Names of the Book
English: | Amos |
Hebrew: | עמוֹס |
Transliterated: | Amos |
Other names: |
Who
Wrote the book: | Amos |
Are the key people: | Amos, Amaziah, Jeroboam |
Is it written to: | The northern kingdom of Israel |
What
The judgment upon Israel (Amos 1:1-2:16) |
The sins that resulted in judgment (Amos 3:1-6:14) |
The visions of judgment (Amos 7:1-9:15) |
When
Was it written: | c 771 BCE |
Did the events occur: | c 813-730 BCE |
Was it canonized: | c 499-100 BCE |
(see the Timeline of the Tanakh) |
Where
Was it written: | unknown |
Did the events occur: | Bethel, Samaria |
Why
Amos was written to inform us that: |
Everyone answers to G-d. |
Complancency leads to sin. |
When the poor are oppressed, G-d responds. |
True obedience to G-d comes from the heart. |
Introduction
The book of Amos may be among the first of the books written by the prophets. This book of historical narrative and prophecy focuses on the northern kingdom of Israel during the reign of king Jeroboam II. As political stability and financial prosperity soared during this period, Israel's faithfulness to G-d plummeted. Idolatry, corruption, and oppression of the poor were common. Amos delivers G-d's stinging rebuke for the nation's apostasy and injustice. At the same time, He sounds a call to repentance that echoes throughout time and delivers G-d's message of His faithfulness in the face of those who are unfaithful to Him.
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