[Meaning of Names in the Bible]
Amos is the third of twelve Minor Prophets listed in the King James. His book is a part of the second major division of the Old Testament known as the Prophets.
Date Written, Location
The Minor Prophet Amos wrote his book around 762 B.C. in Israel (Amos 1:1), two years before a major earthquake hit Israel and Judah. Chronologically, his writing is the 16th oldest book in Scripture, coming after the book of Jonah (798 B.C.) and Hosea (c. 792 to 715).
The Author
Amos, before God called him to be a prophet, was a herdsman (Amos 1:1) and gatherer of sycamore fruit (7:14 - 15). He was from the little town of Tekoa which was located roughly five miles (8 kilometers) from Bethlehem in Judea.
Amos' death and burial is not recorded in the Bible. One Rabbinic tradition states he was killed by Judah's King Azariah (Uzziah) when he was struck on the forehead with a glowing iron.
Time Period
Amos wrote roughly 39 years before the Assyrians, in 723 B.C., conquered the Kingdom of Israel and took the people out of the land as captives.
[Where Was Israel Taken Captive?]
Amos also wrote roughly 176 years before the Kingdom of Judah would receive its third and final attack by the Babylonians. During this last attack, carried out by the Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar, both Jerusalem and its temple were burned to the ground.
Amos Chapter Outline
Chpt. 1: Amos, after briefly introducing himself, immediately opens with the Lord's condemnation of five nations. Syria is condemned for their oppression and brutal behavior against the Israelites in Gilead (verses 3 - 5). The Philistines, Israel's most implacable enemy, is condemned for capturing Israelites and selling them as slaves to the Edomites (verses 6 - 8).
The Phoenicians are also condemned for selling Israelites as slaves to Edom and additionally for breaking their covenant with Israel made with David and Solomon (Amos 1:9 - 10). Edom is chastised for pursuing violence, without pity, against Israel. The Edomites are also criticized for, over the years, maintaining their bitterness against God's people (verses 11 - 12).
[Where Did the Ammonites Live?]
The Ammonites are condemned for their violence against Israel which included killing Israelite children while they were still in the womb (Amos 1:13 - 14, see also 2Kings 8:12 and Hosea 13:16).
Chpt. 2: Amos 2 continues the first chapter's condemnation of select nations by God. The Moabites are condemned for their cruelty and for burning up the bones of Edom's king just to make lime (verses 1 - 3). The Lord then turns to his own people.
The Kingdom of Judah is chastised for rejecting his law and not keeping his commandments. They are also condemned for idolatry and believing the lies promoted by such a sin (Amos 2:4 - 5).
The Kingdom of Israel (the northern ten tribes) is lastly criticized for perverting justice, oppressing the poor, being greedy, allowing incest, being selfish, and tolerating drunkenness and idolatry. They also silenced those who spoke for God (Amos 2:6 - 11).
[Map of Israel's and Judah's Kingdoms]
Chpt. 3: God, in Amos 3, doubles down on correcting Israel for its many sins. He promises that part of his correction will be the destruction of the idolatrous altars the nation has set up especially in Bethel (verse 14). The peace and luxuries the people have enjoyed will also be taken from them (verses 15).
[What is the Purpose of Correction?]
Chpt. 4: The Lord's biting condemnation continues with his judgment against Israel's rich women who are labeled "ye kine of Bashan" or "you cows of Bashan!" The New King James Bible, and other translations, makes it abundantly clear that females, and not cattle, are being referenced.
Hear this word, you cows of Bashan, who are on the mountain of Samaria, Who oppress the poor, Who crush the needy, Who say to your husbands, "Bring wine, let us drink!" (Amos 4:1, NKJV).
Amos now brings in some irony, in spite of the penalties and captivity to come, by encouraging the people to continue in their sins (verses 4 - 5).
God then recounts, as part of his correction, that he withheld rain from certain cities which caused a lack of bread. He then allowed locusts to destroy crops and vineyards but the Israelites still would not repent. He then allowed disease to spread among the people which still did not bring repentance (verses 6 - 11).
[How Should We Treat the Poor?]
The Lord concludes by warning his people he is about to inflict the last and worst punishment upon them for their refusal to repent.
Therefore thus will I do unto thee, O Israel: and because I will do this unto thee, prepare to meet thy God, O Israel (Amos 4:12).
Chpt. 5: Amos, in this chapter, begins by lamenting Israel's coming fall (verses 1 - 3). The people are still promised, however, that if they turn to the Lord who made the great constellations in the sky they will live (verses 4 - 9, 14 - 15).
[Where Are the Pleiades in Scripture?]
[Where is Orion in the Bible?]
Israel is warned again, however, that God's judgment upon them is sure if they do not repent (Amos 5:10 - 13, 17 - 20). The chapter closes with the Lord warning that Israel's idolatry, their worship of the pagan deity Moloch and worship of celestial bodies such as Saturn, will ultimately cause them to go into captivity (verses 26 - 27).
Chpt. 6: God again warns those both of Judah (Zion) and Israel (Mount Samaria) that their prosperity will not save them (verses 1 - 6). Captivity and death await those who reject the Lord the God of hosts (verses 7 - 14).
[The Greatest Famines in the Bible!]
Chpt. 7: Amos recounts that he was able to spare the people further suffering when the Lord first brought locust and then fire upon Israel (verses 1 - 6).
Amos then reveals that Israel's pagan priest at Bethel lied about him to King Jeroboam II in order to get the prophet to shut up (verses 10 - 15)! Amos' response is that he is only following the will of God who called him to warn Israel (verses 14 - 15).
Chpt. 8: God uses a ripened basket of summer fruit to symbolize how his people Israel have "ripened" for judgment (verses 1 - 3). The people are then condemned for their sins of taking advantage of the poor and for focusing on money-making ventures on the holy Sabbath. They are also criticized for cheating people by using perverted weights (verses 4 - 7).
Amos ends the chapter warning that, because Israel refused to hear God's word, a "famine of the Word" will come where they will no longer be able to find it (verses 11 - 12).
Chpt. 9: The chapter opens with Amos seeing the Lord standing by his altar. This symbolizes His judgment beginning with those who claim to serve him.
The coming judgment for Israel's sins will bring captivity and death (Amos 9:4 - 5, 7 - 10).
The chapter ends on a hopeful note, declaring that the Lord will restore the "tabernacle of David" to its former glory. He will also abundantly bless his people far beyond what they had previously experienced (Amos 9:11 - 15).