King
Amaziah
9th King of Judah
796–767 BC
Biography
Amaziah became king after his father Joash was assassinated and began his reign by executing the conspirators — but not their children, citing the law of Moses. He hired 100,000 Israelite mercenaries to fight Edom, but a man of God warned him to send them home, which he did. He then defeated Edom in the Valley of Salt and brought back Edomite idols to worship, a baffling act of spiritual blindness. Emboldened by his Edomite victory, he sent a challenge to King Jehoash of Israel, who responded with a parable about a thistle and a cedar, warning him not to press his luck. Amaziah refused to listen, was defeated at Beth-shemesh, had the Jerusalem wall broken down, and the Temple treasury plundered. He outlived Jehoash by fifteen years but was eventually killed by conspirators who had been plotting since Jerusalem.
Key Events
- 1Executed his father's murderers lawfully2 Kings 14:5-6 →
Killed the conspirators who murdered his father but spared their children per Mosaic law
- 2Dismissed Israelite mercenaries2 Chronicles 25:7-10 →
Obeyed the prophet and sent home 100,000 hired Israelite soldiers, losing the payment but gaining God's favor
- 3Victory over Edom2 Chronicles 25:11-12 →
Defeated 10,000 Edomites in the Valley of Salt and threw another 10,000 off a cliff
- 4Worshipped Edomite gods2 Chronicles 25:14-16 →
Brought back Edomite idols and worshipped them; refused to listen to the prophet's rebuke
- 5Challenged Israel and was defeated2 Chronicles 25:17-23 →
Challenged Jehoash of Israel, ignored his parable-warning, was defeated, Jerusalem walls broken down, Temple plundered
- 6Assassinated2 Chronicles 25:27 →
Conspirators from Jerusalem pursued him to Lachish and killed him there
Key Verses
“He did what was right in the sight of the LORD, but not wholeheartedly.”
Spiritual Significance
Amaziah is a portrait of half-hearted faith. He obeyed God when it counted financially (sending home the mercenaries) but then imported the very gods of the nation he just defeated. His story warns against pride after partial victories and the danger of not seeking God wholeheartedly.
Character Profile
- Strengths
- Initial legal integrity, military success against Edom, obeying the prophet about mercenaries
- Weaknesses
- Half-hearted devotion, pride, spiritual blindness in adopting Edomite gods, reckless overconfidence
- Lessons
- Partial obedience and selective devotion are spiritually dangerous. Amaziah's half-heartedness toward God led him from a great military victory straight into absurd idolatry and ultimately to assassination.