The MAJOR & MINOR Prophets - The 16 Writing Prophets Of The Hebrew Canon

The Book of Amos

Can you imagine yourself a busy farmer, harvesting wild figs for the poorer populace, raising a few cattle, tending some sheep, and living on a country plot outside the city of Tekoa in Judah, six miles south of Bethlehem, eleven miles from

Jerusalem? You are not a prophet, you are not related to any prophet, and you have never prophesied. You know of the wealth and prosperity of your sinful northern neighbor Israel, and undoubtedly know of the irritating problems created by the politics of the surrounding nations. You think about these spiritual and natural things as you tend the sheep.... Then, one day as you walk with the sheep, seeking new pasture, you are hit by a blazing meteor. Nothing visible, but in your mind the Word of God suddenly explodes with a missionary appointment! God speaks, and, overcome, you drop to your knees. The voice of God says to go north to Bethel in northern Israel where the king of that nation abides, and deliver a severe message of judgment to God’s wayward people. The commission is clear, decisive and forceful, and you have no alternative but to go; hurriedly you make local arrangements and then move northward. As you go, you say to yourself, “Now I know why the folks named me Amos (meaning, ‘load or burden’).”

The Prophet and His Times

Amos’ ministry and the writing of this book was mid-eighth century (probably carried out c. 760

750 B.C.), and we know that it was a time of prosperity and relative peace. Uzziah was king in Judah (ca. 790-739 B.C.) and Jeroboam II was king of Israel (ca 793-753). Freeman comments, “At the time Amos prophesied, Israel was secure from outward enemies and inwardly prosperous. She was far removed from any expectation of judgment and ruin which was to befall her about forty years thence.” Israel had significantly departed from the way of the LORD and there was wanton corruption and moral decay, as Israel forgot her Covenant relationship with God. Knowing (by revelation) of the coming doom of Assyrian captivity, Hosea cried out for repentance – but the people were not ready to give up their selfishness, greed, immorality, idolatry, oppression of the poor through extortion, bribery and injustice.

Hobart E. Freeman, An Introduction to the Old Testament Prophets (Chicago: Moody Press, 1968), p. 188.

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