The book of the twelve prophets was originally on one parchment roll. Amos, flourished 8th century bc, the first hebrew prophet to have a biblical book named for him. The book of amos is named after the prophet whose words are collected in this book. Rather, he was a grower of sycamore figs as well as a shepherd amos 7. The book of amos the life and times of amos the prophet amos lived during the long reign of king jeroboam ii. This article is missing information about evidence as to whether amos was a historical person.
Amos, an older contemporary of hosea and isaiah, 2 was active c. It is a short book full of passion and anger whose subject matter is a protest in the. But let justice roll down like waters and righteousness like. Amos had no formal education, but was greatly influenced by the pentateuch. 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. The book is an anthology of his oracles and was compiled either by the prophet or by some of his disciples. The only time the name of amos appears in the old testment is in the book of amos. May 07, 2016 watch our overview video on the book of amos, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. A teaching outline for the book of amos expository. Amos is the first of the prophets to write down the messages he has received.
The book of amos is one of the least understood in the holy scriptures. We find two quotations from the book of amos in the acts of the apostles. Find out what true worship looks like in the book of amos. His given name was prophetically significant to the work that he was called to do. 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. 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. 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.
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 prophet amos lived among a group of shepherds in tekoa, a small town approximately ten miles south of jerusalem. Please expand the article to include this information. Nearly three millennia ago in the eighth century b. Amos informs us that he is writing during the reigns of jeroboam ii and uzziah, both of whom are biblical kings known from the archaeological record to have reigned from the 8th century bce. In this book, amos accuses israel of breaking their covenant with god and. Studying the book of the prophet amos is an excellent way to begin a study of the prophetic tradition of israel. The only time the name of amos appears in the old testment is in the book of. Despite the fact that he lived in the southern kingdom of judah, god sent him as his prophet to the northern kingdom of. While hosea only prophesied regarding israel amos also prophesied concerning the neighbouring nations of israel. Summary of the book of amos the story of the bible. The book of amos was likely written between 760 and 753 b. What we know of amos derives solely from the book that he himself authored. Instead of choosing between prayer and service, the book of amos teaches us that both are essential.
Like the apostles, amos had no theological credentials cf. According to the heading of his book i, 1 amos was a herdsman of. Amos was a shepherd who lived in the region of tekoa, not many miles from the city of jerusalem. 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, an older contemporary of hosea and isaiah, was active c. He accurately foretold the destruction of the northern kingdom. This article is about amos, a minor prophet in the hebrew bible and christian bible.
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. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. He brings prophecies against neighbors of israel, mentioning names and places one can only recognize with the help of maps and reference books. Amos made clear in his writings that he did not come from a family of prophets, nor did he even consider himself one. 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. Seldom read or heeded today, how do the warning words of amos impact our world of the 21st century.
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. Amos sons of encouragement book 4 kindle edition by rivers, francine. According to the heading of his book i, 1 amos was a herdsman of thecua, a village in the southern kingdom, twelve miles south of jerusalem. But, like the apostles, amos was compelled to spea. Jonahs preaching in nineveh must have been similar. 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. Amos with book summary versebyverse bible commentary. 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 is an intriguing scripture from a unique. May 18, 2017 the book of amos is considered one of the earliest biblical books by scholars, as it dates to the middle of the 8th century bce.
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. God inspires but does not dictate, as if the prophet were simply a tool like a typewriter or loud speaker. He made his living by raising sheep and taking care of. Tekoa was located about twelve miles south of jerusalem. Not all of the material found in these chapters came from amos himself.
He accurately foretold the destruction of the northern kingdom of israel although he did not specify assyria as the cause and. Editors and copyists added comments to the prophet s original oracles that they deemed appropriate in light of events that occurred after his death. He was a shepherd and farmer, but had the special commission to proclaim. Bible names had meanings, and often, when a prophets name was given to him or her, it described the work that god had called the prophet to do. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the prophet. In this book, amos accuses israel of breaking their covenant with god. The prophet amos explains some more judgments to the people from god and in chapter 5. Amos must have subsequently returned to tekoa where he assembled and edited his messages as we now see them in the book. Amos is the third of the twelve prophets in the book of the twelve in hebrew scripture. Amos meaning burden or burdenbearer was an inhabitant of the rugged region of tekoa, located in the territory of judah about 12 miles south of jerusalem. He was a shepherd and tended to sycamore fig trees.
A man of solitude, who felt at home among the hills. Amos a prophet of israel amazing bible timeline with world. For the father of isaiah, a prophet in the hebrew bible, see amoz. 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. The prophet amos lived during the long reign of king jeroboam ii. Amos, a judaean prophet from the village of tekoa, was active in the northern kingdom of israel during the reign of jeroboam ii c. And the lord took me as i followed the flock, and the. The lord roars from zion and thunders from jerusalem. 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. The prophet s name, amos, has been variously explained, and its exact meaning is still a matter of conjecture. Im studying the prophet books, and your videos have brought so. Amos was apparently a peripatetic prophet who kept repeating a basic message, the summary for which is given by amaziah in 7.
Amos was born in the judean town of tekoa, near modern bethlehem. The words of amos reveal jehovahs mercy towards an unworthy people. Apr 02, 2020 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. He was not a member o the sons of the prophets, and was never officially anointed a prophet. The worship of assyrian deities and the huge gulf that had emerged between the haves and the have nots. He has always been admired for the purity of his language, his beauty of diction, and his poetic art.
In all these respects he is isaiahs spiritual progenitor. Amos, the first hebrew prophet to have a biblical book named for him. Although he hailed from judea, amos preached in the northern kingdom of the neighboring nation, israel. 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.
God has called christians not only to be in relationship with him but also to be in relationships with others. It is a prophecy for the period just ahead of us, a prophecy dealing with a. Book of amos overview insight for living ministries. God raised up the prophet amos, as an act of his great mercy to a people who repeatedly shunned and disobeyed him. The book of amos is a collection of prophetic messages delivered by the prophet amos. Then answered amos, and said to amaziah, i was no prophet, neither was i a prophets son.
Trailer studying the book of the prophet amos is an excellent way to begin a study of the prophetic tradition of israel. As with each of the minor prophets, the title comes from the name of the prophet to whom god gave his message 1. Jan 05, 2019 like the apostles, amos had no theological credentials cf. Watch our overview video on the book of amos, which breaks down the. Amos is a contemporary of the prophet hosea and so the social and religious problems that hosea faced were the same. The prophecy of amos should simplify the choices in our lives. The book of amos is not an easy work to read and understand. 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. The book of amos, which is the earliest of the prophetic writings to be preserved in book form, consists of nine chapters. The prophet amos was a simple shepherd called by god to speak to the northern kingdom of israel. Lessons from the book of amos, part i steps to life. Amos was a judean prophet called to deliver a message primarily to the northern tribes of israel 7.
The people of israel had fallen into great sinfulness including idolatry, greed, bad leadership, and injustice to the poor. Watch our overview video on the book of amos, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. Amos mission is directed to his neighbor to the north, israel. Editors and copyists added comments to the prophets original oracles that they deemed appropriate in light of events that occurred after his death.
Jul 29, 2010 nearly three millennia ago in the eighth century b. In the hebrew bible and christian old testament, amos hebrew. Amos a prophet of israel amazing bible timeline with. Unlike some of the prophetsjonah or hoseaamos doesnt tell a story that is easy to remember. The book of amos introduction to the book of amos in the bible. The book also includes a narrative description of an event in amos s life and a few fragments of hymns, which have been interspersed throughout the book probably by an editor. Transcribed and edited by david sielaff, february 20. As with hosea, amos preached against the social and moral decline of israel.