The book of amos is one of the least understood in the holy scriptures. Apr 02, 2020 book of amos, the third of 12 old testament books that bear the names of the minor prophets, collected in one book under the jewish canon titled the twelve. Information and translations of book of amos in the most comprehensive dictionary definitions resource on the web. He is not to be confused with amoz stout, strong, the. Amos refers to himself as a dresser of sycamore trees, a job description that has puzzled interpreters over the centuries. And we must never forget that amos is speaking to us, the church of god, the israel of god. And like many of gods prophets, amos testified and witnessed to his generation of their departure from gods laws and ways. Rather, he was a grower of sycamore figs as well as a shepherd amos 7. The purpose of the book of amos was to announce gods holy judgment on the kingdom of israel the northern kingdom, call them to repentance, and to turn from their selfrighteous sins and idolatry. Amos, son of nephi 110194 and his son amos 194306, two minor figures in the book of mormon. Amos, a judaean prophet from the village of tekoa, was active in the northern kingdom of israel during the reign of jeroboam ii c. The work chronicles the visions that the ancient author of this book believed he received from god in order to warn israel of its impending doom. May 31, 2018 from hebrew amas meaning load, burden. He accurately foretold the destruction of the northern kingdom of israel although he did not specify assyria as the cause and, as a prophet of doom, anticipated later old testament prophets.
Book of amos an old testament book telling amos s prophecies amos old testament the collection of. It is difficult to give the proper meaning in a translation. He was the earliest prophet to have a book of the bible named for him. The truth is that even in the worse scenario of the church, there is always some whom god preserves unto eternal life.
The book of amos was written during the era of divided kingdoms of israel but in an age which is much prosperous than the previous times especially the northern kingdom of isreal with ruler jeroboam ii reached at such a level of growth and prosperity. An easyenglish commentary 2800 word vocabulary on the book of amos. Book of amos definition of book of amos by the free. Amos burden, native of tekoa in judah, about six miles south of bethlehem, originally a shepherd and dresser of sycamore trees, who was called by god s spirit to be a prophet, although not trained in any of the regular prophetic schools. Amos 3 witnesses summoned against israel bible gateway. He is not to be confused with amoz stout, strong, the father of isaiah isaiah 1.
Book of amos an old testament book telling amos s prophecies amos old testament the collection of books comprising the sacred scripture of the. Summary of the book of amos the story of the bible. The prophets name, amos, has been variously explained, and its exact meaning is still a matter of conjecture. The book of amos was likely written between 760 and 753 b. Amos synonyms, amos pronunciation, amos translation, english dictionary definition of amos. The book of amos is a prophetic book of the hebrew bible largely dating to the 8th century bce and considered to be scripture by modernday jews and christians. The words of amos reveal jehovahs mercy towards an unworthy people. With each verse, commentary is provided to help the reader understand and apply the text.
This was the name of a biblical prophet of the 8th century bc, whose oracles are recorded in the book of amos. Then he says something to his own people who live in israel and judah. May 18, 2017 the book of amos is a prophetic book of the hebrew bible largely dating to the 8th century bce and considered to be scripture by modernday jews and christians. Sep 09, 2015 this book certainly has many applications and warnings for the people of god today. Book of amos overview insight for living ministries. This summary of the book of amos provides information about the title, authors, date of writing, chronology, theme, theology, outline, a brief overview, and the chapters of the book of amos. Amos definition, a minor prophet of the 8th century b. Amos is a shepherd and a fruit picker from the judean village of tekoa when god calls him, even though he lacks an education or a priestly background. Transcribed and edited by david sielaff, february 20. The book of amos, the third of the twelve minor prophets, has been one of the most significant and influential books of the bible from the time it was written 8th century bce down to the 20th century. This book of the prophet amos is the only mention we have of this man in the old testament. Watch our overview video on the book of amos, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought.
Used a total of eight times in the book, these words play a special role in the way amos communicates sin and judgment. Meaning of famine for hearing the words of the lord therefore, amos 8. Amos free bible commentary in easy english easyenglish bible. Damascum, which knabenbauer explains, i will not avert its destruction, will not turn it aside from its downward course. The book of amos is a stinging rebuke of a nation that has rejected and forgotten god. The book of amos was written during the era of divided kingdoms of israel but in an age which is much prosperous than the previous times especially the northern kingdom of isreal with ruler jeroboam ii reached at such a level of growth and prosperity as was not seen after david and solomon. Amos prophet 8th century bc, one of the twelve minor prophets in the hebrew bible book of amos, his writings. Book of amos matthew henrys bible commentary concise.
