant of Edom ] “That they” which are called by my name, which are called Christians, viz. the apostles and their successors to the end of the world, “may possess,” together with Christ (to whom the Father hath given the heathen for his inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for his possession), “the remnant of Edom”; those few of them that receive the faith, who are but as a remnant to the whole piece, a handful to a houseful. And not of the Edomites only, those inveterate and hereditary enemies to the Israel of God, but of all the heathen which are called by name, Psa 2:8 , who beseech and are baptized into Christ’s name, being content to receive his mark and to profess his religion, which formerly they were perfect strangers to. These and those first preachers of the gospel, and planters of Churches (being Israelites by birth), are said to possess by inheritance, because Christ was pleased to make use of their ministry; and upon these his white horses to ride abroad the world, “conquering, and to conquer,” Rev 6:1-2 . In a like sense it is promised, Isa 14:2 , that the house of Israel shall possess their proselytes in the land of the Lord for servants and for handmaids, and take them captives whose captives they were, and rule over their oppressors. Such a change shall the gospel make.
Saith the Lord that doeth this may possess = may take possession of.
Edom. Compare Num 24:18. 2Sa 8:14.
heathen = nations.
which are called, &c.: or, on whom My name is called.
name : i.e. Israel
possess: Isa 11:14, Isa 14:1, Isa 14:2, Joe 3:8, Oba 1:18-21
Edom: Gen 27:29, Gen 27:37, Num 24:17, Psa 60:8, Mal 1:4
which are called by my name: Heb. upon whom my name is called, Isa 43:7, Isa 63:19, Isa 65:1, Jer 14:9, Jer 15:16, Dan 9:18, Dan 9:19
Reciprocal: Gen 48:16 – my name Num 24:18 – General 1Ki 11:36 – David Isa 60:3 – the Gentiles Eze 21:27 – until Oba 1:19 – the south Zec 8:20 – there Zec 14:9 – the Lord Mal 1:11 – my name Mat 11:3 – Art Mar 11:10 – the kingdom Luk 1:32 – give Act 2:30 – he Act 11:1 – the Gentiles Act 13:47 – that thou Act 15:16 – this Act 26:6 – the promise 1Co 3:9 – ye are God’s building Col 3:11 – there Rev 11:15 – The kingdoms
Amo 9:12. Israel had previously been troubled by these peoples, but the promise is that it will be favored by the Lord and the downtrodden people will rejoice.
Amo 9:12. That they may possess the remnant of Edom This the restored Jews did in the time of Hyrcanus, when they made an entire conquest of Edom, as Josephus relates. And of all the heathen (or nations) which are called by my name Or rather, which have been called by my name; for so it is rendered in other versions. The Ishmaelites, Ammonites, Moabites, and other neighbouring nations, were in the beginning worshippers of the true God, as being descendants from Abraham, Lot, &c., with whom the knowledge of the true God was preserved. And the Jews subdued a considerable part of these nations in the times of the Maccabees. But this is also a prophecy of setting up the kingdom of the Messiah, and bringing in the Gentiles.
9:12 That they may possess the remnant of {k} Edom, and of all the heathen, which are called by my name, saith the LORD that doeth this.
(k) Meaning, the very enemies (as were the Edomites) and others would be united with the Jews in one society and body, of which Christ would be the head.
When the house of David was again intact, Israel would exercise authority over all the nations of the world and would be a source of blessing to them. This would include even the small number of Edomites alive then, people who had formerly been implacable enemies of the Israelites (cf. Oba 1:19). Israel’s blessing would extend even to them, representing all Israel’s former enemies. All the nations would become associated with the name of Yahweh then and would enjoy His lordship and protection (cf. Gen 12:3; Isa 9:1-7; Isa 11:1-13; Isa 42:1-7; Isa 45:22-25; Isa 49:5-7; Isa 55:1-5).
Amos described three different groups as remnants: (1) a small group of the faithful within Israel in his day in contrast to all Israel (Amo 3:12; Amo 4:1-3; Amo 5:3; Amo 6:9-10; Amo 9:1-4), (2) a small group of faithful Israelites in the future (Amo 5:4-6; Amo 5:15), and (3) a small group of Edomites and other neighbors of Israel who would benefit from the Davidic promise in the future (Amo 9:12). [Note: Gerhard Hasel, The Remnant, pp. 393-94.]
At the Jerusalem Council, the Apostle James quoted Amo 9:11-12 to support his view that the Gentiles of his day did not need to submit to circumcision and the Mosaic Law to obtain salvation or to live acceptably as Christians (Act 15:13-21). He knew that the judgments of Israel were not yet over (cf. Mat 24:1-22; Luk 21:5-24; Act 1:6-7). He also knew, from this passage and others (Isa 42:6; Isa 60:3; Mal 1:11), that when God restored the house of David Gentiles would have a share in that rule as Gentiles. James concluded, therefore, that Gentiles did not need to become Jews to enter into these (millennial) blessings. He did not mean that the church fulfills the promises to Israel but that since Gentiles will experience millennial blessings as Gentiles they do not need to live as Jews in the church.
"The ancient Greek [Septuagint] translation rendered this verse as follows: ’That the rest of mankind may seek [the LORD], and all the nations upon whom my name is called, saith the LORD, who does all these things.’ Strange as it may seem to those who are unfamiliar with the Hebrew language, the Hebrew text may be rendered this way, with little more than the change of one letter. The corruption of this letter must have occurred after the time of the apostles, for James thus quoted the verse at the Jerusalem Council, and based his decision upon it (Act 15:14-17). There were learned men present, some of them hostile to his view, who would certainly have shouted him down if he had based his decision upon a reading different from that which existed in the then current Hebrew manuscripts." [Note: The New Scofield . . ., p. 938.]
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
Fuente: Expository Notes of Dr. Constable (Old and New Testaments)