2 Chronicles 25 10

2 Chronicles 25:10 kjv

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.

2 Chronicles 25:10 nkjv

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.

2 Chronicles 25:10 niv

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.

2 Chronicles 25:10 esv

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.

2 Chronicles 25:10 nlt

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.

2 Chronicles 25 verses

2 Chronicles 25 10 Meaning

King Amaziah, acting upon the instruction of a man of God, dismissed the hired Israelite soldiers from the northern kingdom, specifically those from Ephraim, sending them back to their homes. Consequently, the anger of these Israelite mercenaries was intensely ignited against the kingdom of Judah because they were deprived of the opportunity to participate in the battle and secure spoils, causing them to return to their homes in a state of furious wrath.

2 Chronicles 25 10 Context

Chapter 25 opens with King Amaziah of Judah, who reigned from Jerusalem. He was initially a king who did "what was right in the sight of the LORD, yet not with a whole heart." Preparing for war against Edom, he mustered his own army and additionally hired 100,000 mighty men of valor from the northern kingdom of Israel (specifically "Ephraim," often used as a broader term for Israel) for a substantial sum of 100 talents of silver. Before the battle, a man of God intervened, warning Amaziah not to let the Israelite army go with him because the LORD was not with Israel. The prophet emphasized that God had the power to give Amaziah victory even without their help, or conversely, to cast him down. Amaziah's dilemma, articulated in verse 9, was the loss of the money already paid to the Israelite troops. The man of God assured him that "The LORD is able to give you much more than this." It is in direct response to this divine counsel that Amaziah acted in verse 10, dismissing the hired army. The dismissal, while an act of obedience to God, was not received well by the mercenaries, whose subsequent rage is immediately demonstrated by their unprovoked attack on Judahite cities (2 Chr 25:13) on their return home, killing thousands and taking spoil. This event underscores the volatile relationship between Judah and Israel, further complicated by financial interests and pride.

2 Chronicles 25 10 Word analysis

• So Amaziah separated them,: This marks Amaziah's decision and action of dismissing the troops, a direct act of obedience to the man of God's instruction (2 Chr 25:7-9). The Hebrew word for "separated" is hiphrid (הִפְרִיד), meaning "to divide, separate, set apart." This highlights a deliberate, decisive action taken to detach himself from an unholy alliance, signifying a temporary positive turn in his reign where he prioritized divine guidance over personal strategy or financial loss.
• the army that had come to him from Ephraim,: "Army" (Hebrew ḥayil, חַיִל) signifies strength, might, and military force. "Ephraim" is a prominent tribe, often used as a representative name for the entire northern kingdom of Israel, highlighting its leading position. This clarifies the origin of the hired soldiers, underscoring that while they were fellow Israelites, the deep schism between Judah and Israel, and Israel's spiritual decline, made their alliance spiritually undesirable in God's eyes for Judah's king. God wanted Judah to rely solely on Him, not a fractured, spiritually compromised ally.
• and sent them home.: This phrase denotes their complete dismissal and repatriation. The Hebrew verb is shalach (שָׁלַח), "to send." It implies a decisive end to their contractual service and presence, fulfilling the prophet's command without lingering engagement.
• Therefore their anger was greatly kindled against Judah,: "Therefore" indicates a direct consequence of Amaziah's action. "Anger" (Hebrew ʾap, אַף, literally "nose," but figuratively "wrath, fury," often shown by snorting or burning breath) indicates a deep, passionate resentment. "Greatly kindled" (yichhar ʾap - וַיִּחַר־אַף) uses a construct that emphasizes the intensity and ignition of their wrath, depicting it as a consuming fire. Their fury was specifically "against Judah," indicating the direction of their animosity for perceived injustice or loss. Their anger stemmed not from spiritual insight but from mercenary motives, having been deprived of pay and potential plunder (as shown in v. 13).
• and they returned home in fierce anger.: This re-emphasizes the depth of their fury as they retreated. "Fierce anger" (Hebrew ḥari ʾap, בְּחָרִי־אָף), intensifying ʾap, signifies burning wrath, a white-hot fury. This double emphasis on "anger" underscores its potent, unchecked nature, foreboding the violent retribution they would exact upon Judah on their return journey.

