In that day will I raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen, and close up its breaches; and I will raise up its ruins, and I will rebuild it as in the days of old:
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Augustine of Hippo
AD 430
But let us hear what Hosea goes on to say: “And after this the children of Israel shall return, and shall seek the Lord their God, and David their king. And they shall fear the Lord and his goodness in the last days.” You will never find a prophecy plainer than this, for the name king David means Christ who, as St. Paul says, “was born according to the flesh of the offspring of David.” Further on still, Hosea foretold the resurrection of Christ on the third day, but in the mysterious way that is proper to prophecy. He says, “He shall heal us after two days, and on the third day we shall rise up again.” This is the idea underlying the words of St. Paul: “Therefore if you have risen with Christ, seek the things that are above.” The prophet Amos too has predictions not unlike those of Hosea. He says, “Be prepared to meet your God, O Israel, for behold, I am the one who forms the thunder, and creates the wind, and declares to men their Christ.” And, in another place: “ ‘In that day I will ...
The tent of David signifies a trace of the law, which was the Pharisees. However, with the Lord's return, that is, His appearance in the flesh, it was built up buy God with spiritual grace, so that not only the Jews but also all the Gentile antions would seek after his name.
The tent of David means the race of the Jews. It must be known that after Cyrus had freed Israel from captivity, they returned to Judea and built the temple of God. Then, after they had again fortified the cities that had been detroyed before, they lived in security day by day for a long time, that is, for many days and long periods..
While such is the factual reference in the passage, therefore, the deeper meaning closer to reality would be in Christ. You see, when the god and Father raised his tent that had fallen into death-that is, raised the flesh from the ground-and he came back to life, then it was that he restored all human things to their former condition, and imparted a fresh appearance to everything of ours that head been cast down.
David. St. James, after St. Peter, explains this of the vocation of the Gentiles, Acts xv. 15. (Worthington)
After the fall of Israel, Juda still flourished: but this cannot be meant. The prosperity after the return from Babylon, or rather under Jesus Christ, must fulfil the prediction. Zorobalel had a very precarious authority, and the Machabees were not of the tribe of Juda, nor was their kingdom so flourishing or durable. (Calmet)
And thus do the words of the prophet agree, as it is written, “After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build its ruins and set it up. The remnant may seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles among whom my name has been invoked, says the Lord, doing these things.” His works are known from eternity by God. Therefore I for my part give this judgment, that we do not trouble those who from among the Gentiles are turned to God. .
Listen to the prophet saying, “I will raise up the tabernacle of David that has fallen.” Actually, it has fallen; our human nature has had an irreparable fall and was in need of that powerful hand alone. For it was not possible to raise it up otherwise, unless he who fashioned it in the beginning stretched out a hand to it and formed it again from above by the regeneration of water and the Spirit. Behold, pray, the awesome and ineffable character of the mystery. He dwells always in this tabernacle, for he put on our flesh, not to put it off again but to have it always with him. If this were not so, he would not have deemed it worthy of his royal throne.
