Reference: Amos, Book of
Morish
Though Amos and Hosea were prophets at the same time, and both prophesied of the sins of Israel, there is much difference in the style of the two. Hosea is more fervent, stirred with righteous indignation at the sins of the people; whereas with Amos there is great calmness in declaring God's judgements. Hosea's prophecy is confined to the sins of Judah and Israel, whereas Amos tells of the judgements that should fall upon some of the surrounding nations that had molested Israel, especially upon those that retained any part of the land that had been promised to Abraham; and then he recounts the sins, not only of Judah to which he himself belonged, but also of Israel, indeed there is more concerning the latter than the former. In the heading we have the words, "The Lord will roar from Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem;" which are also in Joe 3:16; thus, as it were, taking up the theme where Joel leaves off.
In the first two chapters there are eight short denunciations of judgements, introduced by the words "for three transgressions and for four." Three witnesses were adequate testimony; four is the cup running over, of which the four quarters of the earth can testify. The judgements are against:
1. Syria under its chief city Damascus.
2. The Philistines under Gaza.
3. Tyre.
4. Edom.
5. Ammon.
6. Moab.
7. Judah.
8. Israel.
Amos 3 speaks of both Judah and Israel, "the whole family," thus counting it as one, though division had come in: then follows the momentous statement that this family was the only one God had known
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Smith
A'mos, Book of.
The book of the prophecies of Amos seems to be divided into four principal portions closely connected together. (1) From 1:1 to 2:3 he denounces the sins of the nations bordering on Israel and Judah. (2) From 2:4 to 6:14 he describes the state of those two kingdoms, especially, the former. (3) From 7:1 to 9:10 he relates his visit to Bethel, and sketches the impending punishment of Israel. At last he promises blessings. The chief peculiarity of the style consists in the number of allusions to natural objects and agricultural occupations, as might be expected from the early life of the author.