In the annals of ancient Israelite history, the reigns of Amaziah and Jeroboam II stand as contrasting narratives of God’s favor and human frailty. Amaziah, king of Judah, despite his facade of righteousness, faced humiliating defeats amidst conflict and turmoil, while Jeroboam II of Israel enjoyed unprecedented success and longevity despite embracing evil and straying from the path of the Lord. This dichotomy of outcomes defies conventional expectations and underscores the complexities of God’s intervention in the affairs of rulers and nations.
Amaziah’s Tragic Reign
During the second year of Jehoash’s reign as king of Israel, Amaziah, the son of Joash, ascended to the throne of Judah. He assumed kingship at the age of twenty-five and ruled over Jerusalem for twenty-nine years. His mother, Jehoaddan, hailed from Jerusalem. Amaziah acted in accordance with the Lord’s will, although not to the extent of his ancestor David. Instead, he emulated the actions of his father Joash. However, he failed to abolish the high places, where the people persisted in offering sacrifices and burning incense.
Initially, he endeavoured to follow the path of righteousness, albeit with some adherence to outdated customs that conflicted with God’s teachings. After firmly establishing his throne, Amaziah executed the officials responsible for his father’s assassination. Yet, he refrained from punishing the children of these perpetrators, as dictated by the Book of the Law of Moses. This law stipulated that individuals should not be held accountable for the sins of their relatives.
Parents are not to be put to death for their children, nor children put to death for their parents; each will die for their own sin. – Deuteronomy 24:16 (NIV)
Following the establishment of his authority, Amaziah’s initial move was to execute those responsible for his father’s murder, yet he chose to spare their children. This highlights Amaziah’s vengeful disposition, as he justified his actions by referencing the laws attributed to Moses, despite being spared himself when his own father was slain. Similarly, there are occasions when, like Amaziah, we prioritize adherence to the Law of Moses over embracing the grace of God.
Amaziah’s decision to execute his father’s murderers, despite seeking to adhere to the ways of the LORD, raises questions regarding justice and divine will. Joash’s assassination, a consequence of his abandonment of the LORD, sets a precedent. Yet, Amaziah’s actions suggest a belief in his own understanding of God’s intentions, perhaps aiming to instill fear in potential adversaries and prevent a similar fate. This shows how Amaziah sometimes followed his own desires while claiming to obey God’s commands.
Pride Takes Over
A pinnacle of Amaziah’s rule came with his decisive victory over the Edomites. The revolt of Edom against Israel commenced in Jehoram’s time, marking the start of an ongoing state of defiance. An emphatic triumph over the Edomites bolstered his confidence and emboldened him to challenge Jehoash, the king of Israel, to battle.
However, Jehoash offered a cautionary tale, likening Amaziah’s aspirations to a thistle’s futile request for an alliance with a cedar. He advised Amaziah to be content with his victory over Edom and not to overstep his bounds, warning that pride could lead to disastrous consequences for both him and Judah. The king of Judah’s choice to enter into conflict with the king of Israel was driven not only by pride and overconfidence following his recent triumph over the Edomites but also by a perception of provocation from the people of Israel.
Amaziah, seeking military aid, had enlisted one hundred thousand soldiers from Israel to assist in battling the Edomites. Despite a warning from a prophet of God cautioning against relying on these troops, Amaziah pressed forward. Concerned about the financial investment in these soldiers, he was assured by the prophet that the Lord could provide abundantly.
Consequently, Amaziah dismissed the troops from Ephraim, triggering their indignation and leading to subsequent attacks on Judah’s towns while Amaziah was occupied with the Edomite conflict. This tragic turn of events resulted in the loss of three thousand lives and the plundering of valuable possessions. We experience the same when we fail to acknowledge our shortcomings and believe we can handle all our struggles alone.
Despite warnings of hubris from his adversary, Amaziah persisted, ultimately suffering a humiliating defeat at the hands of Jehoash, prompting its soldiers to retreat to their homes in disarray. Taking advantage of the situation, Jehoash seized the opportunity to capture Amaziah and launch a retributive campaign against Jerusalem. Amaziah’s pride and misguided choices led to Jehoash’s forces breaching the walls of Jerusalem, pillaging the treasures of the temple and the royal palace. They also took hostages before returning triumphantly to Samaria.
However, the items plundered probably had minimal value since Amaziah’s father, Joash, had previously removed treasures from the temple and palace as tribute to Hazael, the king of Aram. This action might account for Jehoash’s decision to take hostages, possibly to secure future tributes from the king of Judah. He even dismantled the walls that provided protection to Judah’s capital from invaders, likely in an effort to humble and subjugate the once-magnificent city of Jerusalem.
Amaziah’s Downfall
Amaziah’s defeat by the Army of Jehoash despite his devotion to God raises questions about his actions and God’s will in the matter. It appears that Amaziah’s downfall stemmed from his departure from the worship of the Lord, as he turned to the gods of the people of Seir, whom he had previously conquered. This shift towards idolatry angered the Lord, prompting a prophet to warn Amaziah against seeking guidance from these false deities.
Despite these warnings, Amaziah persisted in his disobedience, refusing to heed the divine counsel. Consequently, as a consequence of their idolatrous actions and rejection of God’s guidance, God allowed Amaziah and his people to fall into the hands of Jehoash, serving as a form of punishment (2 Chronicles 25:20). We might believe that we fear God and keep all His commandments, but if our hearts are far from Him, we may not recognize or understand why we drift away from Him.
