2 Chronicles
Chapter 25
Amaziah of Judah (796-767)
Amaziah was twenty-five years old when he became king and reigned for twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother was Jehoaddan from Jerusalem.
He did what pleased the Lord, though not steadily.
As soon as he was firmly in power, he killed those of his officers who had murdered the king, his father.
But he did not put their sons to death, in obedience to what is written in the law, in the book of Moses, where the Lord has ordered, “Fathers must not be put to death for sons, nor sons for fathers; but everyone will pay for his crime.”
Amaziah called the people of Judah together and organized them into families, with commanders of thousands and hundreds for all Judah and Benjamin. He counted those twenty years old or older and found three hundred thousand selected warriors fit for military service and for handling spears and shields.
Next, he enrolled one hundred thousand from Israel as mercenaries for about four tons of silver.
A man of God then came to him and said: “O king, don’t take these Israelite soldiers with you, for the Lord is not with Israel or with any of the Ephraimites.
If they come, whatever be the number of your men, God will still bring you down before your enemies, for God’s is the power to uphold or to throw down.”
Amaziah answered the man of God: “And what about the four tons of silver I have given the Israelite soldiers?” The man of God replied: “The Lord can give you far more than that.”
At this, Amaziah dismissed from his army the troops that had come to him from Ephraim and sent them home. These men were furious with Judah and went home in great anger.
Amaziah led his army to Salt Valley and defeated ten thousand men of Seir.
The men of Judah took ten thousand captives alive and, taking them to the top of the cliff, threw them off the top. They were all dashed to pieces.
Then the Israelite troops, which Amaziah had dismissed and not allowed to fight with him, raided the towns of Judah from Samaria as far as Beth-horon. Still, they were defeated by a troop of three thousand men who recovered great quantities of plunder.
On returning from his defeat of the Seirites, Amaziah brought the gods of the Edomites with him and set these up as gods for himself, bowing down before them and burning incense to them.
Then the Lord became angry with Amaziah, sending him a prophet who said: “Why have you looked to these people’s gods who could not save their own people from your power?”
He was still speaking when Amaziah interrupted him: “Have we appointed you a royal counselor? If you do not want to be hurt, be quiet!” The prophet paused; then he said: “Now I know that God has decided to destroy you since, after having acted like this, you refuse to listen to me.”
After consulting his advisers, Amaziah, king of Judah, sent a message to Joash, son of Jehoahaz, son of Jehu, king of Israel, challenging him to fight.
Joash king of Israel sent back word to Amaziah, king of Judah: “The thorn bush of Lebanon sent a message to the cedar of Lebanon, saying, ‘Give my son your daughter in marriage’; but the wild animals of Lebanon trampled the thorn bush down as they passed. You are very proud because you defeated the Edomites—Boast on but stay home.
Why stir up trouble that will only bring disaster on you and your people?”
But Amaziah would not listen. It was God’s will for him to be defeated because he had worshiped the Edomite idols.
And at Beth-shemesh Judah, they made their trial of strength, Joash and Amaziah king of Judah.
Judah was defeated by Israel, and everyone fled to his tent.
The king of Judah, Amaziah, son of Joash, son of Ahaziah, was taken prisoner at Beth-shemesh by Joash, king of Israel, who led him off to Jerusalem, where Joash tore down the city wall from the Gate of Ephraim to the Gate of the Corner, a distance of two hundred yards.
He took all the gold and silver, all the furnishings to be found with Obed-edom in the house of God, the treasures of the royal palace, and hostages, and then returned to Samaria.
Amaziah, son of Joash, king of Judah, lived for fifteen years after the death of Joash, son of Jehoahaz, king of Israel.
The rest of the history of Amaziah, from first to last, is all recorded in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel.
After Amaziah rebelled against the Lord, there had been a plot against him in Jerusalem. He fled to Lachish, but he was followed to Lachish and put to death there.
He was brought back by horse and buried with his ancestors in the city of David.
Commentaries
The Kings of Judah Until the Exile.
The final section of the Chronicler’s work focuses on the history of the kingdom of Judah, covering from Solomon to the exile, with little mention of the Northern Kingdom. For the Chronicler, the kingdom of Judah represents the entire nation of Israel. The primary standard for judging each king is their loyalty to God. Four notable figures stand out as models of this loyalty: Asa, Jehoshaphat, Josiah, and especially Hezekiah. The prophets are also depicted alongside the kings, delivering messages that include warnings and sincere calls to stay loyal to the Lord. Ultimately, the Chronicler encourages the post-exilic community to seek God and remain faithful to the One who has remained true to his people despite their difficulties.
Amaziah of Judah.
The Chronicler recounts Amaziah’s reign similarly to that of Joash, dividing it into two parts: faithfulness to the Lord (1-10) and unfaithfulness (11-28). The text of 2 Kings 14:1-22 presents a theological challenge for the Chronicler: how to reconcile the defeat by Israel and the death of a mostly righteous king? To address this, he adds verses 5-10.13-16, and 20, where Amaziah’s death is seen as a result of his sin. The story is highlighted by the involvement of two prophets (7:15). The king follows the first prophet, leading to victory; he ignores the second, resulting in defeat.