Not one of the recognized prophets of israel, nor was he a priest, not even a native of israel but a farmer called of the lord from judah to warn the northern kingdom of the coming judgement. Amos is one of the twelve minor prophets of the old testament, the author of the book of amos, which speaks against greed, corruption and oppression of the poor. And the lord took me as i followed the flock, and the lord said unto me, go, prophesy unto my people israel amos 7. Study amos using matthew henrys bible commentary concise to better understand scripture with full outline and verse meaning. Amos 19 niv the words of amos, one of the shepherds. It is of hebrew origin, and the meaning of amos is to carry. Amos was a contemporary of hosea, isaiah, and jonah. Book of amos, the third of 12 old testament books that bear the names of the minor prophets, collected in one book under the jewish canon. The book of amos is a prophetic book of the hebrew bible, one of the twelve minor prophets. As an english name, amos has been used since the protestant. This summary of the book of amos provides information about the title. According to the heading of his book i, 1 amos was a herdsman of thecua, a village in the southern kingdom, twelve miles south of jerusalem.
Amos, the first hebrew prophet to have a biblical book named for him. He writes about the terrible things that they have done. Amos definition is a hebrew prophet of the eighth century b. The name is seldom used in this century, perhaps because of lingering negative connotations from the highly politically incorrect radio show amos n andy that was popular in the 1940s and 1950s. Amos meaning burden or burdenbearer was an inhabitant of the rugged region of tekoa, located in the territory of judah about 12 miles south of jerusalem.
Amos bronson alcott 17991888, american educator, father of american novelist louisa may alcott. He was a shepherd and tended to sycamore fig trees. It is, like the book of hosea which belongs to about the same time, a contemporaneous document of a period of great significance in the history of israel. It is a stirring warning to all of the dangers of apostasy, rebellion and complacency. The prophet amos lived among a group of shepherds in tekoa, a small town approximately ten miles south of jerusalem. Written about the 8th century bc, it is among the oldest of the prophetic books. The first verse of this book identifies the author as amos, who was among the herdsmen of tekoa 1. Several times he uses the phraseology, for three sins transgressions of gods law, 1 john 3. Learning from the book of amos number 39 a message of restoration sermon 1 amos 9. Septuagint so that the remnant of people and all the nations that bear my name may seek me.
Book of amos definition of book of amos by the free dictionary. Amos, an older contemporary of hosea and isaiah, was active c. God sent amos all the way from down there in the desert and the wilderness up to bethel, one of the capital cities of the northern kingdom where he found city folk living. Bible names had meanings, and often, when a prophets name was given to him or her, it described the work that god had called the prophet to do. Lessons from the book of amos, part i steps to life. God raised up the prophet amos, as an act of his great mercy to a people who repeatedly shunned and disobeyed him.
Book of amos read, study bible verses online bible study tools. He prophesied in israel at the great cult center of bethel, from which he was finally expelled by the priest in charge of this royal sanctuary 7. His major themes of social justice, gods omnipotence, and divine judgment became staples of prophecy. Amos was the first prophet to use the term the day of the lord, which is found in other biblical texts from later periods. For three transgressions of damascus, and for four similarly amos 1. The book of amos is named after the prophet whose words are collected in this book. As with each of the minor prophets, the title comes from the name of the prophet to whom god gave his message 1. While hosea only prophesied regarding israel amos also prophesied concerning the neighbouring nations of israel. He accurately foretold the destruction of the northern kingdom. Much has been made of the fact that amos was a shepherda man more comfortable among hills and dales than on city streetsa man more comfortable in the company of sheep than of peoplean. The book of amos, which is the earliest of the prophetic writings to be preserved in book form, consists of nine chapters. Amos and hosea were coworkers and may even have gone on preaching tours through the land together, although hosea continued his work after amos passed from the scene.
