32 lines
2.1 KiB
Markdown
32 lines
2.1 KiB
Markdown
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title = "2 Chronicles 25:1–13"
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date = "2025-04-08"
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### [Read the passage.](https://biblia.com/bible/esv/2Chronicles25.1-13)
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When Joash is assassinated, his son Amaziah takes the throne.
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As soon as he takes the throne, he executes the assassins, who were the king's servants, which is just.
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He was also just in not killing the servants' children, as the Lord had commanded in the Law.
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Often in ancient times, entire families would be punished for the crimes of one member, especially if it was the head of the house.
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(See [Daniel 6:24](https://biblia.com/bible/esv/Daaniel6.24).)
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At some point during his reign, Amaziaih mustered an army from the men of Judah.
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We aren't told why he needs an army yet, but he raises up a sizable one.
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However, he must not have thought it would be large enough because he hires mercenaries from Israel as well.
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The mercenaries made up 25% of his army, and were hired for 100 talents of silver, a pretty hefty sum.
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Before they can head out, an unnamed prophet comes and gives a warning to Amaziah.
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God is not with Israel the way He is with Judah, so Amaziah should not bring the men of Israel on their campaign.
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Amaziah agrees since he is given assurance that the Lord will help him, but he does wonder about the silver he has already spent on Israel's army.
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The man of God reminds him that the Lord can provide much more than that.
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The men of Israel are dismissed with their pay, but they are still enraged that they do not get to participate.
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This sounds strange to our modern context, but it makes sense within theirs.
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One hundred talents of silver is a lot of money until you divide it 100,000 ways.
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At today's price, that's not even $37 per soldier.
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The price of silver may well have been higher back then, but the real incentive was all the spoil the army wouldcarry off when they attacked the Valley of Salt.
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The men of Seir (that is, Edomites) who inhabited the valley were struck down and their goods were carried away, but the men of Israel raided Judah in retaliation.
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* * *
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You fight for Your people, and nothing happens outside of Your sovereign permission.
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