Topical Bible: Kings: Good: Amaziah

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Amaziah, the son of Joash, was the ninth king of Judah, reigning in Jerusalem after the death of his father. His reign is recorded in 2 Kings 14:1-20 and 2 Chronicles 25. Amaziah ascended to the throne at the age of 25 and ruled for 29 years. His mother was Jehoaddan of Jerusalem. Amaziah is often remembered as a king who did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, though not with a fully devoted heart.

Righteous Reforms and Military Campaigns

Amaziah's reign began with a commitment to justice and adherence to the Mosaic Law. One of his first acts as king was to execute the officials who had assassinated his father, Joash. However, in obedience to the Law, he spared their children, as it is written, "Yet he did not put the sons of the assassins to death, according to what is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, where the LORD commanded: '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).

Amaziah also focused on strengthening his kingdom's military capabilities. He organized and equipped an army of 300,000 men from Judah and Benjamin, and he hired an additional 100,000 mercenaries from Israel. However, a prophet of the LORD advised him against using the Israelite troops, warning that God was not with Israel. Amaziah heeded the prophet's counsel, dismissing the mercenaries despite the financial loss, and was assured of God's support in his endeavors (2 Chronicles 25:7-10).

Victory and Pride

Amaziah's obedience to God's guidance led to a significant victory over the Edomites in the Valley of Salt, where he killed 10,000 men and captured the city of Sela, renaming it Joktheel (2 Kings 14:7). This victory, however, sowed the seeds of pride in Amaziah's heart. He brought back the gods of the Edomites and began to worship them, provoking the LORD's anger. A prophet rebuked Amaziah for this idolatry, questioning why he would worship gods that could not save their own people (2 Chronicles 25:14-16).

Conflict with Israel and Downfall

Emboldened by his success against Edom, Amaziah challenged Jehoash, king of Israel, to battle. Despite a warning from Jehoash, who likened Amaziah's ambition to a thistle challenging a cedar, Amaziah persisted. The two kings met at Beth Shemesh, where Amaziah's forces were decisively defeated. Jehoash captured Amaziah, broke down the wall of Jerusalem, and plundered the temple and royal palace (2 Kings 14:8-14).

Amaziah's later years were marked by unrest and conspiracy. His initial faithfulness to God had waned, and his idolatry and defeat led to a loss of support among his people. Eventually, a conspiracy was formed against him in Jerusalem, and he fled to Lachish, where he was assassinated. His body was brought back to Jerusalem and buried with his ancestors in the City of David (2 Kings 14:19-20).

Legacy

Amaziah's reign serves as a complex narrative of obedience and pride, illustrating the importance of wholehearted devotion to God. While he began his rule with righteous intentions and adherence to divine law, his later actions reveal the dangers of pride and idolatry. His life is a testament to the biblical principle that partial obedience is insufficient in the eyes of the LORD.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

2 Kings 15:3
And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father Amaziah had done;
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Genealogy of Jesus According to Matthew.
... a patriarch, second as one of the kings; and thus ... 8 and Asa begat Jehoshaphat [a
good king, much ... and Ahaziah begat Joash, and Joash begat Amaziah; and Amaziah ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/iii genealogy of jesus according.htm

Amaziah
... to describe him as a bad sort of good man, or ... But Amaziah thought that was of no
consequence so long as ... one of those prophets or preachers whom kings and other ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/milligan/men of the bible some lesser-known/amaziah.htm

Chronicles
... The Chronicler makes a man of God say to Amaziah, "Jehovah is not with Israel ... did
(2 Chron, xiv.5, xvii.6) as, on his theory,"being good kings, they should. ...
/.../mcfadyen/introduction to the old testament/chronicles.htm

Preparation for Advent
... He told the kings and the people of all the ... righteousness of God, say these preachers
of Amaziah's school, only ... go to heaven without having been good men here ...
/.../kingsley/all saints day and other sermons/sermon ii preparation for advent.htm

Prudence and Faith
... The character of this Amaziah, one of the Kings of Judah, is ... truth that God was able
to give Amaziah more than a ... is it that God does not give the good man more ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/prudence and faith.htm

Miller's views on the Second Coming of Christ.
... be understood as literal as it can be and make good sense; and ... Joash 40 3309 818
2 Kings 12:1.12 ... Amaziah 29 3338 819 2 Kings 14:2. Interregnum(10) 11 3349 808 2 ...
/.../hayward/the book of religions/millers views on the second.htm

Book 9 Footnotes
... to our ordinary copies, which say [2 Kings 13:11 ... this king to have been then a good
man, and ... it appears, even by Josephus's own account, that Amaziah, the good ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/book 9 footnotes.htm

The Kingdom Op Judah.
... and all prospered as long as the good Jehoiada lived. ... His son Amaziah began well,
obeying the Lord by dismissing ... worst and most idolatrous of the Kings of Judah ...
//christianbookshelf.org/yonge/the chosen people/lesson vii the kingdom op.htm

Hazael Makes an Expedition against the People of Israel and the ...
... When Jehoash [King Of Judah] Was Dead, Amaziah Succeeds Him ... most severe and violent
manner for the good deeds his ... treasures of God and of the kings [before him ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 8 hazael makes an.htm

Concerning Jeroboam King of Israel and Jonah the Prophet; and How ...
... same manner did Uzziah, the son of Amaziah, begin to ... He was a good man, and by nature
righteous and ... time, or by the carelessness of the kings, his predecessors ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 10 concerning jeroboam king.htm