John Calvin Commentary Amos 9:14

"And I will bring back the captivity of my people 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." — Amos 9:14 (ASV)

As the prophecy we have noted was one difficult to believe, especially when the people were led away into exile, the Prophet comes to aid this lack of faith and shows that this would be no hindrance to God in leading His people to the blessedness of which he speaks.

These things indeed seem to be quite contrary to one another: that the people, stripped of all dignity, would be driven to a distant country to live in miserable exile, and also be scattered into various regions and oppressed by vile tyranny—while at the same time, a most flourishing condition would be promised them, and such an extension of their kingdom as had never been witnessed before.

Lest, then, their present calamities fill their minds with fear and bind them firmly in despair, he says that the Israelites will return from exile, though indeed not all of them will. For, 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; therefore, it ought not to be extended except to that remnant seed of whom we have previously 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 gracious 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, so that the miserable exiles might not faint in despair when the Lord chastised them. It follows at last—