Book of Amos – the third of the Twelve Minor Prophets

Image: detail of a fresco by Melozzo da Forlì, 15th century; in Santa Casa, or Holy House of the Virgin, Loreto, Italy. Photo by Peter Geymayer

The Book of Amos is the third of the Twelve Minor Prophets in the Old Testament. Amos, who flourished during the reigns of King Uzziah (c. 783–742 BC) of Judah (the southern kingdom) and King Jeroboam II (c. 786–746 BC) of Israel, was the first Hebrew prophet to have a biblical book named for him. 

Amos fiercely criticized corruption and social injustice among Israel’s pagan neighbors, Israel itself, and Judah. From his book, Amos emerges as a thoughtful, probably well-traveled man of fierce integrity, who possessed a poet’s gift for homely but forceful imagery and rhythmic language. Amos also believed in a moral order transcending nationalistic interests.

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. Other major ideas proposed in the book of Amos include: justice and concern for the disadvantaged; that the Hebrew God is God of all nations; the Hebrew God is the judge of all nations; the Hebrew God is God of moral righteousness.