1 Amaziah was twenty and five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned twenty and nine years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Jehoaddan of Jerusalem.
2 And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, but not with a perfect heart.
3 Now it came to pass, when the kingdom was established to him, that he slew his servants that had killed the king his father.
4 But he slew not their children, but did as it is written in the law in the book of Moses, where the LORD 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.
5 Moreover Amaziah gathered Judah together, and made them captains over thousands, and captains over hundreds, according to the houses of their fathers, throughout all Judah and Benjamin: and he numbered them from twenty years old and above, and found them three hundred thousand choice men, able to go forth to war, that could handle spear and shield.
6 He hired also an hundred thousand mighty men of valor out of Israel for an hundred talents of silver.
7 But there came a man of God to him, saying, O king, let not the army of Israel go with thee; for the LORD is not with Israel, to wit, with all the children of Ephraim.
8 But if thou wilt go, do it; be strong for the battle: God shall make thee fall before the enemy: for God hath power to help, and to cast down.
9 And Amaziah said to the man of God, But what shall we do for the hundred talents which I have given to the army of Israel? And the man of God answered, The LORD is able to give thee much more than this.
10 Then Amaziah separated them, to wit, the army that was come to him out of Ephraim, to go home again: wherefore their anger was greatly kindled against Judah, and they returned home in great anger.
11 And Amaziah strengthened himself, and led forth his people, and went to the valley of salt, and smote of the children of Seir ten thousand.
12 And other ten thousand left alive did the children of Judah carry away captive, and brought them unto the top of the rock, and cast them down from the top of the rock, that they all were broken in pieces.
13 But the soldiers of the army which Amaziah sent back, that they should not go with him to battle, fell upon the cities of Judah, from Samaria even unto Bethhoron, and smote three thousand of them, and took much spoil.
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.
15 Wherefore the anger of the LORD was kindled against Amaziah, and he sent unto him a prophet, which said unto him, Why hast thou sought after the gods of the people, which could not deliver their own people out of thine hand?
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.
17 Then Amaziah king of Judah took advice, and sent to Joash, the son of Jehoahaz, the son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying, Come, let us see one another in the face.
18 And Joash 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 thy daughter to my son to wife: and there passed by a wild beast that was in Lebanon, and trode down the thistle.
19 Thou sayest, Lo, thou hast smitten the Edomites; and thine heart lifteth thee up to boast: abide now at home; why shouldest thou meddle to thine hurt, that thou shouldest fall, even thou, and Judah with thee?
20 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.
21 So Joash the king of Israel went up; and they saw one another in the face, both he and Amaziah king of Judah, at Bethshemesh, which belongeth to Judah.
22 And Judah was put to the worse before Israel, and they fled every man to his tent.
23 And Joash the king of Israel took Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Joash, the son of Jehoahaz, at Bethshemesh, and brought him to Jerusalem, and brake down the wall of Jerusalem from the gate of Ephraim to the corner gate, four hundred cubits.
24 And he took all the gold and the silver, and all the vessels that were found in the house of God with Obededom, and the treasures of the king's house, the hostages also, and returned to Samaria.
25 And Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah lived after the death of Joash son of Jehoahaz king of Israel fifteen years.
26 Now the rest of the acts of Amaziah, first and last, behold, are they not written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel?
27 Now after the time that Amaziah did turn away from following the LORD they made a conspiracy against him in Jerusalem; and he fled to Lachish: but they sent to Lachish after him, and slew him there.
28 And they brought him upon horses, and buried him with his fathers in the city of Judah.
Chapter 25 of the book of 2 Chronicles in the King James Version (KJV) of the Holy Bible is a continuation of the reign of King Amaziah of Judah. It describes the events that occurred during his rule, including his victories in battle and his eventual downfall due to his disobedience to God. The main themes of this chapter include the consequences of pride and disobedience, the importance of seeking God's guidance, and the power of repentance and forgiveness. This chapter serves as a reminder of the consequences of straying from God's will and the importance of remaining faithful to Him.
The chapter begins by stating that Amaziah was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem for twenty-nine years. He is described as a king who did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, but not with a loyal heart (2 Chronicles 25:2). Despite this, he was successful in battle and defeated the Edomites, who were a constant threat to the southern kingdom of Judah. Amaziah also took over the city of Sela and renamed it Joktheel, which means "subdued by God" (2 Chronicles 25:12).
Amaziah's victories in battle led him to become prideful and arrogant. He gathered a great army and challenged the northern kingdom of Israel to battle. However, a prophet warned him not to go to war with Israel as God was not on his side (2 Chronicles 25:7-10). Amaziah foolishly ignored the prophet's warning and suffered a humiliating defeat at the hands of Israel. Not only did he lose the battle, but the Israelites also plundered the treasures of the temple and took hostages from Judah (2 Chronicles 25:22-24).
Amaziah's pride and disobedience to God led to his downfall. Despite being warned by the prophet, he chose to rely on his own strength and power instead of seeking God's guidance. This resulted in a devastating defeat for his kingdom and the loss of valuable treasures from the temple. This serves as a reminder of the consequences of pride and disobedience in our own lives. When we become too confident in our own abilities and ignore God's guidance, we are setting ourselves up for failure and suffering.
Furthermore, Amaziah's actions also had consequences for his people. The defeat in battle and the loss of treasures affected the entire kingdom of Judah. This shows that our actions can have a ripple effect on those around us. When we choose to disobey God and act out of pride, we are not only harming ourselves but also those we are responsible for.
One of the main lessons from this chapter is the importance of seeking God's guidance in all aspects of our lives. Amaziah's downfall could have been avoided if he had listened to the prophet's warning and sought God's guidance before going to war. However, he let his pride and arrogance cloud his judgment and ultimately suffered the consequences.
Similarly, in our own lives, it is crucial to seek God's guidance through prayer and reading His word before making important decisions. God knows what is best for us and will guide us in the right direction if we are willing to listen and follow His will.
Despite his pride and disobedience, Amaziah eventually repented and turned back to God. He acknowledged his mistakes and sought forgiveness from God. As a result, God showed him mercy and did not completely destroy him and his kingdom (2 Chronicles 25:27). This shows the power of repentance and forgiveness in our relationship with God.
No matter how far we may have strayed from God, He is always willing to forgive us when we sincerely repent and turn back to Him. Amaziah's story serves as a reminder that it is never too late to seek forgiveness and restoration with God.
Chapter 25 of 2 Chronicles serves as a cautionary tale of the consequences of pride and disobedience. It highlights the importance of seeking God's guidance and the power of repentance and forgiveness. The downfall of King Amaziah shows that even those who start out with good intentions can be led astray by their own pride and arrogance. It also emphasizes the importance of remaining faithful to God and following His will, even in times of success and victory.
This chapter also shows the contrast between Amaziah and his father, King Joash. While both kings initially did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, Joash remained faithful to God until the end of his reign, while Amaziah strayed and faced the consequences. This serves as a reminder that our actions and choices have a lasting impact, and it is essential to remain faithful to God throughout our lives.
In conclusion, the main themes of chapter 25 of 2 Chronicles in the KJV Holy Bible are the consequences of pride and disobedience, the importance of seeking God's guidance, and the power of repentance and forgiveness. This chapter serves as a reminder to remain humble and faithful to God, seek His guidance in all aspects of our lives, and always be willing to repent and seek forgiveness when we stray from His will.
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