Amos 9 Footnotes

9:7-12 The Lord’s choice of the nation was evident in his delivering them from Egyptian slavery in the exodus. But the Israelites had become complacent about their standing with the Lord (v. 10); they had forgotten that his calling laid upon them a special obligation of obedience. In response, Amos reminded them that the Lord had a plan for all the world’s peoples, including the Cushites (Ethiopians), the Philistines, and the Arameans (Syrians). Because of Israel’s sin, the “house of Israel” (especially the northern kingdom) would be shaken and the disobedient would meet with the Lord’s judgment. But Amos looked ahead to the day when the Davidic dynasty, which had lost control of the northern tribal areas (“the fallen shelter of David,” v. 11) would be restored and would, in fact, receive “all the nations that bear my name” (v. 12). According to James, leader of the early church in Jerusalem, this prophecy was fulfilled when the Gentiles began to turn to Jesus Christ (Ac 15:13-18), the “descendant of David” (Rm 1:3).