I. IntroductionThe purpose of this article is to provide the reader with context for the book of Amos. The author, audience, date, place of writing, occasion and purpose, and literary genre of the book of Amos will be explored. The study is conducted using internal evidence from the book of Amos and other respected external sources.II. AuthorThe first verse of the book of Amos can lead to confusion regarding the author – “The words of Amos, one of the shepherds of Tekoa, the vision which he saw concerning Israel two years before the earthquake…” ( Amos 1:1). Looking at this verse, the reader's first thought is that someone other than Amos himself wrote or at least compiled the contents of this book. If there was an editor other than Amos himself, it is possible that he was a companion of Amos (Pfeiffer 62). Regardless, the material itself comes from Amos, whether compiled or not. Very little is known about Amos. It is not mentioned in any other book of the Bible (Allen 81). It is not known when he was born, how old he was when God called him, how long he preached, how many years he lived, or how he died. Jewish tradition claims that Amos died as a martyr. Some suggest that Uzziah killed him; others suggest Amaziah, the priest who opposed him at Bethel. It is unclear whether these claims are true (Yates 7). All the information about him comes from this little book. His name means “laden” or “burden-bearer” (Allen 81). He lived in Tekoa, a village in Judah located about 11 miles south of Jerusalem and 11 miles west of the Dead Sea (Allen 81). Amos presents himself as a shepherd and guardian of sycamore and fig trees (Amos 1:1; 7:14). Amos was probably more of a sheep herder than a simple shepherd. This would suggest...... middle of article ......fer, Charles F., Howard Frederic Vos and John Rea. The Wycliffe Bible Encyclopedia. Chicago: Moody Press, 1975. 62. Print. Radmacher, Earl D., Ronald Barclay Allen, and H. Wayne House. Nelson's New Illustrated Bible Commentary. Nashville: T. Nelson Publishers, 1999. Stuart, Douglas K. Word Bible Commentary: Hosea-Jonah. Waco, TX: Word Books, 1987. Print. The Holy Bible: New International Version. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1984. Print. The New Bible Interpreter's Dictionary. Nashville, Tennessee: Abingdon Press, 2009. 135. Print. Walton, John H. Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2009. Print. Wolff, Hans Walter. Joel and Amos: A commentary on the books of the prophets Joel and Amos. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1977. Print. Yates, Jr., Kyle M. Studies at Amos. Nashville, TN: Convention Press, 1966. 6, 10-13. Print.