Amos begins to give more detail about Israel’s coming destruction as well as more detail about why they have earned God’s wrath. He makes sure his listeners understand these are God’s words as he repeatedly tells them, “Thus says Yahweh,” or “Thus says Sovereign Yahweh.” 9-12 Amos calls for the wealthy residents (the wealthy are […]
After Amos tells the Israelites their status as God’s chosen people actually puts them in more danger than the pagans, he tells them their impending judgment is the logical outcome of their behavior. This is a continuation of his defense of the sentence he prophesied in 2:13-16. 3-6 He begins by asking several rhetorical questions. […]
Amos begins his second series of oracles. Remember that the Israelites listening to Amos are likely shocked to hear they are in danger of judgment. Times are good, they worship Yahweh as they have for almost two centuries, God’s blessing is clearly in their lives, and their behavior has been rationalized for so long that […]
Amos has finished his prophecies about the surrounding nations and now reaches his main message – his proclamations against Israel itself. Interestingly, his initial condemnations are similar to the charges made against the pagans. The people of Israel are no longer distinguishable from the people without the law. As noted before, Amos’ listeners could very […]
Amos has prophesied against the pagan nations around Israel. He began with those who are not related – Aram, Philistia, Phoenicia – and moved to the ones who share a blood relation to Israel – Edom, Ammon, Moab. Now he speaks against the closest nation both geographically and relationally – Judah. He is slowly coming […]
Amos proclaims judgment on seven nations surrounding Israel. He prophesies against Israel’s neighbors before finally working his way back to Israel itself. Six of the seven countries are pagan – the seventh is Judah. The purpose of these prophecies seems to be to show God as judge over all the earth, not just Israel. It […]
1 Amos is a sheepherder and keeper of figs from Tekoa, a city just south of Jerusalem in Judah, sent by God to prophesy against Israel. Though he lives in the Southern Kingdom, he is sent to speak against the North. The words he speaks come from visions that God has sent to him. He […]
