17 Then Amaziah H558 king H4428 of Judah H3063 took advice, H3289 and sent H7971 to Joash, H3101 the son H1121 of Jehoahaz, H3059 the son H1121 of Jehu, H3058 king H4428 of Israel, H3478 saying, H559 Come, H3212 let us see one another H7200 in the face. H6440
Then Amaziah H558 sent H7971 messengers H4397 to Jehoash, H3060 the son H1121 of Jehoahaz H3059 son H1121 of Jehu, H3058 king H4428 of Israel, H3478 saying, H559 Come, H3212 let us look H7200 one another in the face. H6440 And Jehoash H3060 the king H4428 of Israel H3478 sent H7971 to Amaziah H558 king H4428 of Judah, H3063 saying, H559 The thistle H2336 that was in Lebanon H3844 sent H7971 to the cedar H730 that was in Lebanon, H3844 saying, H559 Give H5414 thy daughter H1323 to my son H1121 to wife: H802 and there passed H5674 by a wild H7704 beast H2416 that was in Lebanon, H3844 and trode down H7429 the thistle. H2336 Thou hast indeed H5221 smitten H5221 Edom, H123 and thine heart H3820 hath lifted thee up: H5375 glory H3513 of this, and tarry H3427 at home: H1004 for why shouldest thou meddle H1624 to thy hurt, H7451 that thou shouldest fall, H5307 even thou, and Judah H3063 with thee? But Amaziah H558 would not hear. H8085 Therefore Jehoash H3060 king H4428 of Israel H3478 went up; H5927 and he and Amaziah H558 king H4428 of Judah H3063 looked H7200 one another in the face H6440 at Bethshemesh, H1053 which belongeth to Judah. H3063 And Judah H3063 was put to the worse H5062 before H6440 Israel; H3478 and they fled H5127 every man H376 to their tents. H168 And Jehoash H3060 king H4428 of Israel H3478 took H8610 Amaziah H558 king H4428 of Judah, H3063 the son H1121 of Jehoash H3060 the son H1121 of Ahaziah, H274 at Bethshemesh, H1053 and came H935 to Jerusalem, H3389 and brake down H6555 the wall H2346 of Jerusalem H3389 from the gate H8179 of Ephraim H669 unto the corner H6438 gate, H8179 four H702 hundred H3967 cubits. H520 And he took H3947 all the gold H2091 and silver, H3701 and all the vessels H3627 that were found H4672 in the house H1004 of the LORD, H3068 and in the treasures H214 of the king's H4428 house, H1004 and hostages, H1121 H8594 and returned H7725 to Samaria. H8111
And Abner H74 said H559 to Joab, H3097 Let the young men H5288 now arise, H6965 and play H7832 before H6440 us. And Joab H3097 said, H559 Let them arise. H6965
But the soldiers H1121 of the army H1416 which Amaziah H558 sent back, H7725 that they should not go H3212 with him to battle, H4421 fell H6584 upon the cities H5892 of Judah, H3063 from Samaria H8111 even unto Bethhoron, H1032 and smote H5221 three H7969 thousand H505 of them, and took H962 much H7227 spoil. H961
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on 2 Chronicles 25
Commentary on 2 Chronicles 25 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 25
2Ch 25:1-4. Amaziah Begins to Reign Well.
1. Amaziah was twenty and five years old, &c.—(See 2Ki 14:1-6).
2Ch 25:5-10. Having Hired an Army of Israelites against the Edomites, at the Word of a Prophet He Loses a Hundred Talents and Dismisses Them.
5. Amaziah … made captains, &c.—As all who were capable of bearing arms were liable to serve, it was quite natural in making up the muster-roll to class them according to their respective families and to appoint the officers of each corps from the same quarter; so that all the soldiers who formed a regiment were brothers, relatives, friends. Thus the Hebrew troops were closely linked together, and had strong inducements to keep steady in their ranks.
found them three hundred thousand choice men—This was only a fourth part of Jehoshaphat's army (2Ch 17:14-19), showing how sadly the kingdom of Judah had, in the space of eighty-two years, been reduced in population by foreign wars, no less than by internal corruptions. But the full amount of Amaziah's troops may not be here stated.
6. He hired also an hundred thousand mighty men of valour … for an hundred talents of silver—This sum was paid into the treasury of Jehoahaz—not given as bounty to the mercenaries who were obliged to serve at the sovereign's call; their remuneration consisting only in the booty they might obtain. It was about £50,000 sterling, being 10s. per man, including officers—a very paltry pay, compared with the bounty given for a soldier in this country. But it must be remembered that in ancient times campaigns were short and the hazards of the service comparatively small.
7, 8. there came a man of God—sent to dissuade Amaziah from the course he was following, on the ground that "the Lord is not with Israel." This statement was perfectly intelligible to the king. But the historian, writing long after, thought it might require explanation, and therefore added the comment, "with all the children of Ephraim." Idolatry had long been the prevailing religion in that kingdom, and Ephraim its headquarters. As to the other part of the prophet's advice (2Ch 25:8), considerable obscurity hangs over it, as the text stands; and hence some able critics have suggested the insertion of "not" in the middle clause, so that the verse will be thus: "But if thou wilt go [alone], do, be strong for the battle; God shall not make thee fall before the enemy."
10. separated them … the army … out of Ephraim … their anger was greatly kindled against Judah—Amaziah, who knew his position as the Lord's viceroy, complied with the prophet's counsel, and, consenting to forfeit the purchase money of the Israelitish soldiers, discharged them. Exasperated at this treatment, they resolved to indemnify themselves for the loss of their expected booty, and so on their return home they plundered all the towns in their way, committing great havoc both of life and property without any stoppage, as the king of Judah and his army had set out on their expedition (2Ki 14:7).
11. valley of salt—This ravine lies to the south of the Dead Sea. The arms of Amaziah, in reward for his obedience to the divine will, were crowned with victory—ten thousand of the Edomites were slain on the field, and as many taken prisoners, who were put to death by precipitation "from the top of the rock" [2Ch 25:12]. This rock might be situated in the neighborhood of the battlefield, but more probably it formed one of the high craggy cliffs of Selah (Petra), the capital of the Edomites, whither Amaziah marched directly from the Valley of Salt, and which he captured (2Ki 14:7). The savage cruelty dealt out to them was either in retaliation for similar barbarities inflicted on the Hebrews, or to strike terror into so rebellious a people for the future. The mode of execution, by dashing against stones (Ps 137:9), was common among many ancient nations.
14-16. Amaziah … brought the gods of the children of Seir—The Edomites worshipped the sun under different forms and with various rites. But burning incense upon altars was a principal act of worship, and this was the very thing Amaziah is described as having with strange infatuation performed. Whether he had been captivated with the beauty of the images, or hoped by honoring the gods to disarm their spite at him for his conquest and harsh treatment of their votaries, his conduct in establishing these objects of religious homage in Jerusalem was foolish, ignorant, and highly offensive to God, who commissioned a prophet to rebuke him for his apostasy, and threaten him with the calamity that soon after befell him.
16. as he talked with him, &c.—Those who were invested with the prophetic character were entitled to counsel kings. Amaziah, had he not been offended by unwelcome truths, would have admitted the claim of this prophet, who was probably the same that had given him counsel previous to the war with Edom. But victory had elated and blinded him.
2Ch 25:17. He Provokes Joash to His Overthrow.
17. Then Amaziah … sent to Joash … Come, let us see one another in the face—(See on 2Ki 14:8-20).