Prophecy and Amos - Reading and Discussion Questions. 

If you wish to do the extra credit essay, please use question 3 or 4 or 5 or 6 as a prompt/basis for an essay. Requirements same as for regular essays.  See below for a copy of the requirements.

1.  Who is king in Israel at the time Amos appears?  Where is the capital?   What, in general are the historical circumstances?

2.  What "biographical" information do we learn about the prophet Amos in Amos?  What is a noqued?

3. Read the Oracles against the Nations and Israel in 1:3 - 2:16. Outline the repeated oracle form. Describe the rhetorical effect of the form and of the whole section as it moves ever closer to the final condemnation of Israel. For what sorts of actions are the various nations condemned? What sorts of punishments result? What conclusions can you draw about Amos’ theology from this section? Compose an oracle on the same pattern that might be delivered against a nation today.

4. What earlier traditions does Amos integrate into his prophecy? For example, what use does he make of the Exodus-Moses traditions? Cite specific examples. How does he reinterpret these traditions for his own historical context? How does he reinterpret the concept of Israel’s election for example?

5. One of Amos’ key themes is obviously social justice. (Passages from Amos were frequently quoted by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by the way.) What are some of the key passages in Amos that raise issues of social justice ? Why were these issues important in the historical context of the original prophet?

6. Read the section detailing Amos’ visions in Chapters 7-9. Discuss each vision and its interpretation. How do these visions function in the book read as a whole?

7.  Overall, how would you characterize the role of "prophet' based on Amos?

Requirements for Essay

1. Your essay should be word-processed, double-spaced, one-inch to one and one-half inch margins. It should be spell-checked. Pages Numbered. Font no smaller than 12 point.

2. You should have a cover page with title, date, topic/prompt, and your name. (You can simply cut and paste the topic/prompt from the list below onto your cover page.)

3. Number each paragraph. Bold your thesis. After the end of the essay, attach an OUTLINE of the essay with the thesis clearly stated and at minimum a line for each paragraph.

4. The essay should be approximately two to three pages long (not including the title page or Works Consulted page).

5. You must include a Works Consulted/Cited Page.  You need not consult any other sources than what we have read for class except as mentioned in the prompts below.. Those sources and any other sources you consult (if you do so) must be included in your Works Consulted/Cited and cited in-text or in footnotes/endnotes. CAREFUL AND CORRECT CITATION IS REQUIRED. WHEN IN DOUBT, CITE. Remember that simply paraphrasing or changing every third word is not OK. Quote and cite or radically summarize and cite. Use quotation marks when quoting or indent if quote is five lines or longer. Guessing at where your information comes from is not OK. Use page numbers in your in-text citations, footnotes or endnotes. Book or journal titles are italicized or underlined.  You may consult Citation for Biblical Studies for information related to citing biblical studies sources.

6.   Click here for the Grading Rubric for the essay.  This is a checklist I will use in grading the essay.