In brief
Amon is a king of Judah, son of King Manasseh and father of King Josiah. He becomes king at twenty-two and reigns only two years in Jerusalem. He does evil in the sight of the Lord, serves his father's idols, and forsakes the God of his fathers. Unlike Manasseh, he does not humble himself before the Lord. His servants conspire against him and kill him in his house, and the people then make Josiah king.
What does the name Amon King of Judah mean?
The name Amon is generally linked to a Hebrew root related to faithfulness or firmness; some also see the meaning craftsman. The Bible does not explain it. This king should not be confused with Amon, governor of the city of Samaria in the time of Ahab (1 Kings 22:26).
The story of Amon King of Judah
Manasseh's legacy
2 Kings 21:1-18; 2 Chronicles 33:11-20Amon is the son of Manasseh, who reigned fifty-five years. Manasseh rebuilt the high places, raised altars to Baal, set an idol in the house of the Lord, and shed much innocent blood. According to Chronicles, however, he humbled himself in distress, and God heard him. When he dies, Amon reigns in his place.
A two-year reign
2 Kings 21:19-22Amon becomes king at twenty-two and reigns two years in Jerusalem. His mother is named Meshullemeth, daughter of Haruz of Jotbah. He does evil in the sight of the Lord as his father did: he walks in the same way, serves the same idols, and bows down to them. He forsakes the Lord, the God of his fathers.
Without repentance
2 Chronicles 33:21-23The book of Chronicles stresses a contrast. Manasseh, carried off captive, had humbled himself greatly before God. Amon sacrifices to all the carved images his father had made and serves them, but he does not humble himself before the Lord as Manasseh had done: he increases his guilt more and more.
A conspiracy
2 Kings 21:23-26; 2 Chronicles 33:24-25Amon's servants conspire against him and put him to death in his house. But the people of the land strike down all the conspirators and make Josiah, Amon's son, king. Amon is buried in his tomb, in the garden of Uzza. His son will become one of the most faithful kings of Judah (2 Kings 22:2).
A name in the genealogy of Jesus
Matthew 1:10Amon is named in the genealogy of Jesus according to Matthew, where Manasseh is said to be the father of Amon and Amon the father of Josiah. Despite his unfaithfulness, the line of David continues through him. God remains faithful to the promise made to David, even when some of his descendants go astray.
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What Amon King of Judah teaches us
- Imitating the faults of one's parents without imitating their repentance leads to ruin.
- The time to turn to God is not unlimited: Amon reigned only two years.
- Family history does not lock anyone in: Josiah, Amon's son, chose to walk in the way of the Lord.
- God's faithfulness to his promises goes beyond human unfaithfulness.
Key verses
Amon did not humble himself before the Lord as his father Manasseh had. He copied his father's idolatry without following his example of repentance, even though grace remained available.
The summary of his life fits in one sentence: he forsook the Lord, the God of his fathers. To forsake God is to leave the very source of life and blessing.
Right after Amon's reign, his son Josiah does what is right in the eyes of the Lord. God's grace can raise up a faithful generation after an unfaithful one.
Bible verses to meditate on
Frequently asked questions
Who was Amon, king of Judah?
Amon was the son of King Manasseh and the father of King Josiah. He became king at twenty-two and reigned two years in Jerusalem. He served his father's idols, forsook the Lord, and did not humble himself. His servants killed him in his house (2 Kings 21:19-26).
Why did Amon not follow Manasseh's repentance?
The Bible gives no psychological explanation. It simply notes that Amon sacrificed to his father's carved images and did not humble himself before the Lord, increasing his guilt more and more (2 Chronicles 33:22-23). He followed Manasseh's faults, but not his return to God.
Where is the story of Amon found in the Bible?
Amon's reign is told in 2 Kings 21:18-26 and 2 Chronicles 33:20-25. He is also mentioned as the father of Josiah in Jeremiah 1:2 and Zephaniah 1:1, and he appears in the genealogy of Jesus in Matthew 1:10.