The question whether the book of amos indicates an acquaintance with these or not is important because it is to a great extent on the silence of prophetical and historical writers that critics of a certain school relegate these legalistic portions of the pentateuch to a late date. The main purpose of a summary is as a simplification highlighting the major points from the original and much longer version of the subject. Amos with book summary versebyverse bible commentary. The assyrians were for a time held in check by the rising power of urartu to their north, under sardur iii 810743. Book of amos synonyms, book of amos pronunciation, book of amos translation, english dictionary definition of book of amos. Amos is one of the twelve minor prophets of the old testament, the author of the book of amos, the oldest of the prophetic books. Amos shares her political views, her response to sexual assault, her response to 911 and her overall feminist views. As in the book of hosea religion was prospering but faith in the one true god yhwh was on the decline. More than almost any other book of scripture, the book of amos holds gods people accountable for their illtreatment of others. Amos lived in the kingdom of judah but preached in the northern kingdom of israel.
The book of amos is particularly valuable from the fact that he is certainly one of the earliest prophets whose writings have come down to us. The book of amos amos was a sheepbreeder of tekoa in judah, who delivered his oracles in the northern kingdom during the prosperous reign of jeroboam ii 786746 b. Amos begins his prophecy by articulating gods anger against syria, gaza, ammon and moabmideastern nations that anciently bordered israel and judahand whose descendants remain in that general area even today. Book of amos summary we have detailed a brief summary of the book of amos for bible study or sunday school lessons. Amos is originally a hebrew name meaning strong, carried, and brave, and is a popular name among the germans.
Amos made clear in his writings that he did not come from a family of prophets, nor did he even consider himself one. Despite the fact that he lived in the southern kingdom of judah, god sent him as his prophet to the northern kingdom of. He was a shepherd and farmer, but had the special commission to proclaim gods message to the people of israel more precisely, to the northern kingdom of israel, since the people of israel had split into two kingdoms some 150 years before amos days. Comprising only nine chapters of oracles, it was composed during the age of jeroboam ii, king of israel from 786 to 746 bce. Verses 1114 describes the horrors of the punishment that would follow. Amos was from tekoa, a small town in judah about 6 miles south of bethlehem and 11 miles from jerusalem. The book of amos is the third of the twelve minor prophets in the tanakhold testament and the second in the greek septuagint tradition. His given name was prophetically significant to the work that he was called to do.
Not all of the material found in these chapters came from amos himself. This book certainly has many applications and warnings for the people of god today. The numbers are of course to be understood not literally, but typically, a concrete number being chosen for the sake of assisting the imagination. But let justice roll down like waters and righteousness like.
Introduction to the book of amos in the bible amos 1. It is a prophecy for the period just ahead of us, a prophecy dealing with a. The book of amos introduction to the book of amos in the bible. Amos was an israelite native of tekota, the modern tekoa tuqu or teqoa, a town about 12 miles southeast of bethlehem.
The latter prophets follow psalms and the wisdom books in the greek septuagint, as well as our christian old testament of the bible. He was not a man of the court like isaiah, or a member of a priestly family like jeremiah and ezekiel. Editors and copyists added comments to the prophets original oracles that they deemed appropriate in light of events that occurred after his death. Israel, if we are to believe the testimony of the book of amos, thus enjoyed an indian summer for the first half of the eighth century.
A summary, synopsis or recap is a shortened version of the original. Amos, flourished 8th century bc, the first hebrew prophet to have a biblical book named for him. Mathew bartlett and derek williams skillfully bring out the historical background, the meaning, and the applications in the prophecy of amos. Book of amos, the third of 12 old testament books that bear the names of the minor prophets, collected in one book under the jewish canon titled the twelve. The books of 1 and 2 kings or 1 and 2 chronicles do not mention this prophet, and he should not be confused with amoz, the father of isaiah the prophet isaiah 1.
It repeatedly points out the failure of the people to fully embrace gods idea of justice. The book of amos has a complicated compositional and editorial history. The book does not follow a chronological timeline, but rather a thematic approach. Amos shares her process for song development and the experiences that shaped each song while the lyrics are provided at the end of the chapter. They were selling off needy people for goods, taking advantage of the helpless, oppressing the poor, and the men were. Learning from the book of amos number 32 famine of gods word the days are coming, declares the sovereign lord, when i will send a famine in the land not a famine of food or a thirst for water, but a famine of hearing the words of the lord. Origin of amosclassical hebrew language amos, literally, borne by god. We find two quotations from the book of amos in the acts of the apostles. Amos name meaning, origin of amos name, popularity, analysis.
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