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Divinity for Advanced Secondary Schools

Chapter Social justice and
FOR ONLINE READING ONLY
Five community rights

Introduction

The economic and social challenges of corruption and violation of human rights
facing many countries have prompted the need to revisit the concepts of social
justice and human rights. Prophet Amos has been universally regarded as the
prophet of social justice. In this chapter, you will use the book of Amos to discuss
the concept of social justice and violation of community rights. The competences
developed will enable you to appreciate the relevance of social justice in daily life
situations.

Think century Israel who lived by oppressing
others.
A society without justice and
human rights! The book of Amos is one of the minor
prophetic works of the Old Testament.
Background and the audience of The book contains nine chapters,
Amos divided as follows: Oracles against the
Little is known about Amos as a person. nations (1–2), oracles against Israel (3–
His home village of Tekoa was about 6), collection of visions regarding the
10 miles south of Jerusalem in a very end of Israel (7:1-9:10), and promise
desolate area (Amos 1:1; 7:12). God of restoration (9:11-15), as shown in
called Amos and sent him north to Figure 5.1.
Samaria, the metropolitan city of Israel,
with all of its wealth and power. The Amos came from his husbandry work
name “Amos” means “burdensome” to be a prophet of Israel, probably
or “burden bearer,” and Amos really between 780 and 760 BCE. It was a
became burdensome and burden-bearer. time of economic affluence, luxury and
His words were heavy against those moral decay. Amos prophesied in this
wealthy and powerful people in 8 prosperous time that resulted from the
th

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