2 Chronicles 25

Amaziah Reigns in Judah

1 Amaziah a was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jehoaddan of Jerusalem. 2 And he did what was right in the sight of the LORD, b but not with a loyal heart. 3 c Now it happened, as soon as the kingdom was established for him, that he executed his servants who had murdered his father the king. 4 However he did not execute their children, but did as it is written in the Law in the Book of Moses, where the LORD commanded, saying, d "The fathers shall not be put to death for their children, nor shall the children be put to death for their fathers; but a person shall die for his own sin." 1

Amaziah's Victories

5 Moreover Amaziah gathered Judah together and set over them captains of thousands and captains of hundreds, according to their fathers' houses, throughout all Judah and Benjamin; and he numbered them e from twenty years old and above, and found them to be three hundred thousand choice men, able to go to war, who could handle spear and shield. 6 He also hired one hundred thousand mighty men of valor from Israel for one hundred talents of silver. 7 But a f 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. 8 "But if you go, be gone! Be strong in battle! Even so, God shall make you fall before the enemy; for God has g power to help and to overthrow." 9 Then Amaziah said to the man of God, "But what shall we do about the hundred talents which I have given to the troops of Israel?" And the man of God answered, h "The LORD is able to give you much more than this." 10 So Amaziah discharged the troops that had come to him from Ephraim, to go back home. Therefore their anger was greatly aroused against Judah, and they returned home in great anger. 11 Then Amaziah strengthened himself, and leading his people, he went to i the Valley of Salt and killed ten thousand of the people of Seir. 12 Also the children of Judah took captive ten thousand alive, brought them to the top of the rock, and cast them down from the top of the rock, so that they all were dashed in pieces. 13 But as for the soldiers of the army which Amaziah had discharged, so that they would not go with him to battle, they raided the cities of Judah from Samaria to Beth Horon, killed three thousand in them, and took much 2 spoil.

Amaziah's Idolatry

14 Now it was so, after Amaziah came from the slaughter of the Edomites, that j he brought the gods of the people of Seir, set them up to be k his gods, and bowed down before them and burned incense to them. 15 Therefore the anger of the LORD was aroused against Amaziah, and He sent him a prophet who said to him, "Why have you sought l the gods of the people, which m could not rescue their own people from your hand?" 16 So it was, as he talked with him, that the king said to him, "Have we made you the king's counselor? Cease! Why should you be killed?" Then the prophet ceased, and said, "I know that God has n determined to destroy you, because you have done this and have not heeded my advice."

Israel Defeats Amaziah

17 Now o Amaziah king of Judah asked advice and sent to 3 Joash the son of Jehoahaz, the son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying, "Come, let us face one another in battle." 18 And Joash king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, "The thistle that was in Lebanon sent to the cedar that was in Lebanon, saying, 'Give your daughter to my son as wife'; and a wild beast that was in Lebanon passed by and trampled the thistle. 19 "Indeed you say that you have defeated the Edomites, and your heart is lifted up to p boast. Stay at home now; why should you meddle with trouble, that you should fall - you and Judah with you?"

20 But Amaziah would not heed, for q it came from God, that He might give them into the hand of their enemies, because they r sought the gods of Edom. 21 So Joash king of Israel went out; and he and Amaziah king of Judah faced one another at s Beth Shemesh, which belongs to Judah. 22 And Judah was defeated by Israel, and every man fled to his tent. 23 Then Joash the king of Israel captured Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Joash, the son of t 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. 24 And he took all the gold and silver, all the articles that were found in the house of God with u ObedE'dom, the treasures of the king's house, and hostages, and returned to Samaria.

25 v Amaziah the son of Joash, king of Judah, lived fifteen years after the death of Joash the son of Jehoahaz, king of Israel. 26 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? 27 After the time that Amaziah turned away from following the LORD, they made a conspiracy against him in Jerusalem, and he fled to Lachish; but they sent after him to Lachish and killed him there. 28 Then they brought him on horses and buried him with his fathers in 4 the City of Judah.

