The book of amos was likely written between 760 and 753 b. It is believed that amos wrote this book in the timeframe of 760750 b. Summary the book of amos, which is the earliest of the prophetic writings to be preserved in book form, consists of nine chapters. The book of amos is a prophetic book in the old testament. It was written two years before a very well known earthquake in israel. 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 may have been a fellow laborer with the prophet hosea in the kingdom of israel. Book of amos explained discover books of the bible. This town was located just 10 miles south of jerusalem and was a part of the judean kingdom.
The jewish people in the northern kingdom of israel. Some researchers feel that some minor material may have been inserted later by an editor, but few doubt that a jewish man named amos was the author. Introduction from the niv study bible go to amos author. Lets dive into four reasons why the book of amos should be the next book you read. The book of amos covers a point in time where both the northern kingdom israel and southern kingdom judah were experiencing great prosperity. In four ways, the old testament book of amos is essential for a robust understanding of the gospel.
Amos the prophet the historical background a wandering people. Israel had been comfortably at peace for some fifty years, and during that time the rich had become richer and the poor quite a bit poorer. There are exegetical commentaries, scholarly and technical commentaries, as well as commentaries that are easy to understand. Moses genesis exodus leviticus numbers deuteronomy psalms moses is the prophet who. Sep 27, 2018 the book of amos was written to denounce the inequities and infidelities of israel, to call the people to repentance and a change of life, to warn them of impending disaster and dispersion but also to reassure them that even though god would surely pass judgment on them, all hope was not lost. 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. Editors and copyists added comments to the prophets original oracle.
Readers may be familiar with king ahab and his wife jezebel, made infamous during the time of elijah. God, amos, jeroboam ii, uzziah and people of isreal. Since uzziah was sole king of judah from 767 to 750 bc and jeroboam ii sole king of israel from 782 to 753 bc, the ministry of amos is likely to have been sometime between 767 and 753 bc. The original king james bible included the apocrypha but in a separate section. The lord roars from zion and thunders from jerusalem. The book of obadiah was likely written between 848 and 840 b. Amos, flourished 8th century bc, the first hebrew prophet to have a biblical book named for him. The book of amos is a collection of prophetic messages delivered by the prophet amos. Not one of the recognized prophets of israel, nor was he a priest, not even a native of israel but a farmer called of the lord from judah to warn the northern kingdom of the coming judgement. Intro to amos biblica the international bible society. Amos, an older contemporary of hosea and isaiah, was active c. Listen to chuck swindolls overview of amos in his audio message from the classic series gods masterwork. Amos chapter 1 explained discover books of the bible. This king did what was evil in the eyes of the lord 2.
Not all of the material found in these chapters came from amos himself. Oct 23, 2012 almost all scholars agree that the book of amos was originally a single book that the prophet amos wrote. Many of the evil characters described in amos 12 might better be translated in the present tense of activities then being done 30 and thus describe jeroboam iis rule as painfully disruptive as his lines were breached and the enemies pressed into the territory. Also, it was approximately 28 to 38 year before the assyrians invaded israel. Spoke in bethel center for idol worship in israel and then in judah under jeroboam. The books of the bible order book titles chapters verses i. In the bible, there are numerous books that are dedicated to telling the. A shepherd and grower of sycamore figs, he resided in the town of tekoa. He was not a man of the court like isaiah, or a member of a priestly family like jeremiah and ezekiel. And like the book of amos, the book of hosea somehow made its way south to jerusalem where it was copied, edited, and preserved to. Since i started working on this study of amos, i have searched our library holdings with the hope i would turn up a hidden or forgotten study by some new church scholar. God will judge gods people more severely than the other nations. Those who critically examine the bible unanimously agree that amos wrote the book that bears his name. Probably written between 760 and 753 bc it is one of the first prophetic books.
Jun 14, 2004 jeroboam ii had a successful reign 2ki. The words of amos, who was among the herdmen of tekoa, which he saw concerning israel in the. Amos bible study outlinecontents by chapter and verse. Amos, the first hebrew prophet to have a biblical book named for him. 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. Amos provides a brief rundown of these events in amos 4. 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. Traveled north to israel bethel to preach as one called of god 7.
The author of the prophecy is identified as amos, a shepherd of tekoa 1. The book of amos is a prophetic book of the hebrew bible largely dating to the 8th century bce and considered to be scripture by modernday. The book of amos is the third book of the 12 minor prophets. Amos wrote during the reigns of uzziah and jeroboam ii, with this book written two years before a significant earthquake in the area believed to have occurred approximately 760 bc, indicating a date of around 762 bc. The book of amos is the earliest of the book of the twelve prophets, and is. Amos made clear in his writings that he did not come from a family of prophets, nor did he even consider himself one. This prosperity brought on religious and moral corruption. Amos writes about gods concern for justice in this book. Amos wrote during the reign of jeroboam ii 787747bc, at a time when assyria was beginning to flex its muscles and threaten judahisrael. Editors and copyists added comments to the prophets original oracles that they deemed appropriate in light of events that occurred after his death. Amoss connection to the simple life of the people made its way into the center of his proph. Although there are sermons using a verse or part of a.
