Read 2 Chronicles 25
Amaziah King of Judah
25 Amaziah was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-nine years. His mother’s name was Jehoaddan; she was from Jerusalem. 2 He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, but not wholeheartedly. 3 After the kingdom was firmly in his control, he executed the officials who had murdered his father the king. 4 Yet he did not put their children to death, but acted in accordance with what is written in the Law, in the Book of Moses, where the Lord commanded: “Parents shall not be put to death for their children, nor children be put to death for their parents; each will die for their own sin.”
5 Amaziah called the people of Judah together and assigned them according to their families to commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds for all Judah and Benjamin. He then mustered those twenty years old or more and found that there were three hundred thousand men fit for military service, able to handle the spear and shield. 6 He also hired a hundred thousand fighting men from Israel for a hundred talents of silver.
7 But a man of God came to him and said, “Your Majesty, these troops from Israel must not march with you, for the Lord is not with Israel—not with any of the people of Ephraim. 8 Even if you go and fight courageously in battle, God will overthrow you before the enemy, for God has the power to help or to overthrow.”
9 Amaziah asked the man of God, “But what about the hundred talents I paid for these Israelite troops?”
The man of God replied, “The Lord can give you much more than that.”
10 So Amaziah dismissed the troops who had come to him from Ephraim and sent them home. They were furious with Judah and left for home in a great rage.
11 Amaziah then marshaled his strength and led his army to the Valley of Salt, where he killed ten thousand men of Seir. 12 The army of Judah also captured ten thousand men alive, took them to the top of a cliff and threw them down so that all were dashed to pieces.
13 Meanwhile the troops that Amaziah had sent back and had not allowed to take part in the war raided towns belonging to Judah from Samaria to Beth Horon. They killed three thousand people and carried off great quantities of plunder.
14 When Amaziah returned from slaughtering the Edomites, he brought back the gods of the people of Seir. He set them up as his own gods, bowed down to them and burned sacrifices to them. 15 The anger of the Lord burned against Amaziah, and he sent a prophet to him, who said, “Why do you consult this people’s gods, which could not save their own people from your hand?”
16 While he was still speaking, the king said to him, “Have we appointed you an adviser to the king? Stop! Why be struck down?”
So the prophet stopped but said, “I know that God has determined to destroy you, because you have done this and have not listened to my counsel.”
17 After Amaziah king of Judah consulted his advisers, he sent this challenge to Jehoash son of Jehoahaz, the son of Jehu, king of Israel: “Come, let us face each other in battle.”
18 But Jehoash king of Israel replied to Amaziah king of Judah: “A thistle in Lebanon sent a message to a cedar in Lebanon, ‘Give your daughter to my son in marriage.’ Then a wild beast in Lebanon came along and trampled the thistle underfoot. 19 You say to yourself that you have defeated Edom, and now you are arrogant and proud. But stay at home! Why ask for trouble and cause your own downfall and that of Judah also?”
20 Amaziah, however, would not listen, for God so worked that he might deliver them into the hands of Jehoash, because they sought the gods of Edom. 21 So Jehoash king of Israel attacked. He and Amaziah king of Judah faced each other at Beth Shemesh in Judah. 22 Judah was routed by Israel, and every man fled to his home. 23 Jehoash king of Israel captured Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Joash, the son of Ahaziah, at Beth Shemesh. Then Jehoash brought him to Jerusalem and broke down the wall of Jerusalem from the Ephraim Gate to the Corner Gate—a section about four hundred cubits long. 24 He took all the gold and silver and all the articles found in the temple of God that had been in the care of Obed-Edom, together with the palace treasures and the hostages, and returned to Samaria.
25 Amaziah son of Joash king of Judah lived for fifteen years after the death of Jehoash son of Jehoahaz king of Israel. 26 As for the other events of Amaziah’s reign, from beginning to end, are they not written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel? 27 From the time that Amaziah turned away from following the Lord, they conspired against him in Jerusalem and he fled to Lachish, but they sent men after him to Lachish and killed him there.28 He was brought back by horse and was buried with his ancestors in the City of Judah.
Go Deeper
When Amaziah comes to power at the age of 25, all the early signs point to him honoring God with his reign—starting with the decision to show mercy to the children of the conspirators who killed his own father. In the ancient world, King Amaziah would have been perfectly justified to take their lives in retribution. But he was bound by God’s law to not hold them accountable for the sins of their fathers. He then raised an army of mercenaries at a great financial expense but was warned by a prophet that God did not need these additional men. Amaziah ate the costs and sent the mercenaries home. He stood firm and was rewarded with total victory over the Edomites.
