Verse-by-Verse Bible Commentary
2 Chronicles 25:23

Bridgeway Bible Commentary

Prosperity followed by disaster (25:1-28:27)

Succeeding kings of Israel are passed over in silence (2 Kings 13:1-25). Judah was to have nothing to do with the northern kingdom, not even to the hiring of Israelite soldiers. Amaziah took the advice, and was rewarded with victory in a battle against Edom. But the victory, instead of increasing his dependence on God, gave him a feeling of independence. He turned from God and worshipped idols. The ungodly northern kingdom then became God’s instrument to punish the rebellious southern kingdom (25:1-28; see notes on 2 Kings 14:1-22).

Under the rule of Jeroboam II in the north (2 Kings 14:23-29) and Uzziah (or Azariah) in the south, both kingdoms enjoyed remarkable growth and prosperity. Unfortunately, this made Uzziah proud, and he arrogantly took to himself the rights of a priest. The writer points out that although the priesthood and the kingship were both appointed by God, they were separate and independent systems. One could not take over the functions of the other (26:1-23; see notes on 2 Kings 15:1-7).

Jotham followed the good policies of his father, while being careful not to repeat his father’s errors. In the Chronicler’s view, Jotham’s fear of God was the source of his strength and success (27:1-9; see notes on 2 Kings 15:32-38).

The great prosperity throughout both kingdoms was followed by unbelievable chaos. In the north the kingdom of Israel almost collapsed (2 Kings 15:8-31), and in the south the disastrous reign of Ahaz almost brought destruction to Judah (28:1-27; see notes on 2 Kings 16:1-20). Within a short time the northern kingdom was conquered by Assyria and its people carried away captive. This was the end of the northern kingdom (2 Kings 17:1-41).

Coffman's Commentaries on the Bible

AMAZIAH DEFEATED, CAPTURED, AND JERUSALEM PLUNDERED

"But Amaziah would not hear; for it was of God, that he might deliver them into the hand of their enemies, because they had sought after the gods of Edom. So Joash king of Israel went up; and he and Amaziah king of Judah looked one another in the face at Beth-shemesh, which belongeth to Judah. And Judah was put to the worse before Israel; and they fled every man to his tent. And Joash king of Israel took Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Joash, the son of Jehoahaz, at Beth-shemesh, and brought him to Jerusalem, and brake down the wall of Jerusalem from the gate of Ephraim to the corner gate, four hundred cubits. And he took all the gold and silver, and all the vessels that were found in the house of God with Obed-edom, and the treasures of the king's house, and the hostages also, and returned to Samaria."

See our discussion in the parallel account in Kings. This was a catastrophic defeat and humiliation for the arrogant Amaziah. He was left on the throne, purely by the contemptuous mercy and forbearance of the king of Israel, who might indeed have killed him.

Smith's Bible Commentary

Chapter 25

In chapter 25,

Amaziah [the son of Joash] began to reign, he was twenty-five years old when he began to reign. He reigned for twenty-nine years. And his mother's name was Jehoaddan of Jerusalem. And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, but not with a complete heart. It came to pass, when the kingdom was established ( 2 Chronicles 25:1-3 )

Actually, his dad was finally killed by a couple of his servants, and so he had the servants killed who had killed his father.

But he did not slay their children, because of the law of Moses that said, The children should not die for the sins of the parents, nor the parents for the sins of the children, but every man shall die for his own sin ( 2 Chronicles 25:4 ).

And Amaziah gathered together the people of Judah and they made an expedition against the Edomites. And they were successful in this war against the Edomites.

There came a man of God to the king ( 2 Chronicles 25:7 ),

Verse 2 Chronicles 25:7 , prior to the battle. Because the king had used a part of the money, a hundred talents of silver. And he had hired a hundred thousand of the men of Israel to come with them to fight against the Edomites. So the man of God came and said, "Why are you leaning on the arm of flesh? Why are you trusting in the Israelites for help? You ought to trust in the Lord. Send them home, because they shouldn't be going into battle with you." He said, "Well, what shall I do? I've already given a hundred talents of silver." He said, "Just forget it. Count it as a loss. But send them back. Don't let them go into battle with you." Well, he listened to the voice of the prophet of God and he sent the men of Judah home, who were angry, the men of Israel home. They were angry and so they actually began to rip up some of the cities of Judah on their way home.

But Amaziah went down then against the Edomites and God gave the Edomites into his hands. But then, stupid guy, captured some of the gods of the Edomites, the little idols and he brought them back and set them up in his home and he began to worship these little idols, the gods of the Edomites.

Therefore the anger of the LORD was kindled against Amaziah, he sent to him a prophet that said, Why have you sought after the gods of the people, which could not deliver them out of your hand? And it came to pass, as he talked with him, that the king said, Did I hire you as a counselor? You better shut up; for why should I smite you? Then the prophet was quiet, and he said, I know that God hath determined to destroy you, because you have done this, and you have not hearkened to my counsel. So Amaziah the king of Judah sent a message to Jehoahaz, the king of Israel, he said, Let's come and face each other ( 2 Chronicles 25:15-17 ).

