2 Chronicles 25 19

2 Chronicles 25:19 kjv

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?

2 Chronicles 25:19 nkjv

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?"

2 Chronicles 25:19 niv

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?"

2 Chronicles 25:19 esv

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?"

2 Chronicles 25:19 nlt

"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?"

2 Chronicles 25 verses

2 Chronicles 25 19 Meaning

2 Chronicles 25:19 states that King Amaziah's stubborn refusal to heed the prophet's warning was part of God's divine plan to deliver him and Judah into the hands of their enemies. This judicial hardening of Amaziah's heart was a direct consequence of his earlier act of seeking and worshipping the defeated gods of Edom. The verse underscores God's absolute sovereignty in judgment, illustrating that prolonged disobedience and idolatry inevitably lead to divine retribution.

2 Chronicles 25 19 Context

The verse is part of the account of King Amaziah's reign over Judah in 2 Chronicles chapter 25. Initially, Amaziah "did what was right in the sight of the LORD, but not with a loyal heart" (v. 2). He assembled a large army and hired Israelite mercenaries to fight Edom. After a victory granted by God (v. 11-12), Amaziah dismissed the hired soldiers, but upon returning, he brought the idols of Edom and set them up as his gods, burning incense to them (v. 14). A prophet of God confronted Amaziah about this blatant idolatry, questioning why he would seek gods who couldn't even save their own people (v. 15). Instead of repenting, Amaziah stubbornly told the prophet to stop, threatening him (v. 16). It is in this immediate response of rejection that verse 19 comes in, explaining why Amaziah could not hear the prophet: it was God's intention to judge him for his idolatry, leading to his downfall by Israel, specifically by King Joash. This entire narrative highlights the tragic trajectory of a king who began well but ultimately failed due to spiritual compromise and hardened rebellion against God's direct word.

2 Chronicles 25 19 Word analysis

• But Amaziah would not hear:

  • But: Marks a strong contrast to what should have happened (repentance after prophecy).
  • Amaziah: King of Judah, Son of Joash. His name means "strength of the Lord" or "Jehovah is mighty", creating an ironic contrast with his actions.
  • would not hear: From the Hebrew verb shama (שָׁמַע), meaning not just to physically hear, but to listen attentively, comprehend, and obey. Amaziah certainly heard the prophet's words audibly, but he decisively refused to heed or comply with them. This signifies a willful act of disobedience and a hardening of heart against divine instruction.

• for it was from God:

  • for: Introduces the divine reason for Amaziah's stubbornness.
  • it was from God: Indicates divine causation or orchestration. God allowed, willed, or directly influenced Amaziah's hardened refusal, not by compelling him to sin, but by delivering him over to his own chosen rebellious course as a just judgment. This doesn't negate Amaziah's free will but highlights God's sovereign hand in judgment. It is not that God caused Amaziah's idolatry, but that God orchestrated the consequence of that idolatry, including Amaziah's inability to repent when confronted.

• in order that He might deliver them:

  • in order that: A purpose clause. God had a specific goal in mind.
  • He might deliver: From the Hebrew nathan (נָתַן), meaning to give, place, put, or deliver over. In this context, it carries a sense of judicial abandonment or handing over to judgment, not salvation. God intended to surrender them to calamity.
  • them: Refers to Amaziah and Judah, as they shared in the king's idolatry.

• into the hand of their enemies:

  • into the hand: A common biblical idiom for power, control, or subjugation.
  • their enemies: Specifically the kingdom of Israel, whose king Jehoash subsequently defeated and humbled Amaziah (2 Chr 25:20-24), consistent with covenant curses (Deut 28). This signifies divine retribution manifested through human agents.

• because they had sought the gods of Edom:

  • because: Specifies the precise reason or underlying cause for God's severe judgment. This is the initiating sin.
  • they had sought: From the Hebrew darash (דָּרַשׁ), which means to seek, inquire, consult, or investigate. Here, it implies an active, intentional, and persistent turning towards false worship. Amaziah's act was a deliberate adoption of Edomite idols as his own, reflecting a profound betrayal of the true God who gave him victory. The irony is stark: Amaziah defeats Edom but then adopts the gods of the defeated, thereby spurning the God who delivered Edom into his hands.
  • the gods of Edom: Refers to the pagan deities of the Edomites. These were demonstrably powerless to save their own people from Amaziah, yet he foolishly revered them. This is the core idolatry that provoked God's wrath and set in motion Amaziah's downfall.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "But Amaziah would not hear, for it was from God": This phrase highlights the divine orchestrating of Amaziah's hardheartedness as a means of judgment. It’s a classic example of God responding to willful sin by allowing the sinner to fall further into their chosen path, thereby executing justice. This does not mean God caused Amaziah's sin (that originated with Amaziah's decision to worship idols), but God sovereignly permitted or even propelled Amaziah's resistance to bring about a deserved outcome.
  • "in order that He might deliver them into the hand of their enemies, because they had sought the gods of Edom": This clearly articulates the judicial consequence (defeat by enemies) and the root cause (idolatry). It links cause and effect directly, showing God's just character and the futility and danger of spiritual disloyalty. God’s act of "delivering" them is a direct result of their "seeking" other gods.

2 Chronicles 25 19 Bonus section

The chronicler often highlights the direct cause-and-effect relationship between the kings' spiritual faithfulness and the nation's welfare, aligning with the Deuteronomistic theology. This verse powerfully encapsulates that theme: Amaziah's initial obedience led to victory, but his later idolatry led directly to divine judgment, manifesting as a hardened heart and defeat. The severity of "it was from God" also speaks to the profound insult of Amaziah's sin. After witnessing God defeat Edom, for Amaziah to then worship Edom's vanquished gods was not just misguided; it was an extreme act of foolishness and betrayal that mocked the very power of the God of Israel. This judicial hardening is not God forcing sin, but God giving over individuals to the consequences of their chosen sin, thus ensuring divine justice is fulfilled.

2 Chronicles 25 19 Commentary

2 Chronicles 25:19 serves as a potent theological statement about God's justice and sovereignty over human affairs, especially concerning disobedience and idolatry. It illustrates that when humans persistently rebel against divine warning after initial sin, God's response may include a judicial hardening of their hearts, making them incapable of heeding the path to repentance. Amaziah’s story tragically demonstrates that temporary obedience or outward success cannot substitute for genuine, loyal devotion to God. His victory over Edom was from God, yet his subsequent turning to Edomite idols was an ultimate act of ingratitude and defiance. Therefore, his inability to "hear" the prophet was not simply personal stubbornness, but a divinely permitted or directed step toward his appointed judgment. This principle echoes throughout Scripture: repeated rejection of God's truth eventually leads to a state where truth can no longer be received, making the path to destruction irreversible by human will alone. It’s a warning against taking God’s grace for granted and against spiritual compromise, showing that consequences are certain.

• Example for practical usage: This verse reminds believers that initial spiritual success or good deeds do not inoculate against future moral or spiritual decline, especially if pride, compromise, or turning to "idols" (anything taking God's place in one's life, e.g., money, success, self-reliance) creeps in. When God's truth is ignored, there is a danger of a progressively hardened heart, where wise counsel or biblical warnings cease to be effective, leading to a path of consequences. It encourages humility, constant self-examination, and an immediate response to God's warnings.