(a) Describe the social life of Israel during the time of Amos.
(b) Mention four vices condemned by Amos which are st rampant in your society.
(a) There was general oppression of the poor by the wealthy. The wealthy sold the righteous for silver and the needy for pair of shoes. The poor had no fair trial in the courts and the level of prostitution was so high that a man and his father could go into the same woman. At the altar, the rich men sat in clothes given as pledge to them by their poor debtors and they also drank at the altars, wine of those who had been fined. Their women fed fat on the proceeds of their husband's oppression of the poor and drank wines from bowls. Amos referred to these people as cows of Bashan.
The rich built stone houses and lived in great luxury with proceeds derived from their cheating of the poor. In the markets, the rich used false weight and measures. In spite of various forms of punishment such as famine, drought, blight and mildew, locust infestation and all the curses of Egypt, slaughter of their young men in battles, depopulation e.t.c., they still persisted in evil and refused to listen to the voice of God but desired the Day of the Lord.' Amos warned :hem and said they should be prepared for total doom that would come from God's wrath.
(b) Vices condemned by Amos which are still prevalent in our society today are:
(i) Oppression of the poor by the wealthy: Low wages are paid to the poor for services rendered to their masters or employers.
(ii) Injustice in the courts: The rich accused bribe their way in the courts and the poor rarely receive just judgement.
(iii)Cheating in business: Some rich and influential businessmen have perfected the art of edging or pushing the poor out of business.
(iv)Luxury: With much of the national revenue in the hands of a rich few who daily become richer at the expense of the poor, the rich build palaces and own expensive limousines and enjoy all forms of luxury at the expense of the poor
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