The book of amos the prophet

Rather, he was a grower of sycamore figs as well as a shepherd amos 7. He is not to be confused with amoz stout, strong, the father of isaiah isaiah 1. Politically, it was a time of prosperity under the long and secure reign of jeroboam ii who, following the example of his father joash 2 kings. Social justice in the book of amos the marcus j borg foundation. The book of amos is not a closely reasoned book on the nature of god, man, sin, and salvation. It is a short book full of passion and anger whose subject matter is a protest in the name of god against social injustice, complacency and hypocrisy. Israel is under the kingship of jeroboam 11 who died 753 bc. In this book, amos accuses israel of breaking their covenant with god and. Amos presents no ontological, teleological, or cosmological arguments for the existence of god. He says, the lord took me and sent me to go and prophesy to my people israel 7. The book of amos is one of the least understood in the holy scriptures. Israel and judah had many prophets and priests attached to various shrines and sanctuaries, as well as to the royal courts.

Summary of the book of amos the story of the bible. God raised up the prophet amos, as an act of his great mercy. It is interesting to note that his name is not mentioned anywhere else in the word except for luke 3. The author of amos is amos himself, a prophet and shepherd from tekoa, near bethlehem. Amos ministered during the reigns of uzziah in judah 790739 b. My purpose here is to focus in on one aspect of the book of amos. The book of amos was likely written between 760 and 753 b. Pdf the prophetic voice of amos as a paradigm for christians in. This prosperity brought on religious and moral corruption. 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 the prophet the historical background a wandering.

This was followed by three searching messages to israel, each beginning with the phrase, hear this word 3. When we read the book of amos, we find it is more than history it is gods word which shows us how to live for god and to do gods will. Studying the book of the prophet amos is an excellent way to begin a study of the prophetic tradition of israel. The book of amos is a prophetic book in the old testament. The first mention of the day of the lord from a hebrew prophet is found in the book of amos. 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. Book of amos overview insight for living ministries. 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. Amos the prophet the historical background a wandering people. He was a herdsman and a gatherer of sycamore fruit. The book of amos records some of the prophecies and teachings that the prophet amos delivered to the kingdom of israel during the reign of king jeroboam ii. Amos the prophet the historical background a wandering people at the start of what is a series looking at some of the prophets of israel, it might be helpful to do a little history which gives us a feel of the background.

The prophet amos records a series of history lessons that will help us evade the pitfalls of the wrong perspective. We find two quotations from the book of amos in the acts of the apostles. Amos was the first old testament prophet whose collected words were preserved as a book of the bible, and in fact this was probably the first biblical book to be completed in its present form. Marcus borg speaks on the topic of social justice in the bible, specifically book of amos, he looks at the societal context and world orders contemporary to jesus and his disciples to help understand their views of. Prophet amos leaves judah and goes to the land of israel to preach. Amos a prophet of israel amazing bible timeline with world. It is the first example in the world of the literary genre of prophetic poetry. He accurately foretold the destruction of the northern kingdom of israel although he did not specify assyria as the cause and, as a prophet of doom, anticipated later old testament prophets. As with each of the minor prophets, the title comes from the name of the prophet to whom god gave his message 1.

The only time the name of amos appears in the old testment is in the book of amos. Amos is a contemporary of the prophet hosea and so the social and religious problems that hosea faced were the same. Watch our overview video on the book of amos, which breaks down the literary. The book identifies the author as the prophet amos, who wrote probably between 760 and 753 bc, during the reign of jeroboam ii in israel. Not all of the material found in these chapters came from amos himself. These messages came in visions, oracles, dreams, parables, and the like. Welcome to interzonesprophetessartwork and photographs ed by interzonesprophetess. Amos probably traveled to bethel to give these prophecies around 760754 b. Amos s ministry may have been the earliest of the minor prophets. The concept of justice in the book of amos heartwell. Little is known of his life, but by interpreting the prophecies in the book he authored, obadiah likely lived some time in the 6th century bce.

