Amaziah אֲמַצְיָ֫הוּ
King of Judah, son of Joash
Who is Amaziah in the Bible?
Amaziah was the ninth king of Judah and the son of King Joash, beginning his reign at age 25 and ruling for 29 years (2 Kings 14:1-2). He did what was right in the Lord's eyes, though not with the complete devotion of his ancestor David, and he faithfully executed his father's murderers while sparing their children according to the Law of Moses (2 Chronicles 25:3-4). Amaziah achieved military success against the Edomites, capturing their city of Sela, but his confidence led him to challenge the stronger King Jehoash of Israel to battle, a decision that resulted in his defeat and the plundering of Jerusalem's temple and palace (2 Chronicles 25:11-13, 17-24). He was eventually conspired against and assassinated in Lachish, after which his son Uzziah succeeded him as king (2 Kings 14:19-20). Amaziah's reign illustrates the consequences of partial obedience and misplaced confidence, serving as a cautionary example of a leader whose initial faithfulness was undermined by pride.
Biography
Amaziah was the son of Joash and the ninth king of Judah. He began his reign at the age of 25 and reigned for 29 years in Jerusalem. Amaziah did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, but not wholeheartedly like his ancestor David. He executed the officials who had murdered his father, but spared their children in obedience to the law of Moses. Amaziah also defeated the Edomites in battle, capturing Sela and renaming it Joktheel. However, he later challenged King Jehoash of Israel to battle and was defeated, resulting in the plundering of the temple and palace in Jerusalem. Amaziah outlived Jehoash by 15 years. He was eventually conspired against and killed in Lachish, and his son Uzziah succeeded him as king.
Family
Parents
In Scripture
3 biblical books2 Kings 5 verses
- 2 Kings 12:21
"His servants Jozabad son of Shimeath and Jehozabad son of Shomer struck him down, and he died. And they buried him with his fathers in the City of David, and his son Amaziah reigned in his place."
- 2 Kings 13:12
"As for the rest of the acts of Jehoash, along with all his accomplishments and his might, including his war against Amaziah king of Judah, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel?"
- 2 Kings 14:1
"In the second year of the reign of Jehoash son of Jehoahaz over Israel, Amaziah son of Joash became king of Judah."
- 2 Kings 14:8
"Then Amaziah sent messengers to the king of Israel Jehoash son of Jehoahaz, the son of Jehu. “Come, let us meet face to face,” he said."
- 2 Kings 14:9
"But Jehoash king of Israel replied to Amaziah king of Judah: “A thistle in Lebanon sent a message to a cedar in Lebanon, saying, ‘Give your daughter to my son in marriage.’ Then a wild beast in Lebanon came along and trampled the thistle."
1 Chronicles 1 verse
- 1 Chronicles 3:12
"Amaziah his son, Azariah his son, Jotham his son,"
2 Chronicles 5 verses
- 2 Chronicles 24:27
"The accounts of the sons of Joash and the many pronouncements about him, and of the restoration of the house of God, are indeed written in the Treatise of the Book of the Kings. And his son Amaziah reigned in his place."
- 2 Chronicles 25:1
"Amaziah was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-nine years. His mother’s name was Jehoaddan; she was from Jerusalem."
- 2 Chronicles 25:5
"Then Amaziah gathered the people of Judah and assigned them according to their families to commanders of thousands and of hundreds. And he numbered those twenty years of age or older throughout Judah and Benjamin and found 300,000 chosen men able to serve in the army, bearing..."
- 2 Chronicles 25:9
"Amaziah asked the man of God, “What should I do about the hundred talents I have given to the troops of Israel?” And the man of God replied, “The LORD is able to give you much more than this.”"
- 2 Chronicles 25:10
"So Amaziah dismissed the troops who had come to him from Ephraim and sent them home. And they were furious with Judah and returned home in great anger."
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script |
|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | אֲמַצְיָ֫הוּ |
| (same form as previous) | Hebrew | אֲמַצְיָ֫הוּ |