Use this topic or order a custom research paper, written exactly how you need it to be. The book of amos begins and ends with references to an earthquake 1. The prophet amos lived among a group of shepherds in tekoa, a small town approximately ten miles south of jerusalem. Although he hailed from judea, amos preached in the northern kingdom of the neighboring nation, israel.
The global message of amos the message of amos lands on the global church today with as much force and necessity as it landed on the people of god 2,700 years ago. Why read the book of amos the purpose and lessons from amos. The book of amos was written by a shepherd of tekoa, named amos during the reigns of uzziah of judah and jeroboam ii of israel. Prophecy became more developed as it progressed through the biblical period and biblical prophets should be seen in the context of an international prophetic tradition. Amos the book of amos is dedicated to telling the stories amos, one of gods prophets. The author prophesies that god loves mercy and not only formal sacrifices. Although we do not know precisely when the book of amos was written, the book begins with the explanation that amos preached during the reign of uzziah in judah and of jeroboam ii in israel in the eighth century b. Not much has been written about it in the new church. The key idea in amos is that god is just and impartial and will judge not only the nations but also his own people for their life of ease and apathy amid human suffering. Amos lived in the kingdom of judah but preached in the northern kingdom of israel. Prophet amos, gods message and judgments, false worship, israel, hate bad, love good, jehovahs day. The book is a collection of individual sayings and reports of visions. Except for a few passages in aramaic, appearing mainly in the apocalyptic book of daniel, these scriptures were written originally in hebrew during the period.
Amos the prophet is the author of the book that bears his name. The book of amos, which is the earliest of the prophetic writings to be preserved in book form, consists of nine chapters. God inspires but does not dictate, as if the prophet were simply a tool like a typewriter or loud speaker. Watch our overview video on the book of amos, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. The book of amos, the third of the twelve minor prophets, has been one of the most significant and influential books. Though amos was from judea, he was called to minister to jews in the northern kingdom of israel who lived during the reign of jeroboam ii. Amos chapter 8 explained discover books of the bible.
Book of amos overview insight for living ministries. Best amos commentaries updated for 2021 best bible. The book of amos is the third of the twelve minor prophets in the old testament. Although we do not know precisely when the book of amos was written, the book begins with the explanation that amos preached.
The book also includes a narrative description of an event in amoss life. The kingdoms were living in a time of idolatry, extravagant luxury, and oppression of the poor. 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. The book of amos may have been written nearly 3000 years ago, but it holds timely truth for us today. Since uzziah was sole king of judah from 767 to 750 bc and jeroboam ii sole king of israel from 782 to 753 bc, the ministry of amos is likely to have. The author of amos is amos himself, a prophet and shepherd from tekoa, near bethlehem. Both kings jeroboam ii of israel 793753 bc and uzziah of judah 791739 bc enjoyed long and prosperous reigns. 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.
Summary of the book of amos the story of the bible. The bible tells us that all scripture was breathed out by god. 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 wrote at a very significant time in israels history. Like amos, hosea was a prophet who was active in the northern kingdom of israel hosea also refers to israel as ephraim and samaria. The book of amos, the third of the twelve minor prophets, has been one of the most significant and influential books of the bible from the time it was written 8th century bce down to the 20th century. Amos was born about 12 miles south of jerusalem, but his prophecies were directed to the northern kingdom israel. The visions he had about israel, in the time of uzziah king of judah and jeroboam son of joash, king of israel, two years before the earthquake. John is a writer based in portsmouth in the united kingdom who enjoys writing on a wide range of personal and. Social justice, true religion and social justice must go hand in hand.
Human authors wrote the books of the bible but their writings were inspired by god. Amos was from tekoa, a small town in judah about 6 miles south of bethlehem and 11 miles from jerusalem. Whether amos himself committed any of his sayings to writing is not certain. Rather, he was a grower of sycamore figs as well as a shepherd amos 7. The apostle james, bishop of jerusalem, in the acts of the apostles 15. Obadiah, the shortest book in the old testament, is only 21 verses long.
Yahweh roars from zion, and makes himself heard from jerusalem. Obadiah is a prophet of god who uses this opportunity to condemn edom for sins against both god and israel. Amos was an older contemporary of hosea and isaiah. Amos mission is directed to his neighbor to the north, israel. For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. Amos called the people to repentance during this difficult time. When we read the book of amos, we find it is more than history it is gods word.
Years later, jesus christ in his famous olivet prophecy also referred to this time in matthew 24. God telling his people of the coming judgment becuase of the hard hearts which led to injustice and lack of mercy in society. As in the book of hosea religion was prospering but faith in the one true god yhwh was on the decline. One of the most striking features of biblical history is the emergence. His messages addressed the sin of the people and the consequences that are to follow3.
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