5-6 Amaziah organized Judah and sorted out Judah and Benjamin by families and by military units. Men twenty years and older had to register—they ended up with 300,000 judged capable of military service. In addition he hired 100,000 soldiers from Israel in the north at a cost of about four and a half tons of silver.

7-8 A holy man showed up and said, “No, O King—don’t let those northern Israelite soldiers into your army; God is not on their side, nor with any of the Ephraimites. Instead, you go by yourself and be strong. God and God only has the power to help or hurt your cause.”

Read full chapter

Bible Gateway Recommends

The Message Student Bible (Softcover)
The Message Student Bible (Softcover)
Retail: $24.99
Our Price: $16.12
Save: $8.87 (35%)
Message Slimline Bible, Charcoal Diamond Leather-look
Message Slimline Bible, Charcoal Diamond Leather-look
Retail: $39.99
Our Price: $8.48
Save: $31.51 (79%)
3.5 of 5.0 stars
The Message The Book of Psalms - eBook
The Message The Book of Psalms - eBook
Retail: $8.99
Our Price: $7.19
Save: $1.80 (20%)