Editing Book of Amos

{{Short description|Book of the Bible}}
{{Tanakh |Nevi'im|prophetic}}

The '''Book of Amos '''is the third of the [[Twelve Minor Prophets]] in the Christian [[Old Testament]] and Jewish [[Hebrew Bible|Tanakh]] and the second in the Greek [[Septuagint]].{{sfn|Sweeney|2000|p=unpaginated}} The Book of Amos has nine chapters.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Bible (online) |url=https://www.bible.com/}}</ref> According to the Bible, [[Amos (prophet)|Amos]] was an older contemporary of [[Hosea]] and [[Isaiah]],<ref name ="Harris">[[Stephen L Harris|Harris, Stephen L.]], ''Understanding the Bible''. Palo Alto: Mayfield. 1985.</ref> and was active {{circa|750}} BC during the reign of [[Jeroboam II]]<ref name="Harris"/> (788–747 BC) of [[Kingdom of Israel (Samaria)|Samaria]] (Northern Israel),<ref>Finkelstein, Israel. ''The Forgotten Kingdom: The Archaeology and History of Ancient Israel.'' Atlanta: SBL, 2013. Ancient Near East Monographs, Number 5. p. 4.</ref> while [[Uzziah]] was King of Judah. Amos is said to have lived in the [[kingdom of Judah]] but preached in the northern Kingdom of Israel<ref name="Harris"/> where themes of [[social justice]], God's [[omnipotence]], and [[divine judgment]] became staples of prophecy.<ref name="Harris"/> In recent years, scholars have grown more skeptical of The Book of Amos’ presentation of Amos’ biography and background.<ref>Couey, J. Blake. The Oxford Handbook of the Minor Prophets. p. 424–436. 2021. “In more recent scholarship, one finds greater skepticism about historical reconstructions of Amos’s prophetic career. The superscription and Amaziah narrative are increasingly viewed as late, which raises questions about their historical validity (Coggins 2000 72, 142–143; Eidevall 2017, 3–7). The vision reports may also belong to later stages of the book’s development (Becker 2001; Eidevall 2017, 191–193). Doubts about the existence of a united monarchy under King David undermine arguments that Amos advocated for a reunified Davidic kingdom (Davies 2009, 60; Radine 2010, 4). These questions reflect larger scholarly trends, in which prophetic books are increasingly viewed as products of elite scribes. Even if they reflect historical prophetic activity, one cannot uncritically equate the prophet with the author. There may in fact have been no “writing prophets,” in which case Amos loses one source of his/its traditional prestige as the first of this group. Further complicating the matter, the portrait of prophets like Amos as proclaimers of judgment contrasts starkly with surviving records of prophetic activity from other ancient Near Eastern cultures, in which prophets consistently support the state (Kratz 2003)”</ref> It is known for its distinct “sinister tone and violent portrayal of God.”<ref>Noted in the conclusion of Couey, J. Blake. The Oxford Handbook of the Minor Prophets. p. 424–436. 2021.</ref>

==Structure==
[[File: Stamp of Israel - Tenth Anniversary Exhibition.jpg|thumb|right|Quote from Amos on an [[Israeli stamp]]: "And I will plant them upon their land, and they shall no more be pulled up out of their land which I have given them."]]
[[File:UPennE3074.jpg|thumb|right|250px|[[Papyrus Oxyrhynchus 846]]: Amos 2 (LXX)]]
According to [[Michael D. Coogan]], the Book of Amos can be structured as follows:<ref>{{Cite book|last=Coogan|first=Michael|title=A Brief Introduction to the Old Testament|year=2009|pages=256}}</ref>
*Oracles against the nations (1:3–2:6)
*Oracle concerning prophecy (3:3–8)
*Addresses to groups in Israel
**Women of Samaria (4:1–3)
**Rich people in Samaria (6:1–7)
**Rich people in Jerusalem (8:4–8)
*Five visions of God's judgment on Israel, interrupted by a confrontation between Amos and his listeners at [[Bethel]] (7:10–17):
**Locusts (7:1–3)
**Fire (7:4–6)
**A plumb line (7:7–9)
**A basket of fruit (8:1–3)
**God besides the altar (9:1–8a)
*Epilogue (9:8b–15)
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==Summary==
The book opens with a historical note about the prophet, then a short oracle announcing [[Yahweh]]'s judgment (repeated in the [[Book of Joel]]).{{sfn|Coogan|2008|p=84}} The prophet denounces the crimes committed by the gentile (non-Jewish) nations, and tells Israel that even they have sinned and are guilty of the same crimes, and reports five symbolic visions prophesying the destruction of Israel.{{sfn|O'Brien|1990|pp=26–27}} Included in this, with no apparent order, are an oracle on the nature of prophecy, snippets of hymns, oracles of woe, a third-person prose narrative concerning the prophet, and an oracle promising restoration of the House of David, which had not yet fallen in the lifetime of Amos.{{sfn|Coogan|2008|p=84}}

