Amo 1:1-2 - Commentary

Commentary

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Text -- Amos 1:1-2 (NET)

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Context

Introduction

1:1 The following is a record of what Amos prophesied. He was one of the herdsmen from Tekoa. These prophecies about Israel were revealed to him during the time of King Uzziah of Judah and King Jeroboam son of Joash of Israel, two years before the earthquake.

God Will Judge the Surrounding Nations

1:2 Amos said: “The Lord comes roaring out of Zion; from Jerusalem he comes bellowing! The shepherds’ pastures wilt; the summit of Carmel withers.”

Parallel

Cross Reference (TSK)

ITL

Names, People and Places, Dictionary Themes and Topics

Names, People and Places:

· Amos father of the prophet Isaiah

· Carmel a woman resident of the town of Carmel

· Israel a citizen of Israel.,a member of the nation of Israel

· Jeroboam son of Nebat; first king of Israel after it split away from Judah; Jeroboam I,son and successor of Joash/Jehoash, King of Israel; Jeroboam II

· Jerusalem the capital city of Israel,a town; the capital of Israel near the southern border of Benjamin

· Joash son of Becher son of Benjamin,head of the stores of oil under king David,father of Gideon,son of King Ahab of Israel,son and young successor of Ahaziah, King of Judah; father of Amaziah,son and successor of Jehoahaz, son of Jehu, king of Israel,a descendant of Shelah of Judah,son of Shemaah of Gibeah; one of the Benjamites who defected to David at Ziklag

· Judah the son of Jacob and Leah; founder of the tribe of Judah,a tribe, the land/country,a son of Joseph; the father of Simeon; an ancestor of Jesus,son of Jacob/Israel and Leah; founder of the tribe of Judah,the tribe of Judah,citizens of the southern kingdom of Judah,citizens of the Persian Province of Judah; the Jews who had returned from Babylonian exile,"house of Judah", a phrase which highlights the political leadership of the tribe of Judah,"king of Judah", a phrase which relates to the southern kingdom of Judah,"kings of Judah", a phrase relating to the southern kingdom of Judah,"princes of Judah", a phrase relating to the kingdom of Judah,the territory allocated to the tribe of Judah, and also the extended territory of the southern kingdom of Judah,the Province of Judah under Persian rule,"hill country of Judah", the relatively cool and green central highlands of the territory of Judah,"the cities of Judah",the language of the Jews; Hebrew,head of a family of Levites who returned from Exile,a Levite who put away his heathen wife,a man who was second in command of Jerusalem; son of Hassenuah of Benjamin,a Levite in charge of the songs of thanksgiving in Nehemiah's time,a leader who helped dedicate Nehemiah's wall,a Levite musician who helped Zechariah of Asaph dedicate Nehemiah's wall

· Tekoa resident(s) of the town of Tekoa

· Uzziah a son of Jehoram; the father of Jotham; an ancestor of Jesus.,son and successor of king Amaziah of Judah,son of Uriel of Kohath son of Levi,father of Jonathan, the head of country treasuries under David,a priest of the Harim Clan who put away his heathen wife,son of Zechariah; father of Athaiah of Judah, a returned exile

· Zion one of the hills on which Jerusalem was built; the temple area; the city of Jerusalem; God's people,a town and citidel; an ancient part of Jerusalem

Table of Contents

Verse Notes / Footnotes NET Notes

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Commentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes

NET Notes: Amo 1:1 This refers to a well-known earthquake that occurred during the first half of the 8th century b.c. According to a generally accepted dating system, Uz...

¹tn Heb “The words of Amos.” Among the prophetic books this opening phrase finds a parallel only at Jer 1:1 but is not that uncommon in other genres (note, e.g., Prov 30:1; 31:1; Eccl 1:1; Neh 1:1).

²tn Heb “who.” Here a new sentence has been started in the translation for stylistic reasons.

³tn Heb “which he saw concerning Israel.”

⁴tn Heb “in the days of.”

⁵tn The Hebrew text repeats, “and in the days of.” This phrase has not been repeated in the translation for stylistic reasons.

⁶sn This refers to a well-known earthquake that occurred during the first half of the 8th century b.c. According to a generally accepted dating system, Uzziah was a co-regent with his father Amaziah from 792-767 b.c. and ruled independently from 767-740 b.c. Jeroboam II was a co-regent with his father Joash from 793-782 b.c. and ruled independently from 782-753 b.c. Since only Uzziah and Jeroboam are mentioned in the introduction it is likely that Amos’ mission to Israel and the earthquake which followed occurred between 767-753 b.c. The introduction validates the genuine character of Amos’ prophetic ministry in at least two ways: (1) Amos was not a native Israelite or a prophet by trade. Rather he was a herdsman in Tekoa, located in Judah. His mere presence in the northern kingdom as a prophet was evidence that he had been called by God (see 7:14-15). (2) The mighty earthquake shortly after Amos’ ministry would have been interpreted as an omen or signal of approaching judgment. The clearest references to an earthquake are 1:1 and 9:1, 5. It is possible that the verb הָפַךְ (hafakh, “overturn”) at 3:13-15, 4:11, 6:11, and 8:8 also refers to an earthquake, as might the descriptions at 2:13 and 6:9-10. Evidence of a powerful earthquake has been correlated with a destruction layer at Hazor and other sites. Its lasting impact is evident by its mention in Zech 14:5 and 2 Chr 26:16-21. Earthquake imagery appears in later prophets as well (cf. D. N. Freedman and A. Welch, “Amos’s Earthquake and Israelite Prophecy,” Scripture and Other Artifacts, 188-98). On the other hand, some of these verses in Amos could allude to the devastation that would be caused by the imminent military invasion.

NET Notes: Amo 1:2 Loss of a land’s fertility is frequently associated with judgment in the OT and ancient Near Eastern literature.

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Text -- Amos 1:1-2 (NET)

Names, People and Places, Dictionary Themes and Topics

expand allCommentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes

NET Notes -> Amo 1:1; Amo 1:1; Amo 1:1; Amo 1:1; Amo 1:1; Amo 1:1; Amo 1:2; Amo 1:2; Amo 1:2; Amo 1:2; Amo 1:2; Amo 1:2; Amo 1:2

NET Notes: Amo 1:1 This refers to a well-known earthquake that occurred during the first half of the 8th century b.c. According to a generally accepted dating system, Uz...

NET Notes: Amo 1:2 Loss of a land’s fertility is frequently associated with judgment in the OT and ancient Near Eastern literature.

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Commentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes