2 Chronicles 25 23

2 Chronicles 25:23 kjv

And Joash the king of Israel took Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Joash, the son of Jehoahaz, at Bethshemesh, and brought him to Jerusalem, and brake down the wall of Jerusalem from the gate of Ephraim to the corner gate, four hundred cubits.

2 Chronicles 25:23 nkjv

Then Joash the king of Israel captured Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Joash, the son of Jehoahaz, at Beth Shemesh; and he brought him to Jerusalem, and broke down the wall of Jerusalem from the Gate of Ephraim to the Corner Gate?four hundred cubits.

2 Chronicles 25:23 niv

Jehoash king of Israel captured Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Joash, the son of Ahaziah, at Beth Shemesh. Then Jehoash brought him to Jerusalem and broke down the wall of Jerusalem from the Ephraim Gate to the Corner Gate?a section about four hundred cubits long.

2 Chronicles 25:23 esv

And Joash king of Israel captured Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Joash, son of Ahaziah, at Beth-shemesh, and brought him to Jerusalem and broke down the wall of Jerusalem for 400 cubits, from the Ephraim Gate to the Corner Gate.

2 Chronicles 25:23 nlt

King Jehoash of Israel captured Judah's king, Amaziah son of Joash and grandson of Ahaziah, at Beth-shemesh. Then he brought him to Jerusalem, where he demolished 600 feet of Jerusalem's wall, from the Ephraim Gate to the Corner Gate.

2 Chronicles 25 verses

2 Chronicles 25 23 Meaning

2 Chronicles 25:23 vividly depicts the outcome of King Amaziah of Judah's rebellion against God: his capture by King Joash of Israel at Beth-shemesh. Following this humiliating defeat, Joash led Amaziah to Jerusalem, where he proceeded to demolish a significant portion of the city's defensive wall, a stretch of four hundred cubits, extending from the Ephraim Gate to the Corner Gate. This act was not merely a military victory but a punitive, symbolic humiliation that left the capital of Judah exposed and signified divine judgment upon Amaziah's apostasy and pride.

2 Chronicles 25 23 Context

Chapter 25 of 2 Chronicles narrates the reign of Amaziah, King of Judah. Initially, he demonstrates some obedience by following the Law concerning the execution of his father's murderers but not their children (v. 3-4). He then musters Judah's army and hires 100,000 Israelite mercenaries for a war against Edom. However, a man of God warns him to dismiss the Israelite troops, which Amaziah obeys despite losing a significant sum of silver (v. 7-10). He then decisively defeats Edom (v. 11-12). Critically, Amaziah's character takes a dark turn immediately after this victory; he brings back the gods of Edom and begins to worship them, incurring God's wrath (v. 14-16). Prompted by pride and perhaps residual anger over the dismissed mercenaries' raiding of Judean towns (v. 13), Amaziah then arrogantly challenges King Joash of Israel to battle. Despite Joash's prudent warning (v. 18-19), Amaziah ignores it, as "it was from God, in order that he might give them into the hand of Joash" because of Amaziah's idolatry (v. 20). This sets the stage for the battle at Beth-shemesh, leading directly to the events of verse 23: Amaziah's capture, humiliation, and the breach of Jerusalem's defenses.

2 Chronicles 25 23 Word analysis

• And Joash king of Israel: וַיְלַכֵּ֣ד יוֹאָשׁ֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (wa-yil-la-ḵêḏ yō-w-āš me-leḵ yiś-rā-’êl). Joash (יְהוֹאָשׁ, Yeho'ash) means "The Lord has given." Here, he is depicted as an instrument in God's judgment against Judah. "King of Israel" explicitly denotes the Northern Kingdom's dominance over the Southern Kingdom in this conflict.

• captured: וַיִּלְכֹּד֙ (wa-yyil-kōḏ). From the root לכד (lakad), meaning "to seize, capture, or take." This term conveys a decisive and complete subjugation, leaving no doubt as to the outcome of the confrontation.

• Amaziah king of Judah: אֶת־אֲמַצְיָ֣הוּ מֶֽלֶךְ־יְהוּדָ֗ה (’eṯ-’ă-maṣ-yā-hū me-leḵ yə-hū-ḏāh). Amaziah (אֲמַצְיָהוּ, Amatsyahu) means "strengthened by Yahweh." The name becomes bitterly ironic here, as he is weakened and captured due to his unfaithfulness to the very God who strengthened him.

• the son of Joash,: This clarifies Amaziah's identity and Judahite royal lineage, distinguishing him from the capturing Joash, King of Israel. He is Amaziah, son of Joash, King of Judah (2 Ki 12:21).

• at Beth-shemesh,: בְּבֵ֥ית שֶׁ֙מֶשׁ֙ (bə-ḇêṯ šemes). "House of the Sun." This city, located in Judah's territory in the Shephelah, becomes the battleground where Amaziah's forces are routed. The name "House of the Sun" might carry a subtle, ominous resonance given Amaziah's recent turn to sun worship, as evidenced by his adopting the Edomite gods after his victory.

