Amos

Amos as a chiasm

Victor M. Wilson, Divine Symmetries

At the heart of the book lies the prophet's call to repentance, built around a central doxology.

1. A
   Judgement upon Israel and 7 nations1:3–2:164 paired judgements
2. B
   Israel's coming destruction3:1–15
3. C
   Prediction of exile: condemnation of wealthy women4:1–13
4. D
   Call to repentance5:1–17
5. C′
   Prediction of exile: condemnation of wealthy men5:18–6:14
6. B′
   Israel's coming destruction: four visions7:1–8:3
7. A′
   Judgement, and Israel's future among the nations8:4–9:15

Amos: call to repentance at the center

David A. Dorsey, The Literary Structure of the Old Testament

1. A
   Coming judgement upon Israel and its neighbors1–2
2. B
   The prophet's compulsion: destruction of Israel and Bethel's cult center3
3. C
   Condemnation of wealthy Israelite women4empty religious activity and Yahweh's judgment
4. X
   Call to repentance and lament5:1–17
5. C′
   Condemnation of wealthy Israelite men5:18–6:14empty religious activity and coming judgment
6. B′
   The prophet's compulsion: destruction of Bethel's cult center7:1–8:3
7. A′
   Coming judgment upon Israel and future restoration among the nations8:4–9:15