What does half-hearted commitment to God look like? Like the account of Joash, the account of Amaziah begins with a verse that sums up his reign: “He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, but not wholeheartedly” (2 Chronicles 25:2; compare 24:2). Sometimes he obeys God’s word given through Moses or through God’s prophets (25:4, 7–10), but doesn’t always do so willingly.

He gains control of the kingdom of Judah after the chaos of Joash’s last years. He executes his father’s killers, but spares the killers’ sons (vv. 3–4) in spite of the possible threat they might pose, as Deuteronomy 24:16 teaches. So far, so good.

He musters an army and also hires a large force from Israel (2 Chronicles 25:5–6). But a prophet warns him that if he goes ahead with his plans, the result will be defeat: “the Lord is not with Israel (v. 7).” Amaziah dismisses the Israelite soldiers after protesting that he has wasted his money. They go home “in a great rage” (vv. 9–10).

Now we learn what Amaziah had in mind. He attacks Edom, which has thrown off Judean control decades earlier (21:8–10). Perhaps this is a pre-emptive strike to show Edom who’s in charge. As a result, 10,000 Edomites are killed in battle and another 10,000 brutally massacred. Is Amaziah obstinately trying to prove that he can defeat his enemies without Israel’s aid? Meanwhile, the Israelite troops whom he dismissed attack towns in the northern part of his kingdom (25:11–13).

Amaziah returns from Edom but brings back the gods of Seir, which he now worships as his own. A prophet confronts Amaziah: Why worship these gods? They couldn’t save even their own people (vv. 14–15)! It is a logical argument, but Amaziah tells him to be quiet, or else. The prophet leaves him with the ominous statement: “I know that God has determined to destroy you” (v. 16).

Amaziah consults his own advisers rather than follow the prophet’s counsel. Perhaps in response to the ravages of the Israelite troops, or perhaps in an attempt to invalidate the prophet’s word, Amaziah challenges Jehoash of Israel to a trial of strength (v. 17). Jehoash himself tries to discourage him, saying: Do you think that attacking Israel is the same as attacking Edom (v. 19)?

But God has determined to destroy Amaziah because of his idolatry, and the battle goes ahead. Judah’s army is routed, Amaziah is captured, a section of Jerusalem’s walls is demolished, the temple and the palace are plundered, and hostages are taken to Samaria—a humiliating defeat (vv. 20–24).

Amaziah is released from captivity when Jehoash of Israel dies; his son Uzziah has ruled Judah since his capture.¹² Amaziah returns to Judah and lives there for another 15 years, but no longer as king. Finally, there is a conspiracy against him, and he is killed at Lachish (v. 27). Unlike Amaziah, Uzziah does not execute his father’s killers; perhaps he recognises God’s hand in his father’s death (v. 16).

See also 2 Kings 14:1–22.

¹² M. J. Selman, 2 Chronicles (Leicester: IVP, 1994), 464.