• and brought him to Jerusalem: וַיְבִאֵ֙הוּ֙ יְרוּשָׁלַיִם֙ (wa-yə-ḇi-’ê-hū yə-rū-šā-la-yim). To "bring" בוא (bo', in causative stem) denotes leading the captive king back to his own capital. Jerusalem (יְרוּשָׁלַיִם, Yerushalayim), "City of Peace," now faces desecration. This act serves as a profound public shaming for Amaziah and Judah.

• and broke down: וַיִּפְרֹץ֙ (wa-yyip-rōṣ). From the root פרץ (parats), "to break forth, burst, break open, break through." It signifies a forceful, deliberate act of destruction, not merely damage, demonstrating the complete subjugation and punishment meted out by Joash.

• the wall of Jerusalem: בְּח֥וֹמַת יְרוּשָׁלַ֖יִם (bə-ḥō-w-maṯ yə-rū-šā-la-yim). The city wall (חוֹמָה, chomah) symbolized a city's strength, security, and integrity. Its intentional breach signifies profound humiliation, vulnerability, and a severe weakening of Judah's capital.

• for four hundred cubits,: אַרְבַּע֙ מֵא֣וֹת אַמָּ֔ה (’ar-ba‘ mê-’ōwṯ ’am-māh). A cubit (אַמָּה, ammah) is approximately 18 inches or 45 centimeters. Thus, 400 cubits represents about 600 feet (180 meters). This was a substantial and deliberate demolition, making the city easily accessible and defenceless over a long stretch.

• from the Ephraim Gate to the Corner Gate.: מִשַּׁ֣עַר הָאֶפְרַ֗יִם עַד־שַׁ֙עַר֙ הַפִּנָּה֙ (miš-ša-‘ar hā-’ep̄-ra-yim ‘aḏ-ša-‘ar hap-pin-nāh). The Ephraim Gate, likely on the northern side of Jerusalem, directed towards the Northern Kingdom's territory. The Corner Gate was also on the northern or northwestern side. Specifying these points emphasizes the deliberate, precise nature of the damage and highlights the northern enemy's complete control over Judah's most sacred city.

• Words-group by words-group analysis:

  • "And Joash king of Israel captured Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Joash,": This phrase emphasizes the complete reversal of power. The Northern Kingdom, Israel, conquers and humiliates the Southern Kingdom, Judah, through the capture of its king. The inclusion of Amaziah's father's name (also Joash, though a different one) subtly underscores the irony of a royal line falling from grace.
  • "at Beth-shemesh, and brought him to Jerusalem": This segment outlines the trajectory of defeat. The decisive battle happens at Beth-shemesh, but the humiliation culminates in Amaziah being marched into his own capital as a captive. This public display reinforces Joash's triumph and Judah's deep defeat.
  • "and broke down the wall of Jerusalem for four hundred cubits, from the Ephraim Gate to the Corner Gate.": This is the culmination of Joash's punitive actions. The precise measurement and identification of the specific gates demonstrate the calculated, brutal efficiency of the victory. The deliberate demolition of Jerusalem's defenses was a clear message of Judah's vulnerability and Joash's undisputed military supremacy, stemming from God's judgment against Amaziah's spiritual apostasy.

2 Chronicles 25 23 Bonus section

The Chronicler, in writing this account, consistently highlights the theological "why" behind historical events, a strong theme running through his entire work. Unlike the book of Kings, which primarily reports the events, Chronicles often interprets them, clearly attributing Amaziah's downfall to his adoption of Edomite gods and his refusal to heed divine counsel (2 Chron 25:20). This aligns with the Chronicler's didactic purpose: to instruct post-exilic Judah on the vital connection between obedience to God and national prosperity, and conversely, the devastating consequences of sin. The account of the breached walls served as a solemn reminder of Jerusalem's vulnerability when God's favor was withdrawn, encouraging a return to exclusive Yahweh worship. This principle extends to individuals today, where spiritual pride or straying from biblical truth can leave one spiritually exposed and vulnerable to the attacks of the enemy (1 Pet 5:8).

2 Chronicles 25 23 Commentary

2 Chronicles 25:23 marks the climax of Amaziah's reign of folly. His initial, partial obedience, crowned by a victory against Edom, quickly devolved into profound spiritual failure through the worship of Edomite idols. This blatant idolatry, explicitly stated in verse 20 as God's reason for delivering Amaziah into Joash's hand, serves as the true backdrop to his military downfall. The subsequent challenge to Joash, despite a clear and insightful parable from the Israelite king, was rooted in arrogance and pride (Prov 16:18).

The defeat at Beth-shemesh was not just a battle loss; it was divine judgment manifesting through the hands of a human enemy. Joash's actions of capturing Amaziah and breaching Jerusalem's wall for 400 cubits were a deeply symbolic act. The wall, a city's vital defense and a symbol of its autonomy and security, became a monument to Judah's utter defeat and divine chastisement. This vulnerability foreshadowed future, even greater, destructions of Jerusalem (2 Ki 25:10). The Chronicler emphasizes that Judah's struggles and vulnerability are directly tied to the spiritual condition of its leadership. This serves as a potent reminder that pride, combined with a half-hearted commitment to God or a turn to idolatry, strips away divine protection, leaving individuals and nations vulnerable to forces they might otherwise withstand. The narrative implores faithfulness as the ultimate defense.