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CHAPTER 4 - AMAZIAH, (NINTH) KING OF JUDAH. JEHOASH,
(THIRTEENTH) KING OF ISRAEL
Accession of Amaziah - Character of his Reign - Military Preparations - The Hiring of
Israelitish Mercenaries, Warning of the Prophet, and Dismissal of the Auxiliaries - "The
Valley of Salt" - Defeat of the Edomites - March upon Petra - Description of Petra -
Slaughter of the Captives - Introduction of Edomite Idolatry - The Challenge of Amaziah
to Jehoash, and his Reply -Defeat of Judah - Capture and Plunder of Jerusalem -
Conspiracy against Amaziah - Flight to Lachish - Murder of the King. (2 KINGS 14:1-
20; 2 CHRONICLES 25.)
IT has been well remarked that Jehoahaz of Israel had on his death left to his son and
successor Jehoash, amidst the sore troubles of his country, this priceless inheritance the
promised answer to his prayer. How largely his promise had already been fulfilled
appears from a comparison of the condition to which Hazael had reduced the army of
Israel in the time of Jehoahaz (2 Kings 13:7), with the three brilliant victories which
Jehoash gained over Ben-hadad III. Nor were the military successes of Israel confined to
foreign enemies. Jehoash proved as victorious against Judah as against Syria.
In the second year of the reign of Jehoash over Israel, Joash, king of Judah, was
succeeded by his son Amaziah. The reign of that monarch, who ascended the throne at
the age of twenty-five, extended over twenty-nine years. Its beginning was marked by a
continuance of what on the whole might, as in the case of his father Joash, be
characterized as doing that which was "right in the sight of Jehovah:"* To this the Book
of Kings adds, however, the qualification, "Yet not as David his father," which the Book
of Chronicles explains by the expression, "not with a perfect heart."
- We mark, as regards this and other Judaean monarchs of this period, that their mothers
were "of Jerusalem."
In truth his religious bearing during that period was (as both the historical records note)
like that of his father Joash, and included the toleration of worship and services in "the
high places." But even this qualified adherence to the religion of his fathers did not
continue during the latter part of his reign.
Ascending the throne after a palace-revolution to which his father had fallen victim (2
Kings 12:20, 21), it must have been some time before "the kingship [royal rule] was
confirmed in his hand."*
(^)