2 Chronicles 25:26 kjv
Now the rest of the acts of Amaziah, first and last, behold, are they not written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel?
2 Chronicles 25:26 nkjv
Now the rest of the acts of Amaziah, from first to last, indeed are they not written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel?
2 Chronicles 25:26 niv
As for the other events of Amaziah's reign, from beginning to end, are they not written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel?
2 Chronicles 25:26 esv
Now the rest of the deeds of Amaziah, from first to last, are they not written in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel?
2 Chronicles 25:26 nlt
The rest of the events in Amaziah's reign, from beginning to end, are recorded in The Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel.
2 Chronicles 25 26 Cross References
Verse | Text | Reference |
---|---|---|
1 Kgs 11:41 | Now the rest of the acts of Solomon...are they not written in the book of... | Kings' concluding formula |
1 Kgs 14:19 | The rest of the acts of Jeroboam...are they not written in the book of... | Kings' standard historical reference |
1 Kgs 14:29 | The rest of the acts of Rehoboam...are they not written in the book of... | Kings' record-keeping motif |
1 Kgs 15:7 | The rest of the acts of Abijam...are they not written in the book of... | Emphasizing written historical sources |
1 Kgs 15:23 | The rest of all the acts of Asa...are they not written in the book of... | Referring to existing records for detail |
2 Chr 9:29 | The rest of the acts of Solomon, first and last, are they not written in... | Chronicler's similar closing formula |
2 Chr 12:15 | Now the acts of Rehoboam, first and last, are they not written in... | Chronicle's broad reference for king's acts |
2 Chr 16:11 | Now the acts of Asa, first and last, indeed they are written in the book of.. | Chronicler's exact mirroring formula |
2 Chr 20:34 | Now the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, first and last, indeed they are... | Reinforcing source reliability |
2 Chr 24:27 | Concerning his sons and the many oracles...are written in the book of the... | Comprehensive record cited |
2 Chr 27:7 | The rest of the acts of Jotham, and all his wars and his ways, indeed they.. | Details found in other books |
2 Chr 28:26 | Now the rest of his acts and all his ways, from first to last, indeed they.. | Points to state archives for full accounts |
2 Chr 32:32 | Now the rest of the acts of Hezekiah...indeed they are written in the vision.. | Other specific historical works cited |
2 Chr 33:18 | Now the rest of the acts of Manasseh...indeed they are written in the book of.. | Extensive acts recorded elsewhere |
2 Chr 35:27 | Now the rest of the acts of Josiah and his deeds...are written in the book.. | Complete historical coverage implied |
Esth 10:2 | Are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Media and.. | Parallel for secular royal annals |
Jer 30:2 | "Write in a book for yourself all the words that I have spoken to you." | Divine command for recording history |
Psa 56:8 | "You number my wanderings; Put my tears into Your bottle; Are they not in Your book?" | God's meticulous record-keeping |
Mal 3:16 | A book of remembrance was written before Him for those who fear the LORD... | Divine record for the righteous |
Rev 20:12 | The books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. | Ultimate divine record of human deeds |
Deut 31:24 | Moses finished writing the words of this law in a book, when they were... | Example of significant sacred texts recorded |
Hab 2:2 | "Write the vision and make it plain on tablets, that he may run who reads it." | Divine instruction to document for clarity |
Luke 1:1-4 | ...to compile a narrative...to write to you an orderly account... | Intent to compile accurate historical accounts |
John 21:25 | There are also many other things which Jesus did...the world itself could not contain the books... | Limits of written records and boundless deeds |
2 Chronicles 25 verses
2 Chronicles 25 26 Meaning
The verse marks the conclusion of the Chronicler's account of King Amaziah, stating that the entirety of his deeds, from the very beginning to the end of his reign, are fully documented in the official historical annals known as "the book of the kings of Judah and Israel." It serves as a concise summary and a clear reference to a more detailed historical source from which the Chronicler drew, indicating that the present narrative is a selective yet accurate compilation.
2 Chronicles 25 26 Context
The verse concludes the narrative of King Amaziah's reign in 2 Chronicles, spanning from verse 1 to verse 28 of chapter 25. The Chronicler provides a theologically focused account of Amaziah's kingship, highlighting his initial obedience to the Lord (doing what was right, though "not with a loyal heart" - v.2), his subsequent idolatry after his victory over Edom (v.14), his refusal to listen to the prophet (v.16), and his ill-advised challenge to King Joash of Israel which resulted in Judah's humiliating defeat, the breaking down of Jerusalem's wall, and the plundering of the temple and palace treasures (v.17-24). Ultimately, Amaziah meets a conspiratorial end in Lachish (v.27-28). This concluding verse, a standard formula for the Chronicler, serves to summarize the king's entire life and directs the reader to broader, more detailed historical annals for full details, allowing the Chronicler to focus specifically on the spiritual and moral trajectory of the king's rule and the consequences thereof. It situates the Chronicler's work within a larger framework of documented Israelite history.
