Amos starts with the whole region with a general impeachment, containing eight nations. Syria, Philistia, Phoenicia, Edom, Ammon, Moab, Judah and Israel. With centering his attention on Israel.
"Captivity" is one of the key words of the book of Amos: ( 1:5 , 15 ; 5:5 , 27 ; 6:7; 7:9 , 17) Within a period of 50 years these predictions were all fulfilled.
During Amos life he may of have heard Jonah tell of his visit to Nineheh and known Elisha. During Amos time Jonah and elisha would of been passing off the stage with Amos coming on the stage.
We belive that Hosea was a co-worker with Amos and had been in Bethel at the time of Amos' visit. With Hosea being the younger one and continued his work after amos was gone. The time period has Amos closing his work with Isaiah and Micah beginning theirs.
Amos was one of the Minior Prophets, and contains the messages of the prophet Amos.
The truths Amos gives expression to several religions and moral truths that are of permanent significance.
1. "Justice between man and man is one of the divine foundations of Society"
2. " Privilege implies responsibility"
3. " Failure to recognize responsibility will severely bring retribution responsibility will surely bring retribution."
4. " Nations and by analogy individual are under obligation to live up to the measure of light and knowledge granted to them."
5. The most elaborate worship is but an insult to God when offered by those who have no mind to conform to his ethical demands."
Tekoa (1:1) in the bleak pasture lands overlooking the wilderness of Judea, it is believed to be the same region where John the Baptist 8 centuries later grew to manhood. Tekoa was on an elevation of about 2700 feet.
In the lives of the people of that time the prophet Amos was a more irregular and occasional factor. The father ruled the family under the leadership of the Elders. The King's agents collected the tax and in time of war other wise they were not counted for much.
The people in the community was controlled by local and national customs rather then the code of formal law. The people might be called upon to be Judaical, military, and religious at any time.
Amos was a countryman of Tekoa and a Shepherd/layman not a "cleric" The passion of Social Sympathy and a deep keen resentment against Social injustice.
Amos was a member of the Southern Kingdom and prophesied against the Northern one shortly be Israel was taken into Exile by the Assyrians in 722 B.C.
Amos spoke of six surrounding nations, Arameans of Damascous to the Northeast v-3-5, The Ammonites v 13-15, The Edomites of the South V 11-12, The Phoenicains of the Northwest V 9-10 and the Philistines of the Southwest V 6-8 Using the same formula he directs it to Judal 2:4-5 and then finally Israel 2: 6-16
Amos had what it took in those days to be a prophet. He was a man of abnormal psychical experience, who could see visions and hear voices with feeling strange physical compulsions. this would give to him his personnal convictions and a divine authority in his own eys and to others.
The people of this time lived in small towns and villages. They were usually one roomed house clustered on hill sides. The town would have one village well to which the women would use ever morning and evening. The Village would have a main gate where the men would gather to talk over common business. Above all the house usually the high point would be the "high place" being the local sanctuary. (Altar, could been a form of a rough blocks of unknown stone and near it possibly an ancient and sacred tree. There would be a wooden post called "Asherah" and a "Mazzebah" (Hebrew word meaning standing stone) stone pillar with them there may of been an image of Jehovah, possible the OX being the favorite symbol used. The OX being a very strong animal. The oldest method of animal sacrifice if offered was to drain its blood on the altar with the family and friends feasting on the rest of the flesh of the animal. ) Most of the men worked in the fields tending flocks of sheep, until Israel's future would career of trading began under the Canaanite's guidance. A long the hill side they would grow grapes and Olives, the grapes would be rocked pressed to use the juices in the temple. In the valley grew wheat and barley. It would be carried to the thrashing floor in due season. In the homes the oil and meat were kept in earthen jars, and supplemented by various fruits. Animal's flesh were eaten very rarely on festival days. The people clothing were a close-fitting tonic with an outer cloak, used as a sleeping cover.
Among the 12 OT prophets Amos was the third one but the first one to have his words recorded. We assume shorty after the victory of Jeroboam II over the Arameans of Damascus probably before 750 Amos' prophetic activity took place. An oppressive social pyramid had been constricted with the poor being victimized by the rich. Of the social crimes religious decay was one of them. Yahwism was in danger of deterioration into paganism because of being no longer in pure form. Yahweh in Irsael's original covenant were to be No class distinction. Violation of the social order was Amos main concern. He is often called the prophet of social justice because of his vigorous denunciation of such abuses.
They had a unbrotherly conduct toward Israel ("Jacob") was exemplified chiefly long after the time of Amos, when Jerusalem was destroyed in 586 B.C.
The Edomites subsequently occupied south Judea and lost their land by the Nabatean Arabs. It was Teman, the North District of edom (Ezek 25:13) Bozrah, capital of Teman (Isa 34:6) and perhaps Busaireh, twenty miles southwest of the Dead Sea.
The reagn of Jeruboam had been very successful. The kingdom had enlarged considerably (II Kings 14:23-29) Israel was in great tide of properity, but the land was reeking in moral rottenness, idolatry, a land of swearing, injustice, stealing, oppeasion, adultery, robbery, and murder. It had been some 200 years since the Northern Kingdom had been set up by the ten tribes with calr-worship as it religion. (II Kings 12: 25-33) Baal-worship had been adapted during this time.
About 30 years before the fall of Israel (7:10-14) the following prophecy seem to been delivered on a visit to Bethel by Amos. Amos' prophecy was about 751 B.C.
Amos message was to Israel, the Northern Kingdom in the reigns of Uzziah, king of Judal ( 787-735 B.C.) and Jeroboam, II King of Israel (790-749 B.C.)
Josephus says the "earthquake" was co-incident with the imposition of Uzziah's leprosy (II Chronicles 26:16-21)
| PROPHETS | PROPHESIED TO OR ABOUT | KINGS WHO RULED DURING PROPHET'S TIME | APPROX DATES (B.C.) |
| Amos | Israel | Jeroboam II | Before Northern Kingdom of Israel Captivity (790-779) |
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