עַם `am "people" the absolute is used when "the people" (= the inhabitants of the place 3:6) is meant; the construct is used in phrases like "people of Aram" (= Arameans 1:5). "People of Israel" does not occur in Amos who uses the more precise "my people Israel" 7:8, 15; 8:2; 9:14 or simply "my people" 9:10.