2 Chronicles 25 summary meaning ai explained commentary

2 Chronicles 25 meaning explained in AI Summary

This chapter narrates the reign of King Amaziah of Judah, highlighting both his successes and failures.

Early Success and Obedience:

Amaziah becomes king at 25 after his father, Joash, is assassinated (v. 1-3).
He punishes his father's murderers but spares their children, following the law in Deuteronomy (v. 4).
He gathers a massive army of Judeans and hires Israelite mercenaries (v. 5-6).
A prophet warns him against relying on the Israelites, urging him to trust in God alone (v. 7-9).
Amaziah obeys the prophet, dismissing the Israelite mercenaries despite the cost (v. 10-13).

Victory and Pride:

Amaziah leads Judah to a decisive victory against the Edomites in the Valley of Salt (v. 11-12).
He captures and executes Edomite prisoners (v. 12).
He brings back Edomite idols and begins worshipping them, abandoning the God who gave him victory (v. 14-16).

Defeat and Humiliation:

God sends a prophet to rebuke Amaziah for his idolatry and arrogance (v. 15-16).
Amaziah ignores the warning and challenges King Joash of Israel (v. 17-19).
Joash defeats Amaziah in battle, capturing him and destroying a section of Jerusalem's wall (v. 20-24).
Joash plunders the temple and royal treasures before returning to Samaria (v. 24).

Final Years and Death:

Amaziah reigns for 15 years after Joash's victory but lives in fear of conspirators (v. 25-27).
He is eventually assassinated in Lachish and buried in Jerusalem (v. 27-28).

Key Themes:

Obedience to God brings blessing, while disobedience leads to destruction.
Pride comes before the fall.
The dangers of syncretism (mixing religions).

This chapter serves as a cautionary tale, demonstrating the importance of remaining faithful to God even in times of success and the devastating consequences of abandoning Him.

2 Chronicles 25 bible study ai commentary

The reign of Amaziah serves as a stark case study in the spiritual principle that partial obedience is ultimately disobedience. His story unfolds as a tragedy of a divided heart: he begins by showing respect for God's law, but his reliance on human strength, his subsequent fall into idolatry after a military victory, and his pride-fueled rejection of prophetic counsel lead to his humiliation and downfall. The narrative powerfully illustrates that a heart not fully loyal to God is susceptible to pride and foolishness, demonstrating that momentary successes cannot protect one from the consequences of spiritual compromise.

2 Chronicles 25 Context

This chapter is set in the early 8th century BC, a period of divided monarchy. The Southern Kingdom of Judah, where Amaziah reigns, is officially Yahwist, centered on the Temple in Jerusalem. The Northern Kingdom of Israel is viewed by the Chronicler as apostate due to its syncretic worship and golden calves established by Jeroboam I. Edom, to the southeast of Judah, was a long-standing rival, often subdued by Judah but always seeking independence. The Chronicler writes this history for the post-exilic community to teach them lessons about covenant faithfulness. His emphasis is not merely on political history but on the direct correlation between obedience to God (especially in worship) and national security and prosperity.

2 Chronicles 25:1

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.

In-depth-analysis

Standard Regnal Formula: This opening follows the typical pattern for introducing a king's reign in Kings and Chronicles, establishing his age, reign length, and maternal lineage.
Reign Length: His 29-year reign was substantial but marked by a dramatic mid-point collapse. He reigned for 15 of those years in humiliation after his defeat by Israel (v. 25).
Mother's Name: Jehoaddan ("Yahweh is pleasure/delight") from Jerusalem suggests a connection to the religious and political center of Judah, implying a potentially godly upbringing that he ultimately failed to fully embrace.

Bible references

2 Kings 14:1-2: ...Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah became king... he reigned twenty-nine years... (Parallel account)

Cross references

2 Chr 24:27 (end of father's reign), Isa 7:1 (period context).

2 Chronicles 25:2

He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, but not with a loyal heart.

In-depth-analysis

The Defining Verse: This is the theological summary of Amaziah's entire life and the lens through which the rest of the chapter must be read.
Did what was right: Refers to his initial actions, such as not perpetuating idolatry at the start of his reign and punishing his father's murderers (v. 3). It denotes external compliance.
Not with a loyal heart: The Hebrew lēbāb šālēm (לֵבָב שָׁלֵם) means a "complete, whole, perfect, or undivided heart." This was the failing. His heart was divided; his obedience was conditional, shallow, and ultimately self-serving. He acted rightly when it was convenient or aligned with his plans.
This contrasts with David, the standard of a king whose heart was wholly for God (1 Kgs 11:4, 15:3), despite his grievous sins.

