2 Chronicles 25:3 kjv
Now it came to pass, when the kingdom was established to him, that he slew his servants that had killed the king his father.
2 Chronicles 25:3 nkjv
Now it happened, as soon as the kingdom was established for him, that he executed his servants who had murdered his father the king.
2 Chronicles 25:3 niv
After the kingdom was firmly in his control, he executed the officials who had murdered his father the king.
2 Chronicles 25:3 esv
And as soon as the royal power was firmly his, he killed his servants who had struck down the king his father.
2 Chronicles 25:3 nlt
When Amaziah was well established as king, he executed the officials who had assassinated his father.
2 Chronicles 25 3 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Deut 24:16 | "Fathers shall not be put to death for their children..." | Principle of individual accountability for sin |
| 2 Kings 14:5 | "As soon as the royal power was firmly in his hand, he struck down his servants..." | Parallel account, confirms actions & timing |
| Gen 9:6 | "Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed..." | Foundational principle of capital punishment |
| Exod 21:12 | "Whoever strikes a man so that he dies shall be put to death." | Law regarding murder |
| Num 35:33 | "You shall not pollute the land in which you live, for blood pollutes the land..." | Land purification by execution of murderer |
| Rom 13:4 | "...for he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain..." | Governmental authority to enforce justice |
| 1 Kings 2:25 | "...King Solomon sent Benaiah...who struck him down..." | King Solomon executing a threat to his established reign |
| 1 Kings 2:34 | "...Benaiah...struck him down and put him to death..." | Solomon executing Joab for past crimes |
| 1 Kings 2:46 | "...Benaiah...went out and struck him down, so that he died." | Solomon executing Shimei for disobedience |
| Prov 20:26 | "A wise king winnows the wicked and drives the threshing wheel over them." | King's role in judicial administration |
| Psa 75:7 | "But it is God who judges; he brings one down, he exalts another." | Divine sovereignty in establishing leaders |
| Psa 101:8 | "Morning by morning I will destroy all the wicked in the land, cutting off all evildoers..." | King's responsibility for judicial cleansing |
| 1 Sam 2:7 | "The LORD makes poor and makes rich; he brings low and also lifts up." | God's hand in lifting/lowering leaders |
| 1 Chron 22:10 | "...I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel forever." | God's promise to establish Davidic throne |
| Psa 89:4 | "I will establish your descendants forever and build up your throne..." | Divine promise of dynastic stability |
| Judges 1:7 | "...as I have done, so God has repaid me." | Justice/retribution for wrongdoing |
| Ezra 7:26 | "Whoever will not obey the law of your God and the law of the king, let judgment be strictly executed on him..." | Legitimate state authority for capital punishment |
| Zech 14:11 | "...there shall be no more anything accursed..." | Future kingdom of righteousness and justice |
| Heb 12:28 | "...receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken..." | Contrast with earthly kingdoms' need for stability |
| Rev 19:15-16 | "He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God...King of kings..." | Christ's future role as divine King and Judge |
2 Chronicles 25 verses
2 Chronicles 25 3 Meaning
This verse describes King Amaziah's act of executing the conspirators who murdered his father, King Joash, only after his own kingdom was firmly established and secure. It highlights the sovereign's duty to administer justice and consolidate royal power.
2 Chronicles 25 3 Context
This verse is part of the introductory narrative of King Amaziah's reign in Judah. Chapter 25 opens with Amaziah becoming king at the age of twenty-five after the assassination of his father, Joash, as recorded in 2 Chronicles 24:25. Verse 3 establishes Amaziah's firm grip on the kingdom before he acts, indicating prudence and strategic timing in dealing with his father's murderers. This action serves to consolidate his power and administer justice for a heinous crime committed against the previous king, providing stability to his newly inherited throne.
2 Chronicles 25 3 Word analysis
- Now it came to pass: A common biblical introductory phrase, indicating the unfolding of events in sequence. It sets the stage for the narrative.
- when the kingdom was established to him: (Hebrew: כִּמְשָׁטֶר הַמַּמְלָכָה עָלָיו kimshater hammamlachah 'alav).
- kimshater (from שׁטר shaṭar or śāṭar, related to scribal duties and governance, implying organized authority; or from root כון kun meaning 'to be firm, established'). This signifies a state of firm, stable, and secure reign. Amaziah had secured his position and removed initial threats to his authority. This highlights he wasn't acting in haste or weakness, but from a position of power.
- This is crucial, as kings often faced immediate threats after ascending the throne, especially following an assassination. Amaziah waited for stability.
- that he slew: (Hebrew: וַיַּךְ vayyak, from the root נָכָה nakah, meaning 'to strike, smite, kill'). This is a direct, decisive action, a judicial execution rather than personal revenge.
- his servants: (Hebrew: עֲבָדָיו avadav). These were high-ranking officials in King Joash's court (Jozachar and Jehozabad, as per 2 Kings 12:21; 2 Chronicles 24:26) who conspired to assassinate Joash. They were traitors within the king's own household.
- that had killed the king his father: This phrase clearly states the reason for the execution: the grave crime of regicide and parricide. Amaziah's action is portrayed as a just response to a severe transgression against the throne and his own family. It was an act of both justice and royal prerogative.
Words-group analysis:
"when the kingdom was established to him, that he slew...": This phrase highlights the proper timing of a ruler's action. A ruler's ability to mete out justice and secure the realm is contingent on the stability of their rule. This timing was vital for Amaziah's security and legitimacy.
"he slew his servants that had killed the king his father": This group of words emphasizes both the authority of the new king and the severity of the crime committed. The perpetrators were not outsiders but "servants," making their betrayal particularly heinous. Their death was an act of retributive justice for their murderous rebellion.
2 Chronicles 25 3 Bonus section
The Chronicler often highlights details that demonstrate obedience to the Mosaic Law. While executing murderers was common in the Ancient Near East, what truly sets Amaziah apart (and what is emphasized immediately in the following verse) is his restraint in not punishing the children of the conspirators, strictly adhering to Deuteronomy 24:16. This context makes the just execution in verse 3 even more significant as a righteous application of law, not a brutal consolidation of power often seen in surrounding cultures. This action effectively avenged his father's death, consolidated his reign, and reaffirmed the moral order of Judah, all in accordance with God's law.
2 Chronicles 25 3 Commentary
2 Chronicles 25:3 presents Amaziah's initial, commendable act as king: the swift, yet prudently timed, execution of his father's murderers. The Chronicler emphasizes that this was done only "when the kingdom was established to him," showcasing Amaziah's wisdom and strategic sense. Unlike rulers who might immediately seek vengeance, Amaziah waited until his authority was secure, ensuring his actions were not perceived as weakness or an invitation for further instability. This act was not mere personal revenge, but an official enforcement of justice, cleansing the kingdom of those who had committed regicide and violated loyalty. It aligned with biblical principles that call for capital punishment for murder, reinforcing the king's divinely appointed role as an agent of justice (cf. Rom 13:4). The very next verse (2 Chron 25:4) underscores Amaziah's adherence to the Law of Moses regarding their children, demonstrating a selective and righteous application of justice, not blood-feud. This sets a positive tone for the beginning of his reign, a detail often highlighted by scholars who study the Chronicler's emphasis on righteous leadership.