The Prophet Amos lived during the long
reign of King Jeroboam II. Jeroboam the son of Joash reigned over the
Ten Tribes of Israel for 40 years. Under his reign the Northern
Kingdom of Israel enjoyed one of its most happy and prosperous
periods. He recovered every piece of land which had been lost by his
forerunners. He subdued the Kingdom of Moab and captured parts of
Syria (Aram) which had long been like a thorn in the flesh of his
people. Even Damascus, Syria's capital fell to him.
Relationship with the twin kingdom, the
southern Kingdom of Judah, was still strained at first. Jeroboam
maintained the stern control over it which his father had exerted; he
also held members of the Royal family of Judah as hostages to ensure
that the southern neighbor would make no trouble. Later, however, he
realized that friendship and mutual help between the 2 Jewish
kingdoms would be better for both. He helped repair the damage which
his father had done to Judah, and he gave part of the land which he
had taken from Syria to the king of Judah, Amatziah.
Together with the good political
situation came economic prosperity. Many people in the Northern
Kingdom became very wealthy, and began to lead a luxurious life.
Friendly relations with the Phoenicians, who were the greatest
merchants and seafaring people of those days, brought things of rare
beauty and luxury into the Jewish Kingdom. Unfortunately, the unusual
prosperity brought a collapse of moral standards. Ignored were the
great ideals and commandments of the Torah to help the poor, and to
practice justice and loving kindness. The rich oppressed the poor;
might was right; it was an age of corruption. Hand in hand with this
degeneration of the morals of the people went increased idolatry.
People built many altars on mountains to serve the Canaanite gods,
the Baal and Ashtarte. The Golden Calves, which the first Jeroboam
set up in the north and south of the country to turn the people away
from the Beth Hamikdosh in Jerusalem, were worshipped more than
before and the teachings of the Torah and the holy commandments were
viewed with contempt.
Again and again, God sent His
messengers, the prophets, to admonish the people and to warn them
that unless they mended their ways, they and the land would be
doomed. Yet the admonitions were, for the most part, unheeded. The
people went their own way.
One of the great prophets at this time
was Hosea (who we will get to know in 2 weeks); another one was Amos.
Amos was a shepherd before the spirit
of prophecy came over him. He was a herdsman from the village of
Tekoa, and a dresser of sycamore trees. He began his prophecies "in
the days of Uzziah king of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son
of Joash, the king of Israel, two years before the earthquake."
His fearless and outspoken words came
thundering and stirred the people. Characteristic are his opening
words: "God will roar from Zion, and utter His voice from
Jerusalem; and the habitations of the shepherds shall mourn, and the
top of Carmel shall wither."