Bible references

1 Kings 15:14: ...Nevertheless Asa’s heart was loyal to the Lord all his days. (Contrasting example of a loyal heart).
2 Chronicles 26:4: He [Uzziah] did what was right in the sight of the LORD... as his father Amaziah had done. (Shows Amaziah's legacy of "good but not great" was passed on).
Matthew 6:24: “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other." (The impossibility of a divided heart).
James 1:8: he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. (NT description of a divided heart).

Cross references

2 Chr 15:17 (heart of Asa), 2 Kgs 14:3 (parallel account), Psa 78:37 (Israel's heart was not steadfast), Hos 10:2 (a divided heart is guilty).

2 Chronicles 25:3-4

After the kingdom was firmly in his control, he executed the officials who had murdered his father the king. 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 are not to be put to death for their children, nor children put to death for their parents; each will die for their own sin.”

In-depth-analysis

Consolidating Power: Waiting until the kingdom was ḥāzaq (חָזַק, "strong" or "firm") shows political prudence before avenging his father, Joash.
Obedience to Torah: This is Amaziah's high point. He directly applies the command from Deuteronomy. This was a righteous act that distinguished him from the standard practice of ancient Near Eastern kings who would typically eradicate the entire family of conspirators to prevent future revenge plots.
Chronicler's Emphasis: The specific mention of this act highlights the Chronicler's theme: obedience to the Mosaic Law brings blessing and is the standard for righteous rule.

Bible references

Deuteronomy 24:16: Parents are not to be put to death for their children... each will die for their own sin. (The very law Amaziah followed).
2 Kings 14:5-6: ...he executed the officials who had murdered his father... he did not put the children of the murderers to death... (Direct parallel, confirming this praiseworthy act).
Ezekiel 18:20: The one who sins is the one who will die. The child will not share the guilt of the parent, nor will the parent share the guilt of the child. (Prophetic reinforcement of the principle).

Cross references

Jer 31:29-30 (end of a proverb), 2 Chr 24:25 (the murder he was avenging).

2 Chronicles 25:5-6

He summoned the men of Judah 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 of age or more and found that there were three hundred thousand men fit for military service, able to handle the spear and shield. He also hired a hundred thousand fighting men from Israel for a hundred talents of silver.

In-depth-analysis

Military Census: Mustering an army of 300,000 shows Judah's significant military capacity. The numbers in Chronicles are often larger than in Kings, possibly reflecting later scribal practices or including broader militia totals.
The Critical Mistake: Hiring mercenaries from the Northern Kingdom of Israel was a sign of faithlessness. From the Chronicler's perspective, Israel was an apostate nation under God's judgment. Relying on them for military might was a spiritual compromise, trusting in cursed strength rather than in God alone.
One Hundred Talents: This was an enormous sum (approx. 3.75 tons of silver), showing how seriously Amaziah took this military campaign and how much he valued this worldly assistance over divine help.

Bible references

Isaiah 31:1: Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help... but do not look to the Holy One of Israel... (The principle of not relying on ungodly foreign powers).
Psalm 20:7: Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God. (The proper spiritual posture Amaziah lacked).
Hosea 5:13: When Ephraim saw his sickness... he went to Assyria to the great king... (Example of Israel itself seeking foreign help instead of God).

Cross references

2 Chr 11:1 (Rehoboam's army size), 2 Chr 14:8 (Asa's army size), 2 Chr 16:2-3 (Asa making a league with Aram).

2 Chronicles 25:7-8

But a man of God came to him and said, “Your Majesty, do not let the army of Israel go with you, for the LORD is not with Israel—not with any of the people of Ephraim. Even if you go and fight courageously, God will overthrow you before the enemy, for God has the power to help or to overthrow.”

In-depth-analysis

Man of God: An anonymous prophet, a common figure in Kings and Chronicles, delivers God's direct message. Anonymity emphasizes the authority of the message, not the messenger.
"The LORD is not with Israel": A clear theological statement. Alliance with the Northern Kingdom meant aligning with a people from whom God's blessing had departed due to their idolatry (the golden calves).
Divine Sovereignty: The prophet makes it clear that military outcomes are not determined by army size or human effort ("fight courageously") but by God's will alone. He can give victory or cause defeat. This is a core theological tenet of the Chronicler.

Bible references

1 Samuel 14:6: ...Perhaps the Lord will act in our behalf. Nothing can hinder the Lord from saving, whether by many or by few. (The principle of God's power over numbers).
Psalm 33:16-17: No king is saved by the size of his army... A horse is a vain hope for deliverance... (Reinforces the prophet's message about military might).

Cross references

2 Chr 16:7-9 (prophet Hanani rebukes Asa), 2 Chr 19:2 (prophet Jehu rebukes Jehoshaphat), Zech 4:6 ("Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit").

2 Chronicles 25:9

Amaziah asked the man of God, “But what about the hundred talents I paid for the Israelite troops?” The man of God replied, “The LORD can give you much more than that.”

