the fourth of the small prophets, who in his youth had been a herdsman in Tekoa, a small town about four leagues southward of Jerusalem, was sent to the king of Bathan, that is, to the people of Samaria, or the kingdom of Israel, to bring them back to repentance, and an amendment of their lives; whence it is thought probable that he was born within the territories of Israel, and only retired to Tekoa on his being driven from Bethel, by Amaziah the priest of the golden calves at Bethel.

The prophet being thus retired to Tekoa, in the kingdom of Judah, continued to prophesy. He complains in many places of the violence offered him, by endeavouring to oblige him to silence. He boldly remonstrates against the crying sins that prevailed among the Israelites, as idolatry, oppression, wantonness, and obstinacy. He likewise reproves those of Judah, such as their carnal security, fensuality, and injustice. He terrifies them both with frequent threatenings, and pronounces that their sins will at last end in the ruin of Judah and Israel, which he illustrates by the visions of a plumb-line and a basket of summer-fruit. It is observable in this prophecy, that as it begins with denunciation of judgment and destruction against the Syrians, Philistines, Tyrians, and other enemies of the Jews, so it concludes with comfortable promises of restoring the tabernacle of David, and erecting the kingdom of Christ. Amos was chosen to the prophetic office in the time of Uzziah king of Judah, and Jeroboam the son of Joash, king of Israel, two years before the earthquake (Amos i. 1), which happened in the 24th or 25th year of Uzziah, according to the rabbins and most of the modern commentators; or the year... year of the world 3219, when this prince usurped the priest's office, and attempted to offer incense to the Lord: but it is observed, that this cannot be the case, because Jotham the son of Uzziah, who was born in 3221, was of age to govern, and consequently was between 15 and 20 years of age, when his father undertook to offer incense, and was struck with a leprosy. The first of the prophecies of Amos, in order of time, are those of the 7th chapter: the rest he pronounced in the town of Tekoa, whither he retired. He foretold the misfortunes which the kingdom of Israel should fall into after the death of Jeroboam II, who was then living; he foretold the death of Zechariah, the invasion of the lands belonging to Israel by Phul and Tiglath-Pileser kings of Assyria; and he speaks of the captivity of the ten tribes, and their return.

The time and manner of this prophet's death are not known. Some old authors relate that Amaziah, priest of Bethel, provoked by the discourses of the prophet, had his teeth broke, in order to silence him. Others say, that Hosea or Uzziah, the son of Amaziah, struck him with a flake upon the temples, knocked him down, and wounded him much; in which condition he was carried to Tekoa, where he died, and was buried with his fathers; but it is generally thought that he prophesied a long time at Tekoa, after the adventure which he had with Amaziah; and the prophet himself taking no notice of the ill treatment which he is said to have received, is an argument that he did not suffer in the manner they relate.

St Jerome observes, that there is nothing great or sublime in the style of Amos. He applies the words of St Paul (2 Cor. xi. 6.) to him, 'rude in speech though not in knowledge.' And he farther observes, that he borrows his comparison from the state and profession to which he belonged.