And we must never forget that amos is speaking to us, the church of god, the israel of god. The purpose of the book of amos was to announce gods holy judgment on the kingdom of israel the northern kingdom, call them to repentance, and to turn from their selfrighteous sins and idolatry. The book of amos is a stinging rebuke of a nation that has rejected and forgotten god. 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 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. Commentary on the book of amos by matthew henry old. Author according to his own testimony, amos was not a. The book of hosea consists of fourteen chapters, which was the record for a minor prophet until zechariah tied it a couple centuries later. He prophesied in israel at the great cult center of bethel, from which he was finally expelled. Comprising only nine chapters of oracles, it was composed during the age of jeroboam ii, king of israel from 786 to 746 bce. Check out our page on the bibles the 12 minor prophets here.
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. Uzziah was king in judah in the south and jeroboam ii was king in the northern kingdom of israel when the locust plague happened. For the purpose of this paper we will look at the entire book for any references to critiques by amos. More than almost any other book of scripture, the book of amos holds gods people accountable for their illtreatment of others. The days are coming, declares the sovereign lord, when i will send a famine through the land not a famine of food or a thirst for water, but a famine of hearing the words of the lord. They were selling off needy people for goods, taking advantage of the helpless, oppressing the poor, and the men were. A date of about 762 bc is probably a good working date for the book. Amos, a judaean prophet from the village of tekoa, was active in the northern kingdom of israel during the reign of jeroboam ii c. Amos proclaims the word of the lord to amaziah that in view of his rejection of the lords prophecies great calamity will come upon him and his household as israel is led into captivity 7. The nations around are summoned to judgment because of their sins 1. Transcribed and edited by david sielaff, february 20. A lament and call to repentance hear this word, israel, this lament i take up concerning you. Since much of the book is addressed to the northern kingdom, it is clear that the book was written prior to the assyrian invasion and exile of 722 bc.
The book of amos was likely written between 760 and 753 b. The book of amos, which is the earliest of the prophetic writings to be preserved in book form, consists of nine chapters. The book begins with the phrase the words of amos and amos l. The poetry of amos, who denounces the hollow prosperity of the northern kingdom, is filled with imagery and language taken from his own pastoral background. In four ways, the old testament book of amos is essential for a robust understanding of the gospel. For three transgressions of damascus, and for four, i will not turn away the punishment thereof. Scientists have tried to pinpoint the date of this earthquake with greater accuracy, but the quakes effects were largely eliminated after amos flew around the earth. In the book of amos, we find two uses amos performed. Summary of the book of amos the story of the bible. Book of amos summary we have detailed a brief summary of the book of amos for bible study or sunday school lessons. Amos made clear in his writings that he did not come from a family of prophets, nor did he even consider himself one. Journey to keene 1779 amos traveled to keene, new hampshire in order to make a delivery to the tanner whod consigned his leather. Book of amos bible survey what are the major prophets and minor prophets.
Shepherds in that region had to make extensive trips to feed their flocks. To ease the burden on his family, amos strikes out on his own and ends up living in. Amos traveled to keene, new hampshire in order to make a delivery to the tanner whod consigned his leather. Israel, the northern country consisting of ten tribes, and judah, the remaining two tribes in the south. Six kings ruled during the last tragic 25 years of israel. 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. We are living in days when people need to know what god is really like. 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 introduction to the book of amos in the bible.
Although hosea is believed to have arrived a little later on the prophetic scene, hosea did marry a prostitute, which, scholars believe, is a lot spicier than anything that amos ever did. The book of obadiah is an oracle concerning the divine judgment of edom and the restoration. Amos lived in the kingdom of judah but preached in the northern kingdom of. Amos provides a brief rundown of these events in amos 4. Amos was from tekoa, a small town in judah about 6 miles south of bethlehem and 11 miles from jerusalem. Book of amos overview insight for living ministries.
Jan 02, 2020 book of amos bible survey what are the major prophets and minor prophets. The prophetic books are anthologies of oracles the sequence of which is often determined by literary rather than chronological considerations. But let justice roll down like waters and righteousness like. What was the significance of the horns of the altar amos 3. It is important to mention that only the catholic old testament contains in its canon the book of judith because the jews only consider the book written in aramaic and greek to be holy. Ben and me is a fictionalized biography of benjamin franklin told by amos, the mouse who lives in bens fur cap. He was not a man of the court like isaiah, or a member of a priestly family like jeremiah and ezekiel.
The earliest prophets, such as amos and hosea, warn israel and sometimes judah about the danger of an invasion by the assyrian empire, based in the. The details about 18thcentury african american life and trades i was hoping for more from this book, especially since it. Hear this word which the lord has spoken against you, sons of israel, against the entire family which he brought up from the land of egypt. Amos was one of the great prophets of god and he, together with hosea, prophesied about the same time. In fact, some scholars believe that micah was originally part of another book. The details about 18thcentury african american life and trades i was hoping for more from this book, especially since it is still fairly widely read and assigned as a newbery. He writes about the terrible things that they have done. Elizabeth yates 19052001, prolific american author, won the 1951 newbery medal for her novel amos fortune, free man.