In-depth-analysis

Mercenary Heart: Amaziah's first concern is not his disobedience or the spiritual state of his army, but the financial loss. This question reveals the "not with a loyal heart" (v. 2) attitude; his priorities are worldly.
"The LORD can give you much more": The prophet's answer is a call to faith. It reframes the loss as an investment in obedience, promising that God's blessing far outweighs any monetary cost. It challenges Amaziah to trust in God's provision.

Bible references

Matthew 6:33: But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. (The principle that prioritizing God brings provision).
Proverbs 3:9-10: Honor the LORD with your wealth... then your barns will be filled to overflowing... (Connecting obedience in finances with divine blessing).
Philippians 4:19: And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. (God's ability to provide).

Cross references

Gen 14:22-23 (Abram refusing riches of Sodom), Mk 10:28-30 (Peter asking what they get for following Jesus).

2 Chronicles 25:10-13

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. Amaziah then marshaled his strength and led his army to the Valley of Salt, where he killed ten thousand men of Seir. The army of Judah also captured ten thousand others, took them to the top of a cliff and threw them down so that all were dashed to pieces. Meanwhile, the troops that Amaziah had sent back... raided the towns of Judah from Samaria to Beth Horon. They killed three thousand people and carried off a great deal of plunder.

In-depth-analysis

Act of Obedience: Amaziah listens and dismisses the troops, completing his act of obedience, albeit after questioning the cost.
Furious Mercenaries: Their anger (ḥārāh ’ap̄pām, חָרָה אַפָּם, "their nose burned hot") stemmed from a loss of pay, the insult of being dismissed, and the missed opportunity for plunder from the Edomite war.
Irony and Judgment: While Amaziah is victorious in Edom (Seir), his own kingdom is being plundered by the very troops he unfaithfully hired and then faithfully dismissed. This serves as a partial judgment and a complex consequence of his mixed actions. God granted him victory but did not erase the consequences of his initial sin.
Brutal Warfare: The killing of captives by throwing them from a cliff was an act of extreme brutality, common in the ancient world but highlighting the harsh nature of the conflict. It perhaps hints at an unholy zeal in Amaziah's heart.
The Valley of Salt: A location south of the Dead Sea, a known battleground between Judah and Edom.

Bible references

2 Kings 14:7: He was the one who defeated ten thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt... (Parallel account of the victory).
2 Samuel 8:13: And David became famous after he returned from striking down eighteen thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt. (David's earlier victory in the same region).
Judges 1:7: ...seventy kings with their thumbs and big toes cut off used to pick up scraps under my table. As I have done, so God has repaid me... (Example of "measure for measure" justice and brutality in warfare).

Cross references

1 Sam 15:3 (Saul's brutal command against Amalekites), Psa 60:1 (title mentions victory over Edom in Valley of Salt).

2 Chronicles 25:14

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.

In-depth-analysis

The Great Reversal: This is a shocking and inexplicable turn. After God granted him victory, he turns from Yahweh to worship the gods of the people he just defeated.
Utter Folly: The Chronicler presents this as the height of absurdity and ingratitude. Why worship gods who demonstrated their powerlessness by failing to protect their own people from you? This action reveals the complete emptiness of his earlier "loyal" acts.
Spiritual Vacuum: Victory, instead of producing gratitude, produced pride. This pride, combined with a heart not wholly devoted to God, created a spiritual vacuum that idolatry quickly filled. This wasn't a political syncretism to appease a conquered people (they were slaughtered, not integrated); it was a personal and profound apostasy.

Bible references

Exodus 20:3: You shall have no other gods before me. (Violation of the first commandment).
Deuteronomy 7:25: The images of their gods you are to burn in the fire. Do not covet the silver and gold on them... (Direct violation of how to treat idols of a conquered nation).
Jeremiah 2:11: Has a nation ever changed its gods? (Yet they are not gods at all.) But my people have exchanged their glorious God for worthless idols. (Highlights the unique foolishness of Israel/Judah abandoning the true God).

Polemics

This act is a direct polemic against the ancient belief that victory in battle meant your god was stronger. By having the victor worship the gods of the vanquished, the Chronicler shows this logic is meaningless and that Amaziah's sin is pure folly, not a theological conclusion based on war. He attributes his victory to himself, not Yahweh, and is therefore free to "shop" for new, intriguing deities.

2 Chronicles 25:15-16

The anger of the LORD burned against Amaziah, and he sent a prophet to him, who said, “Why do you consult the gods of the people, who could not save their own people from your hand?” 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.”

