We find two quotations from the book of amos in the acts of the apostles. The book of amos is a prophetic book of the hebrew bible largely dating to the 8th century bce and considered to be scripture by modernday jews and christians. Amos lived in the kingdom of judah but preached in the northern kingdom of israel. Twopage spread from johannes gutenbergs 42line bible, c. The recording is dramatized, from the king james bible. Amos is a shepherd and a fruit picker from the judean village of tekoa when god calls him, even though he lacks an education or a priestly background. This summary of the book of amos provides information about the title, authors, date of writing, chronology, theme, theology, outline, a brief overview, and the chapters of the book of amos. Amos 1, new international version niv the bible app. Not all of the material found in these chapters came from amos himself. Amos, an older contemporary of hosea and isaiah was active during the reign of jeroboam ii, making the book of amos the first biblical prophetic book written. The book of amos is not an easy work to read and understand.
Amos, whose name means burden, gives no family pedigree, hence we can assume he was not of noble or prominent stock, like isaiah or zephaniah. God raised up the prophet amos, as an act of his great mercy to a people who repeatedly shunned. Unlike some of the prophetsjonah or hoseaamos doesnt tell a story that is easy to remember. Book of amos overview insight for living ministries. He was not a man of the court like isaiah, or a member of a priestly family like jeremiah and ezekiel. In the bible it is the social world of the premodern or ancients. Amos accuses israel of breaking their covenant with god, and highlights how their idolatry has led to injustice and the neglect of the poor. Book of amos, the third of 12 old testament books that bear the names of the minor prophets, collected in one book under the jewish canon titled the twelve. The apostle james, bishop of jerusalem, in the acts of the apostles 15. This is the holy book of amos, known simply as amos. The prophet amos lived among a group of shepherds in tekoa, a small town. Amos was from tekoa, a small town in judah about 6 miles south of bethlehem and 11 miles from jerusalem. The people of israel had fallen into great sinfulness including idolatry, greed, bad leadership, and injustice to the poor. Amos 1 niv the words of amos, one of the shepherds bible.
The book of amos was likely written between 760 and 753 b. The books of 1 and 2 kings or 1 and 2 chronicles do not mention this prophet, and he should not be confused with amoz, the father of isaiah the prophet. In this book, amos accuses israel of breaking their covenant with god and highlights how their idolatry has led to injustice and the neglect of the. This is, in my opinion, the best and most beautiful. This book of the prophet amos is the only mention we have of this man in the old testament. Hear this word, you cows of bashan on mount samaria, you women who oppress the poor and crush the needy and say to your husbands, bring us some drinks. More than almost any other book of scripture, the book of amos holds gods people accountable for their illtreatment of others. Amos, a judaean prophet from the village of tekoa, was active in the northern kingdom of israel during the reign of jeroboam ii c. The book of amos is an intriguing scripture from a unique individual, amos, a shepherd and fig tree farmer dwelling in southern judah who is called by god to go to bethel and announce warnings of judgment to the northern kingdom of israel.
The most popular bible verses from amos found 146 verses amos 4. Intro to amos biblica the international bible society. For three transgressions of damascus, and for four. The book of amos is the third of the twelve minor prophets in the tanakhold testament and the second in the greek septuagint tradition. An integrated digital bible study library including complete notes from the niv study bible and the nkjv macarthur study bible is just a step away. The purpose of the book of amos was to announce gods holy judgment on the kingdom of israel the northern kingdom, call them to repentance, and to turn from their selfrighteous sins and idolatry. Amos hebrew prophet britannica encyclopedia britannica. The book of amos is an intriguing scripture from a unique individual, amos, a shepherd and fig tree farmer dwelling in southern judah who is called by god to go to bethel and announce warnings of judgment. The book of amos begins and ends with references to an earthquake 1. The book of amos is named after the prophet whose words are collected in this book. An older contemporary of hosea and isaiah, amos was active c. The words of amos reveal jehovahs mercy towards an unworthy people. He prophesied in israel at the great cult center of bethel, from which he was finally expelled by the priest in charge of this royal sanctuary 7. Amos is the third of the twelve prophets in the book of the twelve in hebrew scripture.
