Amos 9:12-14

New English Translation

Footnotes

1. Amos 9:12 sn They probably refers to the Israelites or to the Davidic rulers of the future.
2. Amos 9:12 tn Heb “take possession of the remnant of Edom”; cf. NASB, NIV, NRSV “possess the remnant of Edom.”
3. Amos 9:12 tn Heb “nations over whom my name is proclaimed.” The Hebrew idiom indicates ownership, sometimes as a result of conquest. See 2 Sam 12:28.sn This verse envisions a new era of Israelite rule, perhaps patterned after David’s imperialistic successes (see 2 Sam 8-10). At the same time, however, the verse does not specify how this rule is to be accomplished. Note that the book ends with a description of peace and abundance, and its final reference to God (v. 15) does not include the epithet “the Lord who commands armies,” which has militaristic overtones. This is quite a different scene than what the book began with: nations at war and standing under the judgment of God.
4. Amos 9:13 tn Heb “behold” or “look.”
5. Amos 9:13 tn Heb “the days are.”
6. Amos 9:13 sn The plowman will catch up to the reaper. Plowing occurred in October-November, and harvesting in April-May (see P. King, Amos, Hosea, Micah, 109.) But in the future age of restored divine blessing, there will be so many crops the reapers will take all summer to harvest them, and it will be time for plowing again before the harvest is finished.
7. Amos 9:13 sn When the grapes had been harvested, they were placed in a press where workers would stomp on them with their feet and squeeze out the juice. For a discussion of grape-harvesting technique, see O. Borowski, Agriculture in Iron Age Israel, 110-12.
8. Amos 9:13 tn The verb is omitted here in the Hebrew text but has been supplied in the translation from the parallel line.
9. Amos 9:13 sn The grape harvest occurred in August-September, the planting in November-December (see P. King, Amos, Hosea, Micah, 109). But in the future age described here there will be so many grapes that the workers who stomp them will still be working when the next planting season arrives.
10. Amos 9:13 tn Or “hills,” where the vineyards were planted.
11. Amos 9:13 tn Heb “and all the hills will melt.”
12. Amos 9:14 tn This line can also be translated, “I will restore the fortunes of my people, Israel,” and is a common idiom (e.g., Deut 30:3; Jer 30:3; Hos 6:11; Zeph 3:20). This rendering is followed by several modern English versions (e.g., NEB, NRSV, NJPS).
13. Amos 9:14 tn Or “the ruined [or “desolate”] cities.”
14. Amos 9:14 tn Or “and live [in them].”
15. Amos 9:14 tn Heb “drink their wine.”
16. Amos 9:14 tn Or “gardens.”
17. Amos 9:14 tn Heb “eat their fruit.”