AMAZIAH KING OF JUDAH. 2 Chronicles 25:1-28

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1 1 AMAZIAH KING OF JUDAH 2 Chronicles 25:1-28

2 2 AMAZIAH KING OF JUDAH Text: 2 Chronicles 25:1-28, 1. Amaziah was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned for twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother was Jehoaddan, who was from Jerusalem. 2. He did what the Lord approved, but not with wholehearted devotion. 3. When he had secured control of the kingdom, he executed the servants who had assassinated his father. 4. However, he did not execute their sons. He obeyed the Lord s commandment as recorded in the law scroll of Moses, Fathers must not be executed for what their sons do, and sons must not be executed for what their fathers do. A man must be executed only for his own sin. 5. Amaziah assembled the people of Judah and assigned them by families to the commanders of units of a thousand and the commanders of units of a hundred for all Judah and Benjamin. He counted those twenty years old and up and discovered there were 300,000 young men of fighting age equipped with spears and shields. 6. He hired 100,000 Israelite warriors for a hundred talents of silver. 7. But a prophet visited him and said: O king, the Israelite troops must not go with you, for the Lord is not with Israel or any of the Ephraimites. 8. Even if you go and fight bravely in battle, God will defeat you before the enemy. God is capable of helping or defeating.

3 3 9. Amaziah asked the prophet: But what should I do about the hundred talents of silver I paid the Israelite troops? The prophet replied, The Lord is capable of giving you more than that. 10. So Amaziah dismissed the troops that had come to him from Ephraim and sent them home. They were very angry at Judah and returned home incensed. 11. Amaziah boldly led his army to the Valley of Salt, where he defeated 10,000 Edomites. 12. The men of Judah captured 10,000 men alive. They took them to the top of a cliff and threw them over. All the captives fell to their death. 13. Now the troops Amaziah had dismissed and had not allowed to fight in the battle raided the cities of Judah from Samaria to Beth Horon. They killed 3,000 people and carried off a large amount of plunder. 14. When Amaziah returned from defeating the Edomites, he brought back the gods of the people of Seir and made them his personal gods. He bowed down before them and offered them sacrifices. 15. The Lord was angry at Amaziah and sent a prophet to him, who said, Why are you following these gods that could not deliver their own people from your power? 16. While he was speaking, Amaziah said to him, Did we appoint you to be a royal counselor? Stop prophesying or else you will be killed! So the prophet stopped, but added, I know that the Lord has decided to destroy you, because you have done this thing and refused to listen to my advice. 17. After King Amaziah of Judah consulted with his advisers, he sent this message to the king of Israel, Joash son of Jehoahaz, the son of Jehu, Come, face me on the battlefield.

4 4 18. King Joash of Israel sent this message back to King Amaziah of Judah, A thorn bush in Lebanon sent this message to a cedar in Lebanon, Give your daughter to my son as a wife. Then a wild animal of Lebanon came by and trampled down the thorn bush. 19. You defeated Edom and it has gone to your head. Gloat over your success, but stay in your palace. Why bring calamity on yourself? Why bring down yourself and Judah along with you? 20. But Amaziah did not heed the warning, for God wanted to hand them over to Joash because they followed the gods of Edom. 21. So King Joash of Israel attacked. He and King Amaziah of Judah faced each other on the battlefield in Beth Shemesh of Judah. 22. Judah was defeated by Israel, and each man ran back home. 23. King Joash of Israel captured King Amaziah of Judah, son of Joash son of Jehoahaz, in Beth Shemesh and brought him to Jerusalem. He broke down the wall of Jerusalem from the Gate of Ephraim to the Corner Gate a distance of about six hundred feet. 24. He took away all the gold and silver, all the items found in God s temple that were in the care of Obed- Edom, the riches in the royal palace, and some hostages. Then he went back to Samaria. 25. King Amaziah son of Joash of Judah lived for fifteen years after the death of King Joash son of Jehoahaz of Israel. 26. The rest of the events of Amaziah s reign, from start to finish, are recorded in the Scroll of the Kings of Judah and Israel. 27. From the time Amaziah turned from following the Lord, conspirators plotted against him in Jerusalem, so he

5 5 fled to Lachish. But they sent assassins after him and they killed him there. 28. His body was carried back by horses, and he was buried in Jerusalem with his ancestors in the City of David. (NET) Introduction: I. Parallel references: A. 2 Chronicles 25:1-28, Amaziah was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned for twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother was Jehoaddan, who was from Jerusalem. He did what the Lord approved, but not with wholehearted devotion. When he had secured control of the kingdom, he executed the servants who had assassinated his father. However, he did not execute their sons. He obeyed the Lord s commandment as recorded in the law scroll of Moses, Fathers must not be executed for what their sons do, and sons must not be executed for what their fathers do. A man must be executed only for his own sin. Amaziah assembled the people of Judah and assigned them by families to the commanders of units of a thousand and the commanders of units of a hundred for all Judah and Benjamin. He counted those twenty years old and up and discovered there were 300,000 young men of fighting age equipped with spears and shields. He hired 100,000 Israelite warriors for a hundred talents of silver. But a prophet visited him and said: O king, the Israelite troops must not go with you, for the Lord is not with Israel or any of the

