2 Chronicles 25 21

2 Chronicles 25:21 kjv

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.

2 Chronicles 25:21 nkjv

So Joash king of Israel went out; and he and Amaziah king of Judah faced one another at Beth Shemesh, which belongs to Judah.

2 Chronicles 25:21 niv

So Jehoash king of Israel attacked. He and Amaziah king of Judah faced each other at Beth Shemesh in Judah.

2 Chronicles 25:21 esv

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.

2 Chronicles 25:21 nlt

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.

2 Chronicles 25 verses

2 Chronicles 25 21 Meaning

This verse describes the geographical and strategic setting for the impending conflict between Joash, King of Israel, and Amaziah, King of Judah. It states that both kings and their armies confronted each other in a pitched battle at Beth-shemesh, a city located within the territory of Judah. It marks the precise location where Amaziah's self-inflicted challenge, borne of pride and apostasy, led to a national military confrontation.

2 Chronicles 25 21 Context

Chapter 25 opens with Amaziah becoming king of Judah. Initially, he did what was right in the sight of the Lord, but "not with a loyal heart." He avenged his father's murderers (v.3-4). He then assembled 300,000 Judahite soldiers and hired 100,000 Israelite mercenaries for a campaign against Edom. At the warning of a man of God, Amaziah dismissed the Israelite troops, losing their money but gaining a decisive victory over Edom with God's help (v.5-13).

However, Amaziah's heart turned from God after the victory. He brought back the idols of Edom and worshipped them (v.14). A prophet was sent to rebuke him, but Amaziah proudly dismissed the prophet's warning, questioning his right to advise the king (v.15-16). It was in this state of inflated pride and apostasy that Amaziah rashly challenged Joash, King of Israel, to battle (v.17). Joash responded with a dismissive parable (the thistle and the cedar), advising Amaziah to stay at home and avoid self-inflicted harm (v.18-19). This verse (25:21) describes the direct outcome of Amaziah's refusal to heed the warnings, confirming the confrontation. The chronicler makes it clear that this encounter was ordained by God to punish Judah for Amaziah's apostasy (v.20).

2 Chronicles 25 21 Word analysis

• So Joash king of Israel:

  • So (וַיַּעַל wayyaʿal): Literally "and went up." This connective implies direct sequence from the preceding narrative. The verb ʿālâ (to go up, ascend) often suggests movement toward a higher or more prominent place, and frequently implies an aggressive or preparatory action for battle or siege.
  • Joash (יֹאָשׁ Yoʾash): The king of the northern kingdom of Israel, who had already gained renown for his victories against the Syrians (2 Kgs 13:25). He was a contemporary of Amaziah. His name means "Yahweh has given."
  • king of Israel: Clearly identifies the sovereign of the northern kingdom, providing geographic and political context.

• went up:

  • (As above for wayyaʿal) This signifies Joash's advance from Israelite territory into Judahite territory, indicating a decisive acceptance of the challenge. It suggests leading his army to engage.

• and he and Amaziah king of Judah:

  • he: Refers to Joash, underscoring the direct engagement of the two kings.
  • Amaziah (אֲמַצְיָהוּ Amatzyahu): King of the southern kingdom of Judah. His name means "Yahweh is mighty/strong," a name that became ironic given his defeat due to turning from God's might.
  • king of Judah: Identifies the sovereign of the southern kingdom, distinguishing him from the king of Israel. This sets up the direct conflict between the two Davidic successor kingdoms.

• faced each other in battle:

  • faced each other (וַיִּתְרָאוּ wayyitrāʾû): Hithpael imperfect of raʾah, "to see." In this context, it signifies a deliberate, mutual confrontation, "to look one another in the face," particularly in preparation for combat. It implies an arranged battle rather than an accidental skirmish. The phrase carries a sense of two forces standing against each other, ready to fight.
  • in battle (בַּמִּלְחָמָה bammilḥāmāh): From milḥāmāh meaning "war, battle, fight." Specifies the nature of the confrontation as a full-scale military engagement.

• at Beth-shemesh, which belongs to Judah:

  • Beth-shemesh (בֵּית־שֶׁמֶשׁ Bet-Shemesh): Literally "House of the Sun." A well-known ancient city in the Shephelah, the lowlands of Judah. Historically significant, as the Ark of the Covenant returned there (1 Sam 6).
  • which belongs to Judah: A specific geographical identifier to clarify that despite Joash coming from the north, the battle took place on Judah's home soil, near its western border. This detail might implicitly heighten the humiliation of Judah's defeat on its own territory.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "So Joash king of Israel went up; and he and Amaziah king of Judah faced each other in battle": This phrase concisely outlines the two principal actors, their positions, and the decisive act of engagement. It presents the formal encounter that had been prophesied and challenged.
  • "at Beth-shemesh, which belongs to Judah": This precise geographical notation provides the spatial context for the confrontation, underscoring that the battle was fought in the king of Judah's domain, a further ignominy given his defeat.

2 Chronicles 25 21 Bonus section

The account in Chronicles emphasizes the moral and religious dimension of Amaziah's actions far more than the parallel account in 2 Kings 14. While Kings also notes the war, Chronicles explicitly states that Amaziah's stubbornness was "from God, that He might give them into the hand of their enemies, because they had sought the gods of Edom" (2 Chr 25:20). This underscores the Chronicler's consistent theological message: obedience brings blessing, disobedience brings judgment, particularly affecting kings and the nation's welfare. Beth-shemesh's designation as "belonging to Judah" serves not only as geographical clarification but subtly enhances the humiliation of Judah's impending defeat on its own ground. The contrast between Amaziah's earlier success with God's help against Edom and his devastating failure when relying on his own pride against Israel further highlights the narrative's central theological principle concerning human dependence on God.

2 Chronicles 25 21 Commentary

2 Chronicles 25:21 provides the crucial factual detail of the climactic encounter between the two kings: Joash of Israel and Amaziah of Judah. This verse, though seemingly a simple geographical statement, is imbued with profound theological significance within the Chronicler's narrative. It marks the direct consequence of Amaziah's foolish and faithless decisions.

After achieving a great military victory over Edom, facilitated by God, Amaziah succumbed to pride and apostasy, turning to worship the idols of his defeated enemies. When God sent a prophet to rebuke him, Amaziah, puffed up by his recent success and spiritual delusion, arrogantly rejected the divine warning (2 Chr 25:15-16). His subsequent challenge to Joash (2 Chr 25:17) was not born of strategic necessity or divine command, but from this misguided pride. Joash, though dismissive, engaged, and this battle at Beth-shemesh, on Judahite soil, was not a mere political skirmish but "from God" (2 Chr 25:20). It was God's chosen means to deliver judgment upon Amaziah for his flagrant disobedience and idolatry. The confrontation highlights how God uses even hostile human agents and circumstances to exact righteous judgment upon those who forsake Him.

Practically, this verse is a stark reminder:

• Pride precedes destruction: Amaziah's successes fueled his pride, leading to a catastrophic fall (Prov 16:18).
• Disobedience has consequences: Ignoring God's warnings and turning to idolatry always leads to ruin (Jer 2:19).
• God's sovereignty in judgment: Even seemingly independent human actions like national warfare can be instruments of divine justice (Ps 75:6-7).