2 Chronicles 25

King James Version

Full text for 2 Chronicles Chapter 25

1¶ Amaziah [was] twenty and five years old [when] he began to reign, and he reigned twenty and nine years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name [was] Jehoaddan of Jerusalem.

2And he did [that which was] right in the sight of the LORD, but not with a perfect heart.

3Now it came to pass, when the kingdom was established to him, that he slew his servants that had killed the king his father.

4But he slew not their children, but [did] as [it is] written in the law in the book of Moses, where 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 made them captains over thousands, and captains over hundreds, according to the houses of [their] fathers, throughout all Judah and Benjamin: and he numbered them from twenty years old and above, and found them three hundred thousand choice [men, able] to go forth to war, that could handle spear and shield.

6He hired also an hundred thousand mighty men of valour out of Israel for an hundred talents of silver.

7But there came a man of God to him, saying, O king, let not the army of Israel go with thee; for the LORD [is] not with Israel, [to wit, with] all the children of Ephraim.

8But if thou wilt go, do [it], be strong for the battle: God shall make thee fall before the enemy: for God hath power to help, and to cast down.

9And Amaziah said to the man of God, But what shall we do for the hundred talents which I have given to the army of Israel? And the man of God answered, The LORD is able to give thee much more than this.

10Then Amaziah separated them, [to wit], the army that was come to him out of Ephraim, to go home again: wherefore their anger was greatly kindled against Judah, and they returned home in great anger.

11And Amaziah strengthened himself, and led forth his people, and went to the valley of salt, and smote of the children of Seir ten thousand.

12And [other] ten thousand [left] alive did the children of Judah carry away captive, and brought them unto the top of the rock, and cast them down from the top of the rock, that they all were broken in pieces.

13But the soldiers of the army which Amaziah sent back, that they should not go with him to battle, fell upon the cities of Judah, from Samaria even unto Bethhoron, and smote three thousand of them, and took much spoil.

14¶ Now it came to pass, after that Amaziah was come from the slaughter of the Edomites, that 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 unto them.

15Wherefore the anger of the LORD was kindled against Amaziah, and he sent unto him a prophet, which said unto him, Why hast thou sought after the gods of the people, which could not deliver their own people out of thine hand?

16And it came to pass, as he talked with him, that [the king] said unto him, Art thou made of the king's counsel? forbear; why shouldest thou be smitten? Then the prophet forbare, and said, I know that God hath determined to destroy thee, because thou hast done this, and hast not hearkened unto my counsel.

17¶ Then Amaziah king of Judah took advice, and sent to Joash, the son of Jehoahaz, the son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying, Come, let us see one another in the face.

18And Joash 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 thy daughter to my son to wife: and there passed by a wild beast that [was] in Lebanon, and trode down the thistle.

19Thou sayest, Lo, thou hast smitten the Edomites; and thine heart lifteth thee up to boast: abide now at home; why shouldest thou meddle to [thine] hurt, that thou shouldest fall, [even] thou, and Judah with thee?

20But Amaziah would not hear; for it [came] of God, that he might deliver them into the hand [of their enemies], because they sought after the gods of Edom.

21So Joash the king of Israel went up; and they saw one another in the face, [both] he and Amaziah king of Judah, at Bethshemesh, which [belongeth] to Judah.

22And Judah was put to the worse before Israel, and they fled every man to his tent.

23And Joash the king of Israel took Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Joash, the son of Jehoahaz, at Bethshemesh, and brought him to Jerusalem, and brake down the wall of Jerusalem from the gate of Ephraim to the corner gate, four hundred cubits.

24And [he took] all the gold and the silver, and all the vessels that were found in the house of God with Obededom, and the treasures of the king's house, the hostages also, and returned to Samaria.

25And Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah lived after the death of Joash son of Jehoahaz king of Israel fifteen years.

26Now the rest of the acts of Amaziah, first and last, behold, [are] they not written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel?

27Now after the time that Amaziah did turn away from following the LORD they made a conspiracy against him in Jerusalem; and he fled to Lachish: but they sent to Lachish after him, and slew him there.

