2 Chronicles 25:20
New International Version
Amaziah, however, would not listen, for God so worked that he might deliver them into the hands of Jehoash, because they sought the gods of Edom.

New Living Translation
But Amaziah refused to listen, for God was determined to destroy him for turning to the gods of Edom.

English Standard Version
But Amaziah would not listen, for it was of God, in order that he might give them into the hand of their enemies, because they had sought the gods of Edom.

Berean Standard Bible
But Amaziah would not listen, for this had come from God in order to deliver them into the hand of Jehoash, because they had sought the gods of Edom.

King James Bible
But Amaziah would not hear; for it came of God, that he might deliver them into the hand of their enemies, because they sought after the gods of Edom.

New King James Version
But Amaziah would not heed, for it came from God, that He might give them into the hand of their enemies, because they sought the gods of Edom.

New American Standard Bible
But Amaziah would not listen, for it was from God, so that He might hand them over to Joash, because they had sought the gods of Edom.

NASB 1995
But Amaziah would not listen, for it was from God, that He might deliver them into the hand of Joash because they had sought the gods of Edom.

NASB 1977
But Amaziah would not listen, for it was from God, that He might deliver them into the hand of Joash because they had sought the gods of Edom.

Legacy Standard Bible
But Amaziah would not listen, for it was from God, that He might give them into the hand of Joash because they had sought the gods of Edom.

Amplified Bible
But Amaziah would not listen, for it was from God, so that He might hand Judah over to Joash because they had desired the gods of Edom.

Christian Standard Bible
But Amaziah would not listen, for this turn of events was from God in order to hand them over to their enemies because they went after the gods of Edom.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
But Amaziah would not listen, for this turn of events was from God in order to hand them over to their enemies because they went after the gods of Edom.

American Standard Version
But Amaziah would not hear; for it was of God, that he might deliver them into the hand of their enemies, because they had sought after the gods of Edom.

Contemporary English Version
God made Amaziah stubborn because he was planning to punish him for worshiping the Edomite gods. Amaziah refused to listen to Jehoash's warning,

English Revised Version
But Amaziah would not hear; for it was of God, that he might deliver them into the hand of their enemies, because they had sought after the gods of Edom.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
But Amaziah wouldn't listen. (God made this happen because he wanted to hand over the Judeans to Jehoash because they had sought help from Edom's gods.)

Good News Translation
But Amaziah refused to listen. It was God's will for Amaziah to be defeated, because he had worshiped the Edomite idols.

International Standard Version
But Amaziah refused to listen, because the situation was being orchestrated by God in order to turn them over to the control of their enemies because they had pursued those Edomite gods.

Majority Standard Bible
But Amaziah would not listen, for this had come from God in order to deliver them into the hand of Jehoash, because they had sought the gods of Edom.

NET Bible
But Amaziah did not heed the warning, for God wanted to hand them over to Joash because they followed the gods of Edom.

New Heart English Bible
But Amaziah would not listen; for it was of God, that he might deliver them into the hand of their enemies, because they had sought after the gods of Edom.

Webster's Bible Translation
But Amaziah would not hear; for it came from God, that he might deliver them into the hand of their enemies, because they sought after the gods of Edom.

World English Bible
But Amaziah would not listen; for it was of God, that he might deliver them into the hand of their enemies, because they had sought after the gods of Edom.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And Amaziah has not listened, for it [is] from God in order to give them into [their] hand, because they have sought the gods of Edom;

Young's Literal Translation
And Amaziah hath not hearkened, for from God it is in order to give them into hand, because they have sought the gods of Edom;

Smith's Literal Translation
And Amaziah heard not; for it was from God, so that he will give them into the hand, for they sought the gods of Edom.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Amasias would not hearken to him, because it was the Lord's will that he should be delivered into the hands of enemies, because of the gods of Edom.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Amaziah was not willing to listen to him, because it was the will of the Lord that he be delivered into the hands of the enemies, because of the gods of Edom.

New American Bible
But Amaziah did not listen; for it was God’s doing that they be handed over because they sought the gods of Edom.

New Revised Standard Version
But Amaziah would not listen—it was God’s doing, in order to hand them over, because they had sought the gods of Edom.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
But Amaziah would not listen; then Joash king of Israel and Amaziah king of Judah went up

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Amutsia did not listen, and Yoash King of Israel went up, and Amutsia King of Yehuda.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
But Amaziah would not hear; for it was of God, that He might deliver them into the hand [of their enemies], because they had sought after the gods of Edom.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Nevertheless Amasias hearkened not, for it was of the Lord to deliver him into the enemy's hands, because he sought after the gods of the Idumeans.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Amaziah Defeated by Joash
19You have said, ‘Look, I have defeated Edom,’ and your heart has become proud and boastful. Now stay at home. Why should you stir up trouble so that you fall—you and Judah with you?” 20But Amaziah would not listen, for this had come from God in order to deliver them into the hand of Jehoash, because they had sought the gods of Edom. 21So Jehoash king of Israel advanced, and he and Amaziah king of Judah faced each other at Beth-shemesh in Judah.…

Cross References
2 Kings 14:10-12
You have indeed defeated Edom, and your heart has become proud. Glory in that and stay at home. Why should you stir up trouble so that you fall—you and Judah with you?” / But Amaziah would not listen, so Jehoash king of Israel advanced. He and King Amaziah of Judah faced each other at Beth-shemesh in Judah. / And Judah was routed before Israel, and every man fled to his home.