6 6 Ephraimites. Even if you go and fight bravely in battle, God will defeat you before the enemy. God is capable of helping or defeating. Amaziah asked the prophet: But what should I do about the hundred talents of silver I paid the Israelite troops? The prophet replied, The Lord is capable of giving you more than that. So Amaziah dismissed the troops that had come to him from Ephraim and sent them home. They were very angry at Judah and returned home incensed. Amaziah boldly led his army to the Valley of Salt, where he defeated 10,000 Edomites. The men of Judah captured 10,000 men alive. They took them to the top of a cliff and threw them over. All the captives fell to their death. Now the troops Amaziah had dismissed and had not allowed to fight in the battle raided the cities of Judah from Samaria to Beth Horon. They killed 3,000 people and carried off a large amount of plunder.when Amaziah returned from defeating the Edomites, he brought back the gods of the people of Seir and made them his personal gods. He bowed down before them and offered them sacrifices. The Lord was angry at Amaziah and sent a prophet to him, who said, Why are you following these gods that could not deliver their own people from your power? While he was speaking, Amaziah said to him, Did we appoint you to be a royal counselor? Stop prophesying or else you will be killed! So the prophet stopped, but added, I know that the Lord has decided to destroy you, because you have done this thing and refused to listen to my advice. After King Amaziah of Judah consulted with his advisers, he sent this message to the king of Israel, Joash son of Jehoahaz, the son of

7 7 Jehu, Come, face me on the battlefield. King Joash of Israel sent this message back to King Amaziah of Judah, A thorn bush in Lebanon sent this message to a cedar in Lebanon, Give your daughter to my son as a wife. Then a wild animal of Lebanon came by and trampled down the thorn bush. You defeated Edom and it has gone to your head. Gloat over your success, but stay in your palace. Why bring calamity on yourself? Why bring down yourself and Judah along with you? But Amaziah did not heed the warning, for God wanted to hand them over to Joash because they followed the gods of Edom. So King Joash of Israel attacked. He and King Amaziah of Judah faced each other on the battlefield in Beth Shemesh of Judah. Judah was defeated by Israel, and each man ran back home. King Joash of Israel captured King Amaziah of Judah, son of Joash son of Jehoahaz, in Beth Shemesh and brought him to Jerusalem. He broke down the wall of Jerusalem from the Gate of Ephraim to the Corner Gate a distance of about six hundred feet. He took away all the gold and silver, all the items found in God s temple that were in the care of Obed-Edom, the riches in the royal palace, and some hostages. Then he went back to Samaria.King Amaziah son of Joash of Judah lived for fifteen years after the death of King Joash son of Jehoahaz of Israel. The rest of the events of Amaziah s reign, from start to finish, are recorded in the Scroll of the Kings of Judah and Israel. From the time Amaziah turned from following the Lord, conspirators plotted against him in Jerusalem, so he fled to Lachish. But they sent assassins after him and they killed him there. His

8 8 body was carried back by horses, and he was buried in Jerusalem with his ancestors in the City of David. (NET) B. 2 Kings 14:1-20, In the second year of the reign of Israel s King Joash son of Joahaz, Joash s son Amaziah became king over Judah. He was twentyfive years old when he began to reign, and he reigned for twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother was Jehoaddan, who was from Jerusalem. He did what the Lord approved, but not like David his father. He followed the example of his father Joash. But the high places were not eliminated; the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense on the high places. When he had secured control of the kingdom, he executed the servants who had assassinated his father. But he did not execute the sons of the assassins. He obeyed the Lord s commandment as recorded in the law scroll of Moses, Fathers must not be put to death for what their sons do, and sons must not be put to death for what their fathers do. A man must be put to death only for his own sin. He defeated 10,000 Edomites in the Salt Valley; he captured Sela in battle and renamed it Joktheel, a name it has retained to this very day. Then Amaziah sent messengers to Jehoash son of Jehoahaz son of Jehu, king of Israel. He said, Come, let s meet face to face. King Jehoash of Israel sent this message back to King Amaziah of Judah, A thornbush in Lebanon sent this message to a cedar in Lebanon, Give your daughter to my son as a wife. Then a wild animal of Lebanon came by and trampled down the thorn. You thoroughly defeated Edom and

9 9 it has gone to your head! Gloat over your success, but stay in your palace. Why bring calamity on yourself? Why bring down yourself and Judah along with you? But Amaziah would not heed the warning, so King Jehoash of Israel attacked. He and King Amaziah of Judah met face to face in Beth Shemesh of Judah. Judah was defeated by Israel, and each man ran back home. King Jehoash of Israel captured King Amaziah of Judah, son of Jehoash son of Ahaziah, in Beth Shemesh. He attacked Jerusalem and broke down the wall of Jerusalem from the Gate of Ephraim to the Corner Gate a distance of about six hundred feet. He took away all the gold and silver, all the items found in the Lord s temple and in the treasuries of the royal palace, and some hostages. Then he went back to Samaria. (The rest of the events of Jehoash s reign, including all his accomplishments and his successful war with King Amaziah of Judah, are recorded in the scroll called the Annals of the Kings of Israel. Jehoash passed away and was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel. His son Jeroboam replaced him as king.) King Amaziah son of Joash of Judah lived for fifteen years after the death of King Jehoash son of Jehoahaz of Israel. The rest of the events of Amaziah s reign are recorded in the scroll called the Annals of the Kings of Judah. Conspirators plotted against him in Jerusalem, so he fled to Lachish. But they sent assassins after him and they killed him there. His body was carried back by horses and he was buried in Jerusalem with his ancestors in the City of David. (NET)

10 10 II. Amaziah s reign, Hicks observed, can be divided into two parts; viz., the pre-idolatry period in which he was blessed with victory over Edom and the post-idolatry period in which he was plagued with defeat by Israel. A. 2 Chronicles 25 is filled with a very graphic account of the entire career of Amaziah. (The Pulpit Commentary) Commentary: 2 Chronicles 25:1, Amaziah was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned for twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother was Jehoaddan, who was from Jerusalem. (NET) I. Amaziah was twenty-five (25) years old when he became king, and... A. Amaziah was the son of King Joash. B. The Pulpit Commentary points out that Joash expired at age of forty-seven (47) and, since Amaziah was twenty-five (25) years of age when he became king, it follows that he was born when his father Joash was twenty-two (22) years old. II. He reigned in Jerusalem twenty-nine (29) years ( B.C.). III. His mother s name was Jehoaddin; she was from Jerusalem. A. Jehoaddin (Jehoaddan) of Jerusalem was the wife of Joash and mother of Amaziah.

