Who was Amaziah in the Bible?

Amaziah, son of Joshah, was a descendant of Simeon, one of the twelve tribes of Israel. He is mentioned in a genealogical list in 1 Chronicles 4:34-37, which records the leaders and clans of the tribe of Simeon.

Why is Amaziah the Simeonite mentioned in the Bible?

Amaziah is listed to preserve the genealogical record of the tribe of Simeon, showing its lineage and leadership during the time of King Hezekiah. His inclusion highlights that even lesser-known tribes and families were part of God's covenant people (1 Chronicles 4:34-43).

What did Amaziah the Simeonite do?

The Bible does not record specific events in Amaziah's life. As a clan leader, his role was likely administrative or military within his tribe during a period of expansion, as described in the surrounding verses about the Simeonites seeking pasture (1 Chronicles 4:38-41).

Amaziah

Old TestamentDivided MonarchyMaleSon

Amaziah, the son of Joshah, was a descendant of Simeon.

Amaziah

Biography

Amaziah son of Joshah is listed in 1 Chronicles 4:34 among the leaders of the tribe of Simeon who, during a period of population growth, conducted a survey and expansion of their tribal territory. According to the passage, these Simeonite chiefs, among whom Amaziah is numbered, eventually led their clans in search of new pastureland, ultimately settling in the region of Gedor and, in the time of Hezekiah, in the territory of the Amalekites near Mount Seir (1 Chronicles 4:38–43). Amaziah's role appears to have been that of a clan leader participating in this territorial expansion. His name, meaning "the LORD is mighty," reflects the theophoric naming conventions common among the tribes of Israel.

Significance

The Simeonite expansion recorded in 1 Chronicles 4, in which Amaziah participated, illustrates a broader biblical pattern: God's provision through the mundane realities of demographic pressure, pastoral need, and territorial movement. Simeon was one of the smaller tribes, its original allotment scattered within Judah (Joshua 19:1–9), yet these genealogical records show a tribe that actively sought its future rather than passively accepting marginalization. Amaziah's leadership in this expansion reflects the vitality of covenant community even in its less-celebrated corners. Chronicles' preservation of these details affirms that every tribe, every clan, every named leader belonged to a story God was superintending from beginning to end.

Verse Appearances (1)

1Chr

1Chr 4:34

References

Orr, J. (ed.) (1915) The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Chicago: Howard-Severance Company. [Public Domain]
Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Individualised Proper Names with all References (TIPNR). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
Wikidata contributors (n.d.) Wikidata. Available at: https://www.wikidata.org. [CC0]
Church of England (1769) The Holy Bible, Authorized (King James) Version. [Public Domain]

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