In-depth-analysis

Prophetic Rebuke: God mercifully sends another prophet, whose logic is irrefutable: Why worship gods who have already proven themselves useless?
Rejection of Counsel: Unlike his first encounter with a prophet, Amaziah is now puffed up with pride from his victory. He rejects the warning with a contemptuous, threatening retort: "Have we appointed you...?" This marks his point of no return.
The Final Word: The prophet's parting words, "I know that God has determined to destroy you," are not a curse but a statement of fact. Amaziah's destruction is not for the act of idolatry alone, but because he rejected the chance to repent. Refusing God's word seals his fate. The Hebrew yā‘aṣ (יָעַץ) is used for both "counsel" and "determined/decreed," creating a powerful wordplay: because you rejected God's counsel, He has decreed your destruction.

Bible references

1 Samuel 15:23: Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, he has rejected you as king. (The same principle applied to King Saul).
Proverbs 29:1: Whoever remains stiff-necked after many rebukes will suddenly be destroyed—without remedy. (A perfect description of Amaziah's situation).
Jeremiah 7:25-26: ...day after day I sent you my servants the prophets. But they did not listen to me or pay attention. (The pattern of rejecting prophets leading to judgment).

Cross references

2 Chr 16:10 (Asa imprisoning a prophet), 2 Chr 24:20-21 (Joash killing the prophet Zechariah), Mt 23:37 (Jesus lamenting Jerusalem's killing of prophets).

2 Chronicles 25:17-19

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.” But Jehoash king of Israel replied with this story 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. You have indeed defeated Edom and now you are arrogant. Glory in your victory, but stay at home! Why ask for trouble and cause your own downfall and that of Judah also?”

In-depth-analysis

Consulted Advisers: After rejecting God's adviser (the prophet), he turns to human advisers who likely flattered his ego and approved this foolish plan.
The Challenge: "Come, let us face each other" is a hubristic and unwarranted challenge. Pride from his limited victory over Edom has blinded him to reality.
Parable of the Thistle and the Cedar: This is a classic piece of ancient wisdom literature.
- Cedar: Represents the mighty and established kingdom of Israel (and King Jehoash).
- Thistle: Represents the weak, insignificant, and overconfident Amaziah.
- The Marriage Proposal: An absurd request symbolizing Amaziah's challenge, showing how far above him Israel is.
- The Wild Beast: Represents the overwhelming and effortless nature of Israel's military might that will crush Judah without a second thought.
Jehoash's Counsel: The king of Israel gives wiser counsel than Amaziah's own heart. He correctly diagnoses Amaziah's problem ("you are arrogant") and warns him to be content and avoid disaster.

Bible references

Proverbs 16:18: Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall. (The biblical principle perfectly illustrated here).
Judges 9:8-15: ...the trees went out to anoint a king for themselves... (The parable of the trees, a similar use of fable in a political context).
2 Kings 14:8-10: ..."Come, let us face each other"...You have indeed defeated Edom and now you are arrogant... (The parallel account is nearly identical).

2 Chronicles 25:20

But Amaziah would not listen, for God so worked it that he might deliver them into the hand of Jehoash, because they sought the gods of Edom.

In-depth-analysis

Theological Keystone: This verse provides the ultimate divine explanation for the events. Amaziah's stubbornness was not independent of God's sovereign plan.
"For God so worked it": This does not absolve Amaziah of his responsibility. Rather, it shows that God used Amaziah's sinful pride and foolishness as the means of executing the judgment the prophet had already announced (v. 16). God hardened his already hard heart.
The Reason: The cause is explicitly linked back to his primary sin: "because they sought the gods of Edom." The Chronicler ensures the reader connects the punishment (defeat by Israel) directly to the crime (idolatry).

Bible references

Romans 1:24: Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity... (God "giving over" people to their sin as a form of judgment).
Exodus 9:12: But the LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he would not listen to Moses and Aaron... (Classic example of God hardening a ruler's heart to achieve His purposes).
1 Samuel 2:25: His sons, however, did not listen to their father’s rebuke, for it was the LORD’s will to put them to death. (A similar instance of God ensuring a path to judgment by preventing repentance).

2 Chronicles 25:21-24

So Jehoash king of Israel attacked. He and Amaziah king of Judah faced each other at Beth Shemesh in Judah... Judah was routed by Israel, and every man fled to his home... Jehoash... captured Amaziah... went to Jerusalem and broke down the wall... from the Ephraim Gate to the Corner Gate... He also 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 treasures of the royal palace... and hostages. Then he returned to Samaria.

In-depth-analysis

Total Defeat: The battle at Beth Shemesh (a Judahite town) was a disaster. Judah's army was routed.
Humiliation: The king was captured, a profound disgrace.
Jerusalem Breached: The breaking of Jerusalem's wall was a symbol of complete vulnerability and loss of sovereignty. It rendered the city defenseless.
Temple Plundered: The looting of the temple and the palace was both a financial and spiritual blow. It demonstrated that God was not protecting the disobedient king or his city.
- Obed-Edom: The mention of items in the care of "Obed-Edom" likely refers to descendants of the Gittite who cared for the Ark and whose family became gatekeepers (1 Chr 26:4-8). It's a poignant detail that even a legacy of faithful service could not protect the temple from the consequences of the king's sin.
Hostages: Taking hostages ensured Judah's future compliance. Amaziah's pride led to the ruin and subjugation of his people.