11 11 1. Jehoaddin (Jehoaddan) was likely one of the two (2) wives Jehoiada the high priest had chosen for Joash. (See the Pulpit Commentary.) 2. Jehoiada had selected a wife for Joash from the honored City of David rather than from some idolatrous or inconsequential place. 2 Chronicles 25:2, He did what the Lord approved, but not with wholehearted devotion. (NET) I. He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord,... A. His doing right in God s sight apparently applies only to his sparing the children of his servants whom he executed for the death of his father (Joash), Coffman wrote. B. Clarke held that Amaziah began his reign well, but soon became an idolator. II. but not wholeheartedly, not with a perfect heart. A. Even at his best Amaziah s service to God was only halfhearted. 1. Revelation 3:15-16, I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either cold or hot! So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I am going to vomit you out of my mouth! (NET) 2. He can be said, however, in view of the conduct of other kings, to be a relatively good king. 3. He did not measure up to his forefather, David, but followed rather in the steps of his father, Joash.

12 12 a. 2 Kings 14:3-4, He did what the Lord approved, but not like David his father. He followed the example of his father Joash. But the high places were not eliminated; the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense on the high places. (NET) B. Wholehearted service to God was required. (Hicks) 1. 1 Chronicles 28:9, And you, Solomon my son, obey the God of your father and serve him with a submissive attitude and a willing spirit, for the Lord examines all minds and understands every motive of one s thoughts. If you seek him, he will let you find him, but if you abandon him, he will reject you permanently. (NET) 2. 2 Chronicles 15:17, The high places were not eliminated from Israel, yet Asa was wholeheartedly devoted to the Lord throughout his lifetime. (NET) 3. 2 Chronicles 19:9, He commanded them: Carry out your duties with respect for the Lord, with honesty, and with pure motives. (NET) 2 Chronicles 25:3, When he had secured control of the kingdom, he executed the servants who had assassinated his father. (NET) I. After the kingdom was firmly (strongly) (established) in his control, he executed the officials (servants) who had murdered his father, Joash the king. A. Were these officials still working in government service?

13 13 1. If so, political intrigue and danger were a genuine threat. 2 Chronicles 25:4, However, he did not execute their sons. He obeyed the Lord s commandment as recorded in the law scroll of Moses, Fathers must not be executed for what their sons do, and sons must not be executed for what their fathers do. A man must be executed only for his own sin. (NET) I. Yet he did not put their sons to death, but acted in accordance with what is written in the Law, in the Book of Moses, where the Lord commanded:... A. Scripture references: 1. Deuteronomy 24:16, Fathers must not be put to death for what their children do, nor children for what their fathers do; each must be put to death for his own sin. (NET) 2. Jeremiah 31:29-30, When that time comes, people will no longer say, The parents have eaten sour grapes, but the children s teeth have grown numb. Rather, each person will die for his own sins. The teeth of the person who eats the sour grapes will themselves grow numb. (NET) 3. Ezekiel 18:4, 19-20, Indeed! All lives are mine the life of the father as well as the life of the son is mine. The one who sins will die. Yet you say, Why should the son not suffer for his father s iniquity? When the son does what is just and right, and observes all my statutes and carries them out, he will surely live. The person

14 14 who sins is the one who will die. A son will not suffer for his father s iniquity, and a father will not suffer for his son s iniquity; the righteous person will be judged according to his righteousness, and the wicked person according to his wickedness. (NET) B. Other kings had not obeyed this provision of the Law of Moses Kings 9:8-10, 26, Ahab s entire family will die. I will cut off every last male belonging to Ahab in Israel, including even the weak and incapacitated. I will make Ahab s dynasty like those of Jeroboam son of Nebat and Baasha son of Ahijah. Dogs will devour Jezebel on the plot of ground in Jezreel; she will not be buried. Then he opened the door and ran away. Know for sure that I saw the shed blood of Naboth and his sons yesterday, says the Lord, and that I will give you what you deserve right here in this plot of land, says the Lord. So now pick him up and throw him into this plot of land, just as the Lord said. (NET) 2. Joshua 7:24-25, Then Joshua and all Israel took Achan, son of Zerah, along with the silver, the robe, the bar of gold, his sons, daughters, ox, donkey, sheep, tent, and all that belonged to him and brought them up to the Valley of Disaster. Joshua said, Why have you brought disaster on us? The Lord will bring disaster on you today! All Israel stoned him to death. (They also stoned and burned the others.) (NET)

15 15 3. These, however, may have been participants in the evil for which they were charged. II. Fathers shall not be put to death for their children, nor children put to death for their fathers;... IV. each is to die for his own sins. 2 Chronicles 25:5, Amaziah assembled the people of Judah and assigned them by families to the commanders of units of a thousand and the commanders of units of a hundred for all Judah and Benjamin. He counted those twenty years old and up and discovered there were 300,000 young men of fighting age equipped with spears and shields. (NET) I. Amaziah called the people of Judah together and assigned them according to their families to commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds for all Judah and Benjamin. A. Amaziah prepares for battle by: appointing his commanders, mustering his army of three hundred thousand (300,000) men over twenty (20) years old, and... a. 1 Chronicles 27:23, David did not count the males twenty years old and under, for the Lord had promised to make Israel as numerous as the stars in the sky. (NET) 3. hiring one-hundred thousand (100,000) warriors from Israel, Hicks wrote.