Proverbs 16:18
Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.

Isaiah 19:14
The LORD has poured into her a spirit of confusion. Egypt has been led astray in all she does, as a drunkard staggers through his own vomit.

1 Samuel 28:16-19
“Why do you consult me,” asked Samuel, “since the LORD has turned away from you and become your enemy? / He has done exactly what He spoke through me: The LORD has torn the kingdom out of your hand and given it to your neighbor David. / Because you did not obey the LORD or carry out His burning anger against Amalek, the LORD has done this to you today. ...

1 Kings 22:20-23
And the LORD said, ‘Who will entice Ahab to march up and fall at Ramoth-gilead?’ And one suggested this, and another that. / Then a spirit came forward, stood before the LORD, and said, ‘I will entice him.’ ‘By what means?’ asked the LORD. / And he replied, ‘I will go out and be a lying spirit in the mouths of all his prophets.’ ‘You will surely entice him and prevail,’ said the LORD. ‘Go and do it.’ ...

2 Chronicles 18:19-22
And the LORD said, ‘Who will entice Ahab king of Israel to march up and fall at Ramoth-gilead?’ And one suggested this, and another that. / Then a spirit came forward, stood before the LORD, and said, ‘I will entice him.’ ‘By what means?’ asked the LORD. / And he replied, ‘I will go out and be a lying spirit in the mouths of all his prophets.’ ‘You will surely entice him and prevail,’ said the LORD. ‘Go and do it.’ ...

Jeremiah 6:14-15
They dress the wound of My people with very little care, saying, ‘Peace, peace,’ when there is no peace at all. / Are they ashamed of the abomination they have committed? No, they have no shame at all; they do not even know how to blush. So they will fall among the fallen; when I punish them, they will collapse,” says the LORD.

Ezekiel 14:9
But if the prophet is enticed to speak a message, then it was I the LORD who enticed him, and I will stretch out My hand against him and destroy him from among My people Israel.

Romans 1:28
Furthermore, since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, He gave them up to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done.

2 Thessalonians 2:11-12
For this reason God will send them a powerful delusion so that they believe the lie, / in order that judgment may come upon all who have disbelieved the truth and delighted in wickedness.

1 Corinthians 10:12
So the one who thinks he is standing firm should be careful not to fall.

Galatians 6:3
If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.

James 4:6
But He gives us more grace. This is why it says: “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”

1 Peter 5:5
Young men, in the same way, submit yourselves to your elders. And all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”

Matthew 13:14-15
In them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled: ‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. / For this people’s heart has grown callous; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn, and I would heal them.’


Treasury of Scripture

But Amaziah would not hear; for it came of God, that he might deliver them into the hand of their enemies, because they sought after the gods of Edom.

it came of God

2 Chronicles 25:16
And it came to pass, as he talked with him, that the king said unto him, Art thou made of the king's counsel? forbear; why shouldest thou be smitten? Then the prophet forbare, and said, I know that God hath determined to destroy thee, because thou hast done this, and hast not hearkened unto my counsel.

2 Chronicles 22:7
And the destruction of Ahaziah was of God by coming to Joram: for when he was come, he went out with Jehoram against Jehu the son of Nimshi, whom the LORD had anointed to cut off the house of Ahab.

1 Kings 12:15
Wherefore the king hearkened not unto the people; for the cause was from the LORD, that he might perform his saying, which the LORD spake by Ahijah the Shilonite unto Jeroboam the son of Nebat.

sought

2 Chronicles 25:14
Now it came to pass, after that Amaziah was come from the slaughter of the Edomites, that he brought the gods of the children of Seir, and set them up to be his gods, and bowed down himself before them, and burned incense unto them.

