Stories of the Prophets (Before the Exile)

n and

rifices; that Israel had become weakened because of its indulgence in luxuriant living, on the one hand, and because of the oppression and ill treatment of the poor and needy, o

ter and jeers and derision on the p

ong ago; not so Amos. His rebuffs,

if they began to lead godly lives. His continued failure to impress the people with this message, however, finally led him

f the Prophets," who made their living by a kind of fortune telling, or forecasting the future, as did Samuel in the early days when he told Saul w

ried him was the fact that the peop

be celebrated. He was determined that the people should hear. He was well prepa

nsgressions of Damascus, yea, for four, I

punishments that others will receive for their misdee

t foe, and the listeners rather liked the ide

announced that "the people of Syria shall go in

"Let the Pro

d would punish Gaza, Tyre, Idumia, Ammon, Moab, an

mp that had risen in his throat and lowered

sait

ransgressio

will not revoke

ey reject

t keep Hi

lies have caus

r which their f

will send a f

vour the palace

claring the doom of his own country! It was

th woe from his own people. He waited for the uproar to subsid

sait

ransgressio

will not revoke

ell the righte

dy for a pa

on the head

de the way o

in pledge they stret

y al

who have been fined

heir

e hurled at Amos from all direc

ionship to God-a story he knew so well-and brought the people back to breathless attention. He recounted the wonders God had done w

iful story is true, he claimed, then God may punish and destroy all the nations that Amos had ment

lash the Pro

as the Cus

of Israel

up Israel out of

ilistines

Syrians

have I known of all t

visit upon you al

the Lord God are upo

oy it from the f

shall surro

ip from thee

aces shall

now raising u

f Israel,

shall o

entrance

e brook of

Lord, God

the cry from the several arm

as shouted immediatel

the cry now rushed toward Amos,

of the crowd. Hundreds now surged forwa

during his shepherding days. Out in the wilderness near Tekoah he had often fought with robbe

rgency, keen of eye and alert of mind

ear. He could meet any number that might attack him face to face; but while he was gu

raitor!" th

lty of treason! Why, he was the only man who saw th

ugh his mind. But this was no time for preaching

ct he

sed of them as easily. With the speed of lightning he turned face, fearing an atta

covered from his blows. They were sprawled on the ground before

to help the officers up; but, at that moment, he felt

wimmer making for speed, and the two men, merchants, clad in t

onents, they began to laugh and take sides. A crowd always does that. Some

a good beating at his hands. In the meantime a small group of the

n various streets, in small groups, discu

essness of the Prophet-some by his ability in

said and what he did-was the topic of conversation no less than he was in the streets