The Minor Prophet book of Amos has a few hidden gems of fascinating information.
* The Greatest Earthquake *
The overlooked first verse of Amos briefly references the greatest earthquake to hit the kingdoms of Israel and Judah!
"The words of Amos . . . 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." (Amos 1:1).
Amos' powerful earthquake shook the Promised Land around 760 B.C.
"The earthquake was at least magnitude 7.8, but likely was 8.2 . . . (the earthquake) appears to be the largest yet documented on the Dead Sea transform fault during the last four millennia." (Amos' Earthquake, International Geology Review).
The earthquake proved so memorable that Zechariah, more than 225 years later, referenced it in his well-known prophecy of Jesus' Second Coming (Zechariah 14:4 - 5)!
* Celestial Bodies *
Amos mentions at least two constellations in his writing.
"Seek him that maketh the seven stars (Pleiades) and Orion, and turneth the shadow of death into the morning, and maketh the day dark with night . . ." (Amos 5:8).
* Hidden Reference to Saturn *
Stephen, in his defense before the Sanhedrin, makes a puzzling reference to ancient Israel's idolatry which quotes Amos.
"Yea, ye took up the tabernacle of Moloch, and the star of your god Remphan, figures which ye made to worship them . . ." (Acts 7:43).
The English word Remphan is derived from the Greek Rhemphan which itself is an incorrect transliteration of the Hebrew word kiyun. This Hebrew word is found only in Amos 5!
"But ye have borne the tabernacle of your Moloch and Chiun (kiyun) your images, the star of your god, which ye made to yourselves." (Amos 5:26).
The consensus among Biblical commentaries is that Chiun refers to the planet Saturn. The idolatrous worship of the hosts of heaven (the sun, moon, planets and stars) was in vogue at the time of Amos.
* Instrument Maker *
One last hidden gem is the confirmation that King David not only composed music (e.g. the Psalms) he also created musical instruments!
"Woe to those at ease in Zion, and trust the mountain of Samaria, who are named chief of the nations . . . Who sing idle songs to the sound of the harp; and invent instruments of music for themselves, like David;" (Amos 6:1, 5).
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