Amos

Amos was a sheep breeder by trade, but was called away from that for a time to be a prophet.  Amos may have known Jonah as a young man and heard of his trip to Nineveh.  Hosea was beginning his ministry toward the end of Amos’ ministry, so they may have crossed paths.  Amos grew up hearing of the adventures of Elijah and Elisha

While Amos was from the southern Kingdom, he brought his message to the Northern kingdom about thirty years before their fall.  This was during the reign of King Jeroboam during a prosperous time, as the northern Kingdom expanded.  But with the prosperity came idolatry, sexual immorality, as well as lawlessness.  It had been about two hundred years since the kingdom was split and the first Jereboam set up the golden calves for worship.  Since then, Baal worship had also been adopted.  The leadership and people of the Northern Kingdom had failed to remember their God.  They failed to listen to the prophets.   Now, Amos would attempt to call them to repentance as they ran headlong to destruction. 

Amos means “burden bearer,” and he bore the burden of speaking the word of the Lord to the Northern Kingdom. His words are very visual, as if he saw his message.  The overriding theme is God’s concern for justice.  While the nations around Israel would be judged, God’s chosen people could think they were somehow protected from the effects of their apostasy and idolatry.