Bible references

2 Kings 14:11-14: (Parallel account)
Nehemiah 1:3: Those who survived the exile... are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down... (Shows the deep significance of a broken wall).
Lamentations 2:7: The Lord has rejected his altar and abandoned his sanctuary. He has given the walls of her palaces into the hands of the enemy. (Theological explanation for such a defeat).

2 Chronicles 25:25-28

Amaziah son of Joash king of Judah lived for fifteen years after the death of Jehoash son of Jehoahaz king of Israel. 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? From the time that Amaziah turned away from the LORD, a conspiracy was formed against him in Jerusalem, and he fled to Lachish, but they sent men after him and killed him there. He was brought back by horse and was buried with his ancestors in the City of Judah.

In-depth-analysis

A Long Humiliation: Amaziah lived for 15 years after his nemesis, but it was a life of shame and weakened authority, likely as a vassal to Israel.
Conspiracy's Root: The Chronicler explicitly links the conspiracy to the moment Amaziah "turned away from the LORD." His political failure was rooted in his spiritual failure. His own people turned against him because he had first turned from God.
Flight and Death: His flight to Lachish, a major fortified city southwest of Jerusalem, was futile. The conspiracy was widespread and determined. His undignified death contrasts with a proper royal death.
Burial: Despite his assassination, he was given a royal burial in Jerusalem ("City of Judah," a synonym for Jerusalem or City of David), a final, small mercy.

Bible references

2 Kings 14:17-20: (Parallel account)
2 Chronicles 24:25: His [Joash's] officials conspired against him... and murdered him... (Amaziah suffers the same fate as the father he avenged, a stark irony).

2 Chronicles chapter 25 analysis

The Half-Hearted Man: The chapter is a masterful character study of a man who is "almost" righteous. It warns that good intentions and partial obedience are insufficient. A lēbāb šālēm (whole heart) is the non-negotiable requirement for a right relationship with God.
A Tale of Two Prophets: Amaziah's reactions to the two prophetic encounters bookend his spiritual journey. In the first (vv. 7-9), he shows a flicker of faith, prioritizing obedience over money. In the second (vv. 15-16), his heart is hardened by pride, and he rejects God's word, sealing his doom.
Immediate Divine Retribution: A key theme for the Chronicler is on full display. Sin (idolatry, pride) leads directly and swiftly to punishment (defeat, plunder, assassination). There is no gap between cause and effect. Obedience to the prophet led to victory over Edom; disobedience led to destruction by Israel.
Pride, the Great Destroyer: The pivot point of the chapter is Amaziah's victory over Edom. What should have been a reason for thankfulness to God became the source of an arrogant pride that led him to worship powerless idols and challenge a superior king. It perfectly illustrates Proverbs 16:18.
Theological Interpretation of History: Verse 20 ("for God so worked it") is crucial. The Chronicler is not just recording events; he is interpreting them. He wants the reader to see God's sovereign hand orchestrating history to execute His judgments, even using the sinful choices of men like Amaziah and Jehoash to do so.

2 Chronicles 25 summary

King Amaziah of Judah begins his reign with a mix of righteous action, notably obeying the Torah in punishing his father's murderers, but his heart is not fully devoted to God. After heeding a prophet and dismissing Israelite mercenaries, he achieves a great victory over Edom. However, success breeds pride, leading him to foolishly worship Edom's defeated gods. He then rejects a second prophetic warning, and his hubris culminates in a disastrous, self-initiated war against Israel, resulting in his capture, the sacking of Jerusalem, and the plundering of the temple. His reign ends in disgrace with a conspiracy against him and his assassination.

