UNROLL
First light on the bare hills around Tekoa: a plain shepherd’s staff leans on the rough stone wall of a sheepfold, sheep beyond on the hill, the road north faint in the haze, under a calm empty sky.

The Book of

Amos Intro

A herdsman from Judah walks north with a word Israel doesn’t want to hear.

Before chapter 1≈ 2 min9 chapters

Images are artistic interpretations.

In 30 seconds

A herdsman leaves his flock.

Seven nations judged, then Israel.

Worship without justice, refused.

Five visions of the end.

Then a fallen tent raised up.

Tap to go deeper: meaning, history and related Scripture

Who wrote it

Amos

Herdsman of Tekoa, sent to Israel

  • He was among the sheepherders of Tekoa, in Judah.Amos 1:1
  • He also tended sycamore-fig trees.Amos 7:14
  • He spoke in the days of Uzziah and Jeroboam II, about 760 BC.Amos 1:1
  • The priest of Bethel told him to go home.Amos 7:12

Where it happens

TekoaJerusalemBethelSamaria

Stylised map · locations approximate

On the map

From Tekoa to Bethel

Tekoa lay on the edge of the wilderness, about ten miles south of Jerusalem. Amos went some twenty miles north, across the border, to Bethel, and spoke to Samaria.

Big themes

Three things to carry

How it’s built

The shape of the book

Eight nations1–2: the circle closesHear this word3–5: three messagesWoe5–6: those at easeFive visions7–9:10: locusts to thealtarAmaziah7:10–17: go home, seerThe tent raised9:11–15: hope

Whiteboard

Judgment builds for eight chapters. Then fifteen verses of hope.

How to read it

Amos speaks in poems. Read a stanza at a time.

Watch who is speaking: the LORD, or Amos.

The judgment is real. So is the hope at the end.

Watch for

I will return and rebuild the fallen tent of David

Acts 15:16

Start reading

Question

Quick question

Amos was not a priest or a prophet’s son.

What was Amos’s work before he prophesied?

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