The Earthquake Mentioned in Amos 1:1
Amos 1:1 states, "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" (ASV) [1]. This verse serves as the superscription to the book of Amos, identifying the prophet, his origin, the recipients of his message, and the historical period of his prophecy [1, 7].
Amos was a shepherd and a "dresser of sycomore trees" from Tekoa, a town southeast of Bethlehem [4, 5]. He prophesied during the reigns of King Uzziah of Judah and King Jeroboam II of Israel [1, 4]. This period saw Israel reach a peak of prosperity, which was accompanied by luxury and vice [4]. The mention of "two years before the earthquake" is a crucial chronological marker and points to a significant event known to Amos's original audience [1].
Earthquakes were not uncommon in Palestine, a region prone to seismic activity [2, 3]. The earthquake referenced in Amos 1:1 is specifically linked to the reign of Uzziah [3, 4]. Zechariah 14:5 also refers to this event, stating, "And ye shall flee to the valley of my mountains; for the valley of the mountains shall reach unto Azal: yea, ye shall flee, like as ye fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah" (ASV). This suggests a severe earthquake that caused people to flee [10]. Some interpretations of Zechariah 14:4 even infer that this earthquake caused a great convulsion in the Mount of Olives, splitting it to form a valley [3].
Rabbi Shlomo Yitzchaki (Rashi) connects this earthquake to the time when Uzziah was afflicted with leprosy, and to Isaiah's prophecy in Isaiah 6:4, where "the doorposts quaked" [8, 9, 12]. Abraham Ibn Ezra also notes this connection, suggesting that Isaiah hinted at the earthquake with the phrase "the posts of the door moved" [12]. While some scholars, like Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, suggest that Isaiah 5:25, which mentions "hills... tremble," also refers to this earthquake, they clarify that the earthquake mentioned in Amos 1:1 occurred two years after the events described in Amos 4:11 [6, 11]. This indicates that the earthquake was a memorable event, used as a fixed point in time for dating [10]. The prophet's reference to it suggests its impact was widely known and perhaps even seen as a divine sign [2].
Sources
- Amos “Amos 1:1 (ASV) — 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.”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Earthquake — Mentioned among the extraordinary phenomena of Palestine (Ps. 18:7; comp. Hab. 3:6; Nah. 1:5; Isa. 5:25). The first earthquake in Palestine of which we have any record happened in the reign of Ahab (1 Kings 19:11, 12). Another took place in the days of Uzziah, King of Judah (Zech. 14:5). The most memorable earthquake taking place in New Testament times happened at the crucifixion of our Lord (Matt. 27:54). An earthquake at Philippi shook the prison in which Paul and Silas were imprisoned (Act 16:26). It is used figuratively as a token of the presence of ”
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Earthquake — Earthquakes, more or less violent, are of frequent occurrence in Palestine. The most remarkable occurred in the reign of Uzziah. (Zechariah 14:5) From (Zechariah 14:4) we are led to infer that a great convulsion took place at this time in the Mount of Olives, the mountain being split so as to leave a valley between its summit. An earthquake occurred at the time of our Saviour's crucifixion. (Matthew 27:51-54) Earthquakes are not unfrequently accompanied by fissures of the earth's surface; instances of this are recorded in connection with the destruction o”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Amos — Borne; a burden, one of the twelve minor prophets. He was a native of Tekota, the modern Tekua, a town about 12 miles south-east of Bethlehem. He was a man of humble birth, neither a "prophet nor a prophet's son," but "an herdman and a dresser of sycomore trees," R.V. He prophesied in the days of Uzziah, king of Judah, and was contemporary with Isaiah and Hosea (Amos 1:1; 7:14, 15; Zech. 14:5), who survived him a few years. Under Jeroboam II. the kingdom of Israel rose to the zenith of its prosperity; but that was followed by the prevalence of luxury and vice ”
