To understand Amos' message, we need to understand a) the backstory b) the context and c) the text itself.
ויבא עמלק THEN CAME AMALEK — Scripture places this section immediately after this preceding verse (they said, “Is the Lord among us or not?”) to imply, “I am ever among you and ready at hand for every thing you may need, and yet you say, “Is the Lord among us or not?” By your lives, I swear that the hound (Amalek) shall come and bite you, and you will cry for Me and then you will know where I am!” A parable: it may be compared to a man who carried his son upon his shoulder, and went out on a journey. The son saw an article and said, “Father, pick up that thing and give it to me”. He gave it to him, and so a second time and so also a third time. They met a certain man to whom the son said, “Have you seen my father anywhere?” Whereupon his father said to him, “Don’t you know where I am?” — He, therefore, cast him off from himself and a hound came and bit him (Midrash Tanchuma, Yitro 3).
Literary Context:
Sefer Devarim (Deuteronomy):
I. How to Live in the Land
a. mitzvot bein adam l'makom: focus on (1) Hashem's convenantal realtionship with us (2) not serving idols and (3) serving Hashem both where and how Hashem wants it done.
b, mitzvot bein adam l'chaveiro: agricultural and legal system revolve around social justice
c. leadership is divided between (1) king (2) priests (3) judges (4) prophets
II. What Happens when we Do and when we Don't Uphold the Two Covenants (bein adam l'makom. bein adam l'chaveiro)
1. Bava Batra 14b
§ The Sages taught: The order of the books of the Prophets when they are attached together is as follows: Joshua and Judges, Samuel and Kings, Jeremiah and Ezekiel, and Isaiah and the Twelve Prophets. The Gemara asks: Consider: Hosea preceded some of the other prophets whose books are included in the Bible, as it is written: “The Lord spoke first to Hosea” (Hosea 1:2). At first glance this verse is difficult: But did God speak first with Hosea, and not with any other prophet before him? Weren’t there many prophets between Moses and Hosea? And Rabbi Yoḥanan says: He was the first of four prophets who prophesied in that period, and they were: Hosea and Isaiah, Amos and Micah.
2. Time Frame of Amos; Agenda of Authors/Editors
Melachim (Kings) is written by Yirmiyahu (Jeremiah)
Agaenda of the Navi: Religious Purity
A. Northern Kingdom Melachim II, 13: 1-13, 14: 23-29
It's important to read "between the lines"
B. Southern Kingdom Two Perspectiveszaryah, Azaryahu)--Melachim II, 14-15
Divrei HaYamim: Ezra
Agenda: Validate the Jewish presence/claim to Israel (models after the "lists" in the Torah) and the validity of Malchut Beit David (the house of David). No accounts of Northen Kingdom except as it intersects with Southern One
Uziah--chapter 26
C. Geography and History of the Ancient Middle East
(Spoiler: Not much has changed…)
Verse 1: Who was Amos
A. Shepherd or Sheep Owner or Both
B. Shepherds and Prophets
בראשית ד:א-ב
וְהָ֣אָדָ֔ם יָדַ֖ע אֶת־חַוָּ֣ה אִשְׁתּ֑וֹ וַתַּ֙הַר֙ וַתֵּ֣לֶד אֶת־קַ֔יִן וַתֹּ֕אמֶר קָנִ֥יתִי אִ֖ישׁ אֶת־יְקוָֽק:
בוַתֹּ֣סֶף לָלֶ֔דֶת אֶת־אָחִ֖יו אֶת־הָ֑בֶל וַֽיְהִי־הֶ֙בֶל֙ רֹ֣עֵה צֹ֔אן וְקַ֕יִן הָיָ֖ה עֹבֵ֥ד אֲדָמָֽה׃
There is a fundamental machloket about Hevel and about shepherding.
The Positive View
רש"י רעה צאן. לְפִי שֶׁנִּתְקַלְּלָה הָאֲדָמָה פֵּרֵשׁ לוֹ מֵעֲבוֹדָתָהּ:
רעה צאן A FEEDER OF FLOCKS — Because the earth had been cursed he refrained from cultivating it.
ספורנו ויהי הבל רועה צאן שהיתה מלאכת חכמה יותר ממלאכת עבודת אדמה:
Because it (being a shepherd) was work requiring wisdom (skilled work) more than working the land.
כתב והקבלה נראה כי רועה צאן הוא שם תאר לכל איש המופרש מדרכי ההמון ומתבודד ללון במקומות הרחוקים מבני אדם בל יטרידוהו המיון הבלי מעשי אנשי תבל, והשדה הוא לו מקום מנוחה והשקט כי שם ימצא את נפשו יותר מוכנת להתעורר ולהתרומם להסתכל ברוממות יקוק בברואיו הנפלאים, ולסבה זו בחרו אבותינו אברהם יצחק יעקב שבטי יה משה ודוד, להיות רועי צאן, כי זה הוא עסק שאינו מטריד את המחשבה ואינו מכביד עול על הגוף. ובזה הנפש פנויה מכל טרדה, ותוכל לשוטט ברעיונות נשגבות להביט בנפלאות תמים דעים ית' המביאים את האדם אל השלמות האמתי,
The field (outside) is a peaceful and quiet place; there he (the person) will find that his soul is more enabled to be aroused and elevated to behold the greatness of Gd in His wondrous creation. This is why the Avot (et.al.) chose this occupation (shepherding):it does not require much thought nor does it tax the body too much and therefore the soul is free from all troubles and can focus itself on the lofty, wondrous and pure things that bring a person to True Perfection. (translation: mine.)
Rambam, Moreh Nevuchim, Section 2, Ch. 32
The third view is that which is taught in Scripture, and which forms one of the principles of our religion. It coincides with the opinion of the philosophers in all points except one. For we believe that, even if one has the capacity for prophecy, and has duly prepared himself, it may yet happen that he does not actually prophesy. It is in that case the will of God [that withholds from him the use of the faculty]. According to my opinion, this fact is as exceptional as any other miracle, and acts in the same way. For the laws of Nature demand that every one should be a prophet, who has a proper physical constitution, and has been duly prepared as regards education and training... As for the principle which I laid down, that preparation and perfection of moral and rational faculties are the sine quâ non, our Sages say exactly the same: "The spirit of prophecy only rests upon persons who are wise, strong, and rich." He only selects the best and the wisest...prophecy is impossible without study and training; when these have created the possibility, then it depends on the will of God whether the possibility is to be turned into reality…
Abarbanel: STRONGLY disagrees with Rambam. He states that Hashem can make anyone Hashem chooses into a prophet. The only criterion is yirat Shamayim--awe/reverence/awareness of Hashem and Hashem's abilities/essence.
Important to consider: Was the shepherd respected or denigrated by the people? by the King? by the Priests?
Perek 1-2: Threes and Fours
The use of rhetorical devices is important because you need to get people to a) listen and b) KEEP listening and c) KEEP LISTENING until the "punch line"....