For "First Isaiah" this contains Chapters 1 - 25 of the book of Isaiah. Then a summary of chapters 25-29. ( )

224 Phi

AMOS was Jehovah's thunder and fire writ before the storm. He came out of the desert, and singled out the rich and powerful for particular excoriation, noting that they fill their hewn-stone homes with the spoil of their theft. He said he HATED hypocrites.

The first of the really angry and threatening prophets, Amos claims that Jehovah DEMANDS righteousness: "Let Justice roll down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream!"

Amos is a rustic herdsman. He was also, however, surpassingly literate, and was deemed worthy of repeated, direct and dire messaging from Lord God Himself. High Priest Amaziah was tasked with rebuking Amos for disturbing the peace of King Jeroboam. Former Davidic trade routes had been reconquered, and Israel was enjoying unprecedented prosperity.

Amos also provides internal date references, including an earthquake that may have been high as 8.2 on the Richter Scale. The 750 B.C. event is now documented on the Dead Sea transform fault zone, epicentered less than 300 km north of present-day Israel. Amos was credited with having predicted it. Amos 3:14, 6:11, 8:8, 9:1; Zechariah 14:5. Indirect creditation, Isaiah 2:19, Joel 3:16, and Hebrews 12:28.

The archeology on Jeroboam II is relatively abundant. In 1910, G. A. Reisner found sixty-three inscribed potsherds while excavating the royal palace at Samaria. While unremarkable, these ostraca contain valuable information about the script, language, religion and administrative system of the period. The bone, clay and stone evidence confirms the biblical account of a prosperity that Israel had never yet known. By the late 8th century BC the territory of Israel was the most densely settled in the entire Levant, with a population of about 350,000. Israel was at peace with Judah and its immediate neighbors, and the wealthy were trading in olive oil, wine, and possibly horses, with Egypt and Assyria providing the markets.

Amaziah had to be ticked that Amos singled out the wealthy and comfortable. Amos devotes entire chapters of his book to fervent descriptions of the anfractuous unrelenting torture, loss and annihilation Lord God has in store for those who accumulate things at the expense of the poor. Sadly, much of his work is either non-translatable or it is fervid to the point of nonsense. I picture Amaziah caught between unpleasant truths from a discreditable mouth, and his own hope for continued prosperity. It does not help that an empire in the north is enlisting the poor by the battalion, and means to cut out the "middle man" in this trade.

Amos does make proof of some freedom of expression in the community--he was only banished, not killed, and he lived to write his book in exile. We now read his contribution to "the most widely read book" in the world. It is a legacy for all of us who are still shy of righteousness. I know of no effort to repudiate the banishment of Amos, or to rectify the abuses the rich of today continue to "reign down upon" the poor. Anyone?

HOSEA. The prophet of wrath (Amos) gave way to Hosea, the prophet of the Love covenant, as man to woman, God to Israel. The range is from violent casting out to florid visionary exhortations to repentance in this work as he pleads with Israel to stop playing the harlot with the Baal-men--the priests playing lewd for money. No claims of what Jehovah actually said, but he uses the word "love" in describing the relationship. Compare, other prophets say this too -- even Malachi.

Hosea then states the termination of that relation because of unfaithfulness on the part of Israel. Describes Yahweh's suit in more concrete terms than his own lawsuit against his unfaithful wife -- 4:1-3 cf 2. Documents the fact that even though Elijah proved the superiority Yahweh over Baal, now the people were resorting to Canaanite ceremonies. Hosea invokes "Knowledge" as a theological term-- 2:20, 4:1, 6:3. Points out the folly of war between Israel and Judah on the eve of Assyrian invasion. Defines "sin" in terms of violation of Law and condemns the leaders in high places. Most of this is opaque, but not unreadable.

Curiously, the book is taken up with references to Hosea's wife, Gomer. She is supposed by commentators to be representing the Israel whoring after other gods. That's a stretch. In fact Gomer bears their children, then runs off with other lovers, gets abandoned by them, and Hosea finds her, buys her back, and sets her up once more as his wife. We know little about her, but this is taken as a symbol of the Lord's great love for us -- that he takes us back. Sadly, we never hear from Gomer, the more interesting character.

MICAH. Contemporary of Isaiah, a champion of Los Pobres. He denounces oppression, mourns the lack of Justice. He flays the rich for "flaying the poor, eating of their flesh", and building their houses of blood. He scorns professional prophets (Isaiah?), liars, and winebibbers. Predicts the fall of Jerusalem, with redemption coming from Bethlehem. Contributes the phrase "nations shall beat their swords into plowshares". Points out that all your Lord requires of thee is to "Do Justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with thy God". That's it. And he sees only the poor doing this.

ISAIAH. With a poetic and refined quality, yet his words strike blows like an ax. Not a brush-clearing scythe, this is an ax against authority. Pieced together from older prophetic traditions, this is a fight against the kings who betrayed the people. Appeals to a "righteous remnant" to survive destruction and raise a new house of holiness. The Proud are made low -- 2:6-22. In "Oracles of Woe" he condemns the wealthy, the arrogant, the drunkards, and corrupt judges. Promises a Messiah. Offers a chiaroscuro of Lord God's Judgment and comfort to Israel, speaking to its restoration after exile.

[All four of these "angry prophets" were warning Israel during its most prosperous days -- after King David and Solomon, but before the Babylon captivity/ enslavement.]

[Not one of these four Prophets made a single accurate prophesy, with Amos' generalized prediction of a future earthquake, where there were many, being no exception. All of them were ignored by their contemporaries and by the tribal leaders of every subsequent generation.] ( )