- Amos (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Amos 1 (introduction): GOD'S JUDGMENTS ON SYRIA, PHILISTIA, TYRE, EDOM, AND AMMON. (Amo 1:1-15) The words of Amos--that is, Amos' oracular communications. A heading found only in Jer 1:1. among the herdmen--rather, "shepherds"; both owning and tending sheep; from an Arabic root, "to mark with pricks," namely, to select the best among a species of sheep and goats ill-shapen and short-footed (as others explain the name from an Arabic root), but distinguished by their wool [MAURER]. God chooses "the weak things of the world to confound the mighty," and makes a humb”
- Isaiah (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Isaiah 5:25: anger . . . kindled-- (Kg2 22:13, Kg2 22:17). hills . . . tremble--This probably fixes the date of this chapter, as it refers to the earthquake in the days of Uzziah (Amo 1:1; Zac 14:5). The earth trembled as if conscious of the presence of God (Jer 4:24; Hab 3:6). torn--rather, were as dung (Psa 83:10). For all this, &c.--This burden of the prophet's strains, with dirge-like monotony, is repeated at Isa 9:12, Isa 9:17, Isa 9:21; Isa 10:4. With all the past calamities, still heavier judgments are impending; which he specifies in the rest of the c”
- Amos (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Amos 1:1: 1:1 message (literally words): This standard way of introducing a prophetic message (Jer 1:1; see also Hag 1:12) emphasizes its form and content. • shepherd (Hebrew noqed): This word is used just one other time in the Old Testament, to describe the king of Moab as a “sheep breeder” (2 Kgs 3:4). Amos describes his vocation in Amos 7:14 using a different Hebrew word (boqer, which means “herder”; see Amos Book Introduction, “The Prophet Amos”). Amos was not a professional prophet serving the court or the Temple. • Amos received this message in visions—that is, by divine”
- Sefaria (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Rashi (Rabbi Shlomo Yitzchaki) on Amos 1:1: two years before the earthquake —Two years before Uzziah was plagued, the day Isaiah prophesied, as it is stated: (Isaiah 6: 4) “And the doorposts quaked,” and it is stated: (Zechariah 14:5) “As you fled before the earthquake.””
- Sefaria (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Rashi (Rabbi Shlomo Yitzchaki) on Hosea 1:2: At the beginning of the Lord’s speaking to Hosea Lit. in the beginning the Lord spoke to Hosea. Therefore, our Rabbis stated: The first of the four prophets who prophesied (in these days): Hosea, Isaiah, Amos, and Micah. [Parshandatha reads: in the days of Uzziah. Michah, in fact, is not mentioned as having prophesized in the days of Uzziah, but only in the days of Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah; this will be explained further. In Pesachim 87a, we read: at that time] Isaiah prophesized [at the time of the earthquake (Parshandatha)], as it is stated: (Isa”
- Zechariah (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Zechariah 14:5: ye shall flee to the valley--rather "through the valley," as in Sa2 2:29. The valley made by the cleaving asunder of the Mount of Olives (Zac 14:4) is designed to be their way of escape, not their place of refuge [MAURER]. JEROME is on the side of English Version. If it be translated so, it will mean, Ye shall flee "to" the valley, not to hide there, but as the passage through which an escape may be effected. The same divinely sent earthquake which swallows up the foe, opens out a way of escape to God's people. The earthquake in Uzziah's days is men”
- Amos (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Amos 4:11: some of you--some parts of your territory. as God overthrew Sodom-- (Deu 29:23; Isa 13:19; Jer 49:18; Jer 50:40; Pe2 2:6; Jde 1:7). "God" is often repeated in Hebrew instead of "I." The earthquake here apparently alluded to is not that in the reign of Uzziah, which occurred "two years" later (Amo 1:1). Traces of earthquakes and volcanic agency abound in Palestine. The allusion here is to some of the effects of these in previous times. Compare the prophecy, Deu. 28:15-68, with Amo 4:6-11 here. as a firebrand plucked out of . . . burning--(Compare Isa ”
- Sefaria (Jewish (Rationalist)) “Abraham Ibn Ezra on Isaiah 6:1: In the year that King Uzziah died . Our sages said that died is here used for became a leper; 1 Comp. Rashi, ad locum, and Talmud Babli Nedarim, 64: There are four persons who, though living, may be counted as dead: the poor, the blind, the leper, the childless. for when Uzziah entered the temple to offer the incense, 2 On that occasion, Uzziah was struck with leprosy (2 Kgs. 15:5, and 2 Chr. 26:20, 2 Chr. 26:21). the earthquake 3 At which, as some believe, Isaiah hinted by the words, And the posts of the door moved. See Rashi on ver. 4. The earthquake, which to”