Nazarites
The book of Amos is one of the incredibly rare places where the Nazarites and their vow is mentioned by name.
And I raised up of your sons for prophets, and of your young men for Nazarites. Is it not even thus, O ye children of Israel? saith the Lord. But ye gave the Nazarites wine to drink; and commanded the prophets, saying, Prophesy not (Amos 2:11 - 12).
Other than Amos, Nazarites and the requirements of their vow are only mentioned by name in Numbers 6:1 - 21 and Judges 13:5 - 7, 16:17.
Wormwood
Wormwood, a bitter tasting plant with a strong aroma, is only mentioned by name nine times in the King James Bible. One of these references is in Amos 5.
Ye who turn judgment to wormwood (laanah, Strong's #H3939), and leave off righteousness in the earth (Amos 5:7).
Amos, however, also provides a hidden reference to the plant. The Hebrew word laanah, from which wormwood is derived, is erroneously translated as "hemlock" in Amos 6.
Shall horses run upon the rock? will one plow there with oxen? for ye have turned judgment into gall, and the fruit of righteousness into hemlock (laanah) (Amos 6:12).
Woomwood's most famous reference is in Revelation during the prophetic and terrifying Day of the Lord.
[Timeline of the Day of the Lord]
And the name of the star is called Wormwood: and the third part of the waters became wormwood; and many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter (Revelation 8:11).
Shaking Israel and Judah
The very first verse of Amos mentions a great earthquake!
The words of Amos, who was among the herdmen of Tekoa, which he saw concerning Israel in the days of Uzziah king of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash king of Israel, two years before the earthquake (Amos 1:1).
[Earthquakes in the Old Testament!]
The powerful earthquake Amos mentions shook a large portion of the kingdoms of Israel and Judah around 760 B.C.
"The earthquake was at least magnitude 7.8, but likely was 8.2 . . . (the earthquake) appears to be the largest yet documented on the Dead Sea transform fault during the last four millennia." (Amos' Earthquake, International Geology Review).
The earthquake proved so memorable that more than 225 years later the Minor Prophet Zechariah referenced it in his well-known prophecy of Jesus' Second Coming.
And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west . . .
And ye shall flee to the valley of the mountains; for the valley of the mountains shall reach unto Azal: yea, ye shall flee, like as ye fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah . . . (Zechariah 14:4 - 5).
David's Instruments
King David was well known for his ability to play musical instruments and compose music. What is often overlooked, however, is that he also invented several instruments for the express purpose of praising God. Amos mentions one of these instruments in chapters 5 and 6.
Take thou away from me the noise of thy songs; for I will not hear the melody of thy viols (nebel) (Amos 5:23).
That chant to the sound of the viol (nebel), and invent to themselves instruments of musick (music), like David (Amos 6:5).
[Musical Instruments in the Bible!]
[The BEST Bible Verses on Music]
The Hebrew nebel is translated as "viol(s)," as above, or as "psaltery" (1Samuel 10:5, 2Samuel 6:5, etc.). It was likely a type of harp that may have had as many as ten strings (Psalm 33:2, 144:9).
New Testament References
According to the Complete Book of Bible Lists, Amos 3:13 and 4:13 are tied for the fourth most referenced or alluded to Old Testament verses found in the New Testament. Amos 3:13 is referenced in Revelation 1:8, 4:8, 13, 11:17, 15:3, 16:7, 14, 19:6, 15 and 21:22.
Hear ye, and testify in the house of Jacob, saith the Lord God, the God of hosts . . . (Amos 3:13).
[Rules for Studying the Bible!]
Amos 4:13 is referred to in 2Corinthians 6:18, Revelation 1:8, 4:8, 11:17, 15:3, 16:7, 14, 19:6, 15 and 21:22.
For, lo, he that formeth the mountains, and createth the wind, and declareth unto man what is his thought, that maketh the morning darkness, and treadeth upon the high places of the earth, The Lord, The God of hosts, is his name (Amos 4:13).
Stephen Quotes Amos
Stephen was the first Christian martyr. In his final discourse to the Jewish Sanhedrin, he makes a rather odd reference to ancient Israel's idolatry that is related to Amos.
Yea, ye took up the tabernacle of Moloch, and the star of your god Remphan (Strong's #G4481), figures which ye made to worship them: and I will carry you away beyond Babylon (Acts 7:43).
According to Strong's Concordance, the English word Remphan is derived from the Greek Rhemphan which itself is an incorrect transliteration of the Hebrew word kiyun (#H3594) or Chiun. This Hebrew word is found only in Amos 5!
But ye have borne the tabernacle of your Moloch and Chiun (kiyun) your images, the star of your god, which ye made to yourselves (Amos 5:26).
[The Planet Saturn in Scripture]
The worship of the hosts of heaven (the sun, moon, planets and stars) was apparently in vogue at the time of Amos (International Standard Bible Encyclopedia). The consensus among Biblical commentaries is that Chiun refers to the planet Saturn.
God's Greatness
While we are on the theme of heavenly bodies, it should be noted that Amos also mentions a couple of constellations to showcase God's greatness and limitless creativity.
Seek him that maketh the seven stars (Pleiades) and Orion, and turneth the shadow of death into the morning, and maketh the day dark with night: that calleth for the waters of the sea, and poureth them out upon the face of the earth: The Lord is his name . . . (Amos 5:8).
[Where Are the Pleiades in Scripture?]
[Where is Orion in the Bible?]
General Trivia
A bug labeled the "palmerworm" is only found in Joel 1:4, 2:25 and Amos 4:9. The word is believed to be referring to locusts.
Judah's King Azariah (Uzziah), who reigned from 792 to 740 B.C., was a contemporary of the prophet Amos (Amos 1:1). According to the book the Mysterious Numbers of the Hebrew Kings, King Azariah figured prominently in the records of Assyria's King Tiglath-Pileser III (also called "Pul"). The Assyrian ruler, who reigned from 745 - 727 B.C., viewed Azariah as a leader among the rulers who lived near the Mediterranean Sea (page 120).
Amos twice mentions the famous Mount Carmel (Amos 1:2, 9:3). It was on Carmel, during the reign of King Ahab (874 to 853 B.C.), that Elijah challenged Israel's false prophets to once and for all prove who is the true God (1Kings 18).