16 16 B. Asa and Jehoshaphat had assembled larger armies and this, Hicks stated, may have been the reason Amaziah recruited mercenaries from Israel. II. He then mustered those twenty years old or more and found that there were three-hundred thousand men ready for military service, able to handle the spear and shield. 2 Chronicles 25:6, He hired 100,000 Israelite warriors for a hundred talents of silver. (NET) I. He also hired a hundred thousand fighting men from Israel for a hundred thousand talents of silver. A. Hicks noted that Amaziah became embroiled in a war with Edom in which he should never have become engaged and enlisted mercenaries from the Northern Kingdom of Israel who should never have been hired. 2 Chronicles 25:7, But a prophet visited him and said: O king, the Israelite troops must not go with you, for the Lord is not with Israel or any of the Ephraimites. (NET) I. But a man of God (prophet) came to him and said,... A. This prophet is unnamed, but his righteous courage will live forever. II. O King, these troops from Israel must not march with you, for the Lord is not with Israel not with any of the people of Ephraim. A. The rebellion of the northern tribes against the Davidic dynasty had forfeited their further identity as God s chosen people.

17 17 B. The attention of the Chronicler, therefore, focuses on Judah with only incidental references to the Northern Kingdom, these being concerned with interactions between the Northern and Southern kingdoms. (See Coffman) C. The Lord is not with Israel was the underlying principle. 1. Therefore, Judah was to make no alliance with Israel. (See Hicks.) 2. Amaziah could either courageously go into battle with faith in God or he could go into battle feeling inadequate for the task and depending on Israel. a. 1 Chronicles 19:13, Be strong! Let s fight bravely for the sake of our people and the cities of our God! The Lord will do what he decides is best! (NET) b. 1 Chronicles 22:13, Then you will succeed, if you carefully obey the rules and regulations which the Lord ordered Moses to give to Israel. Be strong and brave! Don t be afraid and don t panic! (NET) c. 1 Chronicles 28:10, 20, Realize now that the Lord has chosen you to build a temple as his sanctuary. Be strong and do it! David said to his son Solomon: Be strong and brave! Do it! Don t be afraid and don t panic! For the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not leave you or abandon you before all the work for the service of the Lord s temple is finished. (NET)

18 18 d. 2 Chronicles 15:7, But as for you, be strong and don t get discouraged, for your work will be rewarded. (NET) e. Hicks well concluded, God helps those who trust him, but overthrows those who do not. f. The prophet told Amaziah to trust God. 2 Chronicles 25:8, Even if you go and fight bravely in battle, God will defeat you before the enemy. God is capable of helping or defeating. (NET) I. Even if you go and fight courageously in battle,... A. If you fail to heed my words, the prophet said, your military effort will fail regardless of how hard you strive for victory with Edom. II. God will overthrow you before the enemy, for God has the power to help or to overthrow. A. God can give victory by few or many. 1. Judah does not need mercenaries from Israel to defeat Edom. B. The question remains, The Pulpit Commentary notes, Why didn t the prophet totally forbid Amaziah to go to war with Edom? 2 Chronicles 25:9, Amaziah asked the prophet: But what should I do about the hundred talents of silver I paid the Israelite troops? The prophet replied, The Lord is capable of giving you more than that. (NET)

19 19 I. Amaziah asked the man of God, But what about the hundred talents I paid for these Israelites troops? A. Amaziah was concerned about his loss of funds since he would not get his money back and would lose the services of the mercenaries. II. The man of God replied, The Lord can give you much more than that. A. It is better to lose the money paid for the Israelite mercenaries than to lose the war with Edom. (See Clarke.) 2 Chronicles 25:10, So Amaziah dismissed the troops that had come to him from Ephraim and sent them home. They were very angry at Judah and returned home incensed. (NET) I. So Amaziah dismissed the troops who had come to him from Ephraim and sent them home. A. The mercenaries had come from the tribe of Ephraim, the large Israelite tribe whose territory lay adjacent to the Southern Kingdom. B. These mercenaries did not take kindly to being fired even though no refund of pay was required. 1. They would not, however, be able to share in the plunder of victory. 2. They were very angry because their services were no longer needed. II. They were furious with Judah and left for home in a great rage.

20 20 A. While the Israelite mercenaries retained their wages they were furious because they would not share in the spoil, booty, plunder of the expected victory over Edom. B. Clarke holds they were insulted by being told their services were no longer needed, and began to plot revenge. 2 Chronicles 25:11, Amaziah boldly led his army to the Valley of Salt, where he defeated 10,000 Edomites. (NET) I. Amaziah then marshaled his strength and led his army to the Valley of Salt, where he killed ten-thousand (10,000) men of Seir. A. The Valley of Salt was a barren valley, probably south of the Dead Sea, where the army of Judah under Amaziah won an important victory over the Edomites. (Nelson s New Illustrated Bible Dictionary) 1. The Valley of Salt was also the site of David s victory over the Edomites (Syrians, Arameans) two centuries earlier. (Nelson s New Illustrated Bible Dictionary) a. 2 Samuel 8:13, David became famous when he returned from defeating the Arameans in the Valley of Salt, he defeated 18,000 in all. (NET) B. Amaziah gained some resolve from the prophet s words, Hicks osbserved. 1. No motive for the war is given, Hicks wrote. 2 Chronicles 25:12, The men of Judah captured 10,000 men alive. They took them to the top of a cliff and threw them over. All the captives fell to their death. (NET)

