23 And Joash H3101 the king H4428 of Israel H3478 took H8610 Amaziah H558 king H4428 of Judah, H3063 the son H1121 of Joash, H3101 the son H1121 of Jehoahaz, H3059 at Bethshemesh, H1053 and brought H935 him to Jerusalem, H3389 and brake down H6555 the wall H2346 of Jerusalem H3389 from the gate H8179 of Ephraim H669 to the corner H6437 gate, H8179 four H702 hundred H3967 cubits. H520
And they came up H5927 into Judah, H3063 and brake H1234 into it, and carried away H7617 all the substance H7399 that was found H4672 in the king's H4428 house, H1004 and his sons H1121 also, and his wives; H802 so that there was never a son H1121 left H7604 him, save Jehoahaz, H3059 the youngest H6996 of his sons. H1121
So the people H5971 went forth, H3318 and brought H935 them, and made H6213 themselves booths, H5521 every one H376 upon the roof of his house, H1406 and in their courts, H2691 and in the courts H2691 of the house H1004 of God, H430 and in the street H7339 of the water H4325 gate, H8179 and in the street H7339 of the gate H8179 of Ephraim. H669
And the inhabitants H3427 of Jerusalem H3389 made H4427 Ahaziah H274 his youngest H6996 son H1121 king H4427 in his stead: for the band of men H1416 that came H935 with the Arabians H6163 to the camp H4264 had slain H2026 all the eldest. H7223 So Ahaziah H274 the son H1121 of Jehoram H3088 king H4428 of Judah H3063 reigned. H4427
Moreover Uzziah H5818 built H1129 towers H4026 in Jerusalem H3389 at the corner H6438 gate, H8179 and at the valley H1516 gate, H8179 and at the turning H4740 of the wall, and fortified H2388 them.
And from above the gate H8179 of Ephraim, H669 and above the old H3465 gate, H8179 and above the fish H1709 gate, H8179 and the tower H4026 of Hananeel, H2606 and the tower H4026 of Meah, H3968 even unto the sheep H6629 gate: H8179 and they stood still H5975 in the prison H4307 gate. H8179
And he returned H7725 to be healed H7495 in Jezreel H3157 because of the wounds H4347 which were given H5221 him at Ramah, H7414 when he fought H3898 with Hazael H2371 king H4428 of Syria. H758 And Azariah H5838 the son H1121 of Jehoram H3088 king H4428 of Judah H3063 went down H3381 to see H7200 Jehoram H3088 the son H1121 of Ahab H256 at Jezreel, H3157 because he was sick. H2470
And when the year H8141 was expired, H8666 king H4428 Nebuchadnezzar H5019 sent, H7971 and brought H935 him to Babylon, H894 with the goodly H2532 vessels H3627 of the house H1004 of the LORD, H3068 and made Zedekiah H6667 his brother H251 king H4427 over Judah H3063 and Jerusalem. H3389
Now H3705 I H576 Nebuchadnezzar H5020 praise H7624 and extol H7313 and honour H1922 the King H4430 of heaven, H8065 all H3606 whose works H4567 are truth, H7187 and his ways H735 judgment: H1780 and those that walk H1981 in pride H1467 he is able H3202 to abase. H8214
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).