2 Chronicles 25 14

2 Chronicles 25:14 kjv

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.

2 Chronicles 25:14 nkjv

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.

2 Chronicles 25:14 niv

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.

2 Chronicles 25:14 esv

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.

2 Chronicles 25:14 nlt

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!

2 Chronicles 25 verses

2 Chronicles 25 14 Meaning

This verse narrates the immediate and paradoxical spiritual downfall of King Amaziah of Judah. Following his decisive victory over the Edomites, a victory achieved only after he listened to a prophet and dismissed his hired Israelite troops, Amaziah shockingly brought the defeated Edomite gods back to Judah. Not content with mere possession as war spoils, he intentionally set these idols up as his personal deities, bowing down to them and offering incense, thus committing blatant idolatry against the One True God who had just granted him success. This act reveals a profound lack of gratitude, understanding, and allegiance to Yahweh.

2 Chronicles 25 14 Context

2 Chronicles chapter 25 details the reign of King Amaziah of Judah. The chapter begins by highlighting his partial obedience: he did what was right in the sight of the Lord, "but not with a loyal heart" (25:2). He began well by executing those who murdered his father but did not kill their children, according to the Law (Dt 24:16). His next significant action was raising an army for war against Edom. Before the battle, he hired Israelite mercenaries, but a prophet warned him against this, asserting that God was not with the northern kingdom. Amaziah, displaying rare obedience and trust, dismissed the mercenaries at a financial cost. After doing so, the Lord granted him a resounding victory over the Edomites, killing 10,000 in battle and throwing another 10,000 off a cliff. Verse 14 directly follows this divine intervention and triumph, describing Amaziah's shocking turn to idolatry despite having witnessed God's direct power and faithfulness. This act sets the stage for the remaining narrative of the chapter, where God sends another prophet to rebuke Amaziah, and Amaziah foolishly rejects the warning, ultimately leading to his own downfall and eventual assassination. The historical context reflects a common ancient Near Eastern practice where victorious nations often brought back the gods of their defeated enemies, sometimes as spoils, sometimes integrating them into their pantheon, or even setting them up as symbols of the vanquished power now subservient to the victor's deity. However, for a covenant people like Judah, this was an egregious sin, a direct violation of their covenant with Yahweh, who tolerated no rival gods.

2 Chronicles 25 14 Word analysis

• Now it came to pass: (ויהי - way·hî) A common transitional phrase in Hebrew narrative, signaling a new development or sequence of events. It marks the commencement of a significant, and in this case, lamentable action following a triumphant moment.

• after Amaziah had come from the slaughter of the Edomites: This temporal clause is crucial. It directly links the king's act of apostasy to his recent victory. The "slaughter" (הכּות - hak·kō·wṯ) implies a complete and decisive defeat. The Edomites were the descendants of Esau, Jacob's brother, and chronic adversaries of Israel. God's clear deliverance of them into Amaziah's hand highlights the extreme ingratitude in what follows.

• that he brought: (ויבא - wa·yā·ḇeʾ) More than simply acquiring or taking, this verb signifies an active, deliberate carrying or fetching. It implies a conscious act of removal from Edomite territory to Judah.

• the gods: (אלהי - ’ĕ·lō·hê) Refers to the deities worshipped by the Edomites. In a monotheistic context, these are "no-gods," but to the Edomites and to Amaziah's sin, they were regarded as divine entities. The term "elohim" can also refer to the one God, but here, with "of the people of Seir," it unequivocally refers to pagan idols.

• of the people of Seir: Seir was the mountainous region synonymous with Edom, indicating these were specific, local deities connected to that nation and its territory. Their failure to protect Edom in the recent war should have underscored their impotence to Amaziah.

• set them up: (ויקימם - way·yā·qemēm) This verb means "to cause to stand," "to erect," "to establish." It's an active and formal act of enthroning or placing these idols in a position of worship or prominence within Judah. This goes beyond mere possession; it's an act of veneration and formal recognition.

• to be his gods: (לו לאלהים - lōw lā·’ĕ·lō·hîm) This explicit declaration highlights a shocking shift in allegiance. These idols were no longer just war spoils but adopted by Amaziah as his personal deities. It indicates a claim of possession and personal worship, directly usurping Yahweh's unique position.

• and bowed down before them: (וישתחו - way·yiš·ta·ḥu) This signifies prostration, an act of deepest reverence, homage, and worship in the ancient Near East. It is a direct and unambiguous act of worship directed at these foreign deities, fulfilling the "bow down" part of the first commandment's prohibition against idols.

• and burned incense to them: (ויקטר - way·yaq·ṭêr) Incense burning was a sacred priestly act of worship in Israel, dedicated exclusively to Yahweh, symbolizing prayers ascending to Him (Psa 141:2). Performing this act before pagan idols was a supreme act of apostasy, a ritual acknowledgment of their supposed divinity and a complete rejection of the true God. It demonstrates deep, ritualistic commitment to these false gods.

• after Amaziah... brought the gods...: This phrase grouping highlights the tragic irony and profound ingratitude. Right after a divinely given victory, Amaziah's first act of 'celebration' is to turn away from the source of his success to worship the powerless deities of his vanquished foes. It is a striking example of the human heart's capacity for turning away from God even after experiencing His power directly.

• set them up to be his gods, and bowed down before them and burned incense to them: This sequence details the deliberate steps of idolatry. It's a progression from mere acquisition to formal establishment, then physical veneration (bowing down), and finally to cultic offering (burning incense). Each step is a deeper descent into rebellion against Yahweh and an explicit embrace of paganism. It indicates a wholehearted, albeit foolish, commitment to these false deities.

2 Chronicles 25 14 Bonus section

The Edomite gods Amaziah took would have been typical Canaanite/Aramaean deities, perhaps Baal variants, Asherah, or local deities associated with Seir. The irony is compounded by the fact that the Israelite people themselves had often been judged by God precisely for worshipping such idols (e.g., Baals and Asherahs, found throughout Judges and Kings). Amaziah's actions show a similar spiritual blindness. His move also implies a dangerous syncretism or replacement: believing these gods held some power, perhaps even over the land of Seir, or that having them would ensure continued success. This reflects a fundamental misunderstanding of Yahweh's absolute sovereignty and uniqueness as the only true God. This also acts as a polemic against the idea that the gods of conquered people gain power through their conquest or that one should honor them; Yahweh alone is to be honored. The quickness of his spiritual decline after a major victory also stands as a stark biblical principle: great blessings or triumphs can sometimes precede great temptation or spiritual testing (as seen in Dt 8:11-14).

2 Chronicles 25 14 Commentary

2 Chronicles 25:14 serves as a potent warning against spiritual complacency and ingratitude, especially after receiving divine blessings. Amaziah's conduct is inexplicable apart from the deep-seated spiritual weakness mentioned earlier: his heart was not wholly loyal to the Lord. His act is profoundly ironic; he brings back the gods of a people utterly vanquished by the God of Israel, gods that proved incapable of saving their own worshippers. This immediately renders Amaziah's "victorious" reign as a failure in God's eyes. It underscores the perpetual temptation for God's people to drift towards syncretism or outright apostasy, seeking perceived power or security from other sources even after Yahweh has demonstrated His sovereignty. His sin was not one of ignorance but a deliberate choice following a clear divine intervention. This act led to God sending a prophet to him (2 Chr 25:15), whom Amaziah dismissed, demonstrating the hardening of his heart. Practical examples include people receiving a breakthrough or healing, then attributing it to luck or themselves; or neglecting spiritual disciplines after a period of success.