2 Chronicles 25 6

2 Chronicles 25:6 kjv

He hired also an hundred thousand mighty men of valor out of Israel for an hundred talents of silver.

2 Chronicles 25:6 nkjv

He also hired one hundred thousand mighty men of valor from Israel for one hundred talents of silver.

2 Chronicles 25:6 niv

He also hired a hundred thousand fighting men from Israel for a hundred talents of silver.

2 Chronicles 25:6 esv

He hired also 100,000 mighty men of valor from Israel for 100 talents of silver.

2 Chronicles 25:6 nlt

He also paid about 7,500 pounds of silver to hire 100,000 experienced fighting men from Israel.

2 Chronicles 25 verses

2 Chronicles 25 6 Meaning

This verse describes King Amaziah of Judah hiring a large contingent of 100,000 experienced warriors from the Northern Kingdom of Israel. He paid a significant sum of one hundred talents of silver for their military service. This act represents Amaziah's strategic decision to bolster his army for an impending campaign against Edom by relying on human strength and an alliance with the idolatrous Northern Kingdom.

2 Chronicles 25 6 Context

Chapter 25 opens with King Amaziah beginning his reign in Judah, initially doing what was right in the sight of the Lord, though not with a whole heart (2 Chron 25:1-2). He executed the murderers of his father, Joash, but spared their children according to the Law (2 Chron 25:3-4). The focus then shifts to his military preparations against Edom, specifically the hiring of the Israeli mercenaries described in verse 6. This strategic decision immediately sets up the central conflict of the chapter: Amaziah's growing reliance on human power and alliances, which God's prophet will challenge in the very next verses. This chapter is part of the Chronicler's narrative, emphasizing Judah's relationship with God, particularly through their kings' obedience or disobedience, and the resultant consequences of divine blessing or judgment.

2 Chronicles 25 6 Word analysis

• Moreover: This conjunction, (וְגַם, wĕḡam) signals an addition to the previous account of Amaziah's early reign, shifting focus to his military actions. It implies a further action taken by the king.
• he hired: (וַיִּשְׂכֹּר, vayyiśkōr from root שָׂכַר, śāḵar). This verb means "to hire for wages, to pay." It highlights Amaziah's direct and purposeful action to acquire military aid through financial means. It signifies a transaction, emphasizing the human economic solution to a military need, rather than divine reliance.
• one hundred thousand: (מֵאָה אֶלֶף, mēʾâ ʾelef). This significant numerical figure denotes a very large military contingent. In ancient near-eastern texts, such large numbers might sometimes be stylistic or rounded, yet they consistently indicate a substantial force. The sheer number underscores the scale of Amaziah's human-powered war preparation.
• mighty men of valor: (גִּבֹּורֵי חַיִל, gibborê ḥayil). This phrase refers to skilled, capable, and experienced warriors or valiant men. Ḥayil can denote strength, efficiency, or wealth, implying men of means and ability. This highlights the perceived quality and strength of the hired troops.
• from Israel: (מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל, mîyiśrāʾēl). This specifies the origin of the hired soldiers: the Northern Kingdom. This detail is crucial for the theological narrative of Chronicles. Israel, at this point, was a separate, often idolatrous kingdom, contrasting sharply with Judah, which ideally should have been solely devoted to Yahweh. This indicates a reliance on a politically separate, and often spiritually corrupt, entity.
• for one hundred talents of silver: (בְּמֵאָה כִּכַּר כָּסֶף, bəmēʾâ kikkarkesef). A talent (kikkar) was a significant unit of weight (approx. 75 pounds or 34 kilograms) for silver. 100 talents represents an enormous sum, perhaps amounting to millions of modern USD, indicating the vast expenditure and the economic commitment to this alliance. It also implies that Judah had substantial financial resources, which they were willing to expend on military might rather than solely relying on divine provision.
• Word Group: "he hired one hundred thousand mighty men of valor from Israel": This phrase captures the essence of Amaziah's human-centric military strategy. Instead of relying solely on his God-given Judahite forces and God's strength, he chose to supplement his army with foreign mercenaries from a religiously divergent kingdom, underscoring a move away from exclusive trust in the Lord.

2 Chronicles 25 6 Bonus section

The Chronicler often highlights the principle that God's people should not trust in their own strength, foreign armies, or wealth, but solely in the Lord their God. This verse, showing Amaziah's substantial financial outlay for human military strength from Israel, directly precedes a prophetic confrontation that will drive this point home (2 Chron 25:7-8). The Northern Kingdom's constant idolatry since Jeroboam's time made any alliance with them suspicious from a spiritual purity standpoint for the Chronicler, regardless of the fact that they were still "Israel." This move by Amaziah is therefore a theological parallel to "unequal yokes" or seeking help from "Egypt" (figuratively speaking, any worldly source of power apart from God) that is consistently warned against throughout the Scriptures. It sets up the test of obedience that Amaziah would soon face, revealing his ultimate loyalty.

2 Chronicles 25 6 Commentary

2 Chronicles 25:6 encapsulates King Amaziah's significant step towards self-reliance and alliance with a questionable party. While it might appear as sound military strategy to a secular observer—securing 100,000 experienced fighters from a neighboring kingdom at considerable expense—from the Chronicler's theological perspective, this act marks a critical spiritual misstep.

The immediate hiring of mercenaries, particularly from the Northern Kingdom of Israel which had largely abandoned Yahweh worship, suggests Amaziah's practical approach overshadowed his spiritual discernment. He assessed his own military capabilities and opted for an expensive augmentation, indicating a potential lack of full faith in God's ability to grant victory through his own people. This mirrors a recurrent theme in Chronicles where reliance on human strength, chariots, numbers, or foreign alliances often incurs divine displeasure, as seen in the reigns of Asa, Jehoshaphat, and Ahaz.

The use of "talents of silver" also highlights a material dependence. Amaziah was willing to part with immense wealth for this mercenary force, signifying the value he placed on their tangible might. This action is pivotal because the very next verses reveal God's direct intervention through a prophet to counter this human-centric plan. God will command Amaziah to dismiss these hired troops, demonstrating that the divine source of victory is not human numbers or wealth, but the sovereign power of the Lord alone. This sets up a profound test for Amaziah: whether he will trust God despite financial loss and reduced numbers, or continue to rely on human armaments.

Practical applications might include:

• Financial decisions: Are we investing our resources based on worldly security and human plans, or are we seeking God's guidance and trusting in His provision, even if it means foregoing seemingly practical but spiritually unsound ventures?
• Seeking help: Do we first turn to worldly connections or solutions when facing challenges, or do we prioritize seeking God's will and power?
• Partnerships: Are our alliances, whether business, social, or personal, aligned with biblical principles, or do we compromise our faith for perceived advantages?