Justice and righteousness
The book's keyword pair. Prosperity without justice is covenant treason; sacrifices without righteousness are noise in the LORD's ears.
Old Testament · Book 30 of 66
Amos
A herdsman of Tekoa sent north to Bethel — a shepherd-prophet preaching judgment on a prosperous, comfortable, oppressive society. ‘Let justice roll down.’
9
Chapters
Tekoa
Prophet's home
Justice + righteousness
Keynote
“But let judgment run down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream.”
- Author
- Amos, a herdman of Tekoa in Judah, sent to Israel at Bethel (1:1, 7:14)
- Date
- c. 760–750 BC, during the reigns of Uzziah in Judah and Jeroboam II in Israel
- Audience
- The northern kingdom at the height of its prosperity
- Position
- Old Testament · Book 30 of 66
Structure
- Oracles against the nations1–2
Damascus, Gaza, Tyre, Edom, Ammon, Moab — then Judah — then Israel. The rhetorical net tightens until it catches the audience.
- Sermons against Israel3–6
The cows of Bashan, the summer-house-and-winter-house wealthy, those who drink wine in bowls — comfortable Israel indicted.
- Five visions and restoration promise7–9
Locusts, fire, plumb line, summer fruit, the LORD at the altar. Amaziah the priest expels Amos from Bethel; the book ends with the tabernacle of David raised up (9:11, cited in Acts 15:16).
Section pages
Each section is one focused part of Amos — purpose, key movements, key verses, Christ-in-this-section. Roughly five minutes each.
Themes
The day of the LORD
Amos is the first to warn that the day the comfortable long for will be ‘darkness, and not light’ (5:18).