Amaziah

the strength of the Lord

Amaziah

(the strength of the Lord).

1. Son of Joash, and eighth king of Judah, reigned B.C. 837-809. He succeeded to the throne at the age of 25, on the murder of his father, and punished the murderers. In order to restore his kingdom to the greatness of Jehoshaphat's days, he made war on the Edomites, defeated them in the Valley of Salt, south of the Dead Sea, and took their capital, Selah or Petra, to which he gave the name of Jokteel, i.e. "God-subdued." Flushed with his success, he challenged Joash king of Israel to battle, but was completely defeated, and himself was taken prisoner and conveyed by Joash to Jerusalem, which opened its gates to the conqueror. Amaziah lived 15 years after the death of Joash; and in the 29th year of his reign was murdered by conspirators at Lachish, whither he had retired from Jerusalem for safety. (2 Chronicles 25:27)
2. A descendant of Simeon (1 Chronicles 4:34)
3. A Levite. (1 Chronicles 6:45)
4. Priest of the golden calf at Bethel who endeavored to drive the prophet Amos from Israel into Judah. (Amos 7:11,12,14)

Amaziah

1. Eighth king of Judah, son of Joash, began to reign B. C. 835, and reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. He did well in the sight of the Lord, but not with a perfect heart. Having established himself in his throne and slain the murderers of his father, he mustered a host of 300,000 men of Judah, and hired 100,000 men of Israel, for a war upon Edom. These hired forces he reluctantly dismissed at the command of God, who gave him the victory without their aid. But this did not prevent him from carrying home with him the idols of Edom, and setting them up to be his gods. For this defiance of Jehovah, he was threatened with destruction by a prophet of the Lord; and soon after, went headlong into war with Israel, in which he was defeated and humbled. Fifteen years after, he was slain by conspirators, after flying to Lachish to escape them, 2 Kings 14:1-20 2 Chronicles 25:1-28

2. A priest of the golden calf at Bethel, who denounced the prophet Amos to Jeroboam, and sought to banish him into Judah for his fidelity, Am 7:10-17.

Strengthened by Jehovah.

(1.) A Levite, son of Hilkiah, of the descendants of Ethan the Merarite (1 Chronicles 6:45).

(2.) The son and successor of Joash, and eighth king of the separate kingdom of Judah (2 Kings 14:1-4). He began his reign by punishing the murderers of his father (5-7; 2 Chronicles 25:3-5). He was the first to employ a mercenary army of 100,000 Israelite soldiers, which he did in his attempt to bring the Edomites again under the yoke of Judah (2 Chronicles 25:5, 6). He was commanded by a prophet of the Lord to send back the mercenaries, which he did (2 Chronicles 25:7-10, 13), much to their annoyance. His obedience to this command was followed by a decisive victory over the Edomites (2 Chronicles 25:14-16). Amaziah began to worship some of the idols he took from the Edomites, and this was his ruin, for he was vanquished by Joash, king of Israel, whom he challenged to battle. The disaster he thus brought upon Judah by his infatuation in proclaiming war against Israel probably occasioned the conspiracy by which he lost his life (2 Kings 14:8-14, 19). He was slain at Lachish, whither he had fled, and his body was brought upon horses to Jerusalem, where it was buried in the royal sepulchre (2 Kings 14:19, 20; 2 Chronicles 25:27, 28).

(3.) A priest of the golden calves at Bethel (Amos 7:10-17).

(4.) The father of Joshah, one of the Simeonite chiefs in the time of Hezekiah (1 Chronicles 4:34).

AMAZIAH

am-a-zi'-a ('amatsyah, 'amatsyahu, "Yahweh is mighty"; 2 Kings 14:1-20 2 Chronicles 25). Son of Jehoash, and tenth king of Judah. Amaziah had a peaceable accession at the age of 25. A depleted treasury, a despoiled palace and temple, and a discouraged people were among the consequences of his father's war with Hazael, king of Syria. When settled on the throne, Amaziah brought to justice the men who had assassinated his father. Amaziah verbal citation of Deuteronomy 24:16 in 2 Kings 14:6, forbidding the punishment of children for a father's offense, shows that the laws of this book were then known, and were recognized as authoritative, and, in theory, as governing the nation. His accession may be dated circa 812 (some put later).

1. The Edomite War:

The young king's plan for the rehabilitation of his people was the restoration of the kingdom's military prestige, so severely lowered in his father's reign. A militia army, composed of all the young men above 20 years of age, was first organized and placed upon a war footing (2 Chronicles 25:5; the number given, 300,000, is not a reliable one). Even this not being considered a large enough force to effect the project, 100 talents of silver were sent to engage mercenary troops for the expedition from Israel. When these came, a man of God strongly dissuaded the king from relying on them (2 Chronicles 25:7). When this was communicated to the soldiers, and they were sent back unemployed, it roused them to "fierce anger" (2 Chronicles 25:10).

