The words of Amos, who was among the herdsmen of Tekoa, which he saw concerning Israel in the days of Uzziah king of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash king of Israel, two years before the earthquake.
"The reason for this judgment is the leaders’ injustice to the poor (Amos 2:6-7), the immorality of their personal behavior (Amos 2:7), and their gross self-indulgence (Amos 2:8). He recalls all that God has done in the past for Israel and how they have rejected these ancient models of responsibility (Amos 2:9-12). Now they can only await Yahweh’s judgment that is soon to fall (Amos 2:13-16). God remains in control of the history of Israel and the nations, and he will punish the faithless people (Amos 3:1-8). The other nations will know of their weakness and exploit it (Amos 3:9-12). It will result in the destruction of the costly homes of the rich (Amos 3:13-15). Judgment will fall and they will be scattered in spite of their vain show of religiosity (Amos 4:1-5). They have shown in the past that God’s judgment does not bring them to repentance (Amos 4:6-13), and they will surely experience punishment for their injustice and immorality (5:1-17). The day of the Lord will bring destruction, not deliverance, and will result in their being exiled to a land beyond Damascus (Amos 5:18-27). This doom will fall on the selfish, ruthless rulers and the rich who have abandoned God and concern for his people (Amos 6:1-14)."