21 21 I. The army of Judah also captured ten thousand (10,000) men alive, took them to the top of a cliff (the rock) and threw them down so that all were dashed to pieces. A. Coffman wrote that the top of the rock ; that is, the top of a cliff, referred to the height of Petra, the Edomite capital. B. The Edomite wars, Coffman noted, were horribly cruel Kings 11:15, During David s campaign against Edom, Joab, the commander of the army, while on a mission to bury the dead, killed every male in Edom. (NET) 2. Ezekiel 25:12-14, This is what the sovereign Lord says: Edom has taken vengeance against the house of Judah; they have made themselves fully culpable by taking vengeance on them. So this is what the sovereign Lord says: I will stretch out my hand against Edom, and I will kill the people and animals within her, and I will make her desolate; from Teman to Dedan they will die by the sword. I will exact my vengeance upon Edom by the hand of my people Israel. They will carry out in Edom my anger and rage; they will experience my vengeance, declares the sovereign Lord. (NET) 3. Remember that Jacob (Israel) and Esau (Edom) were twin brothers. C. Hicks wrote, The mass execution of ten thousand (10,000) Edomites seems horrendous by modern standards, but the practice was widespread in the ancient Near East.

22 22 2 Chronicles 25:13, Now the troops Amaziah had dismissed and had not allowed to fight in the battle raided the cities of Judah from Samaria to Beth Horon. They killed 3,000 people and carried off a large amount of plunder. (NET) I. Mean while the troops that Amaziah had sent back and had not allowed to take part in the war raided Judean towns from Samaria to Beth Horon. A. Samaria was the capital of the Northern Kingdom and was located on a hill about forty-two (42) miles north of Jerusalem and about twenty-five (25) miles east of the Mediterranean Sea. (Nelson s New Illustrated Bible Dictionary) B. Beth Horon (Hosue of [the god] Horon), twin towns, Upper and Lower Horon, named after the Canaanite god of the underworld, were located on the boundary line between Benjamin and Ephraim, on the boundary line between the Northern and Southern Kingdoms. (Nelson s New Illustrated Bible Dictionary) C. Having been deprived of the plunder from Edom s defeat, the mecenaries attacked and plundered Judean towns. D. The Pulpit Commentary takes the position that the mercenaries returned to Israel and were encouraged by their king to raid Judah and take by force the plunder denied them. 1. Reasons for this position include: a. The area plundered begins with Samaria in Israel and goes south from there including areas

23 23 that now were controlled by Judah, but which originally belonged to Ephraim. b. This may be the reason Amaziah was determined to go to war with Israel. II. They killed three thousand people and carried off great quantities of plunder. A. Amaziah s involvement with these mercenaries from Israel cost Judah dearly. B. Amaziah made a big mistake in aligning himself with Israel and he had a very difficult time disassociating himself from them. 2 Chronicles 25:14, When Amaziah returned from defeating the Edomites, he brought back the gods of the people of Seir and made them his personal gods. He bowed down before them and offered them sacrifices. (NET) I. When Amaziah returned from slaughtering the Edomites, he brought back the gods of the people of Seir. A. Amaziah held the debased view that Jehovah was the supreme God, but yet was only one god among many gods, Coffman quoting Ellison wrote. 1. By taking away Edom s idols, Amaziah deprived his enemies of spiritual support. (Coffman) B. Seir was the mountainous country occupied by the Edomites, stretching from the Dead Sea to the Red Sea, east of the gorge called the Arabah. The elevations of this area range from six hundred (600) feet to six thousand (6,000)

24 24 feet above sea level. (Nelson s New Illustrated Bible Dictionary) C. Judah s victory over Edom evidently caused Amaziah to become arrogant and to worship the gods of Edom. 1. Conquering kings would take idols as plunder and erect them in their own land. This indicated that the gods had abandoned their people and supported the conquering nation, Hicks wrote. II. He set them up as his own gods, bowed down to them and burned sacrifices to them. A. This was totally sinful, a major violation of God s will! 1. Exodus 20:5, You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I, the Lord, your God, am a jealous God, responding to the transgression of fathers by dealing with children to the third and fourth generations of those who reject me, (NET) B. Following his victories over Edom, Amaziah evidently became overwhelmingly arrogant and his subsequent behavior totally foolish. (Coffman) 2 Chronicles 25:15, The Lord was angry at Amaziah and sent a prophet to him, who said, Why are you following these gods that could not deliver their own people from your power? (NET) I. The anger of the Lord burned against Amaziah, and he sent a prophet to him, who said,...

25 25 A. God was extremely angry with Amaziah because of his arrogance and idolatry. B. This prophet also remains unnamed. 1. Amaziah, now arrogant, had a changed attitude toward God s prophets. III. Why do you consult this people s gods, which could not save their own people from your hand? A. This was an excellent question to which Amaziah had no answer. B. Amaziah did not believe in the exclusiveness of Jehovah; that is, that the Lord is the one and only God. 1. Amaziah clearly believed in pluralism; that is, the existence of many gods. (See Hicks.) 2 Chronicles 25:16, While he was speaking, Amaziah said to him, Did we appoint you to be a royal counselor? Stop prophesying or else you will be killed! So the prophet stopped, but added, I know that the Lord has decided to destroy you, because you have done this thing and refused to listen to my advice. (NET) I. While he was still speaking, the king said to him,... A. It is incomparably more important what God through his prophet said to Amaziah than what the king said to the prophet. II. Have we appointed you an advisor to the king? A. Amaziah had no answer for God s prophet s question, so he responded sarcastically.

