Amos lived in the 8th century BCE when Uzziah was king of Judah (Southern Kingdom) and Jeroboam II was the King of Israel (Northern Kingdom). He was a contemporary of Hosea. Amos was a simple man who did not have a formal education. He worked as a herdsman and a gatherer of wild figs. He never claimed to have the mantle of a prophet nor the calling of a prophet. Amos' prophesies were against the enemies of Israel who were Syria, Edom, Philistia, Moab, Ammon and Tyre. These nations would drink from the cup of the fury of the LORD. He then prophesied against Israel because they had engaged in the Baal cult and worship, thus abandoning the LORD. Amos offers hope to the people by prophesizing that a remnant of Israel would survive the wrath of the LORD.