2. Its Occasion:

Amaziah's purpose in making these extensive preparations for war, in a time of profound peace, is clear to the Southeast of Judah lay the Edomite state, with its capital at Petra. For many years Edom had been subject to Jehoshaphat, and a Hebrew "deputy" had governed it (1 Kings 22:47). In the reign of his son and successor, Jehoram, a confederacy of Philistines, Arabians and Edomites took Libnah and made a raid on Jerusalem. A band of these penetrated the palace, which they plundered, abducted some women, and murdered all the young princes but the youngest (2 Chronicles 21:17; 2 Chronicles 22:1). The public commotion and distress caused by such an event may be seen reflected in the short oracle of the prophet Obadiah, uttered against Edom, if, with some, Obadiah's date is put thus early

3. The Victory in the Valley of Salt:

From that time "Edom. made a king over themselves" (2 Chronicles 21:8), and for fifty years following were practically independent. It was this blot on Jerusalem and the good name of Judah that Amaziah determined to wipe out. The army of retaliation went forward, and after a battle in the Valley of Salt, south of the Dead Sea, in which they were the victors, moved on to Petra. This city lies in a hollow, shut in by mountains, and approached only by a narrow ravine, through which a stream of water flows. Amaziah took it "by storm" (such is Ewald's rendering of "by war," in 2 Kings 14:7). Great execution was done, many of the captives being thrown from the rock, the face of which is now covered with rock-cut tombs of the Greek-Roman age.

4. Apostasy and Its Punishment:

The campaign was thus entirely successful, but had evil results. Flushed with victory, Amaziah brought back the gods of Edom, and paid them worship. For this act of apostasy, he was warned of approaching destruction (2 Chronicles 25:14-17). Disquieting news soon came relating to the conduct of the troops sent back to Samaria. From Beth-horon in the south to the border of the northern state they had looted the villages and killed some of the country people who had attempted to defend their property (2 Chronicles 25:13). To Amaziah's demand for reparation, Jehoash's answer was the contemptuous one of the well-known parable of the Thistle and the Cedar.

5. Battle of Beth-shemesh:

War was now inevitable. The kings "looked one another in the face," in the valley of Beth-shemesh, where there is a level space, suitable to the movements of infantry. Judah was utterly routed, and the king himself taken prisoner. There being no treasures in the lately despoiled capital, Jehoash contented himself with taking hostages for future good behavior, and with breaking down 400 cubits of the wall of Jerusalem at the Northwest corner of the defense (2 Kings 14:13, 14 2 Chronicles 25:22-24).

6. Closing Years and Tragical End:

Amaziah's career as a soldier was now closed. He outlived Jehoash of Israel "fifteen years" (2 Kings 14:17). His later years were spent in seclusion and dread, and had a tragical ending. The reason for his unpopularity is not far to seek. The responsibility for the war with Jehoash is by the inspired writer placed upon the shoulders of Amaziah (2 Kings 14:9-11). It was he who "would not hear." The quarrel between the kings was one which it was not beyond the power of diplomacy to remedy, but no brotherly attempt to heal the breach was made by either king. When the results of the war appeared, it could not be but that the author of the war should be called upon to answer for them. So deep was his disgrace and so profound the sense of national humiliation, that a party in the state determined on Amaziah's removal, so soon as there was another to take his place. The age of majority among the Hebrew kings was 16, and when Amaziah's son was of this age, the conspiracy against his life grew so strong and open that he fled to Lachish. Here he was followed and killed; his body being insultingly carried to Jerusalem on horses, and not conveyed in a litter or coffin (2 Kings 14:19, 20 2 Chronicles 25:27, 28). He was 54 years old and had reigned for 29 years. The Chronicler (2 Chronicles 26:1) hardly conceals the popular rejoicings at the exchange of sovereigns, when Uzziah became king.

In 2 Chronicles 25:28 is a copyist's error by which we read "in the city of Judah," instead of "in the city of David," as in the corresponding passage in Kings. The singular postscript to the record of Amaziah in 2 Kings 14:22 is intended to mark the fact that while the port of Elath on the Red Sea fell before the arms, in turn, of Amaziah and of his son Uzziah, it was the latter who restored it to Judah, as a part of its territory. Amaziah is mentioned in the royal genealogy of 1 Chronicles 3:12, but not in that of Matthew 1. There is a leap here from Jehoram to Uzziah, Ahaziah, Jehoash and Amaziah being omitted.