  1. Cross References
    2 Kings 14:1 - 6
    In the second year of Joash the son of Jehoahaz, king of Israel, Amaziah the son of Joash, king of Judah, became king.
  2. Cross References
    2 Kings 14:4
    However the high places were not taken away, and the people still sacrificed and burned incense on the high places.
    2 Chronicles 25:14
    Now it was so, after Amaziah came from the slaughter of the Edomites, that he brought the gods of the people of Seir, set them up to be his gods, and bowed down before them and burned incense to them.
  3. Cross References
    2 Kings 14:5
    Now it happened, as soon as the kingdom was established in his hand, that he executed his servants who had murdered his father the king.
    2 Chronicles 24:25
    And when they had withdrawn from him (for they left him severely wounded), his own servants conspired against him because of the blood of the sons of Jehoiada the priest, and killed him on his bed. So he died. And they buried him in the City of David, but they did not bury him in the tombs of the kings.
  4. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 24:16
    Fathers shall not be put to death for their children, nor shall children be put to death for their fathers; a person shall be put to death for his own sin.
    2 Kings 14:6
    But the children of the murderers he did not execute, according to what is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, in which the LORD commanded, saying, "Fathers shall not be put to death for their children, nor shall children be put to death for their fathers; but a person shall be put to death for his own sin.
    Jeremiah 31:30
    But every one shall die for his own iniquity; every man who eats the sour grapes, his teeth shall be set on edge.
    Ezekiel 18:20
    The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not bear the guilt of the father, nor the father bear the guilt of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself.
  5. Cross References
    Numbers 1:3
    From twenty years old and above - all who are able to go to war in Israel. You and Aaron shall number them by their armies.
  6. Cross References
    2 Chronicles 11:2
    But the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah the man of God, saying.
  7. Cross References
    2 Chronicles 14:11
    And Asa cried out to the LORD his God, and said, "LORD, it is nothing for You to help, whether with many or with those who have no power; help us, O LORD our God, for we rest on You, and in Your name we go against this multitude. O LORD, You are our God; do not let man prevail against You!
    2 Chronicles 20:6
    And said: "O LORD God of our fathers, are You not God in heaven, and do You not rule over all the kingdoms of the nations, and in Your hand is there not power and might, so that no one is able to withstand You?
  8. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 8:18
    And you shall remember the LORD your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day.
    Proverbs 10:22
    The blessing of the LORD makes one rich, And He adds no sorrow with it.
  9. Cross References
    2 Kings 14:7
    He killed ten thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt, and took Sela by war, and called its name Joktheel to this day.
  10. Cross References
    2 Chronicles 28:23
    For he sacrificed to the gods of Damascus which had defeated him, saying, "Because the gods of the kings of Syria help them, I will sacrifice to them that they may help me." But they were the ruin of him and of all Israel.
  11. Cross References
    Exodus 20:3
    You shall have no other gods before Me.
    Exodus 20:5
    You shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me.
  12. Cross References
    Psalms 96:5
    For all the gods of the peoples are idols, But the LORD made the heavens.
  13. Cross References
    2 Chronicles 25:11
    Then Amaziah strengthened himself, and leading his people, he went to the Valley of Salt and killed ten thousand of the people of Seir.
  14. Cross References
    1 Samuel 2:25
    If one man sins against another, God will judge him. But if a man sins against the LORD, who will intercede for him?" Nevertheless they did not heed the voice of their father, because the LORD desired to kill them.
  15. Cross References
    2 Kings 14:8 - 14
    Then Amaziah sent messengers to Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz, the son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying, "Come, let us face one another in battle.
  16. Cross References
    2 Chronicles 26:16
    But when he was strong his heart was lifted up, to his destruction, for he transgressed against the LORD his God by entering the temple of the LORD to burn incense on the altar of incense.
    2 Chronicles 32:25
    But Hezekiah did not repay according to the favor shown him, for his heart was lifted up; therefore wrath was looming over him and over Judah and Jerusalem.
    Proverbs 16:18
    Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall.
  17. Cross References
    1 Kings 12:15
    So the king did not listen to the people; for the turn of events was from the LORD, that He might fulfill His word, which the LORD had spoken by Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat.
    2 Chronicles 22:7
    His going to Joram was God's occasion for Ahaziah's downfall; for when he arrived, he went out with Jehoram against Jehu the son of Nimshi, whom the LORD had anointed to cut off the house of Ahab.
  18. Cross References
    2 Chronicles 25:14
    Now it was so, after Amaziah came from the slaughter of the Edomites, that he brought the gods of the people of Seir, set them up to be his gods, and bowed down before them and burned incense to them.
  19. Cross References
    Joshua 19:38
    Iron, Migdal El, Horem, Beth Anath, and Beth Shemesh: nineteen cities with their villages.
  20. Cross References
    2 Chronicles 21:17
    And they came up into Judah and invaded it, and carried away all the possessions that were found in the king's house, and also his sons and his wives, so that there was not a son left to him except Jehoahaz, the youngest of his sons.
    2 Chronicles 22:1
    Then the inhabitants of Jerusalem made Ahaziah his youngest son king in his place, for the raiders who came with the Arabians into the camp had killed all the older sons. So Ahaziah the son of Jehoram, king of Judah, reigned.
    2 Chronicles 6:1
    Then Solomon spoke: "The LORD said He would dwell in the dark cloud.
  21. Cross References
    1 Chronicles 26:15
    To ObedE'dom the South Gate, and to his sons the storehouse.
  22. Cross References
    2 Kings 14:17 - 22
    Amaziah the son of Joash, king of Judah, lived fifteen years after the death of Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz, king of Israel.
New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
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