2 Chronicles 25

because they had forsaken the Lord God of their fathers.* According to the prophecy of Zechariah, ver. 20. So they executed judgment against Joash.] They left him in a miserablo condition; for all punishments arc called judgments among.the Hebrews.

2 Chronicles 25:1

jljLMAZIAHwos twenty and five years old when he began to reign; and he reigned twenty and nine years in Jerusalem: and his mother’s liamt teas Jehoaddan of Jerusalem. See 2 Kings xiv. 1.

2 Chronicles 25:2

And he did that ivhich teas right in the sight of the Lord, but not with et perfect heart.* He followed the right religion, and worshipped God aright, but not with such sincerity as David his father did, (2 Kings xiv. 3.) See Grotius upon xxvi. 4. where he observes, his son did in fact w T hat the law required; but not with a solid piety. •

2 Chronicles 25:3

And it came to pass, when the kingdom tvas esta~ blished to him, that he slew his servants that had killed the king his father. They seem to have been men of some power and interest in the court, whom he durst not meddle withal till he was well settled in his authority. (See 2 Kings xiv. 5.)* i a, i i

2 Chronicles 25:4

But he slew not their children: but did as it is written in the law in the book of Moses, where the Lord commanded, saying, TJie fathers shall not die for the children, neither shall the children die for the fathers, but every man shall die for his own sin.] The very same is observed there, 2 Kings xiv. 6..

2 Chronicles 25:5

Moreover, 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;’] All that belonged to one family, he put under the command of one leader, whereby they became the more unanimous. 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.] Behold here, how their iniquities had diminished their numbers, since the days of Jehoshaphat (i.e. in the space of eightytwo years); for. this king could bring but three hundred thousand fighting men into tho field, and Jehoshaphat broughtnear four times as many. (Seeupon chap, xvii.w/f.) k

2 Chronicles 25:6

He hired also a hundred thousand mighty men of valour out of Israel for a hundred talents of silver. In two things he shewed -his heart was not perfect with God: (as it is noted ver. 2.) for, first, he sinned in making a league, with the ten tribes, contrary to what the prophet Azariah’had declared, chap, xix.: and, secondly, he invited them to battle without any provocation; whereas he should have done as the LoTd commanded, 1 Kings xii. 24. and left them to end their quarrels among themselves; only repelling them if they had invaded him, but no more. •

2 Chronicles 25:7

But there came a man of God to him, saying, O king, let not.-the army of Israel go with thee. This was the prophet Amos, father of the prophet Isaiah, if we will believe the Jews, particularly Kimchi upon this place: but this is a foolish tradition, built on a mistake that Amos the prophet was Isaiah’s father. For the LoYd is not xvith Israel, to xvit, with all the. chiU dren of Ephraim.] In the Targum it is, TJie Word of the Lord will. not help Israel: who. had highly offended him by the idolatry which Jeroboam of the tribe of Ephraim introduced.

2 Chronicles 25:8

But if thoutviltgo, 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. If he had a settled resolution not to desist, the prophet bade him go and try, whether with ih6 greatest power he could muster up he Should be able to prevail against the Lord, who could either help a few, or destroy a great many.

2 Chronicles 25:9

And Amazidli said unto the mart of God, But what shall ice do for the hundred talents which I have given to the army of Israel?. That which stuck with him was, the money he was likely to lose; for they Would not return that, if he dismissed them from his armyV And the man of God ansivered, Tlie Lord is able to give thee much more than thisJ] This objection was presently answered, if he would but obey. God, and trust-in his goodness, who was able to give his faithful servants more than that came to: and, as Grotius hot6s, he is rich enough who is impoverished for God’s sake. 4

2 Chronicles 25:10

Then Amaziah separated them, to wit, the army tliat was come to him out of Ephraim, to go home again. This argued some goodness in him, though his heart was not perfect with God. Wherefore their anger was greatly kindled against Judah,’ and they returned home in great anger J] Because they looked npon them as,erierriies of God, and durst not employ them. St. Jerome thinks they carried idols along with them.’’ * • * - > • •’» * * -

2 Chronicles 25:11

And Amaziah strengthened himself. With his own men only. • Arid led forth his people, and went to the valley of Salt, and smote of the children ofSeir.] Who dwelt in Mount Seir. Ten thousand.] See 2 Kings xiv. 7. where this story is told more briefly: for what follows in the next verse is there omitted. * J

2 Chronicles 25:12

And other ten thousand left alive did the children ofJudah carry away captive, and brought them unto the top of the rock, and cast them down from the top of the rock, that they were broken all in pieces.] This was a very ancient punishment among the Romans, as we learn from Livy, Plutarch, Dionysius Halicarnasseus, and others; and was used among other nations, as Mr. Selden shews, lib. i. de Synedriis, cap. 17. where he observes an illustrious example of this among the Israelites; who threw Jezebel down upon the stones out of the windows, by the command of Jehu.

2 Chronicles 25:13

But the soldiers of the army, which Amaziah sent back, that they should not go with him to battle. The men of Ephraim, whom the prophet forbade him to join withal; and were therefore sent home; Fell upon the cities of Judaic, from Samaria even unto Beth-horon.] They went away from Amaziah in a great rage, (ver. 10.) which instigated them to revenge the affront put upon them in this manner: taking hold of the fair opportunity which presented itself, by his “war with Edom; which had drained his country of all the forces that should have opposed them. And smote three thousand of them, and took much spoilJ] Thus Amaziah was punished for having entered into a society with idolaters, though at the prophet’s reproof he broke it off: and’God, it is not unlikely^ also suffered this calamity to fall upon him, because he used his victory over the Edomites with too much cruelty.

