Amaziah

Portrait of Amaziah

Amaziah was a king of Judah who began well, executing his father's murderers but sparing their children according to the Law. He defeated Edom in battle, yet foolishly brought back the gods of Edom to worship them, drawing a prophet's rebuke. Emboldened by victory, he provoked a needless war with Israel, was defeated and captured, and eventually died in a conspiracy - a life of promising starts undone by pride.

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Biography

Occupation
King of Judah
Tribe
Judah
Father
Joash
Children
Uzziah (Azariah)
Era
Divided Kingdom
Nationality
Israelite (Judah)

Family

Parents
Joash
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Amaziah
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Children
Uzziah (Azariah)
Old Testament Divided Kingdom King 2 Chronicles

Did You Know?

1

Amaziah showed unusual restraint by executing his father's assassins but sparing their children, explicitly citing the law of Moses that sons should not die for fathers (2 Kings 14:6).

2

After defeating Edom he bizarrely adopted the gods of the people he had just conquered (2 Chronicles 25:14), prompting a prophet's cutting question: why seek gods that could not even save their own worshippers?

3

His pride led him to provoke King Jehoash of Israel, who answered with a mocking parable about a thistle and a cedar, then defeated Amaziah and broke down a section of Jerusalem's wall (2 Kings 14:9-13).

Key Chapters

2 Chronicles 25 Amaziah King of Judah 6 min read After defeating Edom, Amaziah worships their powerless gods and rejects the prop... 2 Kings 14 Amaziah King of Judah 5 min read Amaziah's proud challenge to Israel ends in defeat and the plundering of Jerusal...

Key Passages

Amaziah's Folly with Edom's Gods

2 Chronicles 25:14-16

After defeating Edom, Amaziah worships their powerless gods and rejects the prophet's warning.

N14ow 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.

15 Wherefore the anger of the LORD was kindled against Amaziah, and he sent unto him a prophet, which said unto him, Why hast thou sought after the gods of the people, which could not deliver their own people out of thine hand? 16 And it came to pass, as he talked with him, that the king said unto him, Art thou made of the kingโ€™s counsel? forbear; why shouldest thou be smitten? Then the prophet forbare, and said, I know that God hath determined to destroy thee, because thou hast done this, and hast not hearkened unto my counsel.

Read full chapter: 2 Chronicles 25 โ†’

War with Israel

2 Kings 14:8-14

Amaziah's proud challenge to Israel ends in defeat and the plundering of Jerusalem.

T8hen Amaziah sent messengers to Jehoash, the son of Jehoahaz son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying, Come, let us look one another in the face.

9 And Jehoash the king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, The thistle that was in Lebanon sent to the cedar that was in Lebanon, saying, Give thy daughter to my son to wife: and there passed by a wild beast that was in Lebanon, and trode down the thistle. 10 Thou hast indeed smitten Edom, and thine heart hath lifted thee up: glory of this, and tarry at home: for why shouldest thou meddle to thy hurt, that thou shouldest fall, even thou, and Judah with thee? 11 But Amaziah would not hear. Therefore Jehoash king of Israel went up; and he and Amaziah king of Judah looked one another in the face at Bethshemesh, which belongeth to Judah. 12 And Judah was put to the worse before Israel; and they fled every man to their tents. 13 And Jehoash king of Israel took Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Jehoash the son of Ahaziah, at Bethshemesh, and came to Jerusalem, and brake down the wall of Jerusalem from the gate of Ephraim unto the corner gate, four hundred cubits. 14 And he took all the gold and silver, and all the vessels that were found in the house of the LORD, and in the treasures of the kingโ€™s house, and hostages, and returned to Samaria.

Read full chapter: 2 Kings 14 โ†’

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