Amos of Tekoa (The Prophet of Social Justice)

Amos is the earliest of the writing prophets of the Hebrew Bible whose words have survived in an independent book. Not an heir to a priestly dynasty or court guild, he described himself plainly: 'I was no prophet, neither was I a prophet's son; but I was an herdman, and a gatherer of sycamore fruit: and the Lord took me as I followed the flock.'

Scourge of Aristocratic Greed

Entering the royal sanctuary of Bethel during the reign of Jeroboam II—an era of military success and decadent wealth—Amos fearlessly condemned the predatory nobility who 'trampled the poor and sold the righteous for silver and the needy for a pair of sandals.' He rejected ostentatious religious festivals devoid of moral integrity, warning that empty religious rituals without justice are an abomination before God.

Immortal Cry for Justice

Amos penned one of the most celebrated ethical imperatives in human literature: 'Let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like a mighty stream'—words that echoed through the centuries and inspired Martin Luther King Jr. and global civil rights movements.