That they may possess the remnant of Edom, and of all the heathen, which are called by my name, saith the LORD that doeth this.
That they may possess the remnant of Edom, and of all the heathen, which are called by my name - "Edom," the bitter foe, though the brother, of Israel; therefore doomed to be punished (Amos 1:11-12). Israel shall be lord of the "remnant" of Edom left after the punishment of the latter. James quotes it (Acts 15:17), "That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things." For "all the pagan" nations stand on the same footing as Edom: Edom is the representative of them all. The residue or remnant, in both cases, expresses those left after great antecedent calamities (Romans 9:27; Zechariah 14:16). Here the conversion of "all nations" (of which the earnest was given in James' time) is represented as only to be realized on the re-establishment of the theocracy under Messiah, the Heir of the throne of David (Amos 9:11. "In that day will I raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen"). The possession of the pagan nations by Israel is to be spiritual, the latter being the ministers to the former for their conversion to Messiah, King of the Jews; just as the first conversions of individuals of the pagan were through the ministry of the apostles, who were Jews. Compare Isaiah 54:3, "Thy seed shall inherit the Gentiles" (cf. Isaiah 49:8; Romans 4:13). A remnant of Edom became Jews under John Hyrcanus, and the rest amalgamated with the Arabians, who became Christians subsequently. Which are called by my name - i:e., who belong to me, whom I claim as mine (Psalms 2:8, "Ask of me (saith the Father to the Son), and I shall give Thee the pagan for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession"): in the purposes of electing grace, God terms them already called by His name. Compare the title, "the children," applied by anticipation, Hebrews 2:14. Hence, as this is an act of sovereign grace, fulfilling His promise, it is here virtually said by Amos concerning God, 'Proclaim His title as sovereign,' "the Lord that doeth this" ("all these things," Acts 15:17 - namely, all these and such like acts of sovereign love).