Chapter 1
Amos, a shepherd, during the days of Uzziah in Judah and Jeroboam II in Israel, two years before the earthquake. Jonah, Hosea, and Isaiah were contemporary with him. Zech. 14:5 also mentions this earthquake. Roughly somewhere around 790-750 BC.
2024 - Wow! I have been reading it wrong. In my head, the earthquake was in the past. But what it really says is that Amos prophesied BEFORE the earthquake happened. Here is how Barnes describes it: "Two years before the earthquake - This earthquake must plainly have been one of the greatest, since it was vividly in people's memories in the time of Zechariah, and Amos speaks of it as "the earthquake." The earthquakes of the east, like that of Lisbon, destroy whole cities. In one, a little before the birth of our Lord , "some ten thousand were buried under the ruined houses." This terrific earthquake (for as such Zechariah describes it) was one of the preludes of that displeasure of God, which Amos foretold. A warning of two years, and time for repentance, were given, "before the earthquake" should come, the token and beginning of a further shaking of both kingdoms, unless they should repent. In effect, it was the first flash of the lightning which consumed them."
2024 - And this from Jamieson-Faucett-Brown: The earthquake; of which only this text, and Zec 14:5, do make particular mention, and where somewhat is spoken of it; which see. It is the tradition of the Jews, that this earthquake happened when Uzziah usurped the priest's work and offered incense in the temple, against which violation of Divine rites God testified thus from heaven, say they. Further than this we need not inquire in this matter. It was a great and dismal earthquake, and perhaps by this God did smite the winter and summer houses, as Amo 3:15; however, as it was foretold two years before it came, so we are sure it did come according to the time prefixed by the Lord.
2024 - Found this in Wikipedia in the article on Jeroboam II. I was trying to find out how this king died.
"Earthquake in Israel c. 760 BC
A major earthquake had occurred in Israel c. 760 BC, which may have been during the time of Jeroboam II, towards the end of his rule. This earthquake is mentioned in the Book of Amos as having occurred during the rule of "Jeroboam son of Jehoash".[17]
Geologists believe they have found evidence of this big earthquake in sites throughout Israel and Jordan.[18] Archeologists Yigael Yadin and Israel Finkelstein dated the earthquake level at Tel Hazor to 760 BC based on stratigraphic analysis of the destruction debris.[19] Similarly, David Ussishkin arrived at the same date based on the "sudden destruction" level at Lachish.
According to Steven A. Austin, the magnitude of this earthquake may have been at least 7.8, but more likely as high as 8.2. "This magnitude 8 event of 750 B.C. appears to be the largest yet documented on the Dead Sea transform fault zone during the last four millennia."[20]
The epicenter of this earthquake may have been 200–300 km north of present-day Israel.
Multiple biblical references exist to this earthquake in the Book of Amos,[21] and also in Zechariah 14:5.[22]
Recent excavations by Aren Maeir in ancient Gath have revealed evidence of a major earthquake.
"Based on the tight stratigraphic context, this can be dated to the mid-8th cent. BCE" ...[23] "
2023 - Amos prophesies about Israel, as do the first 37 chapters of Isaiah. Long before Daniel.
