THE WRITER.
His name means “Burden”, or “burden-bearer”
A citizen of Tekoa, in the tribe of Judah.
A herdsman and dresser of sycamore trees # Am 7:14

His call # Am 7:15

The attempt to silence him # Am 7:10-13
DATE. Prophesied during the reigns of Jeroboam II in Israel, and Uzziah in Judah.

STYLE, simple but picturesque. The book abounds in striking metaphors.

Illustrations,
(a) The straining of God’s mercy by sinners compared to theoverloading of a wagon
# Am 2:13
(b) The pressure of duty upon the prophet compared to the roaring of a lion in his ears
# Am 3:8
(c) The narrow escape of a remnant of Israel compared to a shepherd recovering two legs or the piece of an ear from a lion # Am 3:12
(d) The scarcity of God’s Word compared to a famine in the natural world # Am 8:11,12

Amos, as a prophet, was in many respects like Christ.

(1) In his occupation, a working man # Am 7:14
(2) In his humility,-acknowledged his lowly origin # Am 7:15
(3) In his method of teaching by illustrations
(4) In his claim of Divine Inspiration, Thus said the Lord,” occurs forty times in his prophecy
(5) In being charged with treason # Am 7:10 # Joh 19:12
(6) In the pressure of duty which was upon him # Am 3:8 # Joh 9:4
(7) In denouncing the selfishness of the rich # Am 6:4-6 # Lu 12:15-21

SYNOPSIS.
(1) Impending judgments on surrounding nations
# Am 1:3-15 2:1-3

(2) Threatening discourses.
(a) Against Judah  # Am 2:4,5
(b) Against Israel # Am 2:6-16

(3) The call to Israel to seek God in sincerity, ch 5 # Am 5:1

(4) Luxurious living condemned # Am 6:4-14

(5) A series of five visions.
(a) A Vision of the Locusts # Am 7:1-3
(b) A Vision of the Fire # Am 7:4-5
(c) A Vision of the Plumbline # Am 7:7-9
(d) A Vision of a Basket of summer fruit # Am 8:1-3
(e) A Vision of a Smitten sanctuary # Am 9:1-10

(6) The visions interrupted by an attempt to intimidate the prophet # Am 7:10-13

(7) The prediction of the dispersion and restoration of Israel # Am 9:9-15