At a glance
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Authorship | Amos, shepherd-prophet from Tekoa |
| Date | ~760-750 BC |
| Audience | Northern kingdom (Israel) at height of prosperity |
| Genre | Prophecy |
| Purpose | Social justice and judgment on Israel's hypocrisy |
| Chapters | 9 |
Outline
| Section | Chapters | Content |
|---|---|---|
| Oracles against nations | 1-2 | Foreign nations and Judah and Israel |
| Israel's specific sin | 3-6 | Social injustice and religious hypocrisy |
| Visions | 7-9 | Five visions and restoration promise |
Main themes
| Theme | Description |
|---|---|
| Social justice | God demands ethical treatment of poor and needy |
| Religious hypocrisy | Sacrifices without justice rejected |
| Day of the Lord | Not what Israel expected, judgment first |
| "Let justice roll down" | Amos 5:24 |
| Restoration of Davidic line | Amos 9:11-15 (cited Acts 15:16-17) |
Key passages
- Amos 5:18-24, Day of the LORD and the call for justice to roll on like a river
- Amos 7:14, Amos's defense ("I was no prophet")
- Amos 8:11-12, famine of hearing the word
- Amos 9:11-15, restoration of Davidic line