Hebrew-English Text
I. Summary
Amaziah avenges his father’s death, experiences success in battle, and grows haughty. His army is defeated by the Northern kingdom and he is killed by his subordinates.
II. Photo
Amaziah is in trouble: “A conspiracy was formed against him in Jerusalem, and he fled to Lachish; but they sent men after him to Lachish and they put him to death there.” (v. 27b)
III. Select Verses
3-4: Once he had the kingdom firmly under control, he executed the courtiers who had assassinated his father the king. But he did not put their children to death for [he acted] in accordance with what is written in the Teaching, in the Book of Moses, where the LORD commanded, “Parents shall not die for children, nor shall children die for parents, but every person shall die only for his own crime.”
7-9: Then a man of God came to him and said, “O king! Do not let the army of Israel go with you, for the LORD is not with Israel — all these Ephraimites. But go by yourself and do it; take courage for battle, [else] God will make you fall before the enemy. For in God there is power to help one or make one fall!” Amaziah said to the man of God, “And what am I to do about the 100 talents I gave for the Israelite force?” The man of God replied, “The LORD has the means to give you much more than that.”
11-12: Amaziah took courage and, leading his army, he marched to the Valley of Salt. He slew 10,000 men of Seir; another 10,000 the men of Judah captured alive and brought to the top of Sela. They threw them down from the top of Sela and every one of them was burst open
22-23: The men of Judah were routed by Israel, and they all fled to their homes. King Joash of Israel captured Amaziah son of Joash son of Jehoahaz, king of Judah, in Beth-shemesh. He brought him to Jerusalem and made a breach of 400 cubits in the wall of Jerusalem, from the Ephraim Gate to the Corner Gate.
27-28: From the time that Amaziah turned from following the LORD, a conspiracy was formed against him in Jerusalem, and he fled to Lachish; but they sent men after him to Lachish and they put him to death there. They brought his body back on horses and buried him with his fathers in the city of Judah.
IV. Outline
1. Introduction
2. Partial righteousness
3. Avenging his father’s death
4. Note about retribution
5-6. Amaziah rallies his troops
7-10. Amaziah listens to the prophet and disbands the Ephraimites
11-12. Amaziah is succesful in battle
13. The Ephraimites raid Judah
14. Amaziah worships the gods of Seir
15-16. Amaziah ignores God’s prophet
17-21. Amaziah confronts Joash king of Israel
22. Judah is defeated
23-24. Amaziah is captured; Jerusalem is marred and plundered
25-26. Summary statement
27-28. Conspiracy, coup at Lachish, and royal burial
V. Comment
No comment today. Stay tuned.
VI. Works Used
(see “Commentaries” page)
Photo copied from
http://www.rootsforhope.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/whisper.jpg
