Topical Bible: Citizens: Wicked: Amaziah

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Amaziah, the son of Joash, was the ninth king of Judah, whose reign is recorded in the biblical books of 2 Kings and 2 Chronicles. His rule is marked by a mixture of obedience and disobedience to God, ultimately leading to his downfall and assassination.

Amaziah began his reign well, as noted in 2 Kings 14:3 : "He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, yet not like his father David; he did everything as his father Joash had done." This indicates that while Amaziah initially followed the Lord, his commitment was not wholehearted. His early actions included executing the officials who had murdered his father, Joash, but he spared their children, in accordance with the Mosaic Law (2 Kings 14:5-6).

However, Amaziah's reign took a turn towards wickedness when he engaged in idolatry. After defeating the Edomites, he brought back their gods and began to worship them, which provoked the Lord's anger. 2 Chronicles 25:14-15 states, "When Amaziah returned from slaughtering the Edomites, he brought back the gods of the people of Seir, set them up as his own gods, bowed down to them, and burned sacrifices to them. Therefore, the anger of the LORD burned against Amaziah, and He sent a prophet to him, who said, 'Why have you sought this people's gods, which could not deliver their own people from your hand?'"

Amaziah's pride and reliance on foreign gods led to further conflict. He challenged Jehoash, king of Israel, to battle, which resulted in a humiliating defeat for Judah. The king of Israel captured Amaziah and broke down the wall of Jerusalem, seizing treasures from the temple and the royal palace (2 Kings 14:8-14).

Amaziah's reign ended in conspiracy and assassination. His turning away from the Lord and the subsequent military defeat weakened his position, leading to a plot against him. 2 Chronicles 25:27 records, "From the time that Amaziah turned away from following the LORD, a conspiracy was formed against him in Jerusalem, and he fled to Lachish. But men were sent after him to Lachish, and they killed him there."

Amaziah's life serves as a cautionary tale of the dangers of half-hearted devotion to God and the consequences of idolatry and pride. His initial obedience was overshadowed by his later actions, which led to his downfall and death.

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2 Kings 14:19
Now they made a conspiracy against him in Jerusalem: and he fled to Lachish; but they sent after him to Lachish, and slew him there.
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Library

The Antiquities of the Jews
... Also What He Did For The Punishment Of The Wicked. ... CHAPTER 9. How Amaziah Made An
Expedition Against The Edomites ... Of The Jews And Made Them Citizens Of Those ...
//christianbookshelf.org/josephus/the antiquities of the jews/

That the Employing Of, and Associating with the Malignant Party ...
... That God did not command Amaziah to dismiss ... Certainly from wicked Israelites, from
wicked countrymen ... the civil difference of strangers and citizens should make ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/section iii that the employing.htm

The Life and Death of Mr. Badman,
... morality of the Puritans, Nonconformists, and the small classes of virtuous citizens
of other ... The gradations of a wicked man in that evil age, from his cradle ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/the life and death of.htm