Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 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.
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.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
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.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
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.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
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 Gods 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.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
14. build the waste cities(Isa 61:4; Eze 36:33-36).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
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 So 6:2.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
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 —
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
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).
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
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
And they shall plant vineyards
And drink the wine thereof
They shall also make gardens, and eat of the fruit
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
I will bring again. Reference to Pentateuch (Deu 30:5). App-92. Compare Amo 5:11. Psa 53:6. Jer 30:3, Jer 30:18; Jer 31:23. Eze 16:53; Eze 39:25. Joe 3:1, Joe 3:2.
captivity = the captives. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct), App-6, for captives.
they shall build. Compare Isa 61:4; Isa 65:21. Jer 30:18; Jer 30:31, Jer 30:36-40. Eze 36:33-36; Eze 37:25-28.
they shall plant. Compare Amo 5:11. Isa 62:8 Isa 62:9; Isa 65:21. Eze 28:26. Hos 2:21-23. Joe 8:18, &c.
wine. Hebrew. yayin. App-27.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
I will bring: Psa 53:6, Jer 30:3, Jer 30:18, Jer 31:23, Eze 16:53, Eze 39:25, Joe 3:1, Joe 3:2
build: Isa 61:4, Isa 65:21, Jer 30:18, Jer 31:38-40, Eze 36:33-36, Eze 37:25-28
plant: Amo 5:11, Isa 62:8, Isa 62:9, Eze 28:26, Zep 1:13
Reciprocal: Gen 48:4 – will give Deu 28:3 – in the field Isa 11:11 – set his hand Isa 44:26 – and I will Isa 58:12 – build Jer 3:16 – when Jer 12:14 – and pluck Jer 16:15 – that brought Jer 23:3 – General Jer 23:8 – General Jer 29:14 – and I will turn Jer 31:5 – yet Jer 32:15 – Houses Jer 32:37 – I will gather Jer 33:7 – and will Jer 46:27 – I will save Jer 49:39 – I will Jer 50:19 – bring Eze 11:17 – General Eze 20:41 – I bring Eze 28:25 – When Eze 34:13 – I will bring Eze 36:10 – the wastes Eze 36:24 – General Eze 37:12 – and bring Eze 37:21 – General Eze 38:8 – into the land Hos 2:15 – I will Hos 11:11 – and I Joe 2:19 – I will send Joe 2:22 – for the tree Joe 3:18 – the mountains Oba 1:20 – the captivity of this Zep 2:7 – turn Zep 3:20 – even Zec 1:17 – My cities Zec 8:7 – I Zec 8:8 – and they shall dwell Zec 9:17 – corn Mar 14:25 – new Rom 11:26 – all
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Amo 9:14. Bring again the captivity means that the captivity will be reversed, and the Lord’s people were to be brought out of it. They also were to be restored to tbelr own land to produce and enjoy the crops of the soil.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
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.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
9:14 {n} 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.
(n) The accomplishment of this is under Christ, when they are planted in this Church, out of which they can never be pulled, after they have once been grafted into it.
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
Yahweh also promised to restore the Israelites to the Promised Land following their captivity and exile from it. They would return to their land and establish life marked by security and joy, abundant food and drink, and beauty and blessing. Such conditions could not occur during wartime (Amo 9:1; Amo 9:10; Amo 2:13-16; Amo 3:11; Amo 3:15; Amo 4:10-11; Amo 5:2-3; Amo 6:9-10; Amo 7:17) but would be possible in peacetime (cf. Lev 26:6; Deu 28:6).