Book of Amos

The Book of Amos is one of the Twelve Minor Prophets in the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament. Amos, an older contemporary of Hosea and Isaiah, was active c. 750 BC during the reign of Jeroboam II, (788–747 BC) making the Book of Amos the first biblical prophetic book written. Amos lived in the kingdom of Judah but preached in the northern kingdom of Israel. His major themes of social justice, God's omnipotence, and divine judgment became staples of prophecy.

The book is structured in four parts:
1. Introduction (1-1:2) - a superscription introducing the prophet;
2. Oracles against the nations of Syria-Palestine (1:3-2:16);
3. Sayings of the prophet addressed to the women of Samaria (the capital of Israel), to the wealthy of Samaria and Jerusalem, and to Israel;
4. Vision reports (7-9) - five symbolic visions concerning locusts, fire, a plumb-line, a basket of fruit, and Yahweh by the altar at Bethel.
(The verses 9:8b-15 can be regarded as a separate epilogue).

Amos prophesied during the reign of Jeroboam II, King of Israel, and of Uzziah of Judah, which places him in the first half of the 8th century BCE. According to the book's superscription (Amos 1:1) he was from Tekoa, a town in Judah south of Jerusalem, but his prophetic mission was in the northern kingdom. He is called a "shepherd" and a "dresser of sycamore trees", but the book's literary qualities suggest a man of education rather than a poor farmer.

The book contains two types of composition, the first-person words of the prophet and third-person editorial notes identifying the prophet and the setting of his activity.

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