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How did the prophets Amos and Deutero-Isaiah shape the idea of the chosen people?

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Jerusalem: Western Wall, Temple Mount — Judaism The Western Wall, in the Old City of Jerusalem, all that remains of the retaining wall surrounding the Temple Mount.

The prophets Amos and Deutero-Isaiah played pivotal roles in evolving the concept of the chosen people, shifting it from a strictly nationalistic bond to a universal mission.

In the 8th century BCE, Amos challenged the prevailing view that Israel’s status as God’s chosen people granted them immunity from judgment. He asserted that God’s sovereignty and moral requirements transcended national interests, insisting that the covenant was conditional upon social justice and ethical conduct. By declaring that even the chosen people would face punishment for corruption and injustice, Amos decoupled the idea of being "chosen" from automatic privilege, emphasizing instead the necessity of moral accountability.123

During the Babylonian Exile, Deutero-Isaiah brought this doctrine to its climax by synthesizing Israel’s national identity with a universal vision. He taught that Israel was chosen to be a "light to the nations," serving as a witness to God’s reality and law for all humanity. In this view, Israel’s suffering and historical destiny were linked to a divine mission to bring salvation to the world, transforming the chosen people into an instrument for uniting all humanity in the acknowledgment of God.14