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The Battles of Amaziah of Judah

2 Kings 14; 2 Chronicles 25

If only a single word could be used to summarize King Amaziah’s reign, perhaps conflicted might be the most fitting. To begin with, his own devotion to the Lord appears to have been conflicted, for he is described by the biblical writers as doing what was right in the sight of the Lord, yet he did not do it wholeheartedly, allowing the pagan high places to remain so that people continued to offer pagan sacrifices. Likewise, Amaziah’s reign was marked by at least two military conflicts–one against Edom and the other against Israel. His military conflict against Edom was itself marked by conflict, for initially Amaziah hired one hundred thousand warriors from Israel to help, but then he sent them home empty-handed after a prophet warned him against including Israelites in the battle, and this resulted in the warriors looting Judean towns on their way home. Amaziah’s conflicted decisions continued with his decision to bring home idols of the Edomites after he had just defeated them in battle, and then he worshiped them. This then led to Amaziah’s defeat by King Joash (or Jehoash) of Israel and the destruction of 200 yards (183 meters) of Jerusalem’s wall between the Gate of Ephraim and the Corner (see “Poster Map of Jerusalem in the Time of Nehemiah, circa 445 B.C.” map for further information regarding the location of the Corner Gate and the Gate of Ephraim). Joash also seized gold, silver, and vessels that were found in the Temple and the king’s palace, and he took many hostages back to Samaria. Later there was a conspiracy against Amaziah in Jerusalem, and he fled to Lachish. His conspirators caught up with him there, however, and killed him.