**The Reign of Amaziah: A Tale of Pride and Judgment**
In the days when the kingdom of Judah was still striving to walk in the ways of the Lord, there reigned a king named Amaziah, the son of Joash. He was twenty-five years old when he began his reign, and he ruled from Jerusalem for twenty-nine years. Amaziah was a man of contradictions—zealous for the Lord in some ways, yet prone to pride and disobedience in others. His story is one of both triumph and tragedy, a cautionary tale of the dangers of straying from the path of righteousness.
Amaziah began his reign with a heart inclined toward justice. He sought to avenge the death of his father, Joash, who had been murdered by his own servants. Once Amaziah’s rule was firmly established, he executed those who had conspired against his father, but he showed mercy to their children, adhering to the law of Moses which states, “Fathers shall not be put to death for their children, nor children for their fathers, but each one shall die for his own sin” (Deuteronomy 24:16). This act of justice tempered with mercy demonstrated Amaziah’s early desire to rule according to God’s commands.
### The Army of Judah and the Hired Mercenaries
Amaziah’s heart was stirred to strengthen his kingdom, and he mustered an army of 300,000 mighty men of valor from Judah and Benjamin, all trained for war and skilled in handling shield and spear. But Amaziah’s ambition outstripped his trust in the Lord. He also hired 100,000 mighty men from Israel, paying them a hundred talents of silver to join his forces. These were not men of Judah, but from the northern kingdom of Israel, which had long turned away from the worship of the true God.
A man of God came to Amaziah with a warning: “O king, do not let the army of Israel go with you, for the Lord is not with Israel—not with any of the people of Ephraim. But if you go, be strong for the battle; yet God will overthrow you before the enemy, for God has power to help or to overthrow.”
Amaziah, though initially hesitant, heeded the prophet’s words. He dismissed the hired troops, sending them back to their homes. The men of Israel were furious, for they had expected to share in the spoils of war. They returned to Samaria, their hearts burning with anger against Judah.
### The Battle Against Edom
With his army now composed solely of men from Judah, Amaziah led them to the Valley of Salt, where they fought against the Edomites, the descendants of Esau who had long been enemies of Israel. The Lord granted Amaziah a great victory. Ten thousand Edomites fell in battle, and another ten thousand were captured and thrown from the top of a cliff, where they were dashed to pieces. The army of Judah plundered the land of Edom, taking much spoil and returning triumphant.
But here, Amaziah’s heart began to falter. Instead of giving glory to God for the victory, he took the gods of the Edomites, the very idols that had failed to save their worshippers, and set them up as his own gods. He bowed down before them and offered sacrifices to them. This act of idolatry provoked the Lord to anger, and He sent a prophet to confront Amaziah.
The prophet cried out, “Why have you sought the gods of a people who could not deliver their own nation from your hand?” Amaziah, his pride swelling, interrupted the prophet, saying, “Have we appointed you as the king’s counselor? Stop! Why should you be struck down?”
The prophet, undeterred, replied, “I know that God has determined to destroy you because you have done this and have not listened to my counsel.” Amaziah, hardened by his pride, dismissed the prophet and continued in his idolatry.
### The Downfall of Amaziah
Amaziah’s pride led him to challenge Jehoash, the king of Israel, to battle. Jehoash, a shrewd and experienced ruler, tried to dissuade him, sending a parable: “A thistle in Lebanon sent to a cedar in Lebanon, saying, ‘Give your daughter to my son in marriage.’ But a wild beast in Lebanon came along and trampled the thistle. You say to yourself, ‘See, I have defeated Edom,’ and your heart has become proud. Now stay at home; why should you provoke trouble and bring ruin on yourself and Judah?”
But Amaziah would not listen, for it was of God to deliver him into the hands of Jehoash because he had sought the gods of Edom. The two armies met at Beth-shemesh, and Judah was soundly defeated. Amaziah was captured, and Jehoash broke down the walls of Jerusalem, plundering the temple and the royal palace. He took hostages and returned to Samaria, leaving Amaziah humiliated and his kingdom weakened.
### The End of Amaziah’s Reign
Amaziah’s downfall did not end there. His own people turned against him, and he fled to Lachish to escape a conspiracy. But his enemies pursued him there and put him to death. They brought his body back to Jerusalem on horses and buried him with his ancestors in the City of David.
Amaziah’s reign began with promise but ended in tragedy. He had started well, seeking justice and even heeding the word of the Lord when it was first given to him. But his pride and idolatry led him astray, and he paid a heavy price for his disobedience. His story serves as a sobering reminder that no one is immune to the dangers of pride and that even those who begin well must remain steadfast in their faith and obedience to God.
Thus ends the tale of Amaziah, a king who forgot that victory comes not by might nor by power, but by the Spirit of the Lord (Zechariah 4:6). May his story inspire us to walk humbly before our God, trusting in His strength and not our own.