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2 Chronicles chapter 25 kjv

¹ Amaziah was twenty and five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned twenty and nine years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Jehoaddan of Jerusalem.
² And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, but not with a perfect heart.
³ Now it came to pass, when the kingdom was established to him, that he slew his servants that had killed the king his father.
⁴ But he slew not their children, but did as it is written in the law in the book of Moses, where the LORD commanded, saying, The fathers shall not die for the children, neither shall the children die for the fathers, but every man shall die for his own sin.
⁵ Moreover Amaziah gathered Judah together, and made them captains over thousands, and captains over hundreds, according to the houses of their fathers, throughout all Judah and Benjamin: and he numbered them from twenty years old and above, and found them three hundred thousand choice men, able to go forth to war, that could handle spear and shield.
⁶ He hired also an hundred thousand mighty men of valor out of Israel for an hundred talents of silver.
⁷ But there came a man of God to him, saying, O king, let not the army of Israel go with thee; for the LORD is not with Israel, to wit, with all the children of Ephraim.
⁸ But if thou wilt go, do it; be strong for the battle: God shall make thee fall before the enemy: for God hath power to help, and to cast down.
⁹ And Amaziah said to the man of God, But what shall we do for the hundred talents which I have given to the army of Israel? And the man of God answered, The LORD is able to give thee much more than this.
¹⁰ Then Amaziah separated them, to wit, the army that was come to him out of Ephraim, to go home again: wherefore their anger was greatly kindled against Judah, and they returned home in great anger.
¹¹ And Amaziah strengthened himself, and led forth his people, and went to the valley of salt, and smote of the children of Seir ten thousand.
¹² And other ten thousand left alive did the children of Judah carry away captive, and brought them unto the top of the rock, and cast them down from the top of the rock, that they all were broken in pieces.
¹³ But the soldiers of the army which Amaziah sent back, that they should not go with him to battle, fell upon the cities of Judah, from Samaria even unto Bethhoron, and smote three thousand of them, and took much spoil.
¹⁴ Now it came to pass, after that Amaziah was come from the slaughter of the Edomites, that he brought the gods of the children of Seir, and set them up to be his gods, and bowed down himself before them, and burned incense unto them.
¹⁵ Wherefore the anger of the LORD was kindled against Amaziah, and he sent unto him a prophet, which said unto him, Why hast thou sought after the gods of the people, which could not deliver their own people out of thine hand?
¹⁶ And it came to pass, as he talked with him, that the king said unto him, Art thou made of the king's counsel? forbear; why shouldest thou be smitten? Then the prophet forbare, and said, I know that God hath determined to destroy thee, because thou hast done this, and hast not hearkened unto my counsel.
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 Bethshemesh, 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 Bethshemesh, 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 Obededom, 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.

2 Chronicles chapter 25 nkjv

¹ Amaziah was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jehoaddan of Jerusalem.
² And he did what was right in the sight of the LORD, but not with a loyal heart.
³ Now it happened, as soon as the kingdom was established for him, that he executed his servants who had murdered his father the king.
⁴ However he did not execute their children, but did as it is written in the Law in the Book of Moses, where the LORD commanded, saying, "The fathers shall not be put to death for their children, nor shall the children be put to death for their fathers; but a person shall die for his own sin."
⁵ Moreover Amaziah gathered Judah together and set over them captains of thousands and captains of hundreds, according to their fathers' houses, throughout all Judah and Benjamin; and he numbered them from twenty years old and above, and found them to be three hundred thousand choice men, able to go to war, who could handle spear and shield.
⁶ He also hired one hundred thousand mighty men of valor from Israel for one hundred talents of silver.
⁷ But a man of God came to him, saying, "O king, do not let the army of Israel go with you, for the LORD is not with Israel?not with any of the children of Ephraim.
⁸ But if you go, be gone! Be strong in battle! Even so, God shall make you fall before the enemy; for God has power to help and to overthrow."
⁹ Then Amaziah said to the man of God, "But what shall we do about the hundred talents which I have given to the troops of Israel?" And the man of God answered, "The LORD is able to give you much more than this."
¹⁰ So Amaziah discharged the troops that had come to him from Ephraim, to go back home. Therefore their anger was greatly aroused against Judah, and they returned home in great anger.
¹¹ Then Amaziah strengthened himself, and leading his people, he went to the Valley of Salt and killed ten thousand of the people of Seir.
¹² Also the children of Judah took captive ten thousand alive, brought them to the top of the rock, and cast them down from the top of the rock, so that they all were dashed in pieces.
¹³ But as for the soldiers of the army which Amaziah had discharged, so that they would not go with him to battle, they raided the cities of Judah from Samaria to Beth Horon, killed three thousand in them, and took much spoil.
¹⁴ Now it was so, after Amaziah came from the slaughter of the Edomites, that he brought the gods of the people of Seir, set them up to be his gods, and bowed down before them and burned incense to them.
¹⁵ Therefore the anger of the LORD was aroused against Amaziah, and He sent him a prophet who said to him, "Why have you sought the gods of the people, which could not rescue their own people from your hand?"
¹⁶ So it was, as he talked with him, that the king said to him, "Have we made you the king's counselor? Cease! Why should you be killed?" Then the prophet ceased, and said, "I know that God has determined to destroy you, because you have done this and have not heeded my advice."
¹⁷ Now Amaziah king of Judah asked advice and sent to Joash the son of Jehoahaz, the son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying, "Come, let us face one another in battle."
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 your daughter to my son as wife'; and a wild beast that was in Lebanon passed by and trampled the thistle.
¹⁹ Indeed you say that you have defeated the Edomites, and your heart is lifted up to boast. Stay at home now; why should you meddle with trouble, that you should fall?you and Judah with you?"
²⁰ But Amaziah would not heed, for it came from God, that He might give them into the hand of their enemies, because they sought the gods of Edom.
²¹ So Joash king of Israel went out; and he and Amaziah king of Judah faced one another at Beth Shemesh, which belongs to Judah.
²² And Judah was defeated by Israel, and every man fled to his tent.
²³ Then Joash the king of Israel captured Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Joash, the son of Jehoahaz, at Beth Shemesh; and he brought him to Jerusalem, and broke 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 silver, all the articles that were found in the house of God with Obed-Edom, the treasures of the king's house, and hostages, and returned to Samaria.
²⁵ Amaziah the son of Joash, king of Judah, lived fifteen years after the death of Joash the son of Jehoahaz, king of Israel.
²⁶ Now the rest of the acts of Amaziah, from first to last, indeed are they not written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel?
²⁷ After the time that Amaziah turned away from following the LORD, they made a conspiracy against him in Jerusalem, and he fled to Lachish; but they sent after him to Lachish and killed him there.
²⁸ Then they brought him on horses and buried him with his fathers in the City of Judah.

