2 Chronicles 25 7

2 Chronicles 25:7 kjv

But there came a man of God to him, saying, O king, let not the army of Israel go with thee; for the LORD is not with Israel, to wit, with all the children of Ephraim.

2 Chronicles 25:7 nkjv

But a man of God came to him, saying, "O king, do not let the army of Israel go with you, for the LORD is not with Israel?not with any of the children of Ephraim.

2 Chronicles 25:7 niv

But a man of God came to him and said, "Your Majesty, these troops from Israel must not march with you, for the LORD is not with Israel?not with any of the people of Ephraim.

2 Chronicles 25:7 esv

But a man of God came to him and said, "O king, do not let the army of Israel go with you, for the LORD is not with Israel, with all these Ephraimites.

2 Chronicles 25:7 nlt

But a man of God came to him and said, "Your Majesty, do not hire troops from Israel, for the LORD is not with Israel. He will not help those people of Ephraim!

2 Chronicles 25 verses

2 Chronicles 25 7 Meaning

2 Chronicles 25:7 relays a direct divine warning to King Amaziah of Judah. Through a prophet, God instructs Amaziah not to include his hired Israelite mercenary troops in his impending war against Edom. The critical reason given is that "the Lord is not with Israel—with all the sons of Ephraim." This means God's presence and favor are absent from the Northern Kingdom due to their persistent idolatry, and associating with them in battle would lead to divine disapproval and certain defeat for Judah. Success in battle hinges on God's presence and favor, not on the number or strength of human alliances, especially those made with ungodly parties.

2 Chronicles 25 7 Context

Chapter 25 opens with King Amaziah, who ascended the throne of Judah at 25. He began his reign by exercising justice against those who murdered his father, King Joash, in accordance with the Law of Moses. Following this, he gathered 300,000 select men of Judah and Benjamin for a military campaign against Edom. However, he then hired an additional 100,000 mighty warriors from Israel (the Northern Kingdom) for one hundred talents of silver. This verse, 2 Chronicles 25:7, intervenes at this critical juncture before the battle begins, highlighting God's immediate and decisive reaction to Amaziah's military alliance with the idolatrous Northern Kingdom. It's a divine challenge to Amaziah's strategy, compelling him to choose between relying on God's exclusive power and trusting in human military strength, especially that of an ungodly alliance.

Historically, this occurred during the divided monarchy period, where the Northern Kingdom of Israel had a long history of spiritual apostasy and idolatry since the time of Jeroboam I. Ephraim, as the dominant tribe, became synonymous with the Northern Kingdom's pervasive unfaithfulness. Judah, on the other hand, intermittently experienced revivals under faithful kings like Amaziah's grandfather Joash (though he later fell away) and his great-grandfathers Jehoshaphat and Asa. The use of mercenaries was a common military practice, but engaging "sons of Ephraim" highlighted a spiritual danger: associating with those whom God disfavored.

2 Chronicles 25 7 Word analysis

• But: This conjunctive particle signifies a sharp transition, indicating a divergence from Amaziah's chosen course of action or a direct intervention against it. It signals that what follows is contrary to his plan.
• a man of God: (Hebrew: ’Ish Ha’Elohim - אִישׁ הָאֱלֹהִים). This specific title designates a prophet or messenger divinely appointed to speak on God's behalf. It underscores the divine authority and unquestionable origin of the message, establishing it not as mere human counsel but as the word of Yahweh. It emphasizes the direct intervention of God into the king's plans.
• came to him: Implies a personal and direct encounter, signifying the immediacy and seriousness of the divine message delivered specifically to King Amaziah. God sought him out to correct his course.
• and said, 'O king,': The formal address, despite the corrective nature of the message, shows proper respect for the monarch's position while ensuring the gravity of the divine command is recognized.
• do not let the army of Israel go with you: This is a direct, imperative prohibition. "Army of Israel" refers to the mercenary troops from the Northern Kingdom, highlighting the national identity and their distinct spiritual condition from Judah. It demands the immediate cancellation of Amaziah's pre-arranged military alliance.
• for the Lord is not with Israel: (Hebrew: ki YHWH lo im Yisrael - כִּי־יְהוָה אֵינֶנּוּ עִם־יִשְׂרָאֵל). This is the crucial theological rationale for the command. God's presence (im, "with") is the ultimate factor determining success or failure for His people. Its absence here denotes divine displeasure and a lack of divine backing, due to the Northern Kingdom's chronic spiritual defection and idolatry. This directly contradicts the assumption that having more troops inherently guarantees victory.
• —with all the sons of Ephraim: This clarifies and reinforces "Israel," specifying the dominant and spiritually leading tribe of the Northern Kingdom. Ephraim frequently served as a metonym for the entire Northern Kingdom due to its political and spiritual prominence (and often, its prominent apostasy, as seen in the book of Hosea). It highlights the pervasive and deep-rooted nature of their idolatry and sin, which caused God to withhold His favor from them. This phrase serves as a strong polemic, explicitly indicating God's rejection of their religious practices and alliance.

2 Chronicles 25 7 Bonus section

• The intervention by the "man of God" implies that Amaziah’s military plans were already advanced, highlighting the divine grace that warned him before incurring an irrevocable defeat.
• The economic cost (100 talents of silver, as mentioned in the subsequent verse 2 Chr 25:9) of sending away the Israelite troops further tests Amaziah's obedience, challenging whether he values divine approval over perceived financial loss and military advantage. This illustrates that sometimes obedience to God comes with a tangible cost, demanding faith beyond rational human accounting.
• The emphasis on "the Lord is not with Israel" sets a precedent: even fellow Israelites who abandon God's covenant cannot expect His backing and should not be relied upon by those who still walk with Him. This clarifies the boundaries of God's blessing.
• The prophetic message serves as a direct polemic against the Northern Kingdom's claims of being God's people while actively engaged in idolatry. It effectively pronounces God's judgment and spiritual separation from them, reaffirming Judah as the lineage through whom God’s promises would continue (for a time).

2 Chronicles 25 7 Commentary

2 Chronicles 25:7 captures a profound moment of divine instruction and testing for King Amaziah. Despite starting his reign positively, he exhibits a blend of trust in God (evidenced by his execution of justice according to the Law) and worldly pragmatism (hiring 100,000 mercenaries from idolatrous Israel). God's immediate response through a "man of God" highlights the crucial biblical principle that divine presence and favor, not human strength or strategic alliances, determine true victory for God's people.

The message is unambiguous: God is not "with Israel." This points to the Northern Kingdom's chronic spiritual rebellion, particularly their idol worship which estranged them from Yahweh. Relying on such an entity would mean partaking in their spiritual consequences, including divine disfavor in battle. This truth is a test for Amaziah: will he obey God's financially costly and militarily counter-intuitive command to dismiss the mercenaries, trusting fully in Yahweh, or will he prioritize human logic and numerical advantage? The verse powerfully illustrates God's demand for uncompromised trust and the dire consequences of aligning with those whom He opposes due to their unfaithfulness. It reveals God's exclusivity and His unwillingness to share His glory or grant success when His people seek help from sources tainted by disobedience and false worship. The emphasis on "all the sons of Ephraim" underscores the widespread nature of the spiritual malady in the Northern Kingdom, making it an unsuitable ally for any who wish to serve the Lord with integrity.