28And they brought him upon horses, and buried him with his fathers in the city of Judah.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

King Amaziah of Judah began his reign doing right, but not with a perfect heart. After a successful campaign against Edom, he turned to idolatry, provoking the Lord's anger. His subsequent challenge to King Joash of Israel led to Judah's defeat, Amaziah's capture, and Jerusalem's wall being breached. Ultimately, a conspiracy formed against him, and he was assassinated in Lachish.

Medium Summary

King Amaziah of Judah, reigning for twenty-nine years, initially did what was right in the Lord's sight, executing his father's murderers while sparing their children according to Mosaic law. He assembled a large Judahite army and hired Israelite mercenaries, but a man of God warned him against the latter, prompting their dismissal. Though the dismissed Israelites raided Judahite cities, Amaziah successfully defeated the Edomites. However, he then brought Edomite gods back and worshipped them, incurring divine wrath. Ignoring a prophet's warning, Amaziah challenged King Joash of Israel. Judah suffered a crushing defeat, Amaziah was captured, and Jerusalem's wall was partially destroyed. After living fifteen more years, Amaziah faced a conspiracy and was murdered in Lachish.

Long Summary

Amaziah began his twenty-nine-year reign in Jerusalem at age twenty-five, initially doing what was right in the sight of the LORD, though "not with a perfect heart." Upon establishing his kingdom, he executed the servants who had murdered his father, King Joash, but strictly adhered to Mosaic law by sparing their children. He then mustered Judah and Benjamin, finding three hundred thousand choice men, and additionally hired one hundred thousand mighty men from Israel for one hundred talents of silver. A man of God intervened, warning Amaziah that the Lord was not with Israel and that using their troops would lead to defeat, promising the Lord could provide more than the lost silver. Amaziah heeded the warning, dismissing the Israelite mercenaries, who, in their anger, raided Judahite cities from Samaria to Bethhoron, killing three thousand and taking much spoil. Despite this, Amaziah led his Judahite army to the Valley of Salt, where they smote ten thousand Edomites and captured another ten thousand, casting them down from a rock to their deaths. After this victory, Amaziah tragically brought the gods of Seir back to Jerusalem, setting them up as his own and burning incense to them. The Lord's anger was kindled, and a prophet confronted Amaziah, questioning his worship of gods unable to save their own people. Amaziah arrogantly dismissed the prophet, who then declared God's determination to destroy him. Subsequently, Amaziah, taking counsel, challenged King Joash of Israel to battle. Joash responded with a dismissive parable of a thistle and a cedar, warning Amaziah against pride and urging him to stay home. However, Amaziah refused to listen, for it was God's will to deliver them into their enemies' hands due to their idolatry. The armies met at Bethshemesh, where Judah was routed, and Amaziah was captured by Joash. Joash then brought Amaziah to Jerusalem, breached four hundred cubits of the city wall, and plundered the temple and royal treasures before returning to Samaria. Amaziah lived fifteen years after Joash's death, but after turning away from the Lord, a conspiracy formed against him in Jerusalem. He fled to Lachish but was pursued and assassinated there, and his body was brought back to Jerusalem for burial.

Core Concepts

  • Partial ObedienceAmaziah's reign began with actions "right in the sight of the LORD, but not with a perfect heart," indicating a superficial or incomplete devotion despite outwardly righteous deeds.
  • Divine Counsel and WarningA man of God advised Amaziah against relying on Israelite mercenaries, and later a prophet warned him about his idolatry, both instances demonstrating God's direct communication and guidance.
  • Consequences of DisobedienceAmaziah's dismissal of the Israelite troops led to their retaliatory raids on Judahite cities, and his subsequent idolatry directly resulted in God's judgment, leading to his defeat by Israel and eventual assassination.
  • Idolatry and ApostasyAfter a military victory, Amaziah brought the gods of the defeated Edomites into Judah and worshipped them, a clear act of apostasy that provoked the Lord's severe anger.
  • Pride and HumiliationSwollen with pride after his victory over Edom, Amaziah foolishly challenged King Joash of Israel, leading to Judah's devastating defeat, his own capture, and the breaching of Jerusalem's wall.
  • Mosaic Law AdherenceAmaziah demonstrated initial adherence to the Law of Moses by executing his father's murderers but sparing their children, reflecting the principle that "every man shall die for his own sin."
  • Conspiracy and AssassinationThe chapter concludes with a conspiracy against Amaziah, formed after he turned away from the Lord, resulting in his flight to Lachish and subsequent murder there.