The life and mission of Amos the shepherd and prophet have always fascinated students of the Old Testament. This rancher-farmer from Tekoa, summoned  dramatically by Yahweh to prophesy to Israel under  the kingship of Jeroboam II (eighth century  B.C.E.) about the corruption, injustice, and religious  insincerity of his time, has intrigued scholars for  centuries. Was Amos' message one of judgment and retribution only, or also of redemption? Noted scholars Francis I. Andersen and David Noel Freedman, authors of the critically acclaimed Hosea, team up to examine and explain this critical segment of the Bible. Using new insights and modern methods, the authors interpret the text clearly, enthusiastically, and with  startling perception. Readers will gain a new understanding of the historical, literary, and religious dimensions of the book of Amos.