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 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 […]
Amos is a book of prophecies and condemnations proclaimed by a shepherd from Tekoa – a town just south of Bethlehem in Judah. Not a prophet by trade, Amos describes himself in the book as a herdsman and a grower of sycamore figs (7:14). Amos is called by God to prophesy against the Northern Kingdom […]
