Amaziah
“Yahweh is mighty”
Summary
The ninth king of Judah who began well but later worshipped Edomite idols, was defeated by Israel, and was assassinated after fleeing a conspiracy.
☩Early Reign
Amaziah, whose name means 'Yahweh is mighty,' was the son of Joash and succeeded him on the throne of Judah at age twenty-five, reigning for twenty-nine years. He began his reign by bringing to justice the servants who had assassinated his father, but notably followed the law of Moses by not including the assassins' children in their punishment—citing Deuteronomy's principle that children shall not be put to death for their fathers' sins. Scripture says he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, but 'not with a perfect heart.'
☩Victory and Apostasy
Amaziah assembled Judah's fighting men and hired 100,000 warriors from Israel. A prophet warned him to dismiss the Israelite mercenaries since 'the LORD is not with Israel,' so he sent them back, though they raided Judean cities in anger. Amaziah then won a great victory over Edom, killing 10,000 in the Valley of Salt and capturing the rock fortress of Sela. But inexplicably, he brought back the gods of the conquered Edomites and worshipped them—provoking a prophet to ask, 'Why have you sought the gods of a people who could not even save their own people from your hand?'
☩Defeat and Death
Emboldened by his Edomite victory, Amaziah challenged Jehoash king of Israel to battle. Jehoash warned him with a parable about a thistle challenging a cedar, but Amaziah refused to listen—'for it was of God, that he might deliver them into the hand of their enemies, because they sought after the gods of Edom.' Israel defeated Judah at Beth-shemesh, captured Amaziah, broke down Jerusalem's wall, and plundered the temple and palace. Amaziah survived Jehoash by fifteen years but eventually fled a conspiracy to Lachish, where he was killed.
Related Verses39 mentions
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Amaziah," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. I (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.James Orr (ed.), "Amaziah," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. I (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).