Then he says something to his own people who live in israel and judah. Isaiah jeremiah lamentations baruch ezekiel daniel hosea joel amos. Selling the righteous for silver, and the poor for a pair of shoes slavery. The question and answer section for amos fortune, free man is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel. 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 is a man who reminds us what god is really like. Indeed, were getting two of the biggest books read right off the bat. Amos, an older contemporary of hosea and isaiah, was active c. Israel is under the rule of jeroboam 11 and later pekah depending on actual date. Not all of the material found in these chapters came from amos himself. During the time of the minor prophets, the nation of israel had divided into two separate countries, each with its own government. Types and shadows in amos jesus is the one who sees the great sins summary of the book of amos quick overview of amos.
The rich people of israel were living like kings at the expense of the oppressed. Amos many scholars believe that amos was the earliest of all of the biblical prophets to have his words put in writingminor, major or somewhere inbetween. Amos was walking with god when he left his livelihood in judah and followed the call of god to become a prophet in israel. Amos was a sheepbreeder of tekoa in judah, who delivered his oracles in the northern kingdom during the prosperous reign of jeroboam ii 786746 b.
Fallen is virgin israel, never to rise again, deserted in her own land, with no one to lift her up. Rather, he was a grower of sycamore figs as well as a shepherd amos 7. Matthew henry 18 october 1662 22 june 1714 was an english commentator on the bible, who published his works in 1706, sixvolume exposition of the old and new testaments 17081710 or complete commentary, provides an exhaustive verse by verse study of the bible, covering the whole of the old testament, and the gospels and acts in the new testament. A summary, synopsis or recap is a shortened version of the original. The spiritual condition of judah, and especially of israel, is described 2. Amos was a shepherd in a region called tekoa, about six miles south of bethlehem. Amos, a judaean prophet from the village of tekoa, was active in the northern kingdom. Book of amos, the third of 12 old testament books that bear the names of the minor prophets, collected in one book under the jewish canon titled the twelve. The book of amos is one of the least understood in the holy scriptures. Years later, jesus christ in his famous olivet prophecy also referred to this time in matthew 24. Behold, the days are coming, says the lord god, when i will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water.
God raised up the prophet amos, as an act of his great mercy to a people who repeatedly shunned and disobeyed him. Editors and copyists added comments to the prophets original oracles that they deemed appropriate in light of events that occurred after his death. Apr 02, 2020 book of amos, the third of 12 old testament books that bear the names of the minor prophets, collected in one book under the jewish canon titled the twelve. Summary the book of amos, which is the earliest of the prophetic writings to be.
Amos burden, native of tekoa in judah, about six miles south of bethlehem, originally a shepherd and dresser of sycamore trees, who was called by god s spirit to be a prophet, although not trained in any of the regular prophetic schools. During hoseas lifetime kings priests and all their aristocratic supporters had. The motive of an innocent victim and her victory through suffering was a great inspiration to artists. According to amos, all of bens accomplishments are directly due to amos. It is a stirring warning to all of the dangers of apostasy, rebellion and complacency. The prophet amos lived among a group of shepherds in tekoa, a small town approximately ten miles south of jerusalem. She also received a newbery honor in 1944 for mountain born. Biblical bookbybook summaries peace of christ roman catholic. Many scholars believe that amos was the earliest of all of the biblical prophets to have his words put in writingminor, major or somewhere inbetween. Nora unwin 19071982 illustrated more than one hundred books for children. Summary of the book of jonah the story of the bible. The book of jonah is about an event that jesus said took place in history. The book of amos jesse hendley sermon outlines and.
Amos mission is directed to his neighbor to the north, israel. He walked with god as he called out loudly to the people that the lord god has an appointment with us all. God raised up the prophet amos, as an act of his great mercy to a. It repeatedly points out the failure of the people to fully embrace gods idea of justice. He prophesied in israel at the great cult center of bethel, from which he was finally expelled by the priest in charge of this royal sanctuary 7. Amos 5 niv a lament and call to repentance bible gateway. We will begin with the end of the first part of the book in which he has chastised the pagan nations, and then in. The third section of the book chapters 79, apart from the historical account of amasiass opposition to amos 7.
The man jonah was the main character of the book, he was the son of amittai jonah 1. Hendley amos the book of amos is a very wonderful book. Commentaries describe the area as somewhat rugged, rocky, and with sparse grazing fields. This lecture introduces the literary prophets of both the northern and southern kingdoms. He prophesied in israel at the great cult center of bethel, from which he was finally expelled by the priest in charge of this royal sanctuary. The book of amos amos was a sheepbreeder of tekoa in judah, who delivered his oracles in the northern kingdom during the prosperous reign of jeroboam ii 786746 b.
Amos is the oldest of 26 church mice their names run from amos to zenas. The main purpose of a summary is as a simplification highlighting the major points from the original and much longer version of the subject. Amos critique of the social sins in judah and israel. Among the regions great powers, edom was held in low regard. Amos explained that he was not a prophet by profession, but speaking by the lords appointment 7.
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