Amos, flourished 8th century bc, the first hebrew prophet to have a biblical book named for him. Whether he owned the flocks and groves or only worked as a hired hand is not known. Not one of the recognized prophets of israel, nor was he a priest, not even a native of israel but a farmer called of the lord from judah to warn the northern kingdom of the coming judgement. In the hebrew bible and christian old testament, amos hebrew. The book of amos is written in some of the finest ot hebrew style. Social justice in the book of amos the marcus j borg. The book of amos was written during the era of divided kingdoms of israel but in an age which is much prosperous than the previous times especially the northern kingdom of isreal with ruler jeroboam ii reached at such a level of growth and prosperity as was not seen after david and solomon.
He accurately foretold the destruction of the northern kingdom. Book of amos read, study bible verses online bible study tools. As in the book of hosea religion was prospering but faith in the one true god yhwh was on the decline. While hosea only prophesied regarding israel amos also prophesied concerning the neighbouring nations of israel. The book of amos amos was a sheepbreeder of tekoa in judah, who delivered his oracles in the northern kingdom during the prosperous reign of jeroboam ii 786746 b. God raised up the prophet amos, as an act of his great mercy to a people who repeatedly shunned and disobeyed him. Amos was a sheepbreeder and tender of sycamore trees. At one point, amaziah the priest had commanded amos to go south to speak his words of doom, yet the prophet answered by a thus saith jehovah amos 7. Amos and hosea were coworkers and may even have gone on preaching tours through the land together, although hosea continued his work after amos passed from the scene. The social world of the bible meaning the economic and political systems of the world. Amos with book summary versebyverse bible commentary. The words of amos, one of the shepherds of tekoathe vision he saw concerning israel two years before the earthquake, when uzziah was king of judah.
The visions he had about israel, in the time of uzziah king of judah and jeroboam son of joash, king of israel, two years before the earthquake. His major themes of social justice, gods omnipotence, and divine judgment became staples of prophecy. Find out what true worship looks like in the book of amos. He was from the southern kingdom of judah but preached in the northern kingdom of israel.
The book of amos, which is the earliest of the prophetic writings to be preserved in book form, consists of nine chapters. God called amos to prophesy to israel, and it seems that he did most of his work at bethel amos 7. It repeatedly points out the failure of the people to fully embrace gods idea of justice. Amos, an older contemporary of hosea and isaiah, was active c. As with each of the minor prophets, the title comes from the name of the prophet to whom god gave his message 1. The book of, one of the twelve minor prophets, is part of the christian old testament. The justice discussed in amos is primarily about distributive justice as opposed to punitive or criminal justice. More than almost any other book of scripture, the book of amos holds gods. Amos was a contemporary of hosea, isaiah, and jonah. Book of amos, the third of 12 old testament books that bear the names of the. He is not to be confused with amoz stout, strong, the father of isaiah isaiah 1. He earned his living from the flock and the sycamorefig grove 1. He brings prophecies against neighbors of israel, mentioning names and places one can only recognize with the help of maps and reference books.
Editors and copyists added comments to the prophets original oracles that they deemed appropriate in light of events that occurred after his death. The book of the twelve prophets was originally on one parchment roll. The prophet amos was a simple shepherd called by god to speak to the northern kingdom of israel. In the bible book bearing his name, the prophet amos warns of gods judgments and foretells the establishment of the messianic kingdom. He was a shepherd and farmer, but had the special commission to proclaim gods message to the people of israel more precisely, to the northern kingdom of israel, since the people of israel had split into two kingdoms some 150 years before amos days. Study guide for amos 1 by david guzik blue letter bible.