2 Chronicles chapter 25 niv

¹ 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.

2 Chronicles chapter 25 esv

¹ Amaziah was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jehoaddan of Jerusalem.
² And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, yet not with a whole heart.
³ And as soon as the royal power was firmly his, he killed his servants who had struck down the king his father.
⁴ But he did not put their children to death, according to what is written in the Law, in the Book of Moses, where the LORD commanded, "Fathers shall not die because of their children, nor children die because of their fathers, but each one shall die for his own sin."
⁵ Then Amaziah assembled the men of Judah and set them by fathers' houses under commanders of thousands and of hundreds for all Judah and Benjamin. He mustered those twenty years old and upward, and found that they were 300,000 choice men, fit for war, able to handle spear and shield.
⁶ He hired also 100,000 mighty men of valor from Israel for 100 talents of silver.
⁷ But a man of God came to him and said, "O king, do not let the army of Israel go with you, for the LORD is not with Israel, with all these Ephraimites.
⁸ But go, act, be strong for the battle. Why should you suppose that God will cast you down before the enemy? For God has power to help or to cast down."
⁹ And Amaziah said to the man of God, "But what shall we do about the hundred talents that I have given to the army of Israel?" The man of God answered, "The LORD is able to give you much more than this."
¹⁰ Then Amaziah discharged the army that had come to him from Ephraim to go home again. And they became very angry with Judah and returned home in fierce anger.
¹¹ But Amaziah took courage and led out his people and went to the Valley of Salt and struck down 10,000 men of Seir.
¹² The men of Judah captured another 10,000 alive and took them to the top of a rock and threw them down from the top of the rock, and they were all dashed to pieces.
¹³ But the men of the army whom Amaziah sent back, not letting them go with him to battle, raided the cities of Judah, from Samaria to Beth-horon, and struck down 3,000 people in them and took much spoil.
¹⁴ After Amaziah came from striking down the Edomites, he brought the gods of the men of Seir and set them up as his gods and worshiped them, making offerings to them.
¹⁵ Therefore the LORD was angry with Amaziah and sent to him a prophet, who said to him, "Why have you sought the gods of a people who did not deliver their own people from your hand?"
¹⁶ But as he was speaking, the king said to him, "Have we made you a royal counselor? Stop! Why should you 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 Then Amaziah king of Judah took counsel and sent to Joash the son of Jehoahaz, son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying, "Come, let us look one another in the face."
¹⁸ And Joash the king of Israel sent word to Amaziah king of Judah, "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.
¹⁹ You say, 'See, I have struck down Edom,' and your heart has lifted you up in boastfulness. But now stay at home. Why should you provoke trouble so that you fall, you and Judah with you?"
²⁰ But Amaziah would not listen, for it was of God, in order that he might give them into the hand of their enemies, because they had sought the gods of Edom.
²¹ So Joash king of Israel went up, and he and Amaziah king of Judah faced one another in battle at Beth-shemesh, which belongs to Judah.
²² And Judah was defeated by Israel, and every man fled to his home.
²³ And Joash king of Israel captured Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Joash, son of Ahaziah, at Beth-shemesh, and brought him to Jerusalem and broke down the wall of Jerusalem for 400 cubits, from the Ephraim Gate to the Corner Gate.
²⁴ And he seized all the gold and silver, and all the vessels that were found in the house of God, in the care of Obed-edom. He seized also the treasuries of the king's house, also hostages, and he returned to Samaria.
²⁵ Amaziah the son of Joash, king of Judah, lived fifteen years after the death of Joash the son of Jehoahaz, king of Israel.
²⁶ Now the rest of the deeds of Amaziah, from first to last, are they not written in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel?
²⁷ From the time when he turned away from the LORD they made a conspiracy against him in Jerusalem, and he fled to Lachish. But they sent after him to Lachish and put him to death there.
²⁸ And they brought him upon horses, and he was buried with his fathers in the city of David.

