Kings--Part VI

J8 Amaziah

Joash's son, 25 years old when began reign, reigned for 29 years. He's described as a good king, though he was not in the flavor of David, but of his father. He did not remove pagan shrines from the land. After he was established, he killed his father's assassins though not their children.  Prosperous time for Judah.

He took a census and hired some of Israel's units to accompany Judah. A godly man counseled him against this, so he sent the troops away. These troops plundered villages of Judah on their way home. He fought and conquered the Edomites in the Valley of Salt. Amaziah took plunder from pagan shrines and erected worship to the idols even though counseled against this by a prophet.

Amaziah challenge Israel's King Jehoash to a battle. Jehoash sent back a story of a thistle threatening a cedar and told him that his conquest of Edom shouldn't inflate his ego. Amaziah persisted, so Israel went to war against Judah, routed the army, went into Jerusalem and plundered the temple, destroyed part of the wall, and took hostages too, going back to Samaria. This is deemed judgement for Amaziah worshiping the gods of Edom

"But Amaziah refused to listen, for God was determined to destroy him for turning to the gods of Edom." 2 Kings 25:20

Curious line...the tension between freewill and God's meted justice intrigues me.

Eventually, Amaziah fled to Lachish to escape a conspiracy against him; however, they sent assassins after him who killed him.

I12--Jeroboam II

Son of Jehoash, reigned in Samaria 41 years, which was the longest reign in Israel history.   The first 12 years he co-reigned with his father, Jehoash. He restored the borders to where they were during Solomon's reign and recovered territories near Dead Sea as predicted by Jonah. 

Jonah, Hosea &  Amos all prophesied during Jeroboam II's reign.

 It was a prosperous time for Israel economically, but a regressive time for Israel spiritually.  Constable notes:

As Israel declined spiritually, God strengthened Assyria politically and militarily. The two periods of Israel's greatest decline correspond exactly to the two periods of Assyria's greatest growth, namely, during the Omride dynasty and shortly after Jeroboam II's reign. This is precisely what God had said He would do if His people forsook Him (Deut. 28:1, 25, 43, 44, 49-57). One writer correlated Assyria's rise to power with Israel's apostasy.92

The cause and effect relationship is unmistakable.

"For the Lord saw the bitter suffering of everyone in Israel, and that there was no one in Israel, slave or free, to help them. And because the Lord had not said he would blot out the name of Israel completely, he used Jeroboam II, the son of Jehoash, to save them." 2 Kings 14:26

God is actively monitoring the progress of his pet nation. With regard to Amaziah of Judah, his choice was to let Amaziah follow his own tendencies to his destruction. In contrast, he chooses to use Jeroboam II as a tool of mercy to Israel. It makes me also think of Jehu who was used as tool of justice. This teaches that God choose to use the bad for good in all ways....sometimes in the course of allowing their behavior and the consequences to play out: "You reap what you sow." In other instances, the evil man is used for the greater good despite his wickedness. This also seems to speak to the idea that the greater sweep of history is prioritized over the individual man.

J9-Uzziah (Azariah)

16 years old when became king, son of Amaziah who was killed. He reigned 52 years which was the longest reign of either kingdom to this point.  He ruled in Judah during a period when 7 or 8 kings ruled in Israel (Constable's Notes). First 23 years was co-reign with father, Amaziah and last 11 was a coreign with son Jotham.

Went to war against the Philistines, built new towns in the areas he conquered. Meunites paid tribute to him, and he was respected in Egypt. Constructed towers and cisterns. Loved livestock and the soil. He had a trained and well equipped army ready to go and strong men under him.  Uzziah was a popular king.

Rembrandt, Uzziah with Leprosy, 1639  

"He set himself to seek God in the days of Zechariah, who instructed him in the fear of God, and as long as he sought the LORD, God made him prosper." 2 Chronicles 26:5

"His fame spread far and wide, for the Lord gave him marvelous help, and he became very powerful." 2 Chronicles 26:15

With the advent of his power, Uzziah became prideful and offered incense in the temple. Azaria the high priest, along with 80 priests, went in to reprimand him. Uzziah was furious at the priests and leprosy broke out on his forehead. He had leprosy until the day he died.


Isaiah recorded the events of his life per 2 Chronicles 26:22-23  Isaiah's vision in Isaiah 6 takes place the year Uzziah died.

I13--Zechariah

4th and final king of Jehu's dynasty---all downhill from here.  He reigned only six months before he was assassinated by Shallum in public.