This is the first part of a series of short posts looking at the historical, political, religious and social setting surrounding the prophecy of Amos. This first part is an introduction to the historical setting for the book and takes a look at what we know about the man himself. As mentioned in my previous posts I’m using the TNIV (Today’s new International Version) bible as my reference source.
Introduction to the book of Amos
Almost 10 miles south of Jerusalem and on the edge of the Judean wilderness lay Tekoa, home of the first prophet whose words were to be fully recorded: the shepherd Amos. He was, as he himself declared, ‘… neither a prophet nor the disciple of a prophet …’ (Amos Ch.7:14a) but a shepherd impelled by a divine compulsion to proclaim the word of God however unpopular.
Amos lived during the reigns of Uzziah, king of Judah, and Jeroboam II, king of Israel (Amos Ch.1:1). It was a time of growing influence and prosperity for both kingdoms. For many years previously the northern kingdom of Israel had come increasingly under the domination of neighbouring Syria. The Syrians occupied the whole of the Trans-Jordan, and on the western coast their influence extended as far as south as Gath. Other nations also took advantage of Israel’s weakness. The Ammonites wiped out the population of the land to the east of the Jordan in order to gain further territorial advantage. At such a low ebb in Israel’s fortunes, Jeroboam’s accession to the throne seemed like a divine intervention on the people’s behalf, ‘… the Lord had seen how bitterly everyone in Israel, whether slave or free, was suffering; there was no one to help them …and since the Lord had not said he would blot out the name of Israel from under heaven, he saved them by the hand of Jeroboam son of Jehoash …’ (2 Kings Ch.14:27). In his battles against Syria Jeroboam succeeded in recovering territory from the northern pass of Hamath as far southwards as the Dead Sea. With this new political strength came a corresponding prosperity; but it was superficial, and whilst it brought luxury and comfort, it brought it only to a favoured minority, as Amos himself discovered.
Amos is described in Scripture as a shepherd, although the word used can also mean a breeder of sheep such as is used of Mesha, king of Moab (2 Kings Ch.3:4). But even if this were his position, there are indications that Amos was far from enjoying personal prosperity since, for instance, his father’s name is not given; which indicates that he came from an obscure family. The countryside around Tekoa was bleak and inhospitable; its only source of water came from infrequent springs near which shepherds might hope to find enough grass to feed flocks. The poverty of such a living is further emphasized by the fact that Amos supplemented it by tending sycamore or fig trees (Ch.7:14). It doesn’t appear from the text that all of Amos’ days were spent in looking after his flock or caring for trees since it seems likely that from time to time he visited cities in the northern kingdom of Israel possibly to sell the wool from his sheep. It appears likely that it was on these journeys he became increasingly aware as to the true cost of Israel’s new-found prosperity.
More to follow … as time allows …!
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