Amaziah’s other achievements included a significant military victory by defeating ten thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt and capturing the fortress of Sela, which he later renamed to Joktheel. Following Jehoash’s demise, Amaziah lived for fifteen more years. However, his reign was marred by internal strife, culminating in a conspiracy against him in Jerusalem. Fleeing to Lachish in a bid to escape his adversaries, Amaziah met his demise at their hands. His body was later transported back to Jerusalem, where he was laid to rest among his ancestors in the City of David.
Despite Amaziah’s dedication to adhering to Moses’s laws and acting rightly in the sight of the LORD, he ultimately suffered a fate similar to his father’s because he followed in his father’s footsteps. After turning away from following the LORD, conspiracies arose against him in Jerusalem, leading him to flee to Lachish. However, even there, his adversaries pursued him and ultimately killed him.
From the time that Amaziah turned away from following the LORD, they conspired against him in Jerusalem and he fled to Lachish, but they sent men after him to Lachish and killed him there. – 2 Chronicles 25:27 (NIV)
With the throne now vacant, the people of Judah crowned Azariah, the son of Amaziah, as the new king. It is likely that his reign began while his father was still imprisoned in Samaria. Under Azariah’s rule, efforts were made to rebuild and fortify strategic territories, such as Elath, which had been lost during his father’s turbulent reign. Thus, the transition of power from Amaziah to Azariah marked a new chapter in the history of Judah.
Jeroboam’s Prosperous Reign
In stark contrast to Amaziah’s tumultuous reign stands Jeroboam II, king of Israel, whose four-decade-long rule (the longest of any of the kings of Israel) is characterized by territorial expansion and military prowess. Despite his descent into moral depravity and the perpetuation of idolatrous practices, Jeroboam II is portrayed as an instrument of God’s deliverance for a troubled Israel.
In the fifteenth year of Amaziah’s reign as king of Judah, Jeroboam, the son of Jehoash, ascended to the throne in Samaria, ruling for forty-one years. However, he led Israel astray by persisting in the sins of Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, which had caused Israel to stumble. Despite this, Jeroboam expanded Israel’s territory from Lebo Hamath to the Dead Sea, fulfilling a prophecy delivered by the prophet Jonah, son of Amittai, from Gath Hepher.
The prophecy of Jonah underscores the paradox of God’s intervention amidst human frailty. Despite Israel’s transgressions, God’s mercy is extended through Jeroboam II’s military successes, which culminated in the restoration of Israel’s territorial integrity from Lebo Hamath to the Dead Sea.
The LORD had seen how bitterly everyone in Israel, whether slave or free, was suffering; there was no one to help them. And since the LORD had not said he would blot out the name of Israel from under heaven, he saved them by the hand of Jeroboam son of Jehoash. – 2 Kings 14:26-27 (NIV)
God’s choice of an unrighteous leader like Jeroboam to rescue His people might seem perplexing, but it underscores a deeper truth: God’s ultimate authority and sovereignty surpass human understanding. Despite Jeroboam’s shortcomings, God intervened to save His people from suffering, unwilling to let Israel fade into oblivion. Jeroboam’s leadership, marked by military victories and territorial expansion, was instrumental in securing Israel’s survival.
However, it’s essential to recognize that God’s intervention doesn’t necessarily endorse Jeroboam’s rule; rather, it demonstrates that God will override human choices to fulfill His purposes. Despite Jeroboam’s accomplishments, his reign was marred by tragedy and political turmoil, as seen in the succession of his son Zechariah amid instability and intrigue.
God’s Sovereignty Above Human Wisdom
This narrative highlights the complexity of divine intervention in human affairs and underscores the overarching theme of God’s sovereignty over all earthly rulers and events. This account underscores the complexity of God’s intervention in human affairs and highlights the overarching theme of God’s sovereignty over all earthly rulers and events.
The contrasting reigns of Amaziah and Jeroboam II offer deep insights into the complexities of God’s intervention and human frailty. Amaziah, despite his initial dedication to righteousness, fell victim to pride, idolatry, and misguided decisions, leading to his downfall and eventual demise. His journey serves as a cautionary tale, illustrating the perils of straying from the path of the Lord and relying on one’s own understanding.
In contrast, Jeroboam II, despite his moral shortcomings, became an unlikely instrument of God’s deliverance for Israel, leading them to unprecedented success and territorial expansion. His leadership highlights God’s sovereignty and ability to work through imperfect leaders to fulfill His purposes. Ultimately, these narratives remind us of the importance of humility, obedience, and dependence on God’s guidance in navigating the complexities of leadership and life.
Discussion Questions
- After consolidating his rule, Amaziah’s first action was to execute his father’s murderers while sparing their offspring. What insight does this act provide into his character?
- Joash was assassinated after forsaking the LORD, so why would Amaziah, in seeking to follow the LORD’s ways, deem it just to execute his father’s murderers?
- Why would the king of Judah go to war with the king of Israel?
- Although Amaziah was a God-fearing king, how could he have been defeated by the Army of Jehoash, who only committed evil in the eyes of the LORD?
- Despite Amaziah’s commitment to following Moses’s laws and doing what was right in the eyes of the LORD, why did he suffer the same fate as his father?
- Why did God choose an unrighteous leader like Jeroboam to rescue His people? Wouldn’t this choice seemingly endorse Jeroboam’s rule?
The Jordan Valley 
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