2 Chronicles 25: Amaziah: Edom, the gods of Seir, and the defeat at Beth Shemesh
A free study, verse by verse. Text: World English Bible. Notes come from the Hebrew. How to read a study
What happens?
Amaziah begins to reign in Judah at twenty-five, does what is right but not with a complete heart, and kills the servants who killed his father, though not their children. He counts his army, hires 100,000 men out of Israel, then sends them home when a man of God tells him not to use them, and strikes ten thousand of the children of Seir in the Valley of Salt. He brings home the gods of Seir and bows to them, ignores a prophet's warning, and sends to Joash king of Israel to meet face to face. Joash sends back a message, and then defeats him at Beth Shemesh, breaks down part of Jerusalem's wall, and takes the treasures. Later a conspiracy forms against Amaziah, and he is killed at Lachish.
Who is speaking?
The narrator tells the story. No verse is in gold: God speaks no words of his own in this chapter. In verse 4 the words "The fathers shall not die for the children..." are quoted from the book of the law of Moses, so they are not in gold. The man of God speaks in verses 7 to 9, Amaziah in verse 9, a prophet in verse 15, Amaziah and the prophet again in verse 16, and Amaziah's message in verse 17. Joash king of Israel sends the thistle and cedar message in verses 18 and 19. God's own words are printed in gold, and those verses are marked God speaks
1Amaziah was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jehoaddan, of Jerusalem.
In plain English: Amaziah was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jehoaddan, from Jerusalem.
Good to know: gives the same age and the same twenty-nine years, but spells his mother's name Jehoaddin.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
2He did that which was right in Yahweh’s eyes, but not with a perfect heart.
In plain English: He did what was right in Yahweh's eyes, but only, not with a complete (or: perfect) heart.
The Hebrew word: "Perfect" is shalem, which the dictionary gives as "complete (literally or figuratively); especially friendly". and speak of a "perfect heart" too.
How it is translated: Shalem is in 27 verses, and the WEB has "perfect" in 15 of them (about 56%). The Hebrew word-for-word here is "with a heart complete". The text does not say in what way his heart was not complete.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
3Now when the kingdom was established to him, he killed his servants who had killed his father the king.
In plain English: When the kingdom was secure in his hand, he killed the servants who had struck down the king, his father.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
4But he didn’t put their children to death, but did according to that which is written in the law in the book of Moses, as Yahweh commanded, saying, “The fathers shall not die for the children, neither shall the children die for the fathers; but every man shall die for his own sin.”
In plain English: But he did not put their children to death. He did as it is written in the law, in the book of Moses, where Yahweh commanded: "The fathers shall not die for the children, and the children shall not die for the fathers. Each one shall die for his own sin."
Good to know: The words in quotation marks are from , which says "put to death" where this verse says "die". quotes the same law. The text here gives them as the book of Moses, which Yahweh commanded.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
5Moreover Amaziah gathered Judah together and ordered them according to their fathers’ houses, under captains of thousands and captains of hundreds, even all Judah and Benjamin. He counted them from twenty years old and upward, and found that there were three hundred thousand chosen men, able to go out to war, who could handle spear and shield.
In plain English: Amaziah gathered Judah and set them in order by their fathers' houses, under captains of thousands and captains of hundreds, for all Judah and Benjamin. He counted them from twenty years old and up, and found three hundred thousand chosen men who could go out to war and hold spear and shield.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
6He also hired one hundred thousand mighty men of valor out of Israel for one hundred talents of silver.
In plain English: He also hired one hundred thousand mighty men of strength out of Israel, for one hundred talents of silver.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
7A man of God came to him, saying, “O king, don’t let the army of Israel go with you, for Yahweh is not with Israel, with all the children of Ephraim.
In plain English: A man of God came to him and said, "O king, do not let the army of Israel go with you, for Yahweh is not with Israel, with all the descendants of Ephraim.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
8But if you will go, take action, and be strong for the battle. God will overthrow you before the enemy; for God has power to help, and to overthrow.”
In plain English: But if you do go, act and be strong for the battle. God will make you stumble (or: overthrow you) before the enemy, for God has power to help and to make stumble (or: overthrow)."
The Hebrew word: "Stumble" or "overthrow" is kashal, which the dictionary gives as "to totter or waver ... to falter, stumble, faint or fall". The verse uses it twice: God will make Amaziah stumble, and God has power "to help, and to overthrow".
