| I. |
AUTHOR: Amos |
| |
A. |
Southerner of Tekoa
(south of Jerusalem) (1:1) |
| |
B. |
Traveled north to Israel
(Bethel) to preach as one called of God (7:15) |
| |
C. |
Occupation: sheep
breeder, perhaps a master shepherd with others under him; not a
prophet until called by the LORD (1:1; 7:14f) and a grower of
sycamore figs (7:14) |
| |
D. |
Spoke in Bethel (center
for idol worship in Israel) and then in Judah under Jeroboam II’s
resistance (7) |
| |
E. |
May have returned to
Judah to write his messages |
| II. |
DATE: ca. 767-753 B.C. |
| |
A. |
King of Judah is Uzziah (Azariah)
(790-740) |
| |
B. |
King of Israel is
Jerobaom II (793-753) |
| |
C. |
Within the period of the
joint reigns of Uzziah and Jeroboam, possibly ca. 767-753 B.C. |
| |
D. |
Two years before “the
earth quake” (1:1 cf. Zech 14:5) it was spoken; it may have been
written down later. |
| |
E. |
King of Assyria--Adad
Nirari III (810-753) |
| |
F. |
King of Syria--Hazael |
| III. |
HISTORICAL SETTING: |
| |
A. |
Judah is under the
influence of Jeroboam II of Israel |
| |
B. |
Israel appears to be
outwardly at its zenith of power. Jeroboam had a successful reign
(2 Ki.14:25-28 cf. Amos 6:14) |
| |
C. |
Many of the evil
characteristics described in Amos 1--2 might better be translated
in the present tense of activities then being done.
They describe Jeroboam II’s rule as painfully disrupted as His
lines were breached and the enemies pressed into the territory.
Israel was fighting a defensive war against the armies of Syria
and Ammon. Both were true. |
| |
D. |
Three periods of Israel
from Jehu (841-414): |
| |
|
1. |
839-806 -- Engaged in the East and
rent by civil dissensions. Could not put pressure on Syria,
suffered 30 years of humiliation during Jehu, Jehoahaz, Jehoash |
| |
|
2. |
806-782 -- Assyria’s king Adad-Nirari
III is ruler, and ruled over surrounding states, especially Syria.
Israel was protected. Therefore Israel was able to restore some of
its boarders under Johoash and Jeroboam II. Syria was unable to
fight on two boarders.
Israel and Judah restored their boarders to almost that of David
and Solomon (cf. 2 Ki. 14:25 for the prophecy by Jonah) |
| |
|
3. |
782-745 -- the time when Amos spoke;
Assyria was under duress from the northern kingdom of Urartu which
pushed Assyria down from the north, northwest, and northeast.
Syria was freed up to deal with Israel and entered into drawn-out
battles to regain Gilead, and Bashan. |
| |
E. |
The people became
arrogant during the northern nation’s period of prosperity
resulting in injustice, greed, neglect of the poor, persecution of
the poor, and formalistic religion. |
| IV. |
AUDIENCE: Primarily
northern Israel (1:1; 7:15), but there are some references to
southern Judah as well (2:4-5; 3:1; 6:1). |
| V. |
PURPOSES FOR THE BOOK: |
| |
A. |
To describe how the Lord
of the universe will not only come to judge the nations for their
evil, but will also come to judge Israel for her breach of
covenant |
| |
B. |
To expose Israel’s breach
of covenant through their social oppression of the people, empty
religious ritual, and arrogant self-confidence |
| |
C. |
To proclaim a time of
restoration and blessing after judgment under a revitalized
Davidic dynasty |