Annotated Bibliography on Amos

The following brief collection of books provides helpful discussions of the key issues in interpreting Amos’s preaching. A fairly complete listing of articles and commentaries is found in the books by G. F. Hasel and S. M. Paul, or in A. van der Wal, Amos: A Classified Bibliography, 3d ed. (Amsterdam: Free University Press, 1986).

Andersen, F. I., and D. N. Freedman, Amos: A New Translation with Introduction and Commentary. AB. New York: Doubleday, 1989. A long and technical study of the final form of the Hebrew text, which emphasizes rhetorical factors.

Finley, T. J. Joel, Amos, Obadiah. WEC. Chicago: Moody, 1990. A solid exposition with Hebrew notes at the end of each section.

Gowan, D. E. “Amos.” New Interpreter’s Bible. Pages 339–431 in vol. 7. Nashville: Abingdon, 1996. A commentary followed by pastoral reflections after each section of text.

Harper, W. R. A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on Amos and Hosea. ICC. Edinburgh: T. & T. Clark, 1905. A classical explanation of the higher-critical approach.

Hasel, G. F. Understanding the Book of Amos. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1991. A survey of eleven controversial areas of critical, historical, and theological research. It interacts with all sides of each topic.

Hubbard, D. A. Joel and Amos: An Introduction and Commentary. TOTC. Downers Grove: InterVarsity, 1989. A brief treatment with a good introduction.

Jeremias, J. The Book of Amos. Translated by D. W. Stott. OTL. Louisville: Westminster/John Knox, 1998. A higher critical examination of the composition of Amos through several redactional stages.

Mays, J. L. Amos: A Commentary. OTL. Philadelphia: Westminster, 1969. A short but solid treatment that attributes some portions to later writers.

Niehaus, J. “Amos.” Pages 315–494 in The Minor Prophets, vol. 1. Ed. T. McComiskey (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1992). An exposition that heavily draws on covert covenant connections in Amos.

Paul, S. M. Amos: A Commentary on the Book of Amos. Hermeneia. Minneapolis: Fortress, 1991. Probably the best detailed and technical commentary.

Smith, B. K. “Amos.” Amos, Obadiah, Jonah. Pages 23–170. NAC. Nashville: Broadman and Holman, 1995. A good survey of various interpretations of Amos.

Smith, G. V. Amos. Fearn, Scotland: Christian Focus, 1998. For each portion there is a discussion of the background, structure, unity, meaning, and theology.

Soggin, J. A. The Prophet Amos. London: SCM, 1987. A brief but detailed discussion that reports what many others have said about each section in Amos.

Stuart, D. Hosea-Jonah. WBC. Waco, Tex.: Word, 1987. A balanced presentation of what Amos taught, with special emphasis on Amos’s use of covenant curses.

Wolff, H. W. Joel and Amos. Hermeneia. Philadelphia: Fortress, 1977. A detailed critical commentary that finds six redactional stages and sees Amos heavily influenced by the style and thinking of clan wisdom.