There is nothing special about the exodus from egypt when israel is immoral rashi, rabbi joseph kara. Despite the fact that he lived in the southern kingdom of judah, god sent him as his prophet to the northern kingdom of israel during the reigns of uzziah of judah and jeroboam ii of israel. When god had a message for the people, he gave his message through the prophets. 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.

The book of amos condemns the rich and powerful of israelite society, who have come. Aug 31, 2018 amos has perhaps received more critical attention than any other minor prophet. 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. In these same verses he notes that on top of being a herdsman, he was also a grower5 of sycamore. Social justice in the book of amos march 24, 2014 by the marcus j borg foundation 0 categoryies. The theological implications of the prophecy of amos. The kingdoms were living in a time of idolatry, extravagant luxury, and oppression of the poor. Amos says, i am no prophet, nor the son of a prophet 7. Amos chapter 1 explained discover books of the bible. Amoss connection to the simple life of the people made its way into the center of his proph. Cripps, a critical and exegetical commentary on the book of amos london. A contemporary of hosea and isaiah, amos preached from about 760 to 746 bce in northern israel on subjects of social injustice.

In the hebrew bible and christian old testament, amos hebrew. He moved from tekoa in judah to the northern kingdom of israel during the reign of jeroboam ii and prophesied the destruction of the northern kingdom. The global message of amos the message of amos lands on the global church today with as much force and necessity as it landed on the people of god 2,700 years ago. Mays, words about the words of amos, interpretation. Although he hailed from judea, amos preached in the northern kingdom of the neighboring nation, israel. A number of parallels could be drawn between the israel of amos day and our time, but it is sufficient to say that the nation had deteriorated spiritually to the point where they did wicked things to provoke the lord to. Gods social justice amos the prophet fulfilling the. Gods social justice amos the prophet fulfilling the promises. Amos, the first hebrew prophet to have a biblical book named for him. The words of amos reveal jehovahs mercy towards an unworthy people. Seldom read or heeded today, how do the warning words of amos impact our world of the 21st century. 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. Speaking judgment in the name of yahweh, amos rooted his critique of israel in the story of the exodus from egypt.

Amos is a prophet of divine judgment, and the sovereignty of the lord in nature and history dominates his thought. Editors and copyists added comments to the prophet s original oracles that they deemed appropriate in light of events that occurred after his death. The lord reveals his secrets to his servants the prophets. God inspires but does not dictate, as if the prophet were simply a tool like a typewriter or loud speaker. He is not so much interested in presenting to his people what god is like as he is. Amos was a shepherd who lived in the region of tekoa, not many miles from the city of jerusalem. Lets look at amos from the prospective of learning more about god, about his ways, his message, and what he would have us do and to be.

Amos was a judean prophet called to deliver a message primarily to the northern tribes of israel 7. There are still scholars who defend the derivation of the entire book, or all but a few small fragmentary additions, from the eighthcentury prophet amos himself. Summary of the minor prophet amos historical setting. The author of the book of amos is identified as the prophet amos. The book of amos then concludes with a dramatic aboutface, in. However, it should be clearly understood that none of these four prophets was more interested in ethics than in religion. Amos had no formal education, but was greatly influenced by the pentateuch. In chapter 7 of the book of amos god gives him a series of visions and the first vision was about locusts destroying israels land. In amos case, the book begins with the words of amos, but he immediately writes, the lord roars from zion verse 2 and thus says the lord verse 3. Feb 02, 2011 amos was a stern prophet of righteousness and uncompromising justice. Tekoa was located about twelve miles south of jerusalem. Society for promoting christian knowledge, 1929, p.

Amos, a judaean prophet from the village of tekoa, was active in the northern kingdom of israel during the reign of jeroboam ii c. I have no intention to even begin to address the fullness of the nine chapters. This lecture studies the literary features and major themes of classical israelite prophecy as evidenced in particular in the book of the eighthcentury northern prophet amos. Amos a prophet of israel amazing bible timeline with.

