Then Amaziah king of Judah took advice ,.... Not of God, nor of his prophets, but of some of his nobles like himself: and sent to Joash--king of Israel ; of his message to him here, and his answer in the two following verses, see the following notes: See Gill on 2 Kings 14:8 . See Gill on 2 Kings 14:9 . See Gill on 2 Kings 14:10 . read more
Another type of uncertain character. We are at once advised, in refer-once to Amaziah, that he "did right in the sight of the Lord, but not with a perfect heart." The expression might be supposed to cover the description of a man whose life was in the main right, but who was betrayed by temptation into some serious sins, of which, like David, he bitterly repented, but genuinely repented, and was restored to peace -rod favour. No such interpretation, however, is here possible. And as... read more
Human presumption. In the correspondence between these two kings and the action which ensued we have a very striking illustration of the evil of human presumption. I. IT MAY BE BEGOTTEN OF A SLIGHT SUCCESS . "Thou hast smitten the Edomites and thy heart lifteth thee up to boast" ( 2 Chronicles 25:19 ). Some men are soon inflated; even a little "knowledge puffeth up." And a very slight achievement, in art, or in song, or in speech, or in manufacture, is enough to fill... read more
The battle of Beth-shemesh; or, the downfall of a boaster. I. THE OBJECT OF THE BATTLE . 1 . The object of its promoter, Amaziah. 2 . The object of its Director, God. If Amaziah had an aim in seeking a pitched battle with Joash King of Israel, so had Jehovah an aim in allowing him and Joash to try conclusions on the field of war. If Amaziah meant to punish Joash, Jehovah meant to punish Amaziah: which of the two, the King of Judah or the King of kings, was the more... read more
If the contents of this verse do not fail to impress with a persuasion of the keen mental gift of Joash, they do not fall far short of warranting some persuasion of a certain moral sense and goodness about him also. He knows human nature well, and Amaziah's particular variety therein perfectly well. And many would have snapped at the opportunity of humbling such a man. But not so Joash; he enjoys, indeed, the opportunity of satisfying his own sarcasm and patronizingness, but would still spare... read more
Prosperity followed by disaster (25:1-28:27)Succeeding kings of Israel are passed over in silence (2 Kings 13:1-25). Judah was to have nothing to do with the northern kingdom, not even to the hiring of Israelite soldiers. Amaziah took the advice, and was rewarded with victory in a battle against Edom. But the victory, instead of increasing his dependence on God, gave him a feeling of independence. He turned from God and worshipped idols. The ungodly northern kingdom then became God’s instrument... read more
I. Amaziah ch. 25The Chronicler selected three events from Amaziah’s reign to teach important spiritual lessons.First, Amaziah followed the Mosaic Law faithfully in dealing with the people who had killed his father (2 Chronicles 25:1-4; cf. Deuteronomy 24:16). These actions transpired at the beginning of his reign.Second, the king obeyed God partially in his war with the Edomites (2 Chronicles 25:5-16). He unwisely hired mercenary soldiers to help him rather than seeking the Lord’s help (2... read more
Reign of AmaziahThis chapter is derived in the main from 2 Kings 14:1-20, but with two insertions, 2 Kings 14:5-10 and 2 Kings 14:13-16.5. Made them captains, etc.] better, ’arranged them according to their fathers’ houses under captains.’ From twenty years old] Under this age military service was not required: Numbers 1:3; 1 Chronicles 27:23.7. With all.. Ephraim] added to explain the sense in which ’Israel’ is used, since ordinarily in Chronicles it is equivalent to Judah: see on 2 Chronicles... read more
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Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Chronicles 25:17-28
We have here this degenerate prince mortified by his neighbour and murdered by his own subjects. I. Never was proud prince more thoroughly mortified than Amaziah was by Joash king of Israel. 1. This part of the story (which was as fully related 2 Kgs. 14:8-22, as it is here)--embracing the foolish challenge which Amaziah sent to Joash (2 Chron. 25:17), his haughty scornful answer to it (2 Chron. 25:18), with the friendly advice he gave him to sit still and know when he was well off, (2 Chron.... read more