But then a single decision changed everything about Amaziah’s favor. After destroying the Edomites in battle, Amaziah brought back their gods and began to worship them as his own. Even after God had given him victory, Amaziah still turned to other gods. The decision makes no sense, either logically or spiritually. Why would he adopt the gods of the conquered? Hadn’t those very gods just been proven false?
For us, we also make illogical decisions around where we place our faith. We, too, worship the gods of the conquered. God protects us over and over, but we still compromise our values for a little more money, a little more security, a little more of what we don’t believe God can provide—even though He has shown us over and over that the only enduring sustenance is found in Him.
King Amaziah’s life spirals from there. He eventually loses in battle and sees his kingdom plundered and torn apart. He flees from his own people. A group of men track him down and kill him. The promise of his reign comes to a quick and violent end, like so many of the kings before him.
Questions
- Why does Amaziah send the mercenary army home, and what are his concerns with doing so?
- How does Amaziah challenge the King of Israel? How does Joash respond?
- What becomes of the gods that Amaziah brought back from war with the Edomites?What are the ‘gods of the conquered’ in your own life?
By the Way
When Amaziah challenges Joash, Joash responds with this fable: “A thistle on Lebanon sent to a cedar on Lebanon, saying, ‘Give your daughter to my son for a wife,’ and a wild beast of Lebanon passed by and trampled down the thistle.” For further context on why he responded this way, read Judges 9:8-15.
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5 thoughts on “2 Chronicles 25”
I am so thankful for not living in Bible times partial because after Jesus ascended we have Holy Spirit. We got the better deal. We still have the same problems with idols but at least we have, each person that has accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior, has communication with God through that Holy Spirit. We do not have to wait on Holy men of God to speak to us. We can pray, ask, listen and obey. Our days are numbered but what really matters is how wise we are with those days. Are we fearing man or fearing God? If we fear man we will ultimately obey man’s desires. If we fear God then we will obey God. I am a servant of Christ and I seek His approval over others, this is my proclamation. The most wonderful secret of living our days is not to imitate Jesus BUT in letting the perfect qualities of Jesus exhibit themselves in my human flesh. God in Christ in me the hope of Glory ( Col 1:27).
God I proclaim that I am a servant of Christ. God I want the approval of You. I desire the qualities of Jesus to flow through me to Your people. Psalm 90:12 So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.
13 Return, O Lord! How long?
Have pity on your servants!
14 Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love,
that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.
15 Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us,
and for as many years as we have seen evil.
16 Let your work be shown to your servants,
and your glorious power to their children.
17 Let the favor[d] of the Lord our God be upon us,
and establish the work of our hands upon us;
yes, establish the work of our hands!
God thank You that what ever I put my hands to today You establish it with goodness and grace that shows others who You are through me. God let my breath be of service for You in Jesus name amen.
WOOHOO!!!
Awesome proclamation!! I love your heart for Jesus!
A powerful proclamation, sister Amy. Amen!
Today, I am struck by God’s awesome power. Psalm 68 declares His might. Kings and armies flee in haste. The very earth shakes when He marches.
However, that same God who crushes the heads of his enemies is “a father to the fatherless, a defender of widows,” (Psalm 68:5). He is JHWH Hesed, the God of mercy and forgiveness. “Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy.” MIcah 7:18-19.
My Bible study group is currently reading a book by Dane Ortlund titled “Gentle and Lowly: The Heart of Christ for Sinners and Sufferers.” It is a wonderful reminder of God’s goodness to us. Jesus seeks out the company of sinners and tax collectors like me! May I turn to Him day by day in repentance and acceptance of his amazing grace.
King Amaziah seemed selective about which of God’s commands he chose to follow. His character was marked by some good things, but mostly by compromise, disobedience, selfish ambition and pride. These led to his downfall and demise. Let’s notice times we, too, are most vulnerable:
~when making impulsive decisions
~after experiencing a great victory
~when we run hard after money, power or position
~when we forget about God
Our story can look very different from King Amaziah’s as we press into following God’s commands wholeheartedly!Ella
What I’ve learned today is not to let ambition and pride into my life, for they will lead me away from God. Failure to recognize God’s part in our accomplishments will lead to lack of thankfulness.