2 Chronicles 25 26 Word analysis
- Now (וְיֶתֶר - v'yeter): Literally "and the rest." This Hebrew conjunction serves to transition and indicates that the main account of Amaziah's reign within Chronicles is drawing to a close, implying that additional details exist but are not included here.
- the rest (יֶתֶר - yeter): Refers to the remainder, what is left over. It signals that the current narrative is an abridgement or selective presentation of the full story.
- of the acts (דִּבְרֵי - divrei): From the root davar (דָּבָר, Strong's H1697), meaning "word," "matter," "thing," or "deed." Here, it comprehensively covers all events, affairs, and significant actions during Amaziah's kingship.
- of Amaziah (אֲמַצְיָהוּ - 'Amatsyahu): The King of Judah (8th from David), the central figure of the preceding narrative in 2 Chronicles 25. His name means "Yahweh strengthens" or "Strength of Yahweh."
- from first to last (הָרִאשֹׁנִים וְהָאֲחַרֹנִים - ha-rishonim v'ha-acharonim): Literally, "the first ones and the last ones." This idiom emphatically includes the entirety of his reign, covering every period from its beginning to its end, without exception. It emphasizes the comprehensiveness of the source referred to.
- indeed they are written (הֵם כְּתוּבִים - hem k'tuvim): Hem means "they"; k'tuvim is the passive participle from katab (כָּתַב, Strong's H3789), meaning "to write." This phrase asserts the existing, concrete, and authoritative nature of these records. The passive voice ("are written") highlights their status as an established part of public record.
- in the book (עַל־סֵפֶר - 'al-sefer): Literally "upon a book." Sefer (סֵפֶר, Strong's H5612) refers to a scroll, document, record, or official register. It signifies a formal, recognized, and durable historical chronicle.
- of the kings (מַלְכֵי - mal'chey): From melek (מֶלֶךְ, Strong's H4428), meaning "king." This identifies the subjects of the historical record as the successive monarchs.
- of Judah and Israel (יְהוּדָה וְיִשְׂרָאֵל - Yehudah v'Yisrael): Refers to the composite national annals or official state archives. This is often taken to be a specific historical source available to the Chronicler, distinct from but related to the biblical books of 1 and 2 Kings. It suggests a comprehensive history encompassing both the southern (Judah) and northern (Israel) kingdoms, potentially compiled after their respective exiles.
- "the rest of the acts...from first to last": This recurring phrase in Kings and Chronicles highlights the selective nature of the biblical narrative. The Chronicler provides a religiously interpreted history, knowing that the full secular details were accessible in other contemporary records. It demonstrates the biblical writers' reliance on and reference to broader historical archives.
- "indeed they are written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel": This statement emphasizes the factual basis and reliability of the Chronicler's work. It points to authoritative governmental or priestly annals as the ultimate source of detailed information, validating the accuracy of the summary presented and offering avenues for further historical inquiry by the original audience. This particular "book of the kings of Judah and Israel" is a lost extra-biblical source, possibly a state chronicle used by both the author of Kings and the Chronicler.
2 Chronicles 25 26 Bonus section
- The Chronicler's Historiography: The constant reference to a larger "Book of the Kings" (whether of Israel, Judah, or both combined) signifies a particular historiographical approach by the Chronicler. Unlike the books of Samuel or Kings, Chronicles is often understood as a post-exilic commentary or reinterpretation of earlier traditions, relying heavily on existing source material. This verse, like many others, proves the Chronicler's direct usage of official state archives, implying their existence, authenticity, and acceptance by the original audience.
- Distinct Source: Scholars generally agree that "the book of the kings of Judah and Israel" referred to here is not identical to the biblical books of 1 & 2 Kings, but rather an official royal or national archive from which both the authors of Kings and Chronicles drew their information, often presenting it with different emphases or details. This highlights the Chronicler's distinct theological agenda.
- Purpose of Abbreviation: The frequent use of this formula, particularly for kings with mixed or negative reigns (like Amaziah), implies that the biblical text prioritizes spiritual lessons over exhaustive historical chronicles. When a king's reign primarily served as an example of disobedience and divine judgment, the full secular history was relegated to other records, allowing the biblical account to proceed concisely to its main theological points.
2 Chronicles 25 26 Commentary
2 Chronicles 25:26 is a formulaic closing statement typical of both the books of Kings and Chronicles. It indicates the completion of the biblical account of King Amaziah's reign and serves a vital historiographical function: to validate the biblical narrative's selectivity and accuracy by pointing to a comprehensive external historical source. By referencing "the book of the kings of Judah and Israel," the Chronicler signals that his condensed, theologically focused rendition is based on extensive, official records. This allows the author to fulfill their purpose—to illustrate the principles of divine justice and covenant faithfulness through Israel's history—without needing to transcribe every political, military, or administrative detail. The phrase "from first to last" assures the reader that every aspect of Amaziah's rule was indeed chronicled, emphasizing the thoroughness of God's oversight and historical record, even as the inspired text focuses on what is spiritually pertinent. It implicitly teaches that human deeds are always recorded, whether in earthly archives or heavenly books (cf. Rev 20:12), highlighting the accountability of all rulers and people before God.