Words-group by Words-group analysis:

• "So Amaziah separated them... and sent them home.": This phrase captures Amaziah's obedience to the divine word spoken through the man of God. It highlights a critical moment of choosing faith over sight (losing money but gaining divine favor). This decision, though seemingly a financial loss and an immediate provocation to the Israelite army, was God's way of demonstrating His sole sufficiency for Judah's king (2 Chr 25:9).
• "the army that had come to him from Ephraim,": This emphasizes the identity of the mercenaries. The specific mention of "Ephraim" indicates the Northern Kingdom, highlighting the deep-seated spiritual and political division between Judah and Israel. Even though these were fellow Israelites, reliance on them was discouraged by God due to their apostasy and disunity with His true worship centered in Judah.
• "Therefore their anger was greatly kindled against Judah, and they returned home in fierce anger.": This vividly portrays the strong, vengeful reaction of the dismissed soldiers. Their anger was fueled by materialistic disappointment and injured pride rather than any spiritual understanding. The repetition and intensification of "anger" (from "greatly kindled" to "fierce anger") forewarns of the violent repercussions that followed (2 Chr 25:13), revealing the corrupt heart of mercenaries whose loyalties lay with gain, not righteousness. It contrasts God's righteous anger with carnal human anger, demonstrating that actions, even when right in God's eyes, can provoke unrighteous human reactions.

2 Chronicles 25 10 Bonus section

• The Israelite mercenaries' anger being "greatly kindled" and "fierce" suggests their hearts were set on personal gain (lucre and plunder) rather than divine guidance or brotherly unity. This reveals a critical spiritual divide; Amaziah was prompted to obey God, while the Israelite troops operated on purely worldly motivations.
• This incident can be seen as a micro-cosmic reflection of the broader conflict and ultimate downfall of both kingdoms. Both often prioritized human strength, wealth, and strategic alliances over a singular reliance on Yahweh, leading to self-inflicted wounds and internal strife.
• The prophet's reassurance that "The LORD is able to give you much more than this" (2 Chr 25:9) highlights a key principle: God's ability to recompense far exceeds any perceived loss incurred by obedience. The dismissal, while causing immediate financial and logistical issues, positioned Judah to potentially receive greater divine blessing, contrasting the mercenaries' pursuit of temporary worldly spoils.

2 Chronicles 25 10 Commentary

2 Chronicles 25:10 encapsulates a pivotal moment in King Amaziah's reign, where an act of initial obedience to divine counsel led to immediate human wrath. Amaziah, facing an imminent battle, had unwisely sought military reinforcement from the Northern Kingdom, disregarding the spiritual chasm between the two halves of Israel. God, through a prophet, intervened, clearly stating that victory did not depend on foreign alliances but solely on His presence and power. The cost of dismissing the already-paid troops was significant, testing Amaziah's trust. His compliance, in this instance, demonstrated a measure of faith.

However, the dismissal provoked intense, self-serving anger among the Israelite mercenaries. Their fury was not based on righteousness or national loyalty, but on disappointed expectation of plunder and payment. This response underscores a recurring biblical theme: human motives often conflict with divine purposes. While God's plan ensures true spiritual and often physical victory, it can trigger carnal resistance when people's earthly ambitions are thwarted. This verse also serves as a somber precursor to the further deterioration of relations between Judah and Israel, hinting at deeper animosities that would continually plague them. Ultimately, it emphasizes that trusting God's sufficiency may require letting go of human dependencies, even when it involves personal loss or provokes immediate, volatile human reactions, as the true spiritual rewards outweigh any material setback.