Prophet Amos
Date of celebration: 15/06
The Prophet Amos came from the Judean city of Tekue, which was located southeast of Bethlehem, and he flourished in the holy city of Bethel, near Samaria, during the time of Israel’s king Jeroboam II (784 – 746 BC). He was a shepherd and grower of sycamore trees and from this work he was called directly by God to the office of prophet, as he himself mentions in the homonymous book of the Old Testament;
“I was not a prophet, nor was I the son of a prophet, but I was a fool and a weed of sycamore; and the Lord took me from among the sheep, and the Lord said to me: walk as a prophet to my people Israel.” He thus emerged as one of the greatest minor Prophets.
He condemned the moral and religious decline of Israel, called the people to repentance and prophesied their impending judgment and captivity. Although he lacked education, he was distinguished for his originality, naturalness, the power and rhythm of his speech, the multitude of images and the poetic beauty of his work. Because of his severe control and gloomy words about the fate of Israel, he denounced the priestly order against him, so that the high priest of Bethel Amaziah asked the king Jeroboam to expel Amos from the kingdom of Judah, excommunicating him as a rabble-rouser and troublemaker.
In response to this act, Amos announced the doom of Amasios’ family. Then, according to a later tradition, it is said that the enraged son of Amasis Ozias struck the Prophet Amos with a club and left him half dead and when he was taken to the birthplace of Tekue, after two days he died.
Finally, note that the prophet Amos was the father of the prophet Isaiah (see May 9).
