From 5023a03ebd31e7777a22084365597291b1508181 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Lyle Mantooth Date: Sat, 26 Apr 2025 09:24:20 -0400 Subject: [PATCH] 2 Chronicles 25:14-28 --- content/bible_journal/2chronicles/25:14-28.md | 38 +++++++++++++++++++ 1 file changed, 38 insertions(+) create mode 100644 content/bible_journal/2chronicles/25:14-28.md diff --git a/content/bible_journal/2chronicles/25:14-28.md b/content/bible_journal/2chronicles/25:14-28.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..8672211 --- /dev/null +++ b/content/bible_journal/2chronicles/25:14-28.md @@ -0,0 +1,38 @@ ++++ +title = "2 Chronicles 25:14–28" +date = "2025-04-26" ++++ + +### [Read the passage.](https://biblia.com/bible/esv/2Chronicles25.14-28) + +Though the Lord was with the men of Judah when they struck down the Edomites, Amaziah made a critical mistake in his victory. +Along with the other goods that were carried off by his army, Amaziah brought the Edomite idols back and set them up to receive worship. +Up to this point, he had been following the Lord faithfully, so this seems like a very strange thing to do. + +The prophet that God sends to rebuke Amaziah makes this point to the king. +"Why have you sought the gods of a people who did not deliver their own people from your hand?" (_v. 15_) +The Lord granted Amaziah victory, even after dismissing the Israelite mercenaries, so the defeated Edomites' idols get the worship? +It's incredibly stupid. +Amaziah does not listen, though, and even threatens the prophet's life for calling him out. +The unnamed prophet does as the king commands and stops trying to get him to listen, but he gives a final warning that the Lord will strike him down for his idolatry. + +This prophecy comes true some time later when Amaziah picks a fight with Joash, king of Israel. +Joash responds dismissively, saying Amaziah is puffed up from his victory over Edom and now thinks he can take on whomever he wishes. +He warns Amaziah that it will not go well with him or with Judah if he continues down this path. +He is entirely correct, but Amaziah does not listen because this is what the Lord decreed would happen. +Israel defeats Judah at Beth-shemesh, a Judean city. +The army of Judah flees, and Israel captures Amaziah there. +They bring Amaziah back home to Jerusalem, knock down a large chunk of its wall, and carry off the gold and silver that was in the house of God, Amaziah's house, and carried off hostages from the city. + +As a final insult, it seems Joash leaves Amaziah there in Jerusalem when he departs for Samaria. +The king of Judah is so thoroughly defeated that leaving him in charge of his whole country is not a threat. +In fact, Amaziah outlives Joash by fifteen years. +As Amaziah ruled for twenty-nine years, that places this incident in the first half of his reign. +However, all that we have of the latter half is that there was a conspiracy against him because of his idolatry. +Amaziah fled to Lachish because of it, but they caught him there and killed him, just as they killed his father. +We say "they" because we don't know who is responsible, but it's hard to tell if "they" refers to the same group each time. +"They" had the same motivations for killing the king: his idolatry and forsaking the Lord. + +* * * + +Hold us fast and keep us in faithfulness to You, O God.