2 Chronicles 25
Amaziah's Reign and Downfall
1Amaziah was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jehoaddan, of Jerusalem.
2He did that which was right in the LORD’s eyes, but not with a perfect heart.
3Now when the kingdom was established to him, he killed his servants who had killed his father the king.
4But he didn’t put their children to death, but did according to that which is written in the law in the book of Moses, as the LORD commanded, saying, “The fathers shall not die for the children, neither shall the children die for the fathers; but every man shall die for his own sin.”
5Moreover Amaziah gathered Judah together and ordered them according to their fathers’ houses, under captains of thousands and captains of hundreds, even all Judah and Benjamin. He counted them from twenty years old and upward, and found that there were three hundred thousand chosen men, able to go out to war, who could handle spear and shield.
6He also hired one hundred thousand mighty men of valor out of Israel for one hundred talents of silver.
7A man of God came to him, saying, “O king, don’t let the army of Israel go with you, for the LORD is not with Israel, with all the children of Ephraim.
8But if you will go, take action, and be strong for the battle. God will overthrow you before the enemy; for God has power to help, and to overthrow.”
9Amaziah said to the man of God, “But what shall we do for the hundred talents which I have given to the army of Israel?” The man of God answered, “The LORD is able to give you much more than this.”
10Then Amaziah separated them, the army that had come to him out of Ephraim, to go home again. Therefore their anger was greatly kindled against Judah, and they returned home in fierce anger.
11Amaziah took courage, and led his people out and went to the Valley of Salt, and struck ten thousand of the children of Seir.
12The children of Judah carried away ten thousand alive, and brought them to the top of the rock, and threw them down from the top of the rock, so that they all were broken in pieces.
13But the men of the army whom Amaziah sent back, that they should not go with him to battle, fell on the cities of Judah from Samaria even to Beth Horon, and struck of them three thousand, and took much plunder.
14Now after Amaziah had come from the slaughter of the Edomites, he brought the gods of the children of Seir, and set them up to be his gods, and bowed down himself before them and burned incense to them.
15Therefore the LORD’s anger burned against Amaziah, and he sent to him a prophet who said to him, “Why have you sought after the gods of the people, which have not delivered their own people out of your hand?”
16As he talked with him, the king said to him, “Have we made you one of the king’s counselors? Stop! Why should you be struck down?” Then the prophet stopped, and said, “I know that God has determined to destroy you, because you have done this and have not listened to my counsel.”
17Then Amaziah king of Judah consulted his advisers, and sent to Joash, the son of Jehoahaz, the son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying, “Come! Let’s look one another in the face.”
18Joash king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, “The thistle that was in Lebanon sent to the cedar that was in Lebanon, saying, ‘Give your daughter to my son as his wife. Then a wild animal that was in Lebanon passed by and trampled down the thistle.
19You say to yourself that you have struck Edom; and your heart lifts you up to boast. Now stay at home. Why should you meddle with trouble, that you should fall, even you and Judah with you?’”
20But Amaziah would not listen; for it was of God, that he might deliver them into the hand of their enemies, because they had sought after the gods of Edom.
21So Joash king of Israel went up, and he and Amaziah king of Judah looked one another in the face at Beth Shemesh, which belongs to Judah.
22Judah was defeated by Israel; so every man fled to his tent.
23Joash king of Israel took Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Joash the son of Jehoahaz, at Beth Shemesh and brought him to Jerusalem, and broke down the wall of Jerusalem from the gate of Ephraim to the corner gate, four hundred cubits.
24He took all the gold and silver, and all the vessels that were found in God’s house with Obed-Edom, and the treasures of the king’s house, and the hostages, and returned to Samaria.
25Amaziah the son of Joash, king of Judah, lived for fifteen years after the death of Joash, son of Jehoahaz, king of Israel.
26Now the rest of the acts of Amaziah, first and last, behold, aren’t they written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel?
27Now from the time that Amaziah turned away from following the LORD, they made a conspiracy against him in Jerusalem. He fled to Lachish, but they sent after him to Lachish and killed him there.
28They brought him on horses and buried him with his fathers in the City of Judah.
King Amaziah of Judah begins his reign doing right in God's eyes but with an imperfect heart, a character flaw that ultimately leads to his downfall. After initially obeying God by dismissing hired Israelite troops and achieving victory over Edom, Amaziah fatally compromises by adopting the defeated nation's gods as his own. His rejection of prophetic warning and embrace of idolatry provokes God's anger and sets in motion the events that will lead to his military defeat and eventual assassination.
Context
This chapter continues the pattern established in previous reigns, showing how initial faithfulness can deteriorate into disobedience, setting up the ongoing decline that will culminate in Judah's eventual exile.
