Amos 1

The Book of the Prophet Amos

Handout: Prophetic Literature
Randolf C. Flores, SVD

Major Commentaries:

Leslie C. Allen, The Books of Joel, Obadiah, Jonah and Micah (New International
Commentary on the Old Testament, Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1976).

Francis Andersen and and David N. Freedman, Amos. A New Translation with Introduction
and Commentary (Anchor Bible 24A; New York: Doubleday, 1989). Massive, 979 pages!

Jörg Jeremias, The Book of Amos (Old Testament Library; Louisville: Westminster John
Knox, 1998).

J. L. Mays, Amos: A Commentary (OTL; Philadelphia: Westminster, 1969)

Shalom Paul, Amos. A Commentary on the Book of Amos (Hermeneia Series; Minneapolis:
Fortress Press, 1991). A critical, historical commentary designed for serious students. The author
examines medieval Jewish exegesis along with modern scholarship. The use of ancient Near Eastern sources is
extensive.
Hans Walter Wolff, Joel and Amos (Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1977)

Marvin Sweeney, The Twelve Prophets Volume One: Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah
(Berit Olam Studies in Hebrew and Narrative Poetry Collegeville, Minnesota: Liturgical
Press, 2000).

A. Preliminary Remarks
Sources: Marvin Sweeney, pp. 191-195; Anthony R. Ceresko, pp. 194-203; J. Blenkinsopp, A
History of Prophecy in Israel (revised and enlarged; Louisville, Kentucky: Westminster john
Knox Press, 1996), pp. 72-82.

1. The Dodekapropheton, see Sir 49:10 (2nd Century BC)

2. Position in the Hebrew Bible
Amos 7:1-3 and Joel 1-2 , note the vision of locusts
Amos 9:11-15 and Joel 3:18, restoration of Davidic dynasty
Amos 1:11-12 and 9:12 and Obadiah, note the judgment on Edom
Amos 5:18-20, Joel 1:15; and Obadiah 15 - Day of YHWH

3. Position in the LXX

Hosea and Amos, note the marriage metaphor in Hosea and the Bethel Sanctuary in Amos
Micah and Amos, note the concept of punishment and restoration
Hosea, Amos, and Micah lived during the eight century B.C.

4. Historical Background
-reign of Jeroboam ben Joash (786-746 B.C.), note 2 Kgs 14:25
-alliance with the southern kingdom of Judah under the rule of Uzziah/Azariah ben
Amaziah, see 2 Kgs 14:8-14
-Aram and Philistia, traditional enemies of Israel, lacked the power to challenge Israel
 Amos 2

-Kingdom of Assyria , too preoccupied with its own internal problems

Hence, relative security and prosperity in the northern Kingdom of Israel in mid-eight
century B.C.

5. Social Situation
-Surplus of production, cf. Ceresko
-source of wealth: heavy taxation, tribute exacted from the weaker southern kingdom of
Judah/ and oppression of farmers and slaves (see Amos 4:1; 6:1, 4-7) by very wealthy
ruling class in Samaria.
-Bethel, the royal sanctuary of the Northern Kingdom, the place where taxes, tributes,
offerings, and tithes are paid.

6. Prophetic Ministry of Amos

-Call for the destruction of the Bethel Sanctuary as it symbolizes Judah’s subjugation to
Israel and the Israelite monarchy’s mistreatment of the people. = Day of the YHWH
-Exhortation to seek YHWH in Jerusalem.
-note: Day of the YHWH, time when punishment will be visited by YHWH against Israel
(Amos 5:18-20); leaders will be face exile at the face of an enemy nation (Amos 5:27;
6:7).
--Assyrian Empire? Problematic since Tiglath Pileser III ascension to the Assyrian
throne happened after the time of Amos in 745 B.C.
--punishment in the form of natural catastrophes like earthquake (Amos 8:8; 9:5),
the locust plague (Amos 7:1-3), and fire (Amos 7:4-6).

7. Hints of Editorial Composition:

--Amos 1:1 (superscription); 1:2 (motto); cf. Joel 3:16; 2:4-5 (Condemnation of
Judah)
--final composition: Second Temple Period , late 6th century BC,

8. Outline: Tripartite division (see Blenkinsopp, p. 74):

(1) after the superscription (1:1) and the motto (1:2), there are eight sayings against
various nations, the last being Israel, condemning them for different atrocities and crimes
(1:3-2:16);
(2) the central part of the book contains collection of mostly short sayings attributed
to Amos (chapters 3 – 6);
(3) the last section (7 – 9) consists of five vision reports (7:1-3, 4-6, 7-9; 8:1-3; 9:1-4)
with expansions and interpolations.