2 Chronicles 25 17

2 Chronicles 25:17 kjv

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.

2 Chronicles 25:17 nkjv

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."

2 Chronicles 25:17 niv

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."

2 Chronicles 25:17 esv

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."

2 Chronicles 25:17 nlt

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!"

2 Chronicles 25 verses

2 Chronicles 25 17 Meaning

This verse reveals King Amaziah of Judah, filled with pride following his victory over Edom and subsequent turn to idolatry, taking the deliberate step to challenge King Joash of Israel to a direct military confrontation. His words, "Come, let us look one another in the face," constitute a provocative declaration of war, indicative of his arrogant confidence and rejection of God's prior counsel and prophetic warning.

2 Chronicles 25 17 Context

This verse occurs immediately after Amaziah's military triumph over the Edomites at the Valley of Salt, a victory that God had granted him despite Amaziah's earlier misjudgment in hiring Israelite mercenaries, whom he subsequently dismissed at a prophet's word. Instead of maintaining his obedience and reliance on God, Amaziah, swelled with pride from his recent success, brought back Edomite idols and began to worship them (2 Chron 25:14). When a prophet of God confronted him, Amaziah stubbornly refused to listen, even threatening the prophet (2 Chron 25:15-16). His challenge to Joash of Israel, articulated in this verse, is a direct manifestation of this escalating spiritual arrogance and rebellion against God, possibly also fueled by resentment over the earlier mercenary raid on Judahite cities (2 Chron 25:13).

2 Chronicles 25 17 Word analysis

• Then: Connects this event directly to Amaziah's preceding idolatry and rejection of divine counsel (2 Chron 25:14-16). It signifies a logical progression from his spiritual decline.
• Amaziah: Hebrew Amatsyah (עֲמַצְיָהוּ), meaning "Strength of Yah" or "Yah has strengthened." This name is deeply ironic here, as his actions are born not of divine strength but human hubris, leading to his weakness and downfall. He was the King of Judah, descendant of David.
• king of Judah: Identifies his role and the kingdom he governed, the Southern Kingdom, distinct from Israel. His actions had direct implications for the entire nation under God's covenant.
• took counsel: Hebrew yā‘ats (יָעַץ). This act implies deliberation and strategic thought. However, the type of counsel taken is crucial; here, it implicitly points to human wisdom and political ambition, contrasting sharply with the divine counsel he had just rejected. It signifies a departure from relying on the Lord.
• and sent: Hebrew shalaḥ (שָׁלַח). Denotes a deliberate and formal dispatch, indicating a premeditated and official communication of his hostile intent. It was not a sudden outburst but a calculated move.
• to Joash: Hebrew Yo’ash (יוֹאָשׁ), meaning "Yah has given." The King of the Northern Kingdom, Israel.
• the son of Jehoahaz, son of Jehu: Provides a clear lineage for Joash, differentiating him from others and anchoring the historical context within the dynasties of Israel and Judah, highlighting the inter-kingdom relationship.
• king of Israel: The Northern Kingdom, frequently in contention with Judah since the kingdom's division after Solomon's reign.
• saying, 'Come, let us look one another in the face.': This is a direct quote of Amaziah's challenging words. The phrase "look one another in the face" (Hebrew: nireh pānîm) is an idiomatic expression for engaging in a direct, decisive battle or military confrontation. It is a challenge for ultimate conflict, not negotiation, implying a personal and definitive showdown. It speaks to a spirit of bravado and overconfidence.
• Words-Group Analysis:
  • "Amaziah king of Judah... sent to Joash... king of Israel": This phrase highlights the political and territorial dimension of the conflict, framing it as a war between two distinct, yet related, monarchies, emphasizing the fraternal strife.
  • "took counsel and sent": This combination indicates a planned and purposeful escalation of conflict, underscoring Amaziah's deliberate decision to engage in war based on his own (flawed) judgment rather than divine leading.
  • "'Come, let us look one another in the face'": This specific idiomatic phrase captures the essence of Amaziah's challenge—an arrogant, personal dare to a decisive and possibly fatal confrontation, betraying an overestimation of his own strength and a proud disregard for the potential consequences.

2 Chronicles 25 17 Bonus section

• The exact motive for Amaziah's challenge is not explicitly stated in this verse, but context (his wealth, pride, idolatry, rejection of prophetic word, and perhaps lingering resentment from the Ephraimite mercenary raid on Judahite cities in 2 Chron 25:13) points to a combination of overconfidence and unresolved animosity.
• The account in 2 Kgs 14:8 parallels this verse almost verbatim, emphasizing its historical significance. Joash's immediate sarcastic reply, recounted in the following verse (2 Chron 25:18), further highlights the absurdity of Amaziah's challenge.
• Amaziah's trajectory is a cautionary tale: initial obedience and blessing, followed by a lapse into idolatry, culminating in self-destructive pride and national disaster, serving as a powerful warning against spiritual apostasy and ignoring God's word.

2 Chronicles 25 17 Commentary

This verse encapsulates a crucial turning point in Amaziah's reign, directly linking his spiritual decline to a calamitous national conflict. After witnessing God's power in his victory over Edom, Amaziah's heart was corrupted by pride and he turned to idolatry. His subsequent challenge to Joash of Israel was not a matter of wise strategy but the inevitable fruit of a heart hardened against God's word. The phrase "let us look one another in the face" signifies a deep-seated arrogance, presuming that he, not God, controlled the outcome of the battle. This act exemplifies the biblical principle that pride precedes destruction and illustrates the tragic consequences when leaders neglect divine wisdom for self-serving ambition.