==Composition==
[[Amos (prophet)|Amos]] prophesied during the reigns of [[Jeroboam II]] of [[Kingdom of Israel (Samaria)|Israel]] and [[Uzziah]] of [[Kingdom of Judah|Judah]]; this places him in the first half of the 8th century BC. According to the book's superscription (Amos 1:1) he was from [[Teqoa#In the Hebrew Bible|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.{{sfn|Carroll|Daniel|2003|p=690}}

Scholars have long recognized that Amos utilized an ancient hymn within his prophecy, verses of which are found at 4:13, 5:8–9, 8:8, and 9:5–6.<ref>H.W. Wolff, Joel und Amos (Hermeneia; Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1977), p. 215.</ref> This hymn is best understood as praising [[Yahweh]] for his judgment, demonstrated in his destructive power, rather than praise for creation.<ref>P. Carny, ‘Doxologies: A Scientific Myth’, Hebrew Studies 18 (1977), pp. 149–59 (157)</ref> Scholarship has also identified [[City Lament|'Sumerian City Lament' (SCL)]] motifs within Amos and particularly the hymn, offering the possibility that Amos used SCL as a literary template for his prophecy of Jerusalem's destruction.<ref>J. Radine, The Book of Amos in Emergent Judah (Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck, 2010)</ref> The Amos hymn has also been discussed in terms of a "covenant curse" which was used to warn Israel of the consequences of breaking the covenant, and in particular a "Flood covenant-curse" motif, first identified by D.R. Hillers.<ref>D.R. Hillers, ‘Treaty-Curses and the Old Testament Prophets’ (unpublished PhD dissertation); Rome: [[Pontifical Biblical Institute]], 1964</ref> Recent scholarship has shown Amos's hymn is an ancient narrative text, has identified a new verse at 7.4; and has compared the hymn to the Genesis Flood account and Job 9:5–10.<ref>G. Cox, "The ‘Hymn’ of Amos: An Ancient Flood Narrative." ''Journal for the Study of the Old Testament'' Vol 38.1 (2013): pp. 81–108</ref>

== Themes ==
The central idea of the book of Amos is that God puts his people on the same level as the surrounding nations – God expects the same purity of them all. As it is with all nations that rise up against the kingdom of God, even Israel and Judah will not be exempt from the judgment of God because of their idolatry and unjust ways. The nation that represents [[Yahweh]] must be made pure of anything or anyone that profanes the name of God; his name must be exalted.

Amos is the first prophet to use the term "the [[Day of the Lord]]".<ref>Coogan, M., ''A Brief Introduction to the Old Testament: The Hebrew Bible in its Context''. (Oxford University Press: Oxford 2009). p. 260</ref> This phrase becomes important within future prophetic and apocalyptic literature. For the people of Israel "The Day of the Lord" is the day when God will fight against his and their enemies, and it will be a day of victory for Israel. However, Amos and other prophets include Israel as an enemy of God, as Israel is guilty of injustice toward the innocent, poor, and young women.<ref>Coogan, M. ''A Brief Introduction to the Old Testament: The Hebrew Bible in its Context''. Oxford University Press: Oxford, 2009. pp. 258–59.</ref> To Amos "The Day of the Lord" will be a day of doom.

