I. Introduction
The purpose of this paper is to provide the reader with a background for the book of Amos. The author, audience, date, place of writing, occasion and purpose, and the literary genre of the book of Amos will be explored. The study is conducted using internal evidence from the book of Amos and other respected external sources.
II. Author
Verse one of the book of Amos may yield confusion concerning the author – “The words of Amos, one of the shepherds of Tekoa—the vision he saw concerning Israel two years before the earthquake…” (Amos 1:1). Looking at this verse, the reader’s first thought is that someone other than Amos himself wrote or at least compiled the material in this book. If there was an editor other than Amos himself, it is possible that he was a companion of Amos (Pfeiffer 62). Regardless, the material itself comes from Amos whether it was compiled or not.
Very little is known about Amos. He is not mentioned in any other book of the Bible (Allen 81). It is unknown when he was born, how old he was when God called him, how long he preached, how many years he lived, or how he died. Jewish tradition alleges that Amos died as a martyr. Some suggest that Uzziah killed him; others suggest Amaziah, the priest who opposed him at Bethel. It is unknown if any of these are true (Yates 7).
All the information about him comes from this one little book. His name means “burdened” or “burden-bearer” (Allen 81). He lived in Tekoa, a village in Judah about 11 miles south of Jerusalem and 18 miles west of the Dead Sea (Allen 81). Amos refers to himself as a shepherd and care keeper of sycamore-fig trees (Amos 1:1; 7:14).
Amos was probably more of a sheep breeder rather than just a simple shepherd. This would suggest...
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was a preacher - known for his sermons like: Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God (God’s really mad and you’ll burn in hell forever)
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Willa Cather uses the Bible to tell the inspiring story of a woman and her family creating a successful farm. Biblical references are all throughout O Pioneers! Ivar and Ezekiel are comparable in their actions and outlooks on life. Their suffering also connects them in the way they use it to heal and teach others. Alexandra's connection to the prophet Moses is through Sensor 4 their leadership to the promised land.
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The message that the author is trying to convey in Amos 9:5-10 is that YHWH has proven himself to the people to be a trustworthy and loyal God. He helped resurrect Israel, the Philistines and the Arameans. In turn these people, particularly the Israelites, have betrayed his trust by acting sinfully toward the kingdom of Israel. The Lord YHWH will judge those people of Israel who are called to do right but who choose to do wrong. The wrongdoers being those that have acted sinfully.
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He was well educated, fluent in both Hebrew and Aramaic and spoke but could barely write in Greek and Latin. By the age of 14, he was being consulted by high priests in the matters of Jewish law. He was a very intelligent, young man. He was a Jewish priest, a scholar, and a historian.
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