2 Chronicles 25:1-22 ▼

1 Amaziah (YHWH is mighty) was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem (city of peace) twenty-nine years. His mother’s name was Jehoaddan (YHWH delights); she was from Jerusalem.

2 And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD {YHWH}, but not wholeheartedly.

3 As soon as the kingdom was firmly in his grasp, Amaziah executed the servants who had murdered his father the king.

4 Yet he did not put their sons to death, but acted according to what is written in the Law, in the Book of Moses (drawn out), where the LORD {YHWH} commanded: “Fathers must not be put to death for their children, and children must not be put to death for their fathers; each is to die for his own sin .”

5 Then Amaziah (YHWH is mighty) gathered the people of Judah (praised) and assigned them according to their families to commanders of thousands and of hundreds. And he numbered those twenty years of age or older throughout Judah and Benjamin (son of the right hand) and found 300,000 chosen men able to serve in the army, bearing the spear and shield.

6 He also hired 100,000 mighty men of valor from Israel (he wrestles with God) for a hundred talents of silver <3.77 t / 3.42 mt>.

7 But a man of God {Elohim} came to him and said, “O king, do not let the army of Israel (he wrestles with God) go with you, for the LORD {YHWH} is not with Israel—not with any of the Ephraimites (doubly fruitful).

8 Even if you go and fight bravely in battle, God {Elohim} will overthrow you before the enemy, for God has power to help and power to overthrow.”

9 Amaziah (YHWH is mighty) asked the man of God {Elohim}, “What should I do about the hundred talents I have given to the troops of Israel (he wrestles with God)?” And the man of God replied, “The LORD {YHWH} is able to give you much more than this.”

10 So Amaziah (YHWH is mighty) dismissed the troops who had come to him from Ephraim (doubly fruitful) and sent them home. And they were furious with Judah (praised) and returned home in great anger.

11 Amaziah, however (YHWH is mighty), summoned his strength and led his troops to the Valley of Salt, where he struck down 10,000 men of Seir (shaggy),

12 and the army of Judah (praised) also captured 10,000 men alive. They took them to the top of a cliff and threw them down so that all were dashed to pieces.

13 Meanwhile the troops that Amaziah (YHWH is mighty) had dismissed from battle raided the cities of Judah (praised), from Samaria (watch mountain) to Beth-horon (house of hollowness). They struck down 3,000 people and carried off a great deal of plunder.

14 When Amaziah (YHWH is mighty) returned from the slaughter of the Edomites, he brought back the gods of the Seirites (shaggy), set them up as his own gods, bowed before them, and burned sacrifices to them.

15 Therefore the anger of the LORD {YHWH} burned against Amaziah (YHWH is mighty), and He sent him a prophet, who said, “Why have you sought this people’s gods, which could not deliver them from your hand?”

16 While he was still speaking, the king asked, “Have we made you the counselor to the king? Stop! Why be struck down?” So the prophet stopped, but he said, “I know that God {Elohim} has determined to destroy you, because you have done this and have not heeded my advice.”

17 Then Amaziah (YHWH is mighty) king of Judah (praised) took counsel and sent word to the king of Israel (he wrestles with God) Jehoash (Joash) son of Jehoahaz (YHWH has seized), the son of Jehu (YHWH is He). “Come, let us meet face to face,” he said.

18 But Jehoash (given by the Lord) king of Israel (he wrestles with God) replied to Amaziah (YHWH is mighty) king of Judah (praised): “A thistle in Lebanon (whiteness) sent a message to a cedar in Lebanon, saying, ‘Give your daughter to my son in marriage.’ Then a wild beast in Lebanon came along and trampled the thistle.

19 You have said, ‘Look, I have defeated Edom (red),’ 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 (praised) with you?”

20 But Amaziah (YHWH is mighty) would not listen, for this had come from God {Elohim} in order to deliver them into the hand of Jehoash, because they had sought the gods of Edom (red).

21 So Jehoash (given by the Lord) king of Israel (he wrestles with God) advanced, and he and Amaziah (YHWH is mighty) king of Judah (praised) faced each other at Beth-shemesh (house of the sun) in Judah.

22 And Judah (praised) was routed before Israel (he wrestles with God), and every man fled to his own home.