Amos 1
Amos was one of the Twelve Minor Prophets in the Hebrew Bible and Christian Old Testament. Amos was active around 760–755 BCE during the rule of kings Jeroboam II of Israel and Uzziah of Judah. Amos was the first Hebrew prophet to have a biblical book named after him. He lived in the kingdom of Judah but preached in the northern kingdom of Israel. His major themes of social justice, God's omnipotence, and divine judgment became staples of prophecy. Amos was a shepherd and grower of sycamore figs in Tekoa, a small town about 10 miles south of Jerusalem. He did not come from a family of prophets and did not consider himself one.
Before God called him as a prophet, Amos was likely a wealthy herdsman and farmer. Amos accurately foretold the destruction of the northern kingdom of Israel. He anticipated later Old Testament prophets.The force of Amos’s preaching resides in his use of satire. This rhetorical strategy produces a “fragmentation” effect when blended with other subgenres like metaphor, proverb, woe oracle, and doom song. “Satire is a subversive genre,” and when coupled with the sudden shifts in literary technique and topic Amos keeps his audience “disoriented and assaulted.” Amos, the third of the Twelve Minor Prophets, lived during the eighth century before Christ. He was from Judah, and was born at Tekoah in the land of Zebulon, six miles south of Bethlehem.
Before God called him as a prophet, Amos was likely a wealthy herdsman and farmer. Amos accurately foretold the destruction of the northern kingdom of Israel. He anticipated later Old Testament prophets.The force of Amos’s preaching resides in his use of satire. This rhetorical strategy produces a “fragmentation” effect when blended with other subgenres like metaphor, proverb, woe oracle, and doom song. “Satire is a subversive genre,” and when coupled with the sudden shifts in literary technique and topic Amos keeps his audience “disoriented and assaulted.” Amos, the third of the Twelve Minor Prophets, lived during the eighth century before Christ. He was from Judah, and was born at Tekoah in the land of Zebulon, six miles south of Bethlehem.

The prophet Amos is mentioned in connection with Uzziah and the latter days of Jeroboam II (Amos 1:1). Though he was a Judean, Amos’s message concentrated mostly on the northern Israelites, to whom he announced that captivity was coming. Secondarily he addressed the sins of Judah and several surrounding nations. Amos is listed among the Bible’s 12 minor prophets (from the Latin minor, “smaller” [in length of book]).
In Uzziah’s final year, the well-known major prophet Isaiah was commissioned (Isaiah 6:1–9). He spoke during the subsequent reigns of Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah (Isaiah 1:1), delivering messages about the coming downfall of Judah and Jerusalem, its expected Messiah, and the future kingdom of God. - -David Hulme; Vision
In Uzziah’s final year, the well-known major prophet Isaiah was commissioned (Isaiah 6:1–9). He spoke during the subsequent reigns of Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah (Isaiah 1:1), delivering messages about the coming downfall of Judah and Jerusalem, its expected Messiah, and the future kingdom of God. - -David Hulme; Vision

Little is known about the prophet Amos other than what is written here; that he worked as “one of the shepherds” in Tekoa. The word translated “shepherds” can refer to various kinds of livestock and it is by no means clear whether Amos was the owner of the livestock or just a hired hand. Not much is known of Tekoa, either, except that it was a town in Southern Judah, near Bethlehem. It was fortified by Rehoboam (2 Chron 11:6) and surrounded by rocky desert (2 Chron 20:20).
God calls the weak and ordinary instead of the wise and strong (1 Cor 1:26–27). Amos was a nobody, but God revealed himself to Amos through His word, just as today he reveals himself to all who put their faith in His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. -Bible Studies Online
God calls the weak and ordinary instead of the wise and strong (1 Cor 1:26–27). Amos was a nobody, but God revealed himself to Amos through His word, just as today he reveals himself to all who put their faith in His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. -Bible Studies Online

Amos warns his hearers of impending judgment. A lion does not roar unless it has a prey, and Israel is the prey that God is about to take in judgment. The picture of God making his voice heard from Jerusalem, the place which He had appointed for worship, is significant. Under the leadership of Jeroboam I, Israel had forsaken this place of worship and instead worshipped the golden calves at Bethel and Dan. Jeroboam had even appointed his own priests, contrary to God’s command. This entire system of idolatry was designed by Jeroboam to prevent his subjects being reunited with Judah. He reasoned, quite shrewdly, that if the people had the same religion and worshipped in the same place, then a national reunion, based on repentance toward God, would be more likely to occur (1 Kings 12:26–33).
The devil still uses the same strategy of keeping Christians apart through division, as this weakens their effectiveness and reduces the threat to his kingdom.
The devil still uses the same strategy of keeping Christians apart through division, as this weakens their effectiveness and reduces the threat to his kingdom.
Amos 1:3-4:
Thus saith the Lord; For three transgressions of Damascus, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they have threshed Gilead with threshing instruments of iron: 4 But I will send a fire into the house of Hazael, which shall devour the palaces of Benhadad. |