Study notes

Amos 9

Introducing AmosWho wrote it, when, why, and what to look for as you read

7:1–9:10

This section contains five visions. It is helpful to compare how these visions develop with the judgments listed earlier in Amos 4:6–11.

The judgments listed there include:

famine,
drought,
destruction of crops,
plagues, and
widespread destruction.

7:1–9:15 Section

God gave Amos four visions about bringing judgement against Jacob’s people.

After the first two visions, Amos prayed and asked God to forgive his people. God had mercy and pity and decided not to destroy them.

But that didn’t happen after the third and fourth visions. After those visions God said that he would no longer spare his people. This meant that God would stop the northern kingdom’s evil deeds. He would stop them by bringing judgement against his people. The places where they worshipped false gods would be destroyed. The king and his family would be killed. The people would be forced to leave their land and to live in exile. This was the worst of the covenant curses.

Amos kept announcing this message even when a priest in Bethel tried to stop him. Amos had said that this judgement would come on the day of the Lord. Amos used apocalyptic writing to describe that time of judgement.

For the northern kingdom, the day of the Lord came in 722 BC. Amos’ prophecies came true when Assyria took control of the northern kingdom.

Amos offered one message of hope. God promised that he wouldn’t destroy all the people of the northern kingdom. He promised to set up David’s fallen shelter. This was a way of talking about God’s covenant with David. It meant that someone from David’s family line would once again rule as king. People from Edom and all nations would be part of God’s people. God’s people would enjoy the covenant blessings.

Jews came to understand this message of hope as a prophecy about the messiah. New Testament writers came to understand that Jesus is the Messiah.

9:1

I saw the Lord (see Amos 7:1): God stopped explaining how or why he would punish Israel; he was ready to act.
beside the altar: Judgment must start at the center of worship (compare 1 Peter 4:17). This altar likely refers to the Bethel shrine, but it could also mean the temple in Jerusalem.

9:2

to Sheol: In the Old Testament, Sheol is a place under the earth where the dead live.

9:2–4

God is everywhere (compare Psalm 139:7–12). When people trust, believe, and obey God, his presence is a great blessing. However, because Israel rejected God's message, his presence would bring judgment instead of comfort.

9:3

Mount Carmel is not the tallest mountain in the area, but it often symbolizes the land's beauty and richness.
the serpent: In the ancient Near East, people saw the sea as a symbol of chaos, often opposing the national god (compare Psalms 74:14; 89:10; 104:26). The biblical text does not treat the sea monster as a god. Leviathan, also called Rahab, is shown as a creature under the Lord’s authority (Psalm 89:9–10). God commands and judges this creature, showing his power over it (Isaiah 27:1).
In this passage, Amos shows that God has power over everything. Even the sea serpent must obey him and serve his purposes.

9:5–6

Amos uses a third hymn fragment (also Amos 4:13; 5:8–9) to remind Israel that God rules over everything.

9:7

the Cushites: Cush (see Genesis 10:6–7) was south of the Second Cataract of the Nile (compare Isaiah 18:1) and was often linked with Egypt, its neighbor to the north.
Israel's exodus from Egypt is compared to two other ancient migrations: the Philistines from Crete (see also Jeremiah 47:4) and the Arameans from Kir (compare Amos 1:5; 2 Kings 16:9).

9:8

God would punish Israel by uprooting and scattering them, but he would never destroy them completely. A small group would always remain.

9:9–10

Even the Lord’s most severe judgment is just. God destroys only those who persist in sin. He does not lose a single faithful person. The Lord saves the righteous, who remain faithful to him.

9:11–12

Amos describes true worship of God as centered on the Jerusalem temple. A descendant of David rules over a united kingdom, including both Israel and Judah (compare Isaiah 9:6–7; 11:1–5).

9:11–15

Like many prophets, Amos ends his list of judgments with a message of hope and renewal. Even though Jerusalem and its temple would be destroyed, David's line of kings would be cut off (Psalm 89:38–51), and the people would be taken captive, God would restore a small group of Israelites (see also Isaiah 2:2–4; 4:2; 11:1–5).

9:12

Edom (see Amos 1:11) symbolizes the enemies of God and Israel (see Isaiah 34:5–6, 11; 63:1). During the time of restoration, God's enemies will be subject to his people and to God himself.
the nations that bear my name: God promised Abraham that he would be a blessing to all the people of the earth (Genesis 12:2–3). God's kingdom will welcome the outcasts and foreigners who were previously excluded (Isaiah 56; see Acts 8:27–39).