Amos
1:1 The following is a record of what Amos prophesied. He was one of the herdsmen from Tekoa. These prophecies about Israel were revealed to him during the time of King Uzziah of Judah and King Jeroboam son of Joash of Israel, two years before the earthquake.
We can see in 1:1 that the king of Israel is Jeroboam, king of the Northern Kingdom. Uzziah is king of Judah, the Southern Kingdom. Already, at the very outset in Amos, Israel is being identified as the Northern Kingdom.
Amos prophecies to Israel, but it should be noted that in that time Israel was synonomous with the Northern Kingdom:
2:6 This is what the Lord says:
“Because Israel has committed three covenant transgressions –
make that four! – I will not revoke my decree of judgment.
2:9 For Israel’s sake I destroyed the Amorites..
3:1 Listen, you Israelites, to this message which the Lord is proclaiming against you!
For Amos, Israel is the Northern Kingdom. It's Samaria that's the problem:
3:9 ...“Gather on the hills around Samaria!
Observe the many acts of violence taking place within the city,
the oppressive deeds occurring in it.”
It's Samaria, ie that city in the Northern Kingdom, that is in view here:
3:12 This is what the Lord says:
“Just as a shepherd salvages from the lion’s mouth a couple of leg bones or a piece of an ear,
so the Israelites who live in Samaria will be salvaged.
They will be left with just a corner of a bed,
and a part of a couch.”
And it's Bethel, another city in the North that's in view:
3:14 “Certainly when I punish Israel for their covenant transgressions, I will destroy Bethel’s altars.
Samaria again:
4:1 Listen to this message, you cows of Bashan who live on Mount Samaria!
Bethel again, and Gilgal (also a Northern city):
4:4 “Go to Bethel and rebel!
At Gilgal rebel some more!
These judgments are on the Northern Kingdom, which is identified by Amos as Israel:
4:12 “Therefore this is what I will do to you, Israel.
Because I will do this to you,
prepare to meet your God, Israel!
Northern Kingdom cities again are in view regarding this exile:
5:5 Do not seek Bethel!
Do not visit Gilgal!
Do not journey down to Beer Sheba!
For the people of Gilgal will certainly be carried into exile;
and Bethel will become a place where disaster abounds.”
Here we have the major Northern tribe of Joseph mentioned as the one's being punished for Israel's sin:
5:15 Hate what is wrong, love what is right!
Promote justice at the city gate!
Maybe the Lord, the God who commands armies, will have mercy on
those who are left from Joseph.
5:16 Because of Israel’s sins...
6:6 They drink wine from sacrificial bowls,
and pour the very best oils on themselves.
Yet they are not concerned over the ruin of Joseph.
6:8 ....I will hand over to their enemies the city of Samaria and everything in it.”
Israel is identified as Jeroboam's kingdom again along with the northern city of Bethel and it's high priest. It's this northen kingdom of Israel that's being identified as the one that will be exiled:
7:9 Isaac’s centers of worship will become desolate;
Israel’s holy places will be in ruins.
I will attack Jeroboam’s dynasty with the sword.”
7:10 Amaziah the priest of Bethel sent this message to King Jeroboam of Israel: “Amos is conspiring against you in the very heart of the kingdom of Israel! The land cannot endure all his prophecies.
7:11 As a matter of fact, Amos is saying this: ‘Jeroboam will die by the sword and Israel will certainly be carried into exile away from its land.’”
Amos is pretty much a wanted man in Israel and is told to run away to Judah, ie the Sourthern Kingdom centered at Jerusalem:
7:12 Amaziah then said to Amos, “Leave, you visionary! Run away to the land of Judah!
But Amos refused to go to Judah, since he is called to be in Israel, ie the Northern Kingdom. And it's Israel that will be in exile here, Judah is later:
7:15 Then the Lord took me from tending flocks and gave me this commission, ‘Go! Prophesy to my people Israel!’
7:17 “Therefore this is what the Lord says:....
....Israel will certainly be carried into exile away from its land.’”
8:14 These are the ones who now take oaths in the name of the sinful idol goddess of Samaria.
So when we arrive in 9:14, it's pretty clear that the prophecies of Amos are about the exile of the Northern Kingdom which is synonomous with Israel. I can only conclude that the restoration from this exile is also about the same Israel that is in view throughout the book:
9:14 I will bring back my people, Israel;
It seem context is overwhelmingly on my side here. In Amos, Israel is the Northern Kingdom, the one under judgment and so the one that would one day be restored. We can see this in the identification of Israel with the Northern King Jeroboam, the tribe of Joseph, and the numerous cities of the North (Samaria, Bethel, Gilgal). This Israel is explicitly distinguished from the southern kingdom of Judah and it's king.
There can be no doubt that Amos intends 9:15 to be about Israel, the Northern Kingdom.