Amos

Amos was a farmer from Tekoa in the Southern Kingdom of Judah. He appeared as a prophet in the Northern Kingdom of Israel in the time of King Jeroboam II, around 750 BC.
The book of the prophet Amos, one of the twelve “minor prophets”, is named after him.

The name Amos means “porter”.
The prophet Amos is not the same as Amoz, the father of the prophet Isaiah (Isaiah 1:1). In Hebrew, these two names are spelt differently.

Amos was a sheep breeder and fig cultivator from Tekoa. This place was situated around 15 kilometres south of Jerusalem. However, God gives Amos the task of going to the Northern Kingdom of Israel to prophesy there.
Those in power in Israel are not happy with the critical words of Amos. They tell him, “That’s enough, prophet! Go on back to Judah and do your preaching there. Let them pay you for it” (Amos 7:12). But Amos replies, “I am not the kind of prophet who prophesies for pay. I am a herdsman, and I take care of fig trees” (Amos 7:14).

Amos’ time was a time of considerable peace and prosperity in Israel and Judah. It was mainly the wealthy who benefited from this. The poor section of the population was exploited by the rich. In his prophecies, Amos criticises the injustice and inequality in society. He is also critical of the other negative consequences of prosperity, such as greed, licentiousness, corruption and idolatry.
And Amos warns the people that God will punish the injustice. He says that the enemies will destroy the capital Samaria and plunder the splendid palaces (Amos 3:11-15).
This prophecy comes true in 722 BC, when the Assyrians capture and plunder the city of Samaria. This brings the Northern Kingdom of Israel to an end.