Understanding the book of amos

The book of amos is the earliest of the book of the twelve prophets, and is relevant today, as it addresses social injustice, so prevalent in our world. Hasel, a wellestablished old testament theologian, has written an insightful and helpful analysis of the most important critical issues surrounding the book of amos. By ted grimsrud lets now look at a place where the bible uses the explicit language of justice. Despite the fact that he lived in the southern kingdom of judah, god sent him as his prophet to the northern kingdom of. 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. Tekoa was located about twelve miles south of jerusalem.

Book of amos summary we have detailed a brief summary of the book of amos for bible study or sunday school lessons. Book of amos read, study bible verses online bible study tools. Some scholars believe he prophesied just a few days. The day of the lord tradition also appears in isaiah, ezekiel, obadiah, joel, and malachi. Understanding the book of amos the masters seminary. They were not looking after the poor people, they were not remembering the sabbath, and other things. The term canon, from a hebrewgreek word meaning cane or. God was going to punish israels people for these crimes. Amos wanted to tell the people that they were not obeying gods law. Sep 03, 2019 although the prophet amos spoke gods message many years ago, it still is very applicable to us today. Deuel july 12, 2011 volume 3, number 1 spring 1992 read article. The prophet amos lived in the eighth century bc and was a common herdsman and keeper of sycamore fig trees 7.

This summary of the book of amos provides information about the title, author s, date of writing, chronology, theme, theology, outline, a brief overview, and the chapters of the book of amos. There is a large evangelical cultural and even political christianity that is seemingly complacent to true righteousness and to the care for the poor. Unlike some of the prophetsjonah or hoseaamos doesnt tell a story that is easy to remember. The book of amos, which is the earliest of the prophetic writings to be preserved in book form, consists of nine chapters. Aug 08, 2019 from now on serious studies of the prophet amos will need to commence with this volume.

Basic issues in current interpretations 9781532686481 by gerhard f. The book of amos was likely written between 760 and 753 b. This summary of the book of amos provides information about the title, authors, date of writing. The book of amos is a stinging rebuke of a nation that has rejected and forgotten god. And we must never forget that amos is speaking to us, the church of god, the israel of god. Then he says something to his own people who live in israel and judah. The theological implications of the prophecy of amos. It is a stirring warning to all of the dangers of apostasy, rebellion and complacency. The main purpose of a summary is as a simplification highlighting the major points from the original and much longer version of the subject.

The book of the prophet amos the prophet amos lived in the eighth century bc and was a common herdsman and keeper of sycamore fig trees 7. And he said, the lord will roar from zion, and utter his voice from jerusalem. God sent the prophet amos to the nation of israel saying, time is running out. Though amos himself is not ashamed to own that he was a herdsman, yet others ought not to upbraid him with it nor think the worse of him for it. The book of amos is so interesting because it could have easily been written to the church in america today. Astronomical calculations indicate that a solar eclipse occurred in israel on june 15, 763 b. The purpose of amos s prophecy is to awaken israel and its surrounding nations to the fact that the nation is both responsible and accountable for its sins. Although the prophet amos spoke gods message many years ago, it still is very applicable to us today. Watch our overview video on the book of amos, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. His prophecy was by inspiration of god, and lasted a very short time. By studying this book, students can gain a greater understanding of the critical role prophets perform in the lords work and a greater appreciation for the calling.

While hosea only prophesied regarding israel amos also prophesied concerning the neighbouring nations of israel. Not all of the material found in these chapters came from amos himself. He was a shepherd and tended to sycamore fig trees. Traveled north to israel bethel to preach as one called of god 7. The book of amos is the third of the twelve minor prophets in the tanakhold testament and. Basic issues in current interpretations hasel, gerhard f. The theology of the book of amos in modern times, amos has come to be considered one of the most important prophets, mainly for his uncompromising message about social justice. Amos 12 contains a great example of this entrapment technique, and recognizing what amos is doing here really helps us to understand what is being said and what is the theme of the book. The only drawback is that hasel died before he could update this book. It repeatedly points out the failure of the people to fully embrace gods idea of justice. As it is presented in this book, amoss message is one of almost unrelieved.

An explosion of scholarly treatments of the book of amos leaves one wondering. The book of zephaniah is probably best known for being the least known book of the entire bible. 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. This book is an excellent resource for students of amos because it gives a great overview, as the subtitle indicates, of the basic issues in current interpretations and a wonderful bibliography. It is a small book, nestled in the midst of the minor prophets, toward the end of the old testament. For three transgressions of damascus, and for four similarly amos 1. Therefoe the event would have been fresh in the mid of the people when amos wrote in amos 8.

Among the minor prophets, we are certainly much more familiar with jonah and hosea. In this book, amos accuses israel of breaking their covenant with god and. Describing the genre of a written work that reinvigorates older oral speech forms, in m. Amos was a sheepbreeder of tekoa in judah, who delivered his oracles in the. Amos was from tekoa, a small town in judah about 6 miles south of bethlehem and 11 miles from jerusalem. Book of amos, the third of 12 old testament books that bear the names of the. Amos was a contemporary of hosea, isaiah, and jonah. Amos presents no ontological, teleological, or cosmological arguments for the existence of god. The books of reference used for this study of the book of amos were the bible, king james version, called the companion bible, publisher kregel. The seventh, eighth, and ninth chapters contain visions, with their explanations. The book of amos is one of the least understood in the holy scriptures.

