2 Chronicles 25

2 Chronicles 25:1

I. King Amaziah (Chap. 25)25:1-10 After establishing his throne and dealing with his father’s murderers according to the law, Amaziah turned his attention to foreign affairs. The Edomites had rebelled against Judah during the reign of Jehoram (2Ch_21:10), and now perhaps Amaziah wanted to bring them back under his rule. So he . . . hired mercenaries from Israel. However, after being warned by a man of God, he sent the Israelites home. Although he was concerned about losing the money he had already paid the mercenaries, he accepted the prophet’s assurance that the LORD was able to give him much more to make up for his foolish investment. 25:11-13 Amaziah and his men killed ten thousand Edomites, then took ten thousand others captive, only to kill them later by hurling them over a precipice. The latter victims may have been guilty of unusual cruelty, or Amaziah may have been following an accepted wartime policy of that day. The mercenaries whom Amaziah had sent home to Ephraim angrily raided the cities of Judah, killing three thousand people and taking much spoil. 25:14-21 When Amaziah began worshiping idols which he had brought back from Edom, a prophet reproved him for thinking that gods which could not deliver their own people could help him! Amaziah interrupted the prophet with a threat, perhaps a veiled allusion to Zechariah, who had lost his life by prophesying against Amaziah’s father (2Ch_24:20-22). The prophet responded to the king’s warning by saying in effect, “I am not going to be struck down. Since you have refused my advice, you are the one who is going to be destroyed.” Amaziah did not listen to God’s counsel but instead asked advice of his own staff. Foolishly he made war with Joash of Israel, refusing to heed Joash’s warning. 25:22-28 Judah was defeated and Amaziah was humiliated and impoverished. Jerusalem was invaded and the temple was pillaged. Amaziah’s subjects conspired against him, and eventually he fled from Jerusalem. He was murdered in Lachish, then brought back to Jerusalem and buried.