2 Chronicles chapter 25 nlt

¹ Amaziah was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-nine years. His mother was Jehoaddin from Jerusalem.
² Amaziah did what was pleasing in the LORD's sight, but not wholeheartedly.
³ When Amaziah was well established as king, he executed the officials who had assassinated his father.
⁴ However, he did not kill the children of the assassins, for he obeyed the command of the LORD as written by Moses in the Book of the Law: "Parents must not be put to death for the sins of their children, nor children for the sins of their parents. Those deserving to die must be put to death for their own crimes."
⁵ Then Amaziah organized the army, assigning generals and captains for all Judah and Benjamin. He took a census and found that he had an army of 300,000 select troops, twenty years old and older, all trained in the use of spear and shield.
⁶ He also paid about 7,500 pounds of silver to hire 100,000 experienced fighting men from Israel.
⁷ But a man of God came to him and said, "Your Majesty, do not hire troops from Israel, for the LORD is not with Israel. He will not help those people of Ephraim!
⁸ If you let them go with your troops into battle, you will be defeated by the enemy no matter how well you fight. God will overthrow you, for he has the power to help you or to trip you up."
⁹ Amaziah asked the man of God, "But what about all that silver I paid to hire the army of Israel?" The man of God replied, "The LORD is able to give you much more than this!"
¹⁰ So Amaziah discharged the hired troops and sent them back to Ephraim. This made them very angry with Judah, and they returned home in a great rage.
¹¹ Then Amaziah summoned his courage and led his army to the Valley of Salt, where they killed 10,000 Edomite troops from Seir.
¹² They captured another 10,000 and took them to the top of a cliff and threw them off, dashing them to pieces on the rocks below.
¹³ Meanwhile, the hired troops that Amaziah had sent home raided several of the towns of Judah between Samaria and Beth-horon. They killed 3,000 people and carried off great quantities of plunder.
¹⁴ When King Amaziah returned from slaughtering the Edomites, he brought with him idols taken from the people of Seir. He set them up as his own gods, bowed down in front of them, and offered sacrifices to them!
¹⁵ This made the LORD very angry, and he sent a prophet to ask, "Why do you turn to gods who could not even save their own people from you?"
¹⁶ But the king interrupted him and said, "Since when have I made you the king's counselor? Be quiet now before I have you killed!" So the prophet stopped with this warning: "I know that God has determined to destroy you because you have done this and have refused to accept my counsel."
¹⁷ After consulting with his advisers, King Amaziah of Judah sent this challenge to Israel's king Jehoash, the son of Jehoahaz and grandson of Jehu: "Come and meet me in battle!"
¹⁸ But King Jehoash of Israel replied to King Amaziah of Judah with this story: "Out in the Lebanon mountains, a thistle sent a message to a mighty cedar tree: 'Give your daughter in marriage to my son.' But just then a wild animal of Lebanon came by and stepped on the thistle, crushing it!
¹⁹ "You are saying, 'I have defeated Edom,' and you are very proud of it. But my advice is to stay at home. Why stir up trouble that will only bring disaster on you and the people of Judah?"
²⁰ But Amaziah refused to listen, for God was determined to destroy him for turning to the gods of Edom.
²¹ So King Jehoash of Israel mobilized his army against King Amaziah of Judah. The two armies drew up their battle lines at Beth-shemesh in Judah.
²² Judah was routed by the army of Israel, and its army scattered and fled for home.
²³ King Jehoash of Israel captured Judah's king, Amaziah son of Joash and grandson of Ahaziah, at Beth-shemesh. Then he brought him to Jerusalem, where he demolished 600 feet of Jerusalem's wall, from the Ephraim Gate to the Corner Gate.
²⁴ He carried off all the gold and silver and all the articles from the Temple of God that had been in the care of Obed-edom. He also seized the treasures of the royal palace, along with hostages, and then returned to Samaria.
²⁵ King Amaziah of Judah lived for fifteen years after the death of King Jehoash of Israel.
²⁶ The rest of the events in Amaziah's reign, from beginning to end, are recorded in The Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel.
²⁷ After Amaziah turned away from the LORD, there was a conspiracy against his life in Jerusalem, and he fled to Lachish. But his enemies sent assassins after him, and they killed him there.
²⁸ They brought his body back on a horse, and he was buried with his ancestors in the City of David.