• Amaziah
    Aid to Bible Understanding

    • AMAZIAH

      (Am·a·ziʹah) [Yah(u) is mighty].

      1. A Levite of the family of Merari; son of Hilkiah, father of Hashabiah. One of his descendants shared in directing the singing before the tabernacle in David’s time.—1 Chron. 6:31, 32, 45.

      2. King of Judah who, in 858 B.C.E., came to the throne at twenty-five and ruled for twenty-nine years from the assassination of his father Jehoash until his own death in 829. His mother was Jehoaddin (Jehoaddan), his wife Jecoliah. (2 Ki. 14:1, 2; 15:2; 2 Chron. 25:1; 26:3) With the kingdom firm in his hand, he executed those that had murdered his father, but heeded the law of Moses not to punish their sons. (2 Ki. 14:5, 6; Deut. 24:16) His reign was marked by some enthusiasm for true worship, but not with a “complete heart” and not without serious shortcomings that brought disaster both to himself and the nation of Judah. The record of his rule deals primarily with two military campaigns.—2 Chron. 25:2.

      Amaziah was first successful against Edom or Seir using a force of 300,000 from Judah and Benjamin. He had also hired 100,000 mercenaries from Israel, but upon the advice of a man of God he paid them off and sent them home. Jehovah gave Amaziah a smashing victory in the Valley of Salt, allowing him to kill off 20,000 of the enemy, and capture Sela (Petra), which he renamed Joktheel. However, Amaziah brought the gods of Seir and began worshiping them, causing Jehovah’s anger to blaze against him: “Why have you searched for the people’s gods that did not deliver their own people out of your hand?” Amaziah only compounded the injury by silencing Jehovah’s prophet.—2 Ki. 14:7; 2 Chron. 25:5-16.

      Amaziah’s second campaign was tragic from start to finish. The 100,000 from Israel who were dismissed raided towns of Judah on their return north. Perhaps it was this that provoked Amaziah foolishly to challenge Jehoash of the strong northern kingdom: “Do come. Let us look each other in the face.” Jehoash’s response: How foolish for a thorny weed to confront a massive cedar only to be trampled by a wild beast! Amaziah refused to listen; apparently being puffed up with his recent victory, but actually because Jehovah had doomed Amaziah to defeat due to his idolatry. The battle was joined at Beth-shemesh; Judah fled; Amaziah was captured; a breach of about 583 feet (178 meters) was made in Jerusalem’s wall; and a great amount of temple treasures and hostages were carried back to Samaria.—2 Ki. 14:8-14; 2 Chron. 25:13, 17-24.

      From the time that Amaziah turned away from Jehovah’s worship a conspiracy was formed against him that finally forced Amaziah to flee to Lachish. There the conspirators put him to death. Amaziah was succeeded by his sixteen-year-old son Azariah (Uzziah).—2 Ki. 14:17-21; 2 Chron. 25:25-28.

      3. A priest of the calf worship at Bethel who complained to Jeroboam II that the prophet Amos was a seditionist. He personally tried to frighten Amos into going back to Judah. The prophet, however, stood his ground, telling Amaziah that his wife would become a prostitute, his children would fall by the sword, and Amaziah himself would die on unclean ground.—Amos 7:10-17.

      4. Father of Joshah; of the tribe of Simeon. Joshah was one of the chieftains numbered among those clearing the valley near Gedor, of Hamitic and Meunim settlers in the days of Hezekiah.—1 Chron. 4:24, 34, 38-41.

  • Ambassador
    Aid to Bible Understanding

    • AMBASSADOR

      [Gr., preʹsbys, older man].

      In Bible times older, mature men were chosen as ambassadors.

      Jesus Christ came as Jehovah God’s “apostle” or “sent one.” He it is who “shed light upon life and incorruption through the good news.”—Heb. 3:1; 2 Tim. 1:10.

      After Christ had been resurrected to the heavens, being no longer on earth in person, his faithful followers were appointed to act in his place, “substituting for Christ” as ambassadors of God. Paul specifically mentions his office of ambassadorship. (2 Cor. 5:18-20) He, like all the anointed followers of Jesus Christ, was sent to nations and people who were alienated from Jehovah God the Supreme Sovereign—ambassadors to a world not at peace with God. (John 14:30; 15:18, 19; Jas. 4:4) As an ambassador Paul bore a message of reconciliation to God through Christ and therefore spoke of himself while in prison as an “ambassador in chains.” (Eph. 6:20) His being in chains is a demonstration of the hostile attitude of this world toward God and Christ and the Messianic kingdom government, for ambassadors have since time immemorial been considered inviolate. It revealed the greatest hostility and was the grossest of insults on the part of the nations when they disrespected the ambassadors sent to represent the kingdom of God under Christ.

      In fulfilling his role as an ambassador, Paul respected the laws of the land but remained strictly neutral toward the world’s political and military activities. This was in harmony with the principle that ambassadors of worldly governments must obey the law but are exempt from allegiance to the country to which they are sent.

      Like the apostle Paul, all of Christ’s faithful anointed, spirit-begotten followers, who have a heavenly citizenship, are “ambassadors substituting for Christ.”—2 Cor. 5:20; Phil. 3:20.

      How a person receives these ambassadors of God determines how God will deal with him. Jesus Christ set forth the principle in his illustration of the man who owned a vineyard and who sent his slaves first as his representatives, then his son, whom the cultivators of the vineyard killed. For this the owner of the vineyard brought destruction on the hostile cultivators. (Matt. 21:33-41) Jesus gave another illustration, of the king whose slaves were killed while acting as messengers inviting guests to a marriage feast. The ones receiving his representatives in such a manner were counted as enemies of the king. (Matt. 22:2-7) Jesus stated the principle clearly when he said: “He that receives anyone I send receives me also. In turn he that receives me, receives also him that sent me.”—John 13:20; see also Matthew 23:34, 35; 25:34-46.

      Jesus also used the peace-promoting work of an ambassador to illustrate our individual need to sue for peace with Jehovah God and give up all to follow in the footsteps of his Son in order to get God’s favor and everlasting life. (Luke 14:31-33) Conversely, he illustrated the folly of being associated with those sending ambassadors to speak against the one on whom God confers kingly power. (Luke 19:12-14, 27) The Gibeonites are good examples of taking action in a tactful, successful suit for peace.—Josh. 9:3-15, 22-27.

      PRE-CHRISTIAN ENVOYS

      In pre-Christian times there was no official governmental office corresponding exactly with the modern-day ambassador. There was no resident official representing a foreign government. Hence, the terms “messenger” and “envoy” more accurately describe their duties in Bible times. However, their rank and status were in many respects similar to ambassadors, and some of these aspects will be considered here. Such men were official representatives who carried messages between governments and individual rulers.

      Unlike modern-day ambassadors, ancient envoys or messengers, since they did not reside in foreign