Amos made clear in his writings that he did not come from a family of prophets, nor did he even consider himself one. The book of amos, which is the earliest of the prophetic writings to be preserved in book form, consists of nine chapters. Find out what true worship looks like in the book of amos. Amos mentions that this was two years before the earthquake.

The prophet amos to lade, to burden, burdenbearer originated from tekoa a town in judah, south of jerusalem. Scholars have emphasized the importance of amos among the great prophets of the old testament by means of various expressions. The prophet amos lived among a group of shepherds in tekoa, a small town approximately ten miles south of jerusalem. The redactions or continued growth of the book of amos has a richer complex literary history that extends into the sixth and fifth centuries b. Amos appeared to the people, spoke the message, and then departed, never to be heard of again. It is a prophecy for the period just ahead of us, a prophecy dealing with a. The book of amos is a collection of prophetic messages delivered by the prophet amos. The jewish people in the northern kingdom of israel. The book of amos then concludes with a dramatic aboutface, in which gods eternal love of israel shines forth.

Amos, an older contemporary of hosea and isaiah, was active c. In this new commentary hadjiev provides historical context and concise exposition of the hebrew. What the prophet amos had to say about economic justice. Book of amos explained discover books of the bible. The book of amos is the third of the twelve minor prophets in the tanakhold testament and the second in the greek septuagint tradition. Amos was the first prophet in the bible whose message was recorded at length. That is, amos was not a prophet in a professional sense i.

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. Some have termed amos a prophet of doom, but he only. Amos is identified as the prophet amos religion essay. Amos was a layman, neither a prophet nor the son of a prophet, as he put it. Although he came from a town in judah, he preached to the people of the northern kingdom of israel, about the middle of the eighth century b.

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. He has been referred to as the first of the classical prophets, 1 philip hyatt, the book of amos, interpretation, iii, no. Transcribed and edited by david sielaff, february 20. Even though amos was sent especially to israel, he spoke for god against the evils of all the nations. A survey of the book the holy spirit, through the prophet amos, announced a series of judgments upon seven nations chapters 1,2.

Hardly any aspect of the book remains untouched by extensive commentary. Although he hailed from judea, amos preached in the northern. The prophetic books are anthologies of oracles the sequence of which is often determined by literary rather than chronological considerations. Lessons from amos the institute for creation research. Jul 29, 2010 nearly three millennia ago in the eighth century b. He was one of the earliest of the prophetic writers. God raised up the prophet amos, as an act of his great mercy to a people who repeatedly shunned and disobeyed him. The prophet amos lived during the long reign of king jeroboam ii. God called amos to prophesy to israel, and it seems that he did most of his work at bethel amos 7. 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 is a contemporary of the prophet hosea and so the social and religious problems that. The critical issues chapter 1 the theology of the book of. While hosea only prophesied regarding israel amos also prophesied concerning the neighbouring nations of israel.

He was not a member o the sons of the prophets, and was never officially anointed a prophet. Pdf this study focuses upon the ot prophet amos and his life, mission, and message in the context of christians in the public square. He made his living by raising sheep and taking care of. As a prophet amos was in many respects like the lord jesus christ. Amos accuses israel of breaking their covenant with god, and highlights how their idolatry has led to injustice and the neglect of the poor.

The book also includes a narrative description of an event in amoss life. The book of amos covers a point in time where both the northern kingdom israel and southern kingdom judah were experiencing great prosperity. Although amoss occupation is simply translated as a shepherd, the preferred technical translation is one who owns or tends sheep or cattle. And the thing that marks this book is that he was not a trained prophet. The book of amos sermon outlines landmark baptist church. The ethical teaching of amos, its content and relevance. The key idea in amos is that god is just and impartial and will judge not only the nations but also his own people for their life of ease and apathy amid human suffering. Amos is the third of the minor prophets, the last twelve books of the old testament. Jeroboam the son of joash not to be confused with jeroboam the son of nevat, the first king of the northern kingdom of the ten tribes reigned over the ten tribes of israel for forty years from the year 3114 till 3153 after creation. Sep 09, 2012 the prophet amos explains some more judgments to the people from god and in chapter 5.