Amaziah: Strengthened by Jehovah.1. A Levite, son of Hilkiah, of the descendants of Ethan the
Merarite
(1 Chronicles 6:45)
2. The son and successor of Joash, and eighth king of the separate
kingdom of Judah
(2 Kings 14:1-4) He began his reign by punishing
the murderers of his father.
(2 Chronicles 25:3-5) He was the first
to employ a mercenary army of 100,000 Israelite soldiers, which
he did in his attempt to bring the Edomites again under the
yoke of Judah
(2 Chronicles 25:5,6) He was commanded by a prophet of
the Lord to send back the mercenaries, which he did
(2 Chronicles 25:7-10,13) much to their annoyance. His obedience to
this command was followed by a decisive victory over the
Edomites
(2 Chronicles 25:14-16) Amaziah began to worship some of
the idols he took from the Edomites, and this was his ruin,
for he was vanquished by Joash, king of Israel, whom he
challenged to battle. The disaster he thus brought upon Judah
by his infatuation in proclaiming war against Israel probably
occasioned the conspiracy by which he lost his life
(2 Kings 14:8-14,19) He was slain at Lachish, whither he had fled,
and his body was brought upon horses to Jerusalem, where it
was buried in the royal sepulchre
(2 Kings 14:19,20; 2 Chronicles 25:27,28)
3. A priest of the golden calves at Bethel
(Amos 7:10-17)
4. The father of Joshah, one of the Simeonite chiefs in the time of
Hezekiah
(1 Chronicles 4:34)
