Bible Commentaries

2 CHRONICLES CHAPTER 25

Amaziah beginneth to reign well; slayeth his father’s murderers, 2 Chronicles 25:1-4. Having hired an army of Israelites against the Edomites, at the word of a prophet he dismisseth them, 2 Chronicles 25:5-10; and with his own people overthroweth the Edomites: the Israelites in their return home spoil, 2 Chronicles 25:11-13. Amaziah serveth the gods of Edom, and despiseth the admonition of the prophet, 2 Chronicles 25:14-16. He provoketh Joash to his overthrow, 2 Chronicles 25:17-21. His reign; he is slain by conspiracy, 2 Chronicles 25:25-28.

Of this verse, and ver. 2-4, See Poole "2 Kings 14:1", etc.

Out of Israel; out of the kingdom of the ten tribes.

The Lord is not with Israel; he hath forsaken them, and for their sakes will curse thy forces, if thou joinest thyself with them.

Be strong for the battle; take courage, and strengthen thyself as much as thou canst. It is an ironical concession, like that, Go, and prosper.

Their anger was greatly kindled against Judah; because they were both disgraced by this rejection, and disappointed of that prey and spoil which they hoped to gain, whereas now they were sent away empty; for the one hundred talents probably were given to their officers only to raise men for this service; that sum being otherwise too small to be distributed into so many hands.

Unto Beth-horon, to wit, Beth-horon the lower, which was in the tribe of Benjamin; and from thence to Samaria; either,

1. To the city of Samaria; for the kings of Judah had taken divers places within the kingdom of Israel. Or,

2. To the kingdom of Samaria; Beth-horon and all other places between that city and their own kingdom.

Smote, i.e. killed, as that word is generally understood.

Three thousand of them; not three thousand cities, but three thousand persons dwelling in them, who possibly opposed them in taking the spoil, which was the thing they sought.

Therefore thou art not only ungrateful and impious, but also ridiculously foolish, in offending that God whose power and goodness thou hast now found, and in worshipping such gods of whose impotency thou hast had late experience.

Art thou made of the king’s counsel? who art thou that presumest to direct and govern my affairs, without my commission?

Why shouldest thou be smitten? provoke me no further, lest I cause thee to be killed for thy sauciness.

I know that God hath determined to destroy thee: this he might know, either by the plain and positive rules of God’s word, as Proverbs 29:1, or by the suggestion of God’s Spirit.

Amaziah took advice, i.e. about the injury which the Israelites had done to his people, 2 Chronicles 25:13, and how he should repair it. But of this and the following verses See Poole "2 Kings 14:8", &c.

It came of God, who gave him up to his own error and passion, in order to his ruin.

In the house of God with Obed-edom, i. e. with Obed-edom’s posterity, to whom the custody of the sacred treasures was committed. See 1 Chronicles 26:15.