2 Chronicles 25 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Amaziah reigns twenty-nine years: he hires Israelitish soldiers whom he dismisses at the command of a prophet: he conquers the Edomites, and worships their gods. He is conquered by Joash, king of Israel, who spoils the temple. Amaziah is slain in a conspiracy.

Before Christ 827.

But if thou wilt go, do it, &c.— But if thou wilt be more obstinate, and go to the war, the Lord shall cause thee to fall before the enemy. Houbigant; who renders the last clause of the preceding verse, the Lord is not with Israel, who are all the children of Ephraim.

Then Amaziah separated them, to wit— Amaziah, therefore, gave them to the army which had come to him, &c. Houbigant.

REFLECTIONS.—1st, Amaziah's reign we had before, 2 Kings 14. His lukewarm temper in religion, and his execution of his father's murders, were there recorded; his expedition against Edom is here more at large described.

1. He collected his own forces, which we find greatly diminished under the last three reigns. To strengthen them, therefore, he hired 100,000 auxiliaries out of Israel.
2. God, by a prophet, rebukes him for desiring Israel's assistance, whose forces, being under the divine displeasure, would weaken instead of strengthening his army. If he hopes to prosper, therefore, he is commanded to disband them immediately. God with fewer forces can cast down his foes before him; and these offensive auxiliaries, if retained, will but ensure his overthrow. Note; (1.) Multitudes profit nothing, when God is our foe. (2.) Connection with God's enemies, is the way to bring his curse on our enterprizes.

3. Amaziah, with some reluctance, at last consents; unwilling at first to lose the hundred talents with which he had hired the Israelites, but encouraged by the promises of the prophet that he should be no loser by his compliance. Note; (1.) Worldly-mindedness is apt to raise many objections against the precepts of self-denial. (2.) They who are content to trust God, will never have cause to regret it. He will more than repay whatever he requires us to part with for his sake.

4. When he had dismissed the Israelites, he advanced into Idumea, and, having obtained a complete victory, slew 10,000 on the spot, and executed with terrible severity 10,000 captives that fell into his hands. What induced him to exercise this severity, if not cruelty, is not recorded.
5. The disbanded army highly resented the affront put upon them. Ungodly as they were, they could not bear to be treated as such; and in their return they miserably ravaged a part of Judah, and slew three thousand men, in revenge for their disappointment of the spoil of Edom. Note; (1.) Those who have no concern about religion, feel their pride hurt at being treated as irreligious. (2.) Though we suffer for what is well done, we ought not to be discouraged.

2nd, We have Amaziah's idolatry. What infatuation, what sottish stupidity! To leave the service of the conquering Jehovah, for the idols of a vanquished foe. Here is,
1. The reproof given to the idolatrous king. Justly was God displeased, and sends his prophet to reason with him on his folly. Note; They who depart from God, act as unwisely as wickedly.

2. With indignation he receives the mild rebuke; insolently rejects the prophet's warning as impertinent, bids him hold his peace, or threatens him with Zechariah's fate. Note; (1.) The soul that hateth reproof is brutish. (2.) Prophets must not wonder, if their kindest notices are thus insolently returned.

3. The prophet, perceiving his labour fruitless, retires; leaving behind him, however, a solemn notice of that approaching ruin which Amaziah's hardened obstinacy provoked. Note; They who comfort themselves in having removed their troublers, will quickly feel, by their punishments, how little cause they have to rejoice in their success.

3rdly, Amaziah's pride and fall were before recorded 2 Kings 14. Urged on by evil counsellors instead of advising with God's prophet, and justly hurried to his ruin as the punishment of his apostacy from God, he first was enslaved by the king of Israel, and then slain by a conspiracy of his own servants, from whom he in vain attempted to flee; they pursued him to Lachish, and there murdered him. Note, (1.) They who reject the counsel of God are justly given up to be deluded and destroyed. (2.) However wicked the instruments may be that are employed, God is righteous in his judgments.