26 26 B. The answer is, God made his prophet an advisor to the king. C. How darest thou give advice to, or reprove, a king? Clarke wrote. D. One time an elder asked this scribe, Who put you on the benevolent committees? I m taking you off. You help too many people. Does this sound a little like Amaziah? III. Stop! Why be struck down? A. God s prophet stops rather than be killed, but he responds with a question of his own, Why don t you stop rebelling against God. Why will you be struck down because of your sins? 1. Why will you destroy yourself by continuing to live in sin? IV. so the prophet stopped but said, A. The prophet prudently abstained from further preaching to an adamant king pridefully set on acting contrary to God. 1. The prophet knew he was not to cast God s valuable word before swine. 2. However, the prophet had the last word. V. I know that God has determined to destroy you, because you have done this and have not listened to my counsel. A. Amaziah refused to humble himself and was in due time destroyed.

27 27 B. Joash, Amaziah and Uzziah (father, son and grandson) were all given to destruction because of their pride. (See Hicks.) 1. 2 Chronicles 24:23, At the beginning of the year the Syrian army attacked Joash and invaded Judah and Jerusalem. They wiped out all the leaders of the people and sent all the plunder they gathered to the king of Damascus. (NET) 2. 2 Chronicles 25:16, While he was speaking, Amaziah said to him, Did we appoint you to be a royal counselor? Stop prophesying or else you will be killed! So the prophet stopped, but added, I know that the Lord has decided to destroy you, because you have done this thing and refused to listen to my advice. (NET) 3. 2 Chronicles 26:16, But once he became powerful, his pride destroyed him. He disobeyed the Lord his God. He entered the Lord s temple to offer incense on the incense altar. (NET) 4. Proverbs 16:18, Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. (NET) C. All three kings were warned and refused to listen to Yahweh s godly representatives. (Hicks) 1. Hicks wrote that the typical pattern was: pride, warning, refusal to listen and destruction. a. 2 Chronicles 24:19, The Lord sent prophets among them to lead them back to him. They warned the people, but they would not pay attention. (NET)

28 28 b. 2 Chronicles 25:16, While he was speaking, Amaziah said to him, Did we appoint you to be a royal counselor? Stop prophesying or else you will be killed! So the prophet stopped, but added, I know that the Lord has decided to destroy you, because you have done this thing and refused to listen to my advice. (NET) c. 2 Chronicles 26:18-19, They confronted King Uzziah and said to him, It is not proper for you, Uzziah, to offer incense to the Lord. That is the responsibility of the priests, the descendants of Aaron, who are consecrated to offer incense. Leave the sanctuary, for you have disobeyed and the Lord God will not honor you! 19 Uzziah, who had an incense censer in his hand, became angry. While he was ranting and raving at the priests, a skin disease appeared on his forehead right there in front of the priests in the Lord s temple near the incense altar. (NET) D. The lesson for us all is: Listen to God s prophets, humble yourself before the Lord, and he will raise you up. (Hicks) 1. But if your pride neglects or rejects God s prophets, he will destroy you. (Hicks) 2. And that s the way it is! 2 Chronicles 25:17, After King Amaziah of Judah consulted with his advisers, he sent this message to the

29 29 king of Israel, Joash son of Jehoahaz, the son of Jehu, Come, face me on the battlefield. (NET) I. After Amaziah king of Judah consulted his advisors,... A. Amaziah did not heed God s prophets, but he let himself be counseled (Moffatt) by false prophets. B. Kings often took counsel Chronicles 13:1, David consulted with his military officers, including those who led groups of a thousand and those who led groups of a hundred. (NET) 2. 2 Chronicles 10:6, King Rehoboam consulted with the older advisers who had served his father Solomon when he had been alive. He asked them, How do you advise me to answer these people? (NET) 3. 2 Chronicles 22:4, He did evil in the sight of the Lord like Ahab s dynasty because, after his father s death, they gave him advice that led to his destruction. (NET) 4. The quality of this counsel varied greatly. 5. Sometimes the advisors counsel was accepted and sometimes it was rejected. 6. Frequently kings accepted advice they should have rejected and sometimes rejected advice they should have accepted. II. he sent this challenge to Jehoash/Joash, son of Jehoahaz, the son of Jehu, king of Israel:...

30 30 A. Jehoash/Joash was the thirteenth (13 th ) king of Israel and reigned in Samaria for sixteen (16) years from about /781 B.C. (Nelson s New Illustrated Bible Dictionary) III. Come, meet me face to face. A. This was intended and understood to be a declaration of war, Coffman wrote. B. This was a euphemism for war Chronicles 25:21, 22, So King Joash of Israel attacked. He and King Amaziah of Judah faced each other on the battlefield in Beth Shemesh of Judah. Judah was defeated by Israel, and each man ran back home. (NET) 2 Chronicles 25:18, King Joash of Israel sent this message back to King Amaziah of Judah, A thorn bush in Lebanon sent this message to a cedar in Lebanon, Give your daughter to my son as a wife. Then a wild animal of Lebanon came by and trampled down the thorn bush. (NET) I. But Jehoash/Joash king of Israel replied to Amaziah king of Judah:... A. Johoash/Joash warned Amaziah not to pursue his aggressive plans because he would surely be defeated. B. Amaziah was one hardheaded, stubborn person who foolishly refused to listen to sound counsel. II. A thistle in Lebanon sent a message to a cedar in Lebanon,...