2 Chronicles 25:14

Now it came to pass, after that Amaziah ivas come from the slaughter of the Edomites, that he brought the gods of the children of Seir. Which he should have burnt with fire*. And set them up to be his gods, and bowed down himself before them, and burned incense unto them.] A most prodigious sottishness, as the prophet shews him in the next verse. Ahaz was wiser (though very wicked), who sacrificed to the gods of those people who had overcome him: hoping they might be persuaded to help him also, (xxviii. 23.) Or, perhaps, Amaziah worshipped them for fear they should owe him a spite, and contrive some’ mischief against him, in revenge of what he had done against the Edomites. (See Dr. Jacksbn, in his book of the Original of Belief, -chap. 17. paVag. 5.” 10.) «. -*Ver. 15. Wherefore 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?] Nothing need be said, more to convince him of his monstrous stupidity, of which no account could be given. Unless we suppose them to have been such beautiful images, that he looked upon them till he fell in love with them, and doated upon them, so that he was bewitched into a senseless idolatry. Fabius Maximus (as Strigelius here notes) was much wiser; who) having conquered Tarentum, and being asked what should be done with their gods, u Deos iratos Tarentinis relinqui jussit," bade them leave their gods that were angry with the Tarentines. For what vanity is it (as he adds) to hope for any safety from those that cannot preserve themselves? but such is the’ madness of idolaters, that it is reproved by sober heathens.'

2 Chronicles 25:16

And H came to pass, as h€ talked with him, that the king said unto Mm, Art thou made of the king’s counsel?. Yes, undoubtedly, for he was made so by God; and did nothing but what belonged to his ofiice, (Jer. i. 10.) But Amaziah thought not of this; but scornfully asked him, who made him a counsellor of state? Forbear; why sliouldest thou be smitten?] He bids him meddle, no more in this matter," lest he should be provoked to deal with him as they did with Zechariah) (xxiv. 21;) 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.] He forbare to advise or reprove him any further, but only denounced the sentence God had passed upon him for this contempt of him, and his other sins: which came to pass, ver.

2 Chronicles 25:17

Then Amaziah king ofJudah took advice. Ho would not be advised by’ the prophet, but consulted those that led him to his destruction. And sent to Joash the son ofJelioahaz, the son of Jehu king of Israel, saying, Come, let us see one another in the face.] He was advised, it seems, without first desiring satisfaction for the damage done him, (ver. 12.) in which perhaps Joash had no hand, to make war upon him, and provoke him’to battle. (See 2 Kings xiv. 8, &c. where this and the following verses are explained.)

2 Chronicles 25:18

And Joash king of Israel sent to Amaziah king ofJudah, 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 ivild beast that was in Lebanon, and trode down the thistle.

2 Chronicles 25:19

Tliousayest, Lo, thou hast smitten the Edomites, and thine heart lifteth thee up to boast: abide now at home; whyshouldest thou meddle to thine hurt, that thoushoyldest fall, even thou and Judah with thee?] See this explained there, 2 Kings xiv. 9, 10. • - r

2 Chronicles 25:25

Andwhen they were departed from Mm (for -they left him in great diseases). Many think ho was sorely wounded in the battle; which brought him into great diseases. And they increased, it is likely, by the grief and anguish of his mind, to see his country ruined: and by the hatred and contempt into which he was fallen, which encouraged his own servants (as it follows) to conspire against him. His oivn servants conspired against him for the blood bf the sons ofJehoiada the priest.] This doth not denoto he killed more of his sons than one; but, according to the frequent use of this language, the plural number is put for the singular. • r>.i And slew him on his bed, and he died.] Perhaps they were of his bedchamber, and so could more easily compass their design. Howsoever, he was so weak and feeble that he could make no resistance, and was so little esteemed, that his guard minded not what became of him..This bed was in his house of Millo, as we read 2 Kings xii. 21. which is said to be in the way to Silla: because there was another house of Millo, from which this is thus distinguished.’ / >X >1 And they buried him in the, city of David, but they buried him not in the sepulchres of the kings.] The same is said of Ahaz, xxviii. 27. Though the people could not punish wicked kings for their impieties while they lived; yet they set blots upon their memory when they were dead, as Grotius observes, lib. i. de Jure Belli et Pacis, cap. 3. sect. 16. Egregio temperamento, as he speaks, by a most admirable, temperament: wherewith the sacrcdness of the supreme power was preserved, and yet kings out of fear of future judgment were kept from altering religion. But it may be doubted whether this was done perpetually: for we find bad* kings builded themselves sepulchres, (2 Kings xxi.

2 Chronicles 25:26

And these are they that conspired against him; Zabad the son ofShimeath an Ammonitess, and Jehozabad the son of Shimrith a Moabitess. They were mongrel fellows, whose fathers were Jews, but their mothers aliens. For’ so the manner of this impious peoplo was, to make marriages contrary to the law.,

2 Chronicles 25:27

Now concerning his sons, and the greatness of the burdens laid upon him, and the repairing of the house of God, behold, they are written in the story of the book of the Kings. Some by burdens understand the sore punishments God inflicted on him, called in Scripture the burden of the Lord: others, the great tribute laid upon him by the Syrians, which was a heavy burden, and a sore punishment And Amaziah his son reigned in his stead.] Though the father w r as not beloved, it did not hinder the succession of his son.