The words of amos reveal jehovahs mercy towards an unworthy people. Strongs exhaustive concordance of the bible, numbered to the hebrew, chaldee, and greek, and english, coded to the strongs concordance numbers. The book of amos introduction to the book of amos in the bible. He is not so much interested in presenting to his people what god is like as he is in announcing what god is about to do. Amos 1 commentary matthew henry commentary on the whole. 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. A summary, synopsis or recap is a shortened version of the original. Nov 04, 2016 god sent the prophet amos to the nation of israel saying, time is running out. Amos is, in my words, the country preacher who came to town. Like the book of amos, the book of hosea is addressed to the people of the northern kingdom israel. The numbers are of course to be understood not literally, but typically, a concrete number being chosen for the sake of assisting the imagination. The kings and inhabitants of the northern kingdom had turned their back on jehovah and therefore could no longer be entitled to his promises. Amos, an older contemporary of hosea and isaiah, was active c. He warned the israelites that destruction was impending, and he described god as angry, crouching, and focused like a lion stalking the sinful, carefree nations.

Transcribed and edited by david sielaff, february 20. We find two quotations from the book of amos in the acts of the apostles. 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. In four ways, the old testament book of amos is essential for a robust understanding of the gospel. The book is ultimately addressed to all israel hence the references to judah and jerusalem. As with each of the minor prophets, the title comes from the name of the prophet to whom god gave his message 1. Instead of choosing between prayer and service, the book of amos teaches us that both are essential. Amos s job was to remind people about what they already knew. He prophesied during the reigns of jeroboam the second in israel, and uzziah in judah. The book of amos is a series of prophecies by the prophet amos, who predicted the fall of judah by the invading assyrians. Spoke in bethel center for idol worship in israel and then in judah. Amos lived in the kingdom of judah but preached in the.

He brings prophecies against neighbors of israel, mentioning names and places one can only recognize with the help of maps and reference books. 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. He writes about the terrible things that they have done. How does the message of an out of step sheepherder relate to america at this critical moment in history. Although he hailed from judea, amos preached in the northern kingdom of the neighboring nation, israel. I want us to get acquainted with him personally, because to get acquainted with amos is to love him and to understand his prophecy better. Nevertheless, this is a great book with a significant.

Amos free bible commentary in easy english easyenglish bible. Five messages describing the reasons for the judgment and just how bad they were. 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. Then they will explain to other people all that he is going to do. However, amos treatment of justice echoes what we also find elsewhere in the bible. So amos goes to bethel, which was functioning as the capitol of israel. An easyenglish commentary 2800 word vocabulary on the book of amos.

Editors and copyists added comments to the prophets original oracles that they deemed appropriate in light of events that occurred after his death. May 18, 2017 besides the prophetic genre, the book of amos has shown itself to be useful in a variety of ways, as theologians and historians have used the work to discuss and analyze the history of the composition of the biblical texts, the understanding of the minor prophetic books of the bible, and recently, even the exodus out of egypt itself. Its fourteen chapters contain both a warning concerning future events and an interpretation of these events meanings. How some scholars have divided the book of amos amos the eighth century prophet of tekoa a sociological detour the seventh century scribe of jerusalem the final author of the book of amos when a book of the bible has three authors spiritual truth from the authors of amos. The book of amos is not a closely reasoned book on the nature of god, man, sin, and salvation. Amos 7 commentary commentary critical and explanatory on. Throughout the book, the prophet speaks to the people of israel about the critical situation that developed during the. 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 with book summary versebyverse bible commentary. He was not a man of the court like isaiah, or a member of a priestly family like jeremiah and ezekiel. Summary of the book of amos the story of the bible. The prophecy of amos should simplify the choices in our lives. But let justice roll down like waters and righteousness like. The fullest discussion of justice in the old testament shows up in the book of amos.

Unlike some of the prophetsjonah or hosea amos doesnt tell a story that is easy to remember. Understanding the book of amos gerhard hasel is 20% off every day at. The book of amos is not an easy work to read and understand. He was a shepherd, and a dresser of sycamore trees by trade. 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. May you know our great god better and have a better understanding of his grace and love. How does the message of an out of step sheepherder relate to america at this c. The book of amos is the third of the twelve minor prophets in the tanakhold testament and the second in the greek septuagint tradition.

Book of amos overview insight for living ministries. We will find that he was born in judah, the southern kingdom, but he was a prophet to the northern kingdom. More than almost any other book of scripture, the book of amos holds gods people accountable for their illtreatment of others. God raised up the prophet amos, as an act of his great mercy to a people who repeatedly shunned and disobeyed him. The persons concerned in the prophecy of this book. The book of amos is a prophetic book in the old testament. What do we know for sure about the prophet, his time, and his. Most of this title is given over to making the authors reasonable case that the book of amos has three distinct authorsproduced by a process taking almost two hundred years. It is a prophecy for the period just ahead of us, a prophecy dealing with a. This book provides a detailed exploration of this theme and other important elements of the theology underlying the book of amos. As you read this book, ask god to allow you to learn biblical lessons.