Amos

About the Book of Amos

Amos came from a town called Tekoa. It was near Jerusalem, in the country called Judah. He was a shepherd who took care of sheep.
The country on the north side of Judah was called Israel. God's special people who were descendants of the 12 tribes of Israel lived in Judah and in Israel. The big city in Judah was Jerusalem. The king there was called Uzziah. The big city in Israel was Samaria. The king there was called Jeroboam. He was Israel's second king with that name.
God's temple was in Jerusalem. The Israelites met there to worship God and to offer sacrifices. But the kings of Israel did not like it when their people went to Judah to worship God. So a long time ago, the first king called Jeroboam had made a place to worship God in Israel. It was in Bethel town. God was not happy about that. God chose Amos to leave his home in Judah and go and speak to the people of Israel. God told Amos what he should say to them.
In this book, we read God's message that Amos spoke to the people of Israel. Amos also explains the dreams that God showed to him.