Judgement is pronounced on Israel's neighbors, each starting with this phrase:
3 Thus says the LORD: "For three transgressions of Damascus, and for four... [Amo 1:3a ESV]. Various neighbors are substituted for Damascus in the phrase, but the point is that these neighbors have repeatedly, habitually been enemies of Israel, and been oppressors of God's chosen. Though the chosen haven't been anything God would be proud of, they are His, and all those neighbors know they are His, and so oppressing them is an attack on God. Reckoning is due. It is interesting that the Assyrians who will eventually carry away the people of Samaria and all Israel are also used to exact punishment from Israel's neighbors. God rolls up His wrath and sends it out to all those that have earned it - by the same means. Interesting that Assyria believes itself to be strong and powerful and protected by the gods its people serve. Yet once God is done using Assyria to carry out his wrath against Israel's neighbors, and then against Israel itself, the Assyrians are also destroyed. They were just a tool, not a favored nation. We must be careful when we think we are winning. We might be just a club in the hand of God, carrying out his wrath against others before we get what we deserve also. Here are a few verses to back this up:
5 Woe to Assyria, the rod of my anger; the staff in their hands is my fury! ... 12 When the Lord has finished all his work on Mount Zion and on Jerusalem, he will punish the speech of the arrogant heart of the king of Assyria and the boastful look in his eyes. ... 16 Therefore the Lord GOD of hosts will send wasting sickness among his stout warriors, and under his glory a burning will be kindled, like the burning of fire. [Isa 10:5, 12, 16 ESV]
And here is the account of the "wasting sickness":
35 And that night the angel of the LORD went out and struck down 185,000 in the camp of the Assyrians. And when people arose early in the morning, behold, these were all dead bodies. 36 Then Sennacherib king of Assyria departed and went home and lived at Nineveh. 37 And as he was worshiping in the house of Nisroch his god, Adrammelech and Sharezer, his sons, struck him down with the sword and escaped into the land of Ararat. And Esarhaddon his son reigned in his place. [2Ki 19:35-37 ESV]
Judgement on Damascus - on Hazael and Ben-Hadad. The transgression mentioned is "for threshing Gilead with threshing sledges of iron" Fire will be sent- likely meaning cities and villages will be burned, destroyed. Physical destruction of the land. The gate-bar broken - Damascus, the capitol city, to be sacked. They will go into exile in Kir. MSB says we don't know where Kir is, but Syrians were originally from there? This reference from Bible Hub seems to be a good way to look at it: https://bibleatlas.org/kir.htm
It says in part that "The meaning of Kir is "enclosure" or "walled place," and it is therefore doubtful whether it is a place-name in the true sense of the word. In 2 Kings 16:9 it is mentioned as the place whither Tiglath-pileser IV carried the Syrian (Aramean) captives which he deported from Damascus after he had taken that city."
2023 - Found this verse over in Amos 9: 7 "Are you not like the Cushites to me, O people of Israel?" declares the LORD. "Did I not bring up Israel from the land of Egypt, and the Philistines from Caphtor and the Syrians from Kir? [Amo 9:7 ESV]. Perhaps Kir is in the land of Ham somewhere, a long way off.
Judgement on Gaza - The transgression singled out is "because they carried into exile a whole people to deliver them up to Edom". Gaza means Philistines. MSB references 2Ch 21:16, 17 as a possibility for what this is about. Fire is mentioned again. All the major cities of the Philistines are mentioned except for Gath, which had previously been destroyed by Uzziah.
Judgement on Tyre - The transgression is again"because they delivered up a whole people to Edom, and did not remember the covenant of brotherhood". The covenant, per MSB, goes back to Hiram helping first David in building Jerusalem and then Solomon in building the temple. There was an alliance. It was later "papered up" when Jezebel married Ahab. No king of Israel ever attacked Tyre or Sidon. Fire upon the wall the Tyre is decreed. Alexander the Great ultimately wipes out Tyre, filling in the watery gap between the mainland and the island fortress of Tyre with stones so that he could attack it by land.
Judgement on Edom - Here is the transgression:
11 Thus says the LORD: "For three transgressions of Edom, and for four, I will not revoke the punishment, because he pursued his brother with the sword and cast off all pity, and his anger tore perpetually, and he kept his wrath forever. [Amo 1:11 ESV]
Edom continually made war on Israel, aided and abetted her enemies, and never ever got over his wrath. MSB note says Obadiah goes into more detail on the judgement of Edom. Edom is Seir is Esau. Jacob's brother. Esau as a nation never got over Jacob stealing the birthright - thought it was Esau's decision to sell it for a bowl of red soup.
2023 - This verse though: 12 So I will send a fire upon Teman, and it shall devour the strongholds of Bozrah." [Amo 1:12 ESV]. I though Bozrah was in Iraq? South part of Iraq? Google maps shows about three places with similar names, none of which are down where I always thought Edom was located.
Judgement on the Ammonites - The transgression was "ripping open the bellies of pregnant women". Ammon was one of the two sons of Lot. This is pretty awful, but was not uncommon in those days and among those people. There are additional references to the practice in MSB.
Fire is mentioned again. I think the point of the fire is that these nations will succumb to war, to invasion. It won't be a disease that wipes them out, nor famine, nor poverty. It will be an invasion. It will be a brutal, painful end for most. In the case of Ammon, its King and Princes will be taken into exile.