And so Jehoash, the king of Israel, sent a message back and said, "Look, young man, you went down and you had a victory over the Edomites. Now just stay home and enjoy that victory, for why should you meddle to your own hurt?" In other words, be satisfied with the victory you had over the Edomites and don't go looking for trouble. "Why should you meddle to your own hurt?"

But Amaziah would not hear ( 2 Chronicles 25:20 );

And he demanded that they come out and meet face to face.

So the king of Israel came against him at Bethshemesh, and Amaziah and his troops were defeated. And the king of Israel came to Jerusalem and he broke down the wall of Jerusalem from the gate of Ephraim to the corner gate, a space of about six hundred feet.

And he took all of the gold and the silver, and all the vessels that were found in the house of God, and the treasures of the king's house, and he took hostages, and he returned to Samaria. And Amaziah lived for another fifteen years. And the rest of his acts are found in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel. Now after that time Amaziah turned away from following the LORD they made a conspiracy against him in Jerusalem; he fled to Lachish: but they came to Lachish and there they killed him ( 2 Chronicles 25:24-27 ).

Now this business of "why meddle to your own hurt?" is a good warning really, because many times people think that they can meddle with sin and not get hurt. They think that they can play with fire and not get burned. And it is interesting that many times our greatest dangers lie immediately following our greatest victories. Having a great victory can be a dangerous thing, because many times flushed with victory we begin to gain confidence in our flesh. We begin to almost go out looking for trouble. Looking for temptation so that we can conquer over it. Putting ourselves in a place of temptation or jeopardy in order that we might show how strong we are. Meddling around with things that we have no business meddling with. In places we have no business being. Meddling usually results in our own hurt.

And so they were defeated. But that wasn't all. A part of their defenses were destroyed. The king came and he destroyed a part of the wall of Jerusalem. When you fall into temptation, a part of your defenses are destroyed. The first time you came up against it, it was a real battle. You didn't fall easily. You really held your own for quite a while. But when you fell, a part of your defenses were wiped out. So the next time you faced that thing, you didn't have the same amount of strength to resist. It was a little easier to do it, because you've already done it once. You didn't have just that same inner strength against it. It was easier to fall the second time. The third time it was even easier yet, because a part of your defenses were destroyed.

And he took away the treasures. Whenever Satan defeats you, a certain amount of your treasures go with it. Treasures of purity and innocency robbed. Meddling to your own hurt. Don't meddle with sin. Don't meddle in the places of sin. Don't go to the enemy's territory looking for a fight. Looking to prove how strong you are, how tough you are, how righteous you are. How many people have been hurt by meddling.

"

Dr. Constable's Expository Notes

I. Amaziah ch. 25

The Chronicler selected three events from Amaziah’s reign to teach important spiritual lessons.

First, Amaziah followed the Mosaic Law faithfully in dealing with the people who had killed his father (2 Chronicles 25:1-4; cf. Deuteronomy 24:16). These actions transpired at the beginning of his reign.

Second, the king obeyed God partially in his war with the Edomites (2 Chronicles 25:5-16). He unwisely hired mercenary soldiers to help him rather than seeking the Lord’s help (2 Chronicles 25:6; cf. 2 Chronicles 20:12). However, when the prophet rebuked him, he obediently dismissed them even though it cost him 7,500 pounds of silver (2 Chronicles 25:10). Nevertheless because he had hired them, he not only lost his money but he also lost the lives of some of his soldiers when the Israelites retaliated for having been dismissed (2 Chronicles 25:13). Furthermore, he disobeyed Yahweh by importing the gods of Edom (2 Chronicles 25:14). Finally, he refused to repent (2 Chronicles 25:10). [Note: On the parallels between this passage (2 Chronicles 25:5-15) and the parable of the good Samaritan in Luke 10:25-37, see F. Scott Spencer, "2 Chronicles 28:5-15 and the Parable of the Good Samaritan," Westminster Theological Journal 46 (1984):317-49.]

Third, Amaziah disobeyed God by attacking Israel late in his reign (2 Chronicles 25:17-24). This was due, from the divine perspective, to the king’s idolatry (2 Chronicles 25:20) and, from the human perspective, to his pride (2 Chronicles 25:18). The consequences were that Judah’s enemy destroyed a portion of the wall around Jerusalem (God removed its defense, 2 Chronicles 25:23), and stripped the temple (the glory of God diminished, 2 Chronicles 25:24). Joash’s parable of the arrogant thistle recalls Jotham’s parable of the ignominious bramble (Judges 9:7-15).

"At bottom, it is the breakdown in the relationship between Amaziah and God which causes his downfall." [Note: Wilcock, p. 217.]

Idolatry was a serious matter because it struck at the heart of God’s relationship with His people. God blessed Israel with the opportunity to have an intimate personal relationship with the living sovereign Lord as no other people in the world then. To turn from this privilege to pursue dead idols was the height of effrontery (cf. Exodus 20:5). From the time Amaziah turned from Yahweh, God began to turn against him by using the faithful in Judah as His instruments of judgment (2 Chronicles 25:27). "The city of Judah" (2 Chronicles 25:28) is another name for Jerusalem (cf. 2 Kings 14:20).