Other major ideas proposed in the book of Amos include justice and concern for the disadvantaged, and that [[Yahweh]] is God of all nations (not just Israel), and is likewise the judge of all nations, and is also a God of moral righteousness. Also that [[Yahweh]] created all people, and the idea that Israel's [[covenant (biblical)|covenant]] with God did not exempt them from accountability for sin; as well as that God [[Election (Christianity)|elected]] and liberated Israel so that he would be known throughout the world. And that if God destroys the unjust, a remnant will remain, and that God is free to judge whether to redeem [[Kingdom of Israel (Samaria)|Israel]].

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== Bibliography ==
{{Refbegin}}
*{{Cite book
|last                     = Bandstra
|first                    = Barry L.
|title                    = Reading the Old Testament: An Introduction to the Hebrew Bible
|publisher                = Cengage Learning
|year                     = 2008
|url                      = https://books.google.com/books?id=vRY9mTUZKJcC&q=Isaiah&pg=PA489
|isbn                     = 978-0495391050
}}
*{{Cite book
 |last      = Barton
 |first     = John
 |title     = The Theology of the Book of Amos
 |publisher = Cambridge University Press
 |year      = 2012
 |isbn      = 9780521855778
 |url       = https://books.google.com/books?id=LrEYKKOZAfwC&q=%22Amos%3A+the+critical+issues%22&pg=PA35
}}
* {{cite web | last=Bulkeley | first=Tim | title=Amos: Hypertext Bible Commentary | url=http://hypertextbible.org/amos/amos/index.htm | year=2005 | access-date=2007-07-10 | archive-date=2008-11-21 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081121161633/http://hypertextbible.org/amos/amos/index.htm | url-status=usurped }}
* {{cite book |last1=Carroll |first1=R. |last2=Daniel |first2=M. |date=2002 |title=Amos: The Prophet and His Oracles |location=Louisville |publisher=Westminster John Knox Press }}
* {{Cite book
 |last1         = Carroll
 |first1        = R.
 |last2         = Daniel
 |first2        = M.
 |chapter       = Amos
 |editor1-last  = Dunn
 |editor1-first = James D. G.
 |editor2-last  = Rogerson
 |editor2-first = John William
 |title         = Eerdmans Commentary on the Bible
 |publisher     = Eerdmans
 |year          = 2003
 |chapter-url   = https://books.google.com/books?id=2Vo-11umIZQC&q=%22Amos%27s+stature+as+one+of+the+first+writing+prophets%22&pg=PA690
 |isbn          = 9780802837110
}}
*{{Cite book
 |last      = Collins
 |first     = John J.
 |title     = Introduction to the Hebrew Scriptures
 |publisher = Fortress Press
 |year      = 2014
 |isbn      = 9781451469233
 |url       = https://books.google.com/books?id=fbsoBAAAQBAJ&q=%22there+is+no+doubt+that+the+book+was+edited+in+the+southern+kingdom%22&pg=PA305
}}
*{{Cite book
|last                     = Coogan
|first                    = Michael
|title                    = Reading the Old Testament: an introduction to the Hebrew Bible
|publisher                = Oxford University Press
|year                     = 2008
|url                      = https://books.google.com/books?id=roDHlzkM6EsC
|isbn                     = 978-0495391050
}}
* {{cite book |last=Coote |first=Robert B. |title=Amos Among the Prophets: Composition and Theology |date=1981 |url=https://archive.org/details/amosamongprophet0000coot |url-access=registration |location=Philadelphia |publisher=Fortress Press |isbn=9780800614003 }}
* {{cite book |last=Doorly |first=William J. |title=Prophet of Justice: Understanding the Book of Amos |date=1989 |url=https://archive.org/details/prophetofjustice0000door |url-access=registration |location=New York |publisher=Paulist Press |isbn=9780809130894 }}
* {{cite book |last=Hasel |first=Gerhard F. |date=1991 |title=Understanding the Book of Amos: Basic Issues in Current Interpretations |location=Grand Rapids |publisher=Baker Book House }}
*{{Cite book
 |last      = Hayes
 |first     = Christine
 |title     = Introduction to the Bible
 |publisher = Yale University Press
 |year      = 2015
 |isbn      = 978-0300188271
 |url       = https://books.google.com/books?id=SKbkXYHxvlAC&q=%22Amos+is+structured+in+four+main+sections%22&pg=PT242
}}
* {{cite book |last= Haynes|first= John H. |date=1988 |title=Amos the Eighth Century Prophet: His Times and His Preaching |location=Nashville |publisher=Abingdon Press }}
* {{cite book |last=Keil |first=C. F. |date=1986 |title=Commentary on the Old Testament in Ten Volumes |location=Grand Rapids |publisher=William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company }}
* {{cite book |last=LaSor |first=William Sanford|display-authors=et al |date=1996 |title=Old Testament Survey: The Message, Form, and Background of the Old Testament |location=Grand Rapids |publisher=William B. Eerdmans }}
* {{cite book |last=Metzger |first=Bruce M. |display-authors=et al |date=1993 |title=The Oxford Companion to the Bible |url=https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780195046458 |url-access=registration |location=New York |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-504645-8 }}
* {{cite book |last=Möller |first=Karl |title=A Prophet in Debate: the Rhetoric of Persuasion in the Book of Amos |date=2003 |location=London |publisher=Sheffield Academic Press }}
* {{cite book |last1=O'Brien |first1=J. Randall |chapter=Amos, Book of |editor-last1=Mills |editor-first1=Watson E. |title=Mercer Dictionary of the Bible |date=1990 |publisher=Mercer University Press |isbn=978-0-86554-373-7 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=goq0VWw9rGIC&pg=PA26 |language=en }}
* {{cite book |last=Paul |first=Shalom M. |date=1991 |title=Amos: A Commentary on the Book of Amos |url=https://archive.org/details/amoscommentaryon0000paul |url-access=registration |series=Hermeneia |location=Minneapolis |publisher=Fortress Press |isbn=9780800660239 }}
*{{Cite book
|last                     = Sweeney
|first                    = Marvin A.
|title                    = The Twelve Prophets: Volume 1: Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah
|publisher                = Liturgical Press
|year                     = 2000
|url                      = https://books.google.com/books?id=skKJDAAAQBAJ&q=%22Amos+is+the+third+book%22&pg=PT296
|isbn                     = 9780814682432
}}
{{Refend}}

