Amaziah in Biblical History

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Schaff's Bible Dictionary

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Who is Amaziah?
AMAZI'AH
(whom Jehovah strengthens). 1. The eighth king of Judah, the son and successor of Joash, commenced his reign in his twenty-fifth year, and reigned twenty-nine years, b. c. 839-809. 2 Kgs 14:1-20. He served the Lord, but not perfectly. He first slew his father's murderers, but not their children, thus observing the Mosaic law. 2 Chr 25:4. At the commencement of his reign, he showed an outward regard to the law of the Lord, but by power and ambition he fell into a snare, and was destroyed by violence. Amaziah resolved to make war upon the Edomites, who had revolted from the kingdom of Judah several years before. 2 Kgs 8:20. He raised an army of 300,000 men from among his own subjects, and hired 100,000 men of Israel, for whose services he paid 100,000 talents of silver -- the first example in Jewish history of a mercenary army. Before he commenced the expedition, however, he was directed by divine authority to dismiss his hired soldiers, or if he did not he should certainly fall before his enemies. After some hesitation he sent them home. Amaziah met the Edomites in a place called the Valley of Salt, and gained a signal victory over them, slaying 10,000 and taking 10,000 prisoners. Elated by his success, and forgetful of God who had given him the victory, he set up the idols of his vanquished enemy as his own gods. The anger of the Almighty was kindled against him, and in a message God exposed and rebuked his sin. 2 Chr 25:15. The king was already hardened enough to question the authority of God's messenger, and even to threaten him with death. Thus given up to follow his own devices, he sought occasion of war with Jehoash, king of Israel. The answer of the king to the challenge was given in the form of a fable expressive of the utmost contempt, and contained at the same time a severe rebuke to the king of Judah for his pride and vainglory. Undeterred, he met the army of Israel at Beth-shemesh, in Judea, but his army was completely routed, and he was taken prisoner, Jehoash then proceeded to break down a section of the city wall six hundred feet in length, and marched through the breach, plundered the temple of its gold and silver vessels, seized the king's treasures, and taking such hostages as he pleased returned in triumph to Samaria. 2 Kgs 14. About fifteen years after this disgraceful defeat, Amaziah fled from Jerusalem to Lachish to escape a conspiracy; but he was followed to the place to which he fled and put to death, and his body taken back to Jerusalem and buried with his fathers. His name is omitted in the genealogy of Christ. 1. A Simeonite. 1 Chr 4:34. 2. A Levite. 1 Chr 6:45. 3. A priest of the golden calf at Bethel who complained against the prophet Amos to Jeroboam, king of Israel, and tried to effect his banishment. Amos 7:10-17. See Amos.

Bibliography Information
Schaff, Philip, Dr. "Biblical Definition for 'amaziah' in Schaffs Bible Dictionary".
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