"But the children of the murderers he slew not: according unto that which is written in the book of the law of Moses, wherein the LORD commanded, saying, The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, nor the children be put to death for the fathers; but every man shall be put to death for his own sin" (2 KINGS 14:6).
Woodrow Kroll said, "Justice is for those who deserve it, mercy is for those who don't." That beautiful distinction between justice and mercy aptly highlights the importance of mercy in human affairs. Mercy always makes the difference. It makes the sinful man to become a friend of God.
Amaziah became king after his father was assassinated by two servants, Jozachar and Jehozabad. He ascended the throne at the age of twenty-five and he "did that which was right in the eyes of the LORD..." although he did not completely stamp out idolatry.
In the early part of his reign, he took time to consolidate his power apparently because of the breach that led to the assassination of his father. When he fully secured his throne, he decided to pursue the case of the assassins. He killed the two servants who killed his father but decided to spare their children even though he had the power to get rid of them as well.
Amaziah decided to spare the children of his father's killers because he chose to be gracious and merciful in wielding the sword of judgment under his control. He decided to apply the principles of justice espoused in Deuteronomy 24:16, a policy which, politically, was fraught with a lot of risks.
Prior to this incident, others had acted differently. The families of Korah, Dathan and Abiram were all swallowed up with the ambitious heads of their houses. Joshua and all Israel also stoned Achan with all his house. But, at a most unexpected time and from an unlikely source, mercy flowed in the direction of these children and they were spared.