What changes: Read as "stumble", God makes him fall before the enemy. Read as "overthrow", God brings him down before the enemy. The text uses one word for both, and the verse does not say which it means.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
9Amaziah said to the man of God, “But what shall we do for the hundred talents which I have given to the army of Israel?” The man of God answered, “Yahweh is able to give you much more than this.”
In plain English: Amaziah said to the man of God, "And what shall be done about the hundred talents I gave to the troops of Israel?" The man of God said, "Yahweh has much more than this to give you."
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
10Then Amaziah separated them, the army that had come to him out of Ephraim, to go home again. Therefore their anger was greatly kindled against Judah, and they returned home in fierce anger.
In plain English: So Amaziah separated them, the troops that had come to him from Ephraim, to go back to their place. Their anger burned greatly against Judah, and they went back to their place in the heat of anger.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
11Amaziah took courage, and led his people out and went to the Valley of Salt, and struck ten thousand of the children of Seir.
In plain English: Amaziah took courage and led out his people, and he went to the Valley of Salt and struck down ten thousand of the people of Seir.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
12The children of Judah carried away ten thousand alive, and brought them to the top of the rock, and threw them down from the top of the rock, so that they all were broken in pieces.
In plain English: The people of Judah also took ten thousand alive. They brought them to the top of the cliff (or: the rock; see the note) and threw them down from the top of it, and all of them were split open.
The Hebrew word: "The rock" or "the cliff" is sela. The dictionary lists the same Hebrew letters as a common word, "a craggy rock", and also as a place name, "Sela, the rock-city of Idumaea". says Amaziah "took Sela by war, and called its name Joktheel". This verse has the common word with "the"; the text does not say whether it is the same place.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
13But the men of the army whom Amaziah sent back, that they should not go with him to battle, fell on the cities of Judah from Samaria even to Beth Horon, and struck of them three thousand, and took much plunder.
In plain English: But the men of the troop that Amaziah had turned back from going with him to the battle made raids on the cities of Judah, from Samaria to Beth Horon. They struck down three thousand of them and took much plunder.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
14Now after Amaziah had come from the slaughter of the Edomites, 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 to them.
In plain English: After Amaziah came back from defeating the Edomites, he brought the gods of the people of Seir and set them up for himself as his gods. He bowed down before them and made smoke (burned incense) to them.
Good to know: The text calls them "the gods of the people of Seir" and "the gods of Edom" (). tells the Edom victory and does not mention the gods.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
15Therefore Yahweh’s anger burned against Amaziah, and he sent to him a prophet who said to him, “Why have you sought after the gods of the people, which have not delivered their own people out of your hand?”
In plain English: Yahweh's anger burned against Amaziah. He sent a prophet to him, who said, "Why have you sought the gods of the people, which did not rescue their own people from your hand?"
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
16As he talked with him, the king said to him, “Have we made you one of the king’s counselors? Stop! Why should you be struck down?” Then the prophet stopped, and said, “I know that God has determined to destroy you, because you have done this and have not listened to my counsel.”
In plain English: While the prophet was speaking, the king said to him, "Have we made you a counselor of the king? Stop! Why should they strike you down?" So the prophet stopped, and then said, "I know that God has planned to destroy you, because you have done this and have not listened to my counsel."
The Hebrew word: "Counselor" and "determined" are one Hebrew word, ya'ats, which the dictionary gives as "to advise; reflexively, to deliberate or resolve". has it again: Amaziah "took counsel".
How it is translated: Ya'ats is in 73 verses, and the WEB has a form of "counsel" in 51 of them (about 7 in 10). The king asks if the prophet was made a counselor; the prophet says God has planned (or: resolved) to destroy him. The last word, "my counsel", is a related Hebrew word, 'etsah, which the dictionary gives as "advice; by implication, plan; also prudence".
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
17Then Amaziah king of Judah consulted his advisers, and sent to Joash, the son of Jehoahaz, the son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying, “Come! Let’s look one another in the face.”
In plain English: Then Amaziah king of Judah took counsel and sent to Joash, the son of Jehoahaz, the son of Jehu, king of Israel. He said, "Come, let us look one another in the face."
