עמוס, פרק ז׳, פסוק י״ד

A sharp confrontation between a true messenger of God and the religious establishment exposes the deep divide over the nature of prophecy. When challenged by Amaziah the priest, who views prophecy merely as a way to make a living, Amos completely rejects the formal title. Instead, he presents himself as an ordinary working man who was unexpectedly handed a divine mission.

The primary approach among commentators is that Amos never sought out this calling. He did not prepare himself for prophecy on his own initiative, he did not study it as a trade, nor did he inherit the role from his father [מצודת דוד, רד״ק, אברבנאל, שטיינזלץ]. He makes it clear that he is not searching for fame or prestige [מלבי״ם]. Most importantly, in stark contrast to the false prophets of his time, he does not deliver God's word in exchange for payment or a loaf of bread [רש״י, מצודת דוד].

To prove his independence, Amos explains that he makes his living working with livestock [רש״י, מצודת ציון, אבן עזרא, שטיינזלץ]. There is a fascinating discussion regarding his actual social standing based on this work. The primary approach among commentators is that Amos was actually a wealthy man who owned vast herds, properties, and vineyards. Because of his financial security, he had absolutely no need for favors or compensation in exchange for his prophetic messages [רש״י, רד״ק, מלבי״ם]. Conversely, others view his background as the ultimate expression of humility and simplicity. In this light, Amos was a poor, simple herdsman who never dared to think about prophecy until God took him away from his flock [אברבנאל].

In addition to working with livestock, Amos tended to sycamore trees, which yield a type of fig [מצודת ציון, רד״ק]. Commentators offer a few explanations for the exact nature of this agricultural work. One perspective is that he carefully inspected the trees to determine the right time to prune them for optimal growth or to harvest them for wooden beams [רש״י, מלבי״ם, רד״ק]. The specific way he described this task reflects that he had a stutter or a heavy mouth [רש״י]. Another approach suggests his work involved gathering the sycamore figs and mixing them with other materials to create feed for his cattle [מצודת דוד, מצודת ציון, רד״ק]. A more straightforward explanation simply describes him as a dedicated agricultural worker who cared for the trees and gathered their fruit [אברבנאל, שטיינזלץ, רד״ק].