Key Themes
Outline
- 1-4Amaziah's Character and Early ReignThe king begins ruling at twenty-five, doing right but with an imperfect heart, and executes his father's assassins while sparing their children according to God's law.
- 5-10Military Preparations and Divine CounselAmaziah assembles Judah's army and hires Israelite mercenaries, but obeys God's prophet by dismissing the northern troops despite the financial loss.
- 11-13Victory Over Edom and Israelite RetaliationJudah defeats the Edomites decisively, but the dismissed Israelite mercenaries raid Judean cities in revenge.
- 14-16Amaziah's Idolatry and Prophetic WarningThe king adopts the gods of defeated Edom, provoking God's anger and rejecting the prophet's rebuke with threats.
- 17-28Defeat by Israel and Amaziah's DeathAmaziah's challenge to Israel's king results in devastating defeat, Jerusalem's partial destruction, and eventually his assassination after fleeing to Lachish.
Amaziah's Reign and Downfall
25:1–25:28King Amaziah of Judah begins righteously but falls into pride and idolatry after military victory, leading to his defeat by Israel and eventual assassination. His reign demonstrates the consequences of incomplete devotion to God and the dangers of pride after success.
person_contrast
Amaziah's transformation from righteous king to idolater mirrors Israel's cyclical pattern, as his "imperfect heart" (verse 2) foreshadows the pride that ultimately destroys his reign.
2 Chronicles 25:1
2 Chronicles 29:1lexicalHezekiah began to reign when he was twenty-five years old, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother’s n…
2 Kings 14:2lexicalHe was twenty-five years old when he began to reign; and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name wa…
2 Kings 18:2lexicalHe was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name wa…
2 Kings 15:33lexicalHe was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Je…
1 Kings 22:42lexicalJehoshaphat was thirty-five years old when he began to reign; and he reigned twenty-five years in Jerusalem. His mother’…
2 Chronicles 25:2
2 Chronicles 15:17lexicalBut the high places were not taken away out of Israel; nevertheless the heart of Asa was perfect all his days.
1 Kings 15:14lexicalBut the high places were not taken away. Nevertheless the heart of Asa was perfect with the LORD all his days.
1 Kings 14:8lexicaland tore the kingdom away from David’s house, and gave it to you; and yet you have not been as my servant David, who kep…
2 Chronicles 29:34lexicalBut the priests were too few, so that they could not skin all the burnt offerings. Therefore their brothers the Levites…
2 Chronicles 25:3
2 Chronicles 21:4lexicalNow when Jehoram had risen up over the kingdom of his father, and had strengthened himself, he killed all his brothers w…
2 Chronicles 25:4
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Deuteronomy 17:18lexicalIt shall be, when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write himself a copy of this law in a book, out of…
Deuteronomy 31:24lexicalWhen Moses had finished writing the words of this law in a book, until they were finished,
Deuteronomy 28:58lexicalIf you will not observe to do all the words of this law that are written in this book, that you may fear this glorious a…
Joshua 1:8lexicalThis book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe…
2 Chronicles 25:5
Judges 20:15lexicalThe children of Benjamin were counted on that day out of the cities twenty-six thousand men who drew the sword, in addit…
Numbers 26:62lexicalThose who were counted of them were twenty-three thousand, every male from a month old and upward; for they were not cou…
Numbers 3:43lexicalAll the firstborn males according to the number of names from a month old and upward, of those who were counted of them,…
Exodus 38:26lexicala beka a head, that is, half a shekel, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, for everyone who passed over to those w…
2 Chronicles 11:12lexicalHe put shields and spears in every city, and made them exceedingly strong. Judah and Benjamin belonged to him.
2 Chronicles 25:6
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2 Kings 15:19lexicalPul the king of Assyria came against the land, and Menahem gave Pul one thousand talents of silver, that his hand might…
2 Kings 5:5lexicalThe king of Syria said, “Go now, and I will send a letter to the king of Israel.” He departed, and took with him ten tal…
2 Chronicles 27:5lexicalHe also fought with the king of the children of Ammon, and prevailed against them. The children of Ammon gave him the sa…
1 Chronicles 29:7lexicaland they gave for the service of God’s house of gold five thousand talents and ten thousand darics, of silver ten thousa…
2 Chronicles 25:8
2 Chronicles 26:13lexicalUnder their hand was an army, three hundred seven thousand five hundred, who made war with mighty power, to help the kin…
2 Chronicles 25:10
Numbers 11:10lexicalMoses heard the people weeping throughout their families, every man at the door of his tent; and the LORD’s anger burned…
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Numbers 11:33lexicalWhile the meat was still between their teeth, before it was chewed, the LORD’s anger burned against the people, and the…
2 Samuel 12:5lexicalDavid’s anger burned hot against the man, and he said to Nathan, “As the LORD lives, the man who has done this deserves…
2 Chronicles 25:11
2 Samuel 8:13lexicalDavid earned a reputation when he returned from striking down eighteen thousand men of the Syrians in the Valley of Salt…
1 Chronicles 18:12lexicalMoreover Abishai the son of Zeruiah struck eighteen thousand of the Edomites in the Valley of Salt.