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
18Joash 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 his wife. Then a wild animal that was in Lebanon passed by and trampled down the thistle.
In plain English: Joash king of Israel sent back to Amaziah king of Judah and said, "The thistle (or: thornbush) in Lebanon sent to the cedar in Lebanon, saying, 'Give your daughter to my son as a wife.' Then a wild animal of the field in Lebanon passed by and trampled the thistle.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
19You say to yourself that you have struck Edom; and your heart lifts you up to boast. Now stay at home. Why should you meddle with trouble, that you should fall, even you and Judah with you?’”
In plain English: You have said, 'Look, you have struck Edom,' and your heart has lifted you up to boast (literally: to become heavy; or: to be honored, or proud; see the note). Now stay at home. Why should you stir up trouble, so that you fall, you and Judah with you?'"
The Hebrew word: "To boast" is word for word "to become heavy", kabad. The dictionary gives it as "to be heavy, i.e. in a bad sense (burdensome, severe, dull) or in a good sense (numerous, rich, honorable...)".
How it is translated: Kabad is in 108 verses, the WEB has "heavy" in 16 of them and "honor*" in 48 (about 4 in 10). has the same message, with "Enjoy the glory of it" where this verse has "to boast".
What changes: Read as "heavy" in a good sense, his heart lifts him to be honored. Read in a bad sense, his heart lifts him to be proud. The text does not say which Joash means.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
20But 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.
In plain English: But Amaziah did not listen, for it was from God, so that he might give them into the hand of their enemies, because they had sought the gods of Edom.
Good to know: The Hebrew says it "was from God", and the verse gives the reason: so that he might give them into the hand of their enemies, because they had sought the gods of Edom. says only that Amaziah would not listen.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
21So Joash king of Israel went up, and he and Amaziah king of Judah looked one another in the face at Beth Shemesh, which belongs to Judah.
In plain English: So Joash king of Israel went up, and he and Amaziah king of Judah looked one another in the face at Beth Shemesh, which belongs to Judah.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
22Judah was defeated by Israel; so every man fled to his tent.
In plain English: Judah was defeated before Israel, and each man fled to his tent.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
23Joash king of Israel took Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Joash the son of Jehoahaz, at Beth Shemesh and brought him to Jerusalem, and broke down the wall of Jerusalem from the gate of Ephraim to the corner gate, four hundred cubits.
In plain English: At Beth Shemesh Joash king of Israel caught Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Joash, the son of Jehoahaz, and brought him to Jerusalem. He made a breach in the wall of Jerusalem from the gate of Ephraim to the Corner Gate, four hundred cubits.
Good to know: "With Obed-Edom" is the text's own wording. names Obed-Edom and says "to his sons the storehouse". says the vessels were found "in Yahweh's house" and does not name him. The text does not say if this is the same man as in .
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
24He took all the gold and silver, and all the vessels that were found in God’s house with Obed-Edom, and the treasures of the king’s house, and the hostages, and returned to Samaria.
In plain English: He took all the gold and silver and all the articles found in God's house with Obed-Edom, and the treasures of the king's house, and the hostages (literally: sons of the pledges), and returned to Samaria.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
25Amaziah the son of Joash, king of Judah, lived for fifteen years after the death of Joash, son of Jehoahaz, king of Israel.
In plain English: Amaziah the son of Joash, king of Judah, lived fifteen years after the death of Joash the son of Jehoahaz, king of Israel.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
26Now the rest of the acts of Amaziah, first and last, behold, aren’t they written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel?
In plain English: The rest of Amaziah's acts, first and last, are they not written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel?
Good to know: The source the text names here is "the book of the kings of Judah and Israel". names "the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah".
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
27Now from the time that Amaziah turned away from following Yahweh, they made a conspiracy against him in Jerusalem. He fled to Lachish, but they sent after him to Lachish and killed him there.
In plain English: From the time Amaziah turned aside from following Yahweh, people made a conspiracy against him in Jerusalem. He fled to Lachish, but they sent after him to Lachish and put him to death there.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
28They brought him on horses and buried him with his fathers in the City of Judah.
In plain English: They carried him on horses and buried him with his ancestors in the city of Judah.
Good to know: "The city of Judah" is the wording here. says he was buried "at Jerusalem with his fathers in David's city". The text does not say if these are one place.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.