מלכים ב, פרק י״ד, פסוק י״ט

The end of King Amaziah's reign unfolds as a tragic pattern of internal betrayal, mirroring the fate of Joash, who was also assassinated by his own subjects [אברבנאל]. Although Amaziah had previously been captured by the king of Israel, he was eventually permitted to return to power in his capital city of Jerusalem [מצודת דוד]. However, a deep personal hostility began to take root against him [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. The uprising was sparked after Amaziah turned away from God following his war with Edom [מלבי"ם]. Jerusalem was home to God's priests and the disciples of Jehoiada, and when the people heard a prophet declare that God intended to destroy the king, the seeds of revolt were planted [רש"י].

The conspiracy began in the shadows. It is highly probable that the conspirators themselves were the ones who initially advised Amaziah to go to war against Israel, secretly hoping he would be defeated and killed. Despite losing that battle, Amaziah managed to hold onto his throne in Jerusalem for three more years before the secret plot finally erupted into an open rebellion [מלבי"ם].

Forced to run for his life, Amaziah fled to Lachish, seeking safety behind its strong fortified walls [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. There, he found loyal supporters who helped him maintain his position [מלבי"ם]. This escape resulted in a divided kingdom with two parallel rulers: Amaziah maintained a court in exile in Lachish, while his son Uzziah was crowned to rule in Jerusalem. This exile lasted for a significant period, with views suggesting he remained in Lachish for either twelve [מלבי"ם] or fifteen years [רש"י].

As the years passed, the conspirators in Jerusalem only grew stronger. They eventually dispatched assassins to Lachish, who successfully murdered the exiled king [מלבי"ם]. In a final conclusion to his reign, Amaziah's body was loaded onto a horse-drawn chariot and returned to Jerusalem for burial [אברבנאל].