2 Kings 14:7lexicalHe killed ten thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt, and took Sela by war, and called its name Joktheel, to this day.
Nehemiah 3:13lexicalHanun and the inhabitants of Zanoah repaired the valley gate. They built it, and set up its doors, its bolts, and its ba…
2 Chronicles 25:13
2 Chronicles 28:8lexicalThe children of Israel carried away captive of their brothers two hundred thousand women, sons, and daughters, and also…
Hosea 7:1lexicalWhen I would heal Israel, then the iniquity of Ephraim is uncovered, also the wickedness of Samaria; for they commit fal…
1 Chronicles 7:4lexicalWith them, by their generations, after their fathers’ houses, were bands of the army for war, thirty-six thousand; for t…
2 Chronicles 25:17
2 Kings 14:17lexicalAmaziah the son of Joash king of Judah lived after the death of Jehoash son of Jehoahaz, king of Israel, fifteen years.
2 Kings 14:8lexicalThen Amaziah sent messengers to Jehoash, the son of Jehoahaz son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying, “Come, let’s look one…
2 Kings 13:1lexicalIn the twenty-third year of Joash the son of Ahaziah, king of Judah, Jehoahaz the son of Jehu began to reign over Israel…
2 Chronicles 25:18
2 Kings 14:9lexicalJehoash the king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, “The thistle that was in Lebanon sent to the cedar tha…
2 Chronicles 25:19
2 Kings 14:10lexicalYou have indeed struck Edom, and your heart has lifted you up. Enjoy the glory of it, and stay at home; for why should y…
2 Chronicles 25:22
1 Samuel 4:10lexicalThe Philistines fought, and Israel was defeated, and each man fled to his tent. There was a very great slaughter; for th…
2 Chronicles 25:23
2 Kings 14:13lexicalJehoash king of Israel took Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Jehoash the son of Ahaziah, at Beth Shemesh and came to Je…
2 Kings 14:17lexicalAmaziah the son of Joash king of Judah lived after the death of Jehoash son of Jehoahaz, king of Israel, fifteen years.
Nehemiah 1:3lexicalThey said to me, “The remnant who are left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach.…
Ezekiel 43:17lexicalThe ledge shall be fourteen cubits long by fourteen wide in its four sides; and the border about it shall be half a cubi…
Nehemiah 3:13lexicalHanun and the inhabitants of Zanoah repaired the valley gate. They built it, and set up its doors, its bolts, and its ba…
2 Chronicles 25:24
2 Kings 14:14lexicalHe took all the gold and silver and all the vessels that were found in the LORD’s house and in the treasures of the king…
2 Kings 20:13lexicalHezekiah listened to them, and showed them all the storehouse of his precious things—the silver, the gold, the spices, a…
Isaiah 39:2lexicalHezekiah was pleased with them, and showed them the house of his precious things, the silver, the gold, the spices, and…
2 Chronicles 32:27lexicalHezekiah had exceedingly great riches and honor. He provided himself with treasuries for silver, for gold, for precious…
2 Chronicles 5:1lexicalThus all the work that Solomon did for the LORD’s house was finished. Solomon brought in the things that David his fathe…
2 Chronicles 25:25
2 Kings 14:17lexicalAmaziah the son of Joash king of Judah lived after the death of Jehoash son of Jehoahaz, king of Israel, fifteen years.
2 Kings 14:23lexicalIn the fifteenth year of Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah, Jeroboam the son of Joash king of Israel began to reign…
2 Kings 13:10lexicalIn the thirty-seventh year of Joash king of Judah, Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz began to reign over Israel in Samaria for…
2 Kings 13:1lexicalIn the twenty-third year of Joash the son of Ahaziah, king of Judah, Jehoahaz the son of Jehu began to reign over Israel…
2 Chronicles 25:26
2 Chronicles 28:26lexicalNow the rest of his acts, and all his ways, first and last, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Judah a…
2 Chronicles 20:34lexicalNow the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, first and last, behold, they are written in the history of Jehu the son of Hana…
2 Chronicles 16:11lexicalBehold, the acts of Asa, first and last, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.
2 Chronicles 35:27lexicaland his acts, first and last, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah.
2 Kings 13:12lexicalNow the rest of the acts of Joash, and all that he did, and his might with which he fought against Amaziah king of Judah…
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