Topical Encyclopedia
Amaziah, the son of Joash, was the king of Judah who reigned in Jerusalem. His reign is noted for a mixture of obedience and disobedience to the Lord, ultimately leading to his downfall. Amaziah's account is primarily recorded in
2 Kings 14 and
2 Chronicles 25.
Amaziah began his reign with a semblance of righteousness, as he initially did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, though not wholeheartedly like his ancestor David. His early actions included executing the officials who had murdered his father, Joash, but sparing their children in accordance with the Law of Moses, which states, "Fathers shall not be put to death for their children, nor children for their fathers; each is to die for his own sin" (
2 Kings 14:6).
However, Amaziah's fidelity to God was compromised following his military campaign against the Edomites. After securing a victory over the Edomites in the Valley of Salt and capturing Sela, Amaziah made a grievous error by bringing back the gods of Seir and setting them up as his own deities. This act of idolatry marked a significant departure from his earlier adherence to the Lord's commandments.
The chronicler records the Lord's response to Amaziah's apostasy through a prophet who confronted the king, saying, "Why have you sought this people’s gods, which could not deliver their own people from your hand?" (
2 Chronicles 25:15). Despite this warning, Amaziah's heart was hardened, and he refused to listen, leading to further divine disfavor.
Amaziah's idolatry and subsequent arrogance led him to challenge Jehoash, king of Israel, to battle. This confrontation resulted in a disastrous defeat for Judah, the capture of Amaziah, and the plundering of the temple and royal palace in Jerusalem (
2 Kings 14:11-14).
Amaziah's reign serves as a cautionary tale of the dangers of turning away from the Lord to worship foreign gods. His initial obedience was overshadowed by his later unfaithfulness, illustrating the biblical principle that partial obedience is insufficient in the eyes of God. The narrative of Amaziah underscores the importance of wholehearted devotion to the Lord and the peril of idolatry, which leads to both personal and national ruin.
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2 Chronicles 25:14Now it came to pass, after that Amaziah was come from the slaughter of the Edomites, that he brought the gods of the children of Seir, and set them up to be his gods, and bowed down himself before them, and burned incense to them.
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