31 31 A. The fable portrays the thistle as a naïve countrybumpkin, who does not realize how small he really is, wrote Hicks quoting Solomon). B. Amaziah, perhaps because of Judah s victory over Edom, may have had an exaggerated opinion of his military prowess. C. The Cedar here appears to be Edom whose gods Amaziah now worships. (See Hicks.) D. For a similar use of this figure, see Judges 9:7-15, When Jotham heard the news, he went and stood on the top of Mount Gerizim. He spoke loudly to the people below, Listen to me, leaders of Shechem, so that God may listen to you! The trees were determined to go out and choose a king for themselves. They said to the olive tree, Be our king! But the olive tree said to them, I am not going to stop producing my oil, which is used to honor gods and men, just to sway above the other trees! So the trees said to the fig tree, You come and be our king! But the fig tree said to them, I am not going to stop producing my sweet figs, my excellent fruit, just to sway above the other trees! So the trees said to the grapevine, You come and be our king! But the grapevine said to them, I am not going to stop producing my wine, which makes gods and men so happy, just to sway above the other trees! So all the trees said to the thornbush, You come and be our king! The thornbush said to the trees, If you really want to choose me as your king, then come along, find

32 32 safety under my branches! Otherwise may fire blaze from the thornbush and consume the cedars of Lebanon! (NET) III. Give your daughter to my son in marriage. A. Amaziah was absurd in his military proposal, as ridiculous as it would be to think that a respected cedar would give its daughter in marriage to a weed, a thistle. B. Jehoash/Joash, king of Israel, used sarcasm effectively against Amaziah while making it clear he did not want war with Judah. IV. Then a wild beast in Lebanon came along and trampled the thistle underfoot. A. The wild beast here appears to be Israel. (See Hicks.) V. You say to yourself that you have defeated Edom,... A. Amaziah s overly confident, boastful, arrogant, prideful attitude here comes under attack. VI. and now you are arrogant and proud. A. The king of Israel correctly describes his adversary. VII. But stay at home! A. Jehoash/Joash told Amaziah, we don t want war with you. 2. if you insist on war, we will soundly defeat you. 3. Stay home! Don t make war. B. Nobody could tell Amaziah anything!

33 33 1. He and his countrymen suffered as a result of his obstinance. 2. Amaziah would not listen. VIII. Why ask for trouble and cause your own downfall and that of Judah also? 2 Chronicles 25:20, But Amaziah did not heed the warning, for God wanted to hand them over to Joash because they followed the gods of Edom. (NET) I. Amaziah, however, would not listen,... A. Amaziah was a proud, arrogant fool that led Judah into defeat and suffering. B. Amaziah s defeat was from God who had hardened Amaziah s prideful heart. (See Hicks) 1. Proverbs 21:1, The king s heart is in the hand of the Lord like channels of water; he turns it wherever he wants. (NET) 2. Romans 9:15-18, For he says to Moses: I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion. So then, it does not depend on human desire or exertion, but on God who shows mercy. For the scripture says to Pharaoh: For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I may demonstrate my power in you, and that my name may be proclaimed in all the earth. So then, God has mercy on whom he chooses to have mercy, and he hardens whom he chooses to harden. (NET)

34 34 II. for God so worked that he might hand them over to Jehoash/Joash, because they sought the gods of Edom. A. God s providence worked in the affairs of men to punish Amaziah and his countrymen for their idolatry. 2 Chronicles 25:21, So King Joash of Israel attacked. He and King Amaziah of Judah faced each other on the battlefield in Beth Shemesh of Judah. (NET) I. So Jehoash/Joash king of Israel attacked. A. Jehoash/Joash took the initiative and attacked Judah when negotiations failed. II. He and Amaziah king of Judah faced each other (looked each other in the face) at Beth Shemesh in Judah. A. Beth Shemesh (house of the sun-god) was located fifteen (15) miles west of Jerusalem in the Valley of Sorek (Nelson s New Illustrated Bible Dictionary) on the borders of Judah, Dan and the Philistines. 1. Beth Shemesh was a Levitical city on the northwest frontier of Judah near a major access route to Jerusalem. (Hicks) 2. This Beth Shemesh is not to be confused with the towns of the same names on the boundary of Issachar and the fenced city of Naphtali. (The Pulpit Commentary) a. Joshua 19:22, Their border touched Tabor, Shahazumah, and Beth Shemesh, and ended at the Jordan. They had sixteen cities and their towns. (NET)

35 35 b. Joshua 19:38, Yiron, Migdal El, Horem, Beth Anath, and Beth Shemesh. In all they had nineteen cities and their towns. (NET) 2 Chronicles 25:22, Judah was defeated by Israel, and each man ran back home. (NET) I. Judah was routed by Israel, and every man fled to his home. A. The army the Lord favors always wins regardless of all else Chronicles 13:15, and the men of Judah gave the battle cry. As the men of Judah gave the battle cry, the Lord struck down Jeroboam and all Israel before Abijah and Judah. (NET) 2. 2 Chronicles 14:12, The Lord struck down the Cushites before Asa and Judah. The Cushites fled, (NET) 3. 2 Chronicles 20:22, When they began to shout and praise, the Lord suddenly attacked the Ammonites, Moabites, and men from Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated. (NET) 4. 2 Chronicles 6:24, If your people Israel are defeated by an enemy because they sinned against you, then if they come back to you, renew their allegiance to you, and pray for your help before you in this temple, (NET) B. Johoash/Joash could now tell Amaziah, I told you so!