W. Shaw Caldecott

3086. Yehoaddin -- perhaps "the LORD delights," mother of King ...
... perhaps "the LORD delights," mother of King Amaziah. Transliteration: Yehoaddin
or Yehoaddan Phonetic Spelling: (yeh-ho-ad-deen') Short Definition: Jehoaddan. ...
/hebrew/3086.htm - 6k

558. Amatsyahu -- "Yah is mighty," the name of several Israelites
... "Yah is mighty," the name of several Israelites. Transliteration: Amatsyahu or Amatsyah
Phonetic Spelling: (am-ats-yaw') Short Definition: Amaziah. ... Amaziah. ...
/hebrew/558.htm - 6k

Amaziah
... AMAZIAH. BY REV. JG GREENHOUGH, MA. "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? ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/milligan/men of the bible some lesser-known/amaziah.htm

How Amaziah Made an Expedition against the Edomites and Amalekites ...
... CHAPTER 9. How Amaziah Made An Expedition Against The Edomites And Amalekites And
Conquered Them; But When He Afterwards Made War Against Joash, He Was Beaten ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 9 how amaziah made.htm

Prudence and Faith
... FAITH. '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? ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/prudence and faith.htm

Preparation for Advent
... Amaziah, the priest of Bethel, who was worshipping (absurd as it may seem to us)
God and the golden calf at the same time in King Jeroboam's court, complained ...
/.../kingsley/all saints day and other sermons/sermon ii preparation for advent.htm

Genealogy of Jesus According to Matthew.
... of Ahab, and followed Ahab in all his ungodly practices]; and Joram [Joram begat
Ahaziah, and Ahaziah begat Joash, and Joash begat Amaziah; and Amaziah begat ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/iii genealogy of jesus according.htm

God Does Whatsoever He Wills in the Hearts of Even Wicked Men.
... What, again, is the purport of that which the man of God said to King Amaziah:
"Let not the army of Israel go with thee; for the Lord is not with Israel, even ...
/.../augustine/anti-pelagian writings/chapter 42 xxigod does whatsoever.htm

Concerning Jeroboam King of Israel and Jonah the Prophet; and How ...
... God. 1. In the fifteenth year of the reign of Amaziah, Jeroboam the son
of Joash reigned over Israel in Samaria forty years. This ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 10 concerning jeroboam king.htm

Amos and Obadiah.
... His bold preaching against the land Of Israel while at Bethel aroused Amaziah the
leading idolatrous priest, who complained of him to the king. ...
/.../the way of salvation in the lutheran church/chapter xix amos and obadiah.htm

"It is the King's Chapel. " Amos vii. 13
... prayers! Away with you, or we will take off your head!" So said Amaziah,
the priest, and so says many a one to-day. ... you. Amaziah! ...
//christianbookshelf.org/champness/broken bread/xiii it is the kings.htm

That the Employing Of, and Associating with the Malignant Party ...
... And then Amaziah's association with 100,000 of Israel, 2 Chronicles 25:7, 8, 9,
10: "But there came a man of God to him, saying, O king, let not the army of ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/section iii that the employing.htm

Amaziah (41 Occurrences)
...Amaziah began to worship some of the idols he took from the Edomites, and this was
his ruin, for he was vanquished by Joash, king of Israel, whom he challenged ...
/a/amaziah.htm - 30k

Amaziah's (2 Occurrences)
...Amaziah's (2 Occurrences). 2 Kings 14:18 Now the rest of the acts of Amaziah, are
they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? ...
/a/amaziah's.htm - 6k

Amazi'ah (37 Occurrences)
... Amaziah, Amazi'ah. Amaziah's . ... 2 Kings 14:1 In the second year of Joash son
of Joahaz king of Israel began Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah to reign. ...
/a/amazi'ah.htm - 17k

Jeho'ash (16 Occurrences)
... 2 Kings 14:8 Then 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 ...
/j/jeho'ash.htm - 11k

Beth-she'mesh (20 Occurrences)
... 1 Kings 4:9 the son of Deker, in Makaz, and in Shaalbim, and Beth-shemesh, and
Elon-beth-hanan; (See RSV). 2 Kings 14:11 But Amaziah would not hear. ...
/b/beth-she'mesh.htm - 12k

Jo'ash (44 Occurrences)
... 2 Kings 13:12 Now the rest of the acts of Joash, and all that he did, and his might
with which he fought against Amaziah king of Judah, aren't they written in ...
/j/jo'ash.htm - 19k

Shemesh (24 Occurrences)
... 2 Kings 14:11 But Amaziah would not listen. So Jehoash king of Israel went
up; and he and Amaziah king of Judah looked one another ...
/s/shemesh.htm - 14k

Jeho'ahaz (20 Occurrences)
... 2 Kings 14:8 Then 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 ...
/j/jeho'ahaz.htm - 12k

Bethshemesh (19 Occurrences)
... It was the scene of an encounter between Jehoash, king of Israel, and Amaziah, king
of Judah, in which the latter was made prisoner (2 Kings 14:11, 13). ...
/b/bethshemesh.htm - 19k

Beth-shemesh (19 Occurrences)
... It was the scene of an encounter between Jehoash, king of Israel, and Amaziah, king
of Judah, in which the latter was made prisoner (2 Kings 14:11, 13). ...
/b/beth-shemesh.htm - 20k

Who was King Amaziah in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Who was King Joash in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

What is the significance of the walls of Jerusalem? | GotQuestions.org

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