Questioning Prosperity—Amos

GENERALLY RECKONED AS the earliest of the writing prophets, Amos spoke out during the long, prosperous reign of Jeroboam II (c. 788–747 BCE), the warrior king who brought the northern kingdom of Israel to the peak of its power. Like Elijah, Amos, “one of the livestock-breeders from Tekoa” in the rural hill country southeast of Jerusalem (Amos 1:1), had no prophetic pedigree or portfolio (7:14). He was another freelance man of God from Judah prophesying against the northern kingdom, like the earlier anonymous prophet who once delivered an oracle against Jeroboam I at the high altar at Bethel (1 Kgs 13). Bursting onto the national stage, Amos made it clear that the word he brought was no good news; he proclaimed it because he had no choice:...