== External links ==
{{wikiquote}}
{{wikisource|Amos (Bible)|Amos}}
*[[Judaism|Jewish]] translations:
**[http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?aid=15760 Amos (Judaica Press)] translation [with [[Rashi]]'s commentary] at [[Chabad.org]]
*[[Christianity|Christian]] translations:
**[http://www.gospelhall.org/bible/bible.php?passage=Amos+1&ver1=esv ''Online Bible'' at GospelHall.org] (English Standard Version)
**[[s:Bible, King James, Amos|''Amos'' at Wikisource]] (Authorised King James Version)
*[http://www.nicholaswhyte.info/Bible/amos.htm Nicholas Whyte on Amos]
*[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01435a.htm New Advent Catholic Encyclopedia, Amos]
*Richard W. Corney, [https://web.archive.org/web/20150906124200/http://www.vts.edu/ftpimages/95/download/download_group10629_id314966.pdf ''Amos'' an Introduction], published by [[Forward Movement]], archived at the [[Wayback Machine]]
* {{librivox book | dtitle=Bible: Amos| stitle=30: Amos}} (American Standard Version, Young's Literal Translation)

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{{s-hou | [[Minor prophet]]s|||}}
{{s-bef | before= [[Book of Joel|Joel]] | rows = 2 }}
{{s-ttl | title  = [[Tanakh|Hebrew Bible]] }}
{{s-aft | after= [[Book of Obadiah|Obadiah]] | rows = 2 }}
{{s-ttl | title = [[Christianity|Christian]]<br>[[Old Testament]] }}
{{s-end}}
{{Book of Amos}}
{{Books of the Bible}}
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[[Category:Book of Amos| ]]
[[Category:8th-century BC books]]
[[Category:Twelve Minor Prophets| 03]]