Amon, the son of Manasseh, was the fifteenth king of Judah, whose reign is recorded in the Old Testament. His rule is noted for its continuation of the idolatrous practices initiated by his father, Manasseh, which were in direct opposition to the covenantal laws given to Israel. Amon's reign is briefly chronicled in 2 Kings 21:19-26 and 2 Chronicles 33:21-25.

Background and Ascension to the Throne

Amon was born to Manasseh and Meshullemeth, the daughter of Haruz of Jotbah. He ascended to the throne at the age of twenty-two and reigned for two years in Jerusalem. His reign began around 642 B.C., following the lengthy and tumultuous reign of his father, Manasseh, who had repented in his later years. Despite Manasseh's repentance and efforts to restore proper worship, Amon did not follow in his father's footsteps of reform.

Idolatry and Practices

Amon's reign is characterized by a return to the idolatrous practices that his father had initially established. The biblical account in 2 Kings 21:20-22 states, "And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, as his father Manasseh had done. He walked in all the ways of his father, and he served the idols that his father had served and worshiped them. He abandoned the LORD, the God of his fathers, and did not walk in the way of the LORD."

Amon's actions included the worship of foreign gods and the neglect of the temple in Jerusalem, which was the designated place for the worship of Yahweh. His reign was marked by a disregard for the religious reforms that had been initiated by his grandfather, Hezekiah, and briefly reinstated by his father.

Moral and Spiritual Decline

The spiritual decline during Amon's reign was significant. The king's actions led the people of Judah further away from the worship of Yahweh, contributing to the moral and spiritual decay of the nation. The idolatry and apostasy during his reign were seen as a direct violation of the first commandment, which forbids the worship of other gods (Exodus 20:3).

Assassination and Aftermath

Amon's reign was abruptly ended when he was assassinated by his own officials in his palace. The Bible records in 2 Kings 21:23-24 , "Then the servants of Amon conspired against him and killed the king in his palace. But the people of the land struck down all who had conspired against King Amon, and they made his son Josiah king in his place."

The assassination of Amon and the subsequent execution of his conspirators reflect the political instability and discontent within the kingdom. Despite his short reign, Amon's actions had lasting effects on the spiritual state of Judah, setting the stage for the reforms of his son, Josiah, who would later seek to restore the worship of Yahweh and rid the land of idolatry.

Legacy

Amon's reign is often viewed as a period of regression in the spiritual life of Judah. His failure to heed the lessons of his father's repentance and his persistence in idolatry serve as a cautionary tale about the consequences of turning away from the covenant with God. His son, Josiah, would later become one of Judah's most righteous kings, undertaking significant religious reforms to undo the damage caused by the idolatry of his predecessors.