Amos and Hosea Essay

Amos was a Judean who believed he was commissioned by Yahweh to address his terminology to Israel, in time Hosea was a native Israelite. With these two men was the custom of recording oracles which reckon to have begun, for if the words of their prophetic predecessors were preserved in a pen form, then they would have long since been lost to us all. Within a few years, prophets sharing similar concerns with Amos and Hosea began to be active in Judah and their words too, were preserved. II Kings 15 and Amos 1-9Amos stood in judgment of moral and ethical sinfulness but, unlike them, he did not limit himself to single issues or to private situations, but dealt with the decline of Yahwism and hu small-arm behavior in all levels of society. Cities he mentions), patterns of cause and effect (33 ff.), and Israelite cult practices. His vivid imagery, drawn from nature, suggests an able observer capable of relating his insights and experiences in powerful terminology. Perhaps the very comfort of his life caused him to be shocked at the extravagances of the rich and the terrible meagerness and helplessness of those who were the prey of the powerful.The luxury of summer and winter palaces as oppose to the hovels of the poor, the greedy demand of the very rich contrasted with the cry for justice and right of the underprivileged drove him to harsh pronouncements against powerful, smug, content men and women, priests and king. The thrust of Amos loathing is against the division of life into compartments.He argues for unity. What a man does in the trade place, in the Court of law or, in his dealings with others cannot be walled reach from worship. Yahweh is a graven image of all people therefore the dealings of man with man are directly related to the dealings of God with man. His is a cry for the recognition of mans moral responsibility in the first place God. But let justice roll down like watersand righteousness like an Overflowing stream. Amos 524AMOS REL IGIOUS CONCEPTSAmos beliefs concerning Yahweh and divine-human relationships were similar. Yahweh the creator, the God of hosts Amos never speaks of Yahweh as God of Israel), or possessed power over nature and nations. Despite the unrealistic emphasis, Yahwehs particular concern was Israel, the chosen orelected people, Amos emphasized Yahwehs action in annals in bringing the Hebrews to nationhood and greatness, and pointed out that the continuance of power and security rest in Yahweh.