Of the mistrust between them individuals, it’s ironic one God sent a great Jew so you’re able to alert new Israelites of their impending wisdom. “I found myself zero prophet, neither is We a kid regarding a prophet,” the guy demonstrates to you, “but I was good herdsman and you can a delicate of sycamore fruit. Then Lord required while i observed the flock and you can the lord believed to myself, ‘Go, prophesy back at my some body Israel'” (Amos eight:14-15).
Amos is actually more than “simply a good shepherd.” Within the Amos 1:1 the Hebrew phrase noqed means an excellent keeper or raiser of sheep or goats (look for II Kings step 3:4), though it can often be made as the “shepherd.” When you look at the Amos 7:14 “herdsman” (bowker) relates to highest cattle. God-inspired a few different terms to show which he was good breeder regarding sheep (and maybe out-of cattle), promoting other people having stock, and perhaps development and you may polishing the new breeds. Some of Amos’ house ore-fig orchard. His ranch appears to have started brief enough that he is actually individually in its procedure, even in the event the guy along with appears to have been successful sufficient to take time off to help you preach into the Israel.
Judging on book’s vocabulary and style, Amos has also been well-educated. Scholars court his the means to access vocabulary since the including expressive, stunning and you can forceful.
Amos authored from the an incredibly extreme amount of time in Israel’s background (Amos 1:1). Each other leaders Jeroboam II of Israel (793-753 BC ) and you will Uzziah out of Judah (791-739 BC ) liked a lot of time and you may prosperous reigns. His prophecy will be old before 750 BC , as the Uzziah’s kid, Jotham (750-731 BC ), just who reigned as the co-regent together with dad to have eleven ages, isn’t said.
The term “2 yrs until the quake” helps to narrow the brand new book’s time. Archeological findings unearthed within Hazor inside the north Palestine reveal that an enthusiastic strangely solid earthquake happened in the 760 BC . If so, Amos prophesied within 762 BC . The word generally seems to limitation their prophesying to this version of seasons, recommending you to definitely their prophetic interest try very short.
Yet not, the prophet left a strong content out of alerting and you can urgency one nevertheless groups that have specifics and fervor
Many historians keeps determined that 722 BC -40 years after-was whenever Assyria os’ caution content, Jesus in his compassion given His individuals with a beneficial forty-year age of demo and you will analysis when they may regret. History information, but not, you to Samaria decrease along with her survivors was in fact dragged to the captivity for the 718 BC .
Lifestyle keeps you 
to Amos passed away a criminal demise from the hand off Jeroboam II, however, zero historic suggestions provides affirmed that it claim.
From the becoming an enthusiastic illiterate shepherd, brand new prophet is a person away from refinement and material, conscious of previous incidents and you will most recent criteria into the Israel and you may Judah, and in the nearby places
” the father roars away from Zion, and utters Their voice out-of Jerusalem; the latest pastures of the shepherds mourn, and also the most readily useful from Carmel withers” (Amos step one:2). In the wild an effective lion roars just as it’s regarding to pounce to your the victim. Symbolically and you may metaphorically, the new roar regarding a good lion or even the crack from thunder shows the brand new impending input of God within the human products (I Samuel 2:10; Isaiah 29:6; 31:4; Hosea 11:9-11; Revelation ).
On middle-8th 100 years BC when Amos preached, Israel’s monetary base are largely during the agriculture, but a drought had started to destabilize you to base. This new pastures got already started initially to have the negative effects of God’s booming, just like the got Carmel, one particular verdant section of Israel, and incidentally, the fresh supposed stronghold regarding Baal. Amos proclaims your drought is the consequence of God’s view.
