Amos+Background

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1. Author Background
a. Name means burden or burden-bearer b. Farmer and sheep breeder (the word in Hebrew is different than the usual word for shepherd) c. From town of Tekoa, hill country of Judah about 10 miles south of Jerusalem (Amos 1:1)

2. Date
a. During King Jeroboam II reign in the north (793 – 753 BC) the third king in Jehu’s line, which means blessing will be over after the next line (2 Kings 10:30) b. During King Uzziah reign in the south (2 Chronicles 26:1) c. 2 years before the famous earthquake (Hosea 1:1 and Zechariah 14:5)

3. People Group Addressed
a. Prophesy is aimed at Israel b. Aimed at all the people, not just the rulers or higher ranked

4. Major Themes to Look for
a. Earthquake as being an immediate prophecy to show the future prophecy will happen (Amos 1:1) b. Righteous and Fair Judgment – if all other nations are being judged for their sin, so too will Israel c. God keeps his promises - Remaining Remnant even though rest of Israel will be destroyed d. God Restores – he will restore the nation to power through the remnant and the nations will gather to God through Israel (Amos 9:11-15) e. Repentance – Israel’s only escape from judgment, shows God’s compassion for his people

5. Background to why Book was Written
a. Israel was in great success economically, but they neglect their poor, were idolatrous, oppressive to the poor, extravagant, idolatrous (Amos 2:6-16, Amos 4:1-13) b. Judgment of all the nations around Israel, and then Israel itself being the last named for judgment because of their sin c. God's calling for repentance in the nation or else judgment will ensue

Bible History: Old Testament, Alfred Edersheim

Bible Knowledge Commentary The New American Commentary The MacArthur Study Bible Harper’s Bible Dictionary

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