Man living at the time of Divided Monarchy
Amasa, along with other leaders of Ephraim, opposed the Israelite army's attempt to bring Judahite captives as slaves to Samaria.
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Amasa is mentioned in the context of the conflict between the kingdoms of Israel and Judah during the reign of King Ahaz of Judah. Ahaz's unfaithfulness to God led to Judah's defeat by Israel and their allies, resulting in the capture of many Judahites. (2Ch.28.5-8)
As the Israelite army was returning to Samaria with the captives and plunder, a prophet named Oded confronted them, warning that God's anger was against Israel for their own sins. He urged them to release the captives, as they were their own kinsmen. (2Ch.28.9-11).
In response, several leaders of Ephraim, including Amasa, stood up against the army and refused to allow them to bring the captives into the city. They recognized the guilt of Israel and the potential for further divine wrath. (2Ch.28.12-13)
Amasa and the other leaders then provided for the captives, clothing and feeding them, and returning them to Jericho, a city in Judah. (2Ch.28.14-15)
This act of compassion and solidarity demonstrated by Amasa and the other Ephraimite leaders was a rare moment of unity and repentance.
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1 verse in 1 book · English text: BSB (change it from the menu at the top) · Strong’s H6021
Then some of the leaders of the Ephraimites—Azariah son of Jehohanan, Berechiah son of Meshillemoth, Jehizkiah son of Shallum, and Amasa son of Hadlai—stood in opposition to those arriving from the war.
Names, family links and references: STEPBible TIPNR (Tyndale House Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). Short descriptions were drafted with AI assistance by STEPBible. Family links follow STEPBible’s scholarly decisions where genealogies are ambiguous.