Amaziah (also spelled Amasiah), the priest of Bethel, is a figure who stands in direct opposition to the true word of God as delivered by the prophet Amos. His brief but powerful interaction with Amos, recorded in the Book of Amos, is a chilling portrayal of a religious leader prioritizing political authority and comfort over divine truth.
👑 The Sanctuary of the King
Amaziah served as the priest at the sanctuary in Bethel during the prosperous reign of Jeroboam II in the Northern Kingdom of Israel. This sanctuary was not dedicated to the pure worship of Jehovah; rather, it was the location of one of the golden calves set up by Jeroboam I centuries earlier (1 Kings 12:26-30, KJV) to keep the people from going to Jerusalem for worship.
Amaziah’s position as “the priest of Bethel” (Amos 7:10, KJV) means he was the chief religious functionary for a place that was explicitly identified as the “king’s chapel” and the “king’s court” (Amos 7:13, KJV). His livelihood and authority were intrinsically tied to the stability of the kingdom and the continuation of the state-sponsored cult of the golden calf.
🗣️ The Conflict with Amos the Prophet
When the prophet Amos, a herdsman from the Southern Kingdom of Judah, came to Bethel to deliver a message of impending judgment and captivity, his prophecies struck at the heart of the political and religious establishment. Specifically, Amos declared:
“For thus Amos saith, Jeroboam shall die by the sword, and Israel shall surely be led away captive out of their own land.” (Amos 7:11, KJV)
Fearing that Amos’s words would incite rebellion or invite disaster, Amaziah acted swiftly and decisively. He first sent a report to King Jeroboam II, accusing Amos of conspiracy:
“Then Amaziah the priest of Bethel sent to Jeroboam king of Israel, saying, Amos hath conspired against thee in the midst of the house of Israel: the land is not able to bear all his words.” (Amos 7:10, KJV)
He sought to have the king suppress the prophet’s message, framing the word of God as a threat to national security.
🛑 The Edict to Depart
When his appeal to the king did not immediately remove Amos, Amaziah confronted the prophet directly, attempting to drive him out of the kingdom of Israel:
“Also Amaziah said unto Amos, O thou seer, go, flee thee away into the land of Judah, and there eat bread, and prophesy there: But prophesy not again any more at Bethel: for it is the king’s chapel, and it is the king’s court.” (Amos 7:12-13, KJV)
Amaziah clearly viewed prophecy as a trade or profession, suggesting that Amos should return to Judah to earn his living. His motivation was purely self-preservation, protecting the king’s false sanctuary and his own status.
⚖️ The Prophet’s Judgment
Amos responded not by fleeing, but by delivering a stern, personal prophecy against Amaziah himself. He clarified that he was not a professional prophet but had been called directly by the Lord from his flock:
“Now therefore hear thou the word of the Lord: Thou sayest, Prophesy not against Israel, and drop not thy word against the house of Isaac. Therefore thus saith the Lord; Thy wife shall be an harlot in the city, and thy sons and thy daughters shall fall by the sword, and thy land shall be divided by line; and thou shalt die in a polluted land: and Israel shall surely go into captivity forth of his land.” (Amos 7:16-17, KJV)
Amaziah’s life thus serves as a somber warning against those in religious leadership who oppose the clear message of God’s judgment and cling to the comfort and power of corrupted, man-made institutions.
Other Minor Amasiahs
In addition to the King and the priest, the KJV mentions two other individuals by this name:
- Amasiah the Levite: A descendant of Merari and an ancestor of Ethan the singer (1 Chronicles 6:45, KJV).
- Amasiah, the son of Zichri: A captain under King Jehoshaphat who “willingly offered himself unto the Lord” and commanded 200,000 men (2 Chronicles 17:16, KJV).