Jump to Previous
Amaziah Amazi'ah Attention Deliver Edom Enemies Enemy's Gods Hand Hands Hear Hearkened However Jehoash Joash Order Purpose Sought Worked
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Amaziah Amazi'ah Attention Deliver Edom Enemies Enemy's Gods Hand Hands Hear Hearkened However Jehoash Joash Order Purpose Sought Worked
2 Chronicles 25
1. Amaziah begins to reign well
3. He executes justice on the traitors
5. having hired an army of Israelites against the Edomites,
7. at the word of a prophet dismisses them
11. He overthrows the Edomites
13. The Israelites, discontented with their dismission, spoil as they return home
14. Amaziah, proud of his victory, serves the gods of Edom, and ignores the prophet
17. He provokes Joash to his overthrow
25. His reign
27. He is slain by conspiracy














But Amaziah would not listen
The phrase highlights Amaziah's stubbornness and disobedience. The Hebrew root for "listen" is "שָׁמַע" (shama), which implies not just hearing but obeying. In the biblical context, listening to God is synonymous with obedience. Amaziah's refusal to heed divine counsel reflects a heart hardened against God's will, a recurring theme in the narratives of the kings of Israel and Judah. This disobedience serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of pride and self-reliance, reminding believers of the importance of humility and submission to God's guidance.

for this was from God
This phrase underscores the sovereignty of God in the affairs of nations and individuals. The Hebrew word "מֵאֵת" (me'et) indicates origin or source, emphasizing that the unfolding events were divinely orchestrated. In the conservative Christian perspective, this reaffirms the belief that God is actively involved in human history, working through circumstances to fulfill His purposes. It serves as a reminder that even when events seem unfavorable, they are under God's control and part of His divine plan.

who sought to hand them over to their enemies
Here, the phrase reveals God's judgment and discipline. The Hebrew verb "בִּקֵּשׁ" (biqqesh) means "to seek" or "to desire," indicating God's intentionality in allowing Israel's defeat. This reflects the biblical principle that God disciplines those He loves (Hebrews 12:6). The handing over to enemies is a consequence of disobedience, serving as a corrective measure intended to bring the people back to repentance and reliance on God. It highlights the seriousness of idolatry and the need for faithfulness to God alone.

because they had sought the gods of Edom
This phrase identifies the root cause of God's judgment: idolatry. The Hebrew word "דָּרַשׁ" (darash) means "to seek" or "to inquire," indicating a deliberate turning away from God to pursue false deities. The gods of Edom represent the allure of foreign influences and the temptation to compromise one's faith. In the historical context, Edom was a neighboring nation often at odds with Israel, and their gods symbolized a rejection of the covenant relationship with Yahweh. This serves as a warning against the dangers of syncretism and the importance of maintaining purity in worship and devotion to God.

(20) But Amaziah would not hear.--And Amaziah hearkened not.

For it came of God . . . gods of Edom.--This remark is added by the chronicler, accounting for the infatuation of Joash by reference to the divine predetermination of events. (Comp. 2Chronicles 25:16; and 2Chronicles 24:24; 2Chronicles 10:15; the Syr. and Arab. omit.)

That he might deliver them into the hand.--Heb., into hand; LXX., "into hands;" Vulg., "into the hands of the enemy." Perhaps the original reading was, into his hand, i.e., the hand of Joash.

Because they sought.--For they had sought.

Verse 20. - The whole of the religious reflection, with its special post-Captivity significance of this verse, is wanting in the parallel, and finds no suggestion either thence or from common authorities. The parallel shows the statement, But Amaziah would not hear, followed up immediately by "Therefore Jehoash... went up." Our own verse, in the use of the plural pronoun them, and again they, takes some slight amount of the weight of guilt in the matter of the idolatry from the shoulders of the king, that it may be shared by the people, and no doubt chiefly again by the "princes" (2 Chronicles 24:17).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
But Amaziah
אֲמַצְיָ֔הוּ (’ă·maṣ·yā·hū)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 558: Amaziah -- 'Yah is mighty', the name of several Israelites

would not
וְלֹא־ (wə·lō-)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

listen,
שָׁמַ֣ע (šā·ma‘)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 8085: To hear intelligently

for
כִּ֤י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

this [had come ]
הִ֔יא (hî)
Pronoun - third person feminine singular
Strong's 1931: He, self, the same, this, that, as, are

from God
מֵהָֽאֱלֹהִים֙ (mê·hā·’ĕ·lō·hîm)
Preposition-m, Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

in order to
לְמַ֖עַן (lə·ma·‘an)
Conjunction
Strong's 4616: Purpose -- intent

deliver them
תִּתָּ֣ם (tit·tām)
Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 5414: To give, put, set

into the hand [of Jehoash],
בְּיָ֑ד (bə·yāḏ)
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 3027: A hand

because
כִּ֣י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

they had sought
דָֽרְשׁ֔וּ (ḏā·rə·šū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 1875: To tread, frequent, to follow, to seek, ask, to worship

the gods
אֱלֹהֵ֥י (’ĕ·lō·hê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

of Edom.
אֱדֽוֹם׃ (’ĕ·ḏō·wm)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 123: The name of a condiment


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OT History: 2 Chronicles 25:20 But Amaziah would not hear (2 Chron. 2Ch iiCh ii ch 2 chr 2chr)
2 Chronicles 25:19
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