"Instead of royal building programs, the walls of Jerusalem are destroyed; instead of wealth from the people and surrounding nations, the king is plundered; instead of a large family, there were hostages; instead of peace, war; instead of victory, defeat; instead of loyalty from the populace and long life, there is conspiracy and regicide." [Note: Dillard, 2 Chronicles, p. 203.]

Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

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Henry's Complete Commentary on the Bible

      17 Then Amaziah king of Judah took advice, and sent to Joash, the son of Jehoahaz, the son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying, Come, let us see one another in the face.   18 And Joash king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah, 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 wild beast that was in Lebanon, and trode down the thistle.   19 Thou sayest, Lo, thou hast smitten the Edomites; and thine heart lifteth thee up to boast: abide now at home; why shouldest thou meddle to thine hurt, that thou shouldest fall, even thou, and Judah with thee?   20 But Amaziah would not hear; for it came of God, that he might deliver them into the hand of their enemies, because they sought after the gods of Edom.   21 So Joash the king of Israel went up; and they saw one another in the face, both he and Amaziah king of Judah, at Beth-shemesh, which belongeth to Judah.   22 And Judah was put to the worse before Israel, and they fled every man to his tent.   23 And Joash the king of Israel took Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Joash, the son of Jehoahaz, at Beth-shemesh, and brought him to Jerusalem, and brake down the wall of Jerusalem from the gate of Ephraim to the corner gate, four hundred cubits.   24 And he took all the gold and the silver, and all the vessels that were found in the house of God with Obed-edom, and the treasures of the king's house, the hostages also, and returned to Samaria.   25 And Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah lived after the death of Joash son of Jehoahaz king of Israel fifteen years.   26 Now the rest of the acts of Amaziah, first and last, behold, are they not written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel?   27 Now after the time that Amaziah did turn away from following the LORD they made a conspiracy against him in Jerusalem; and he fled to Lachish: but they sent to Lachish after him, and slew him there.   28 And they brought him upon horses, and buried him with his fathers in the city of Judah.

      We have here this degenerate prince mortified by his neighbour and murdered by his own subjects.

      I. Never was proud prince more thoroughly mortified than Amaziah was by Joash king of Israel.

      1. This part of the story (which was as fully related 2 Kings 14:8-22, c., as it is here)--embracing the foolish challenge which Amaziah sent to Joash (2 Chronicles 25:17; 2 Chronicles 25:17), his haughty scornful answer to it (2 Chronicles 25:18; 2 Chronicles 25:18), with the friendly advice he gave him to sit still and know when he was well off, (2 Chronicles 25:19; 2 Chronicles 25:19),-- his wilfully persisting in his challenge (2 Chronicles 25:20; 2 Chronicles 25:21), the defeat that was given him (2 Chronicles 25:22; 2 Chronicles 25:22), and the calamity he brought upon himself and his city thereby (2 Chronicles 25:23; 2 Chronicles 25:24),-- verifies two of Solomon's proverbs:-- (1.) That a man's pride will bring him low,Proverbs 29:23. It goes before his destruction; not only procures it meritoriously, but is often the immediate occasion of it. He that exalteth himself shall be abased. (2.) That he that goes forth hastily to strive will probably not know what to do in the end thereof, when his neighbour has put him to shame,Proverbs 25:8. He that is fond of contention may have enough of it sooner than he thinks of.

      2. But there are two passages in this story which we had not before in the Kings. (1.) That Amaziah took advice before he challenged the king of Israel, 2 Chronicles 25:17; 2 Chronicles 25:17. But of whom? Not of the prophet--he was not made of the king's counsel; but of his statesmen that would flatter him and bid him go up and prosper. It is good to take advice, but then it must be of those that are fit to advise us. Those that will not take advice from the word of God, which would guide them aright, will justly be left to the bad advice of those that will counsel them to their destruction. Let those be made fools that will not be made wise. (2.) Amaziah's imprudence is here made the punishment of his impiety (2 Chronicles 25:20; 2 Chronicles 25:20): It was of the Lord; he left him to himself to act thus foolishly, that he and his people might be delivered into the hands of their enemies, because they had forsaken God and sought after the gods of Edom. Those that will not persuaded to do well for their souls will justly be given up to their own counsels to do ill for themselves even in their outward affairs.

      II. Never was poor prince more violently pursued by his own subjects. From the time that he departed from the Lord (so it may be read, 2 Chronicles 25:27; 2 Chronicles 25:27) the hearts of his subjects departed from him, and they began to form a design against him in Jerusalem. It is probable they were exasperated against him more for his rashly engaging in a war against Israel than for his worshipping the gods of Edom. But at length the ferment grew so high, and he perceived the plot to be laid so deeply, that he thought fit to quit his royal city and flee to Lachish, either as a private place where he might be hid or as a strong place where he might be guarded; but they sent after him thither, and slew him there. By this the putting of him to death seems to have been done deliberately, and to have been the act, not of a disgusted servant or two, but of a considerable body that durst avow it. How unrighteous soever they were herein, God was righteous.