During the reign of Jeroboam II (not to be confused with Jeroboam I, who had a flagon for holding wine named after him), there lived a man named Amos, who made it his life’s mission to warn the people of the terrible things that would happen to them if they did not mend their ways, which of course they ignored. Jeroboam II was a good sort as kings went in those days, and he ruled Israel peacefully for many years. (We are talking about 790 BC onwards) but that didn’t stop Amos from inveighing relentlessly against him as well as against everyone else he could think of, accusing them of corrupt and immoral behaviour. It’s a wonder that J2 put up with him. Perhaps he saw him as a harmless meshuggenah. At any rate, Amos was left to get on with his prophesying, which he did with much zeal, making many enemies along the way. Had he lived today, he might have been known as Mr Doom.

By the way, I’m never sure whether to write ‘BC’ or ‘BCE’ after a particular date, or, for that........

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