Amos 9:11-15, Repairing David’s House

9:11 “In that day I will restore the fallen tent of David. I will repair its damaged places. From the ruins I will rebuild it and restore its former glory. 12 And Israel will possess what is left of Edom and all the nations I have called by My name.” Yahweh has spoken, and he will do these things.

13 “The time will come,” says Yahweh, “when the grain and grapes will grow faster than they can be harvested. Then the terraced vineyards on the hills of Israel will drip with sweet wine! 14 I will bring my exiled people of Israel back from distant lands, and they will rebuild their ruined cities and live in them again. They will plant vineyards and gardens; they will eat their crops and drink their wine. 15 I will firmly plant them there in their own land. They will never again be uprooted from the land I have given them,” says Yahweh your God.

After Yahweh sifts the nations, including Israel, there will come a day of restoration, and particularly the restoration of the Davidic kingdom. David’s “house” has become a dilapidated tent or hut. The northern kingdom of Israel no longer has an heir of David on the throne, and the southern kingdom, Judah, though it does have an heir of David ruling, is following in the steps of Israel regarding idolatry and injustice or corruption.

In the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Old Testament, verse 11 and 12 reads, “and restore its former glory, [so that the rest of humanity, including the Gentiles—], all those I have called to be mine—might seek me.” It is this reading that leads the apostle James, the brother of Jesus, to quote this passage in support of Gentiles not having to become Jews in order to be saved. The Gentiles are called to be Yahweh’s, not just Israel.

The restoration of David’s kingdom, which includes saved Gentiles, will be a time of incredible abundance in the crops, especially grapes for wine production. The returned exiles will also be rebuilding all their ruined cities. And God gives the promise that they will never again be uprooted from the land He gave them.

This promise is yet to be fulfilled so it must be a reference to the millennial kingdom which is established upon the return of Jesus to earth at the second advent. What an amazing future God has planned for the whole world!