36 36 2 Chronicles 25:23, King Joash of Israel captured King Amaziah of Judah, son of Joash son of Jehoahaz, in Beth Shemesh and brought him to Jerusalem. He broke down the wall of Jerusalem from the Gate of Ephraim to the Corner Gate a distance of about six hundred feet. (NET) I. Jehoash/Joash king of Israel captured Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Joash, the son of Ahaziah,... A. Arrogant Amaziah suffered a catastrophic and humiliating defeat and was himself captured. (Coffman) B. Amaziah was left on Judah s throne, was not killed, which is an astounding development. C. Note the fact that Jehoash was also known as Joash. Amaziah s father, not to be confused with the king of Israel, also was named Joash. II. at Beth Shemesh. A. See verse 21 above. III. Then Jehoash/Joash brought him to Jerusalem and broke down the wall of Jerusalem... A. The breach in Jerusalem s wall makes its defense more difficult and would make Jerusalem s rulers less likely to make war with their neighbors. B. It was not until the reign of Uzziah that this breach in Jerusalem s walls was repairs Chronicles 26:9, Uzziah built and fortified towers in Jerusalem at the Corner Gate, Valley Gate, and at the Angle. (NET)

37 37 IV. from the Ephraim Gate to the Corner Gate a section about six hundred (600) feet long. A. Ephraim Gate (Northern Gate) 1. 2 Kings 14:13, King Jehoash of Israel captured King Amaziah of Judah, son of Jehoash son of Ahaziah, in Beth Shemesh. He attacked Jerusalem and broke down the wall of Jerusalem from the Gate of Ephraim to the Corner Gate a distance of about six hundred feet. (NET) 2. Nehemiah 8:16, So the people went out and brought these things back and constructed temporary shelters for themselves, each on his roof and in his courtyard and in the courtyards of the temple of God and in the plaza of the Water Gate and the plaza of the Ephraim Gate. (NET) 3. Nehemiah 12:39, over the Ephraim Gate, the Jeshanah Gate, the Fish Gate, the Tower of Hananel, and the Tower of the Hundred, to the Sheep Gate. They stopped at the Gate of the Guard. (NET) 4. The Ephraim gate led out on the north or north-west of the city. B. Corner Gate (Western Wall) 1. 2 Kings 14:13, King Jehoash of Israel captured King Amaziah of Judah, son of Jehoash son of Ahaziah, in Beth Shemesh. He attacked Jerusalem and broke down the wall of Jerusalem from the Gate of Ephraim to the Corner Gate a distance of about six hundred feet. (NET)

38 Chronicles 26:9, Uzziah built and fortified towers in Jerusalem at the Corner Gate, Valley Gate, and at the Angle. (NET) 3. Jeremiah 31:38, Indeed a time is coming, says the Lord, when the city of Jerusalem will be rebuilt as my special city. It will be built from the Tower of Hananel westward to the Corner Gate. (NET) 4. Zechariah 14:10, All the land will change and become like the Arabah from Geba to Rimmon, south of Jerusalem; and Jerusalem will be raised up and will stay in its own place from the Benjamin Gate to the site of the First Gate and on to the Corner Gate, and from the Tower of Hananel to the royal winepresses. (NET) 2 Chronicles 25:24, He took away all the gold and silver, all the items found in God s temple that were in the care of Obed-Edom, the riches in the royal palace, and some hostages. Then he went back to Samaria. (NET) I. He took all the gold and silver and all the articles found in the temple of God that had been in the care of Obed-Edom,... A. This Obed-Edom (servant of Edom) appears to have been the guardian of the sacred vessels in the temple at this time. (Nelson s New Illustrated Bible Dictionary) 1. 1 Chronicles 26:15, Obed-Edom was assigned the south gate, and his sons were assigned the storehouses. (NET)

39 39 2. Obed-Edom and his descendants were allotted the keeping of the house of Asuppim or collections for the Divine treasury. (Clarke) B. Hazael had already plundered the temple Kings 12:17-18, At that time King Hazael of Syria attacked Gath and captured it. Hazael then decided to attack Jerusalem. 18 King Jehoash of Judah collected all the sacred items that his ancestors Jehoshaphat, Jehoram, and Ahaziah, kings of Judah, had consecrated, as well as his own sacred items and all the gold that could be found in the treasuries of the Lord s temple and the royal palace. He sent it all to King Hazael of Syria, who then withdrew from Jerusalem. (NET) II. together with the palace treasures and the hostages, and returned to Samaria. A. 2 Kings 14:14, He took away all the gold and silver, all the items found in the Lord s temple and in the treasuries of the royal palace, and some hostages. Then he went back to Samaria. (NET) B. Jehoash/Joash left Jeruslaem with gold and silver temple treasures and hostages-slaves. 1. Contemptuously Jehoash/Joash didn t bother to kill impotent Amaziah, but left him in dishonor and disgrace in a capital city with its defensive walls breached. 2. Proverbs 29:23, A person s pride will bring him low, but one who has a lowly spirit will gain honor. (NET)

40 40 3. Proverbs 25:8, Do not go out hastily to litigation, or what will you do afterward when your neighbor puts you to shame? (NET) 2 Chronicles 25:25, King Amaziah son of Joash of Judah lived for fifteen years after the death of King Joash son of Jehoahaz of Israel. (NET) I. Amaziah son of Joash king of Judah lived for fifteen (15) years after the death of Jehoash/Joash son of Jehoahaz king of Israel. 2 Chronicles 25:26, The rest of the events of Amaziah s reign, from start to finish, are recorded in the Scroll of the Kings of Judah and Israel. (NET) I. As for the other events of Amaziah s reign, from beginning to end,... II. are they not written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel? A. If these references are not our 1 and 2 Kings, they have been lost to history, but were familiar to the post-exilic Hebrews to whom the Chronicles wrote. 2 Chronicles 25:27, From the time Amaziah turned from following the Lord, conspirators plotted against him in Jerusalem, so he fled to Lachish. But they sent assassins after him and they killed him there. (NET) I. From the time that Amaziah turned away from following the Lord,... A. The opposition that eventually led to his death began when Amaziah turned away from following the Lord.