Amaziah, whose name means “strength of Jehovah” or “Jehovah is mighty,” was the eighth king to reign over the Southern Kingdom of Judah. His twenty-nine-year reign (2 Kings 14; 2 Chronicles 25) is a cautionary tale of a ruler who began with obedience and justice but ultimately fell victim to pride and idolatry, leading to his violent end.
👑 A Righteous Beginning
Amaziah began his reign at the age of twenty-five, succeeding his father, King Joash, who had been assassinated by his own servants. One of Amaziah’s first acts as king demonstrated his commitment to the Law of Moses:
“But he slew not their children, but did as it is written in the law in the book of Moses, where the Lord commanded, saying, The fathers shall not die for the children, neither shall the children die for the fathers, but every man shall die for his own sin.” (2 Chronicles 25:4, KJV)
This adherence to the principle of individual accountability in justice was commendable. The Bible then offers the definitive summary of his early reign:
“And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, but not with a perfect heart.” (2 Chronicles 25:2, KJV)
This statement foreshadows the instability and compromise that would later define his kingship.
💰 Obedience and Victory
Preparing for war against the Edomites, Amaziah assembled an army of 300,000 men and, lacking confidence, hired 100,000 mercenary soldiers from the Kingdom of Israel for one hundred talents of silver.
However, a man of God intervened, warning the king that the Lord was not with the army of Israel and commanding him to send them away. Though he was concerned about the money he had spent, Amaziah obeyed:
“And Amaziah said to the man of God, But what shall we do for the hundred talents which I have given to the army of Israel? And the man of God answered, The Lord is able to give thee much more than this. Then Amaziah separated them… to go home again…” (2 Chronicles 25:9-10, KJV)
He then led his own army to a decisive victory in the Valley of Salt, slaying ten thousand Edomites and capturing another ten thousand who were executed.
💀 Pride and Idolatry
The victory over Edom marked the turning point in Amaziah’s life. Flushed with success, he committed a grave act of apostasy:
“Now 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 unto them.” (2 Chronicles 25:14, KJV)
When a prophet was sent to rebuke him, Amaziah responded with insolent pride, silencing the prophet. The prophet then departed, stating that God had determined to destroy the king for this rebellion (2 Chronicles 25:15-16, KJV).
His pride led him to foolishly challenge Joash, the King of Israel, to battle. He was soundly defeated at Bethshemesh, captured, and his capital, Jerusalem, was humiliated when Joash broke down a significant portion of its walls (2 Kings 14:13-14, KJV).
⚰️ The End of a Divided King
After his defeat, Amaziah lived for fifteen more years, but his later life was marked by the consequences of his turning from the Lord. A conspiracy formed against him in Jerusalem, forcing him to flee to Lachish.
“But they sent to Lachish after him, and slew him there. And they brought him on horses: and he was buried at Jerusalem with his fathers in the city of Judah.” (2 Kings 14:19-20, KJV)
The story of King Amaziah serves as a potent warning that obedience in one instance does not secure a “perfect heart” and that spiritual pride can swiftly overturn initial righteousness.
Other Notable Amasiahs
The King James Version also mentions another figure named Amasiah, a captain under King Jehoshaphat:
- Amasiah the son of Zichri was a captain who “willingly offered himself unto the Lord” and commanded a great force of two hundred thousand mighty men of valour from Judah (2 Chronicles 17:16, KJV).