2 Chronicles 25:17-24
Christian Standard Bible
Amaziah’s War with Israel’s King Jehoash
17 King Amaziah of Judah took counsel(A) and sent word to Jehoash[a] son of Jehoahaz, son of Jehu, king of Israel, and challenged him: “Come, let’s meet face to face.”
18 King Jehoash of Israel sent word to King Amaziah of Judah, saying, “The thistle in Lebanon sent a message to the cedar in Lebanon, saying, ‘Give your daughter to my son as a wife.’ Then a wild animal in Lebanon passed by and trampled the thistle.(B) 19 You have said, ‘Look, I[b] have defeated Edom,’ and you have become overconfident[c](C) that you will get glory. Now stay at home. Why stir up such trouble so that you fall and Judah with you?”
20 But Amaziah would not listen, for this turn of events was from God in order to hand them over to their enemies because they went after the gods of Edom. 21 So King Jehoash of Israel advanced. He and King Amaziah of Judah met face to face at Beth-shemesh that belonged to Judah. 22 Judah was routed before Israel, and each man fled to his own tent. 23 King Jehoash of Israel captured Judah’s King Amaziah son of Joash, son of Jehoahaz,[d](D) at Beth-shemesh. Then Jehoash took him to Jerusalem and broke down two hundred yards[e] of Jerusalem’s wall from the Ephraim Gate to the Corner Gate.[f](E) 24 He took all the gold, silver, all the utensils that were found with Obed-edom(F) in God’s temple, the treasures of the king’s palace, and the hostages. Then he returned to Samaria.
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2 Chronicles 25:17-24
New English Translation
17 After King Amaziah of Judah consulted with his advisers,[a] he sent this message to the king of Israel, Joash son of Jehoahaz, the son of Jehu, “Come, face me on the battlefield.”[b] 18 King Joash of Israel sent this message back to King Amaziah of Judah, “A thorn bush in Lebanon sent this message to a cedar in Lebanon, ‘Give your daughter to my son as a wife.’ Then a wild animal of Lebanon came by and trampled down the thorn bush.[c] 19 You defeated Edom[d] and it has gone to your head.[e] Gloat over your success,[f] but stay in your palace. Why bring calamity on yourself? Why bring down yourself and Judah along with you?”[g]
20 But Amaziah did not heed the warning,[h] for God wanted to hand them over to Joash because they followed the gods of Edom.[i] 21 So King Joash of Israel attacked. He and King Amaziah of Judah faced each other on the battlefield[j] in Beth Shemesh of Judah. 22 Judah was defeated by Israel, and each man ran back home.[k] 23 King Joash of Israel captured King Amaziah of Judah, son of Joash son of Jehoahaz, in Beth Shemesh and brought him to Jerusalem. He broke down the wall of Jerusalem from the Gate of Ephraim to the Corner Gate—a distance of about 600 feet.[l] 24 He took away all the gold and silver, all the items found in God’s temple that were in the care of Obed-Edom, the riches in the royal palace, and some hostages. Then he went back to Samaria.
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- 2 Chronicles 25:17 tn The words “with his advisers” are supplied in the translation for clarification.
- 2 Chronicles 25:17 tn Heb “let us look at each other [in the] face.” The expression refers here not to a visit but to meeting in battle. See v. 21.
- 2 Chronicles 25:18 sn The thorn bush in the allegory is Judah. Amaziah’s success had deceived him into thinking he was on the same level as the major powers in the area (symbolized by the cedar). In reality he was not capable of withstanding an attack by a real military power such as Israel (symbolized by the wild animal).
- 2 Chronicles 25:19 tn Heb “you say [to yourself], ‘look, you have defeated Edom.’”
- 2 Chronicles 25:19 tn Heb “and your heart is lifted up.”
- 2 Chronicles 25:19 tn Heb “to glorify.”
- 2 Chronicles 25:19 tn Heb “Why get involved in calamity and fall, you and Judah with you?”
- 2 Chronicles 25:20 tn Heb “did not listen.”
- 2 Chronicles 25:20 tn Heb “because it was from God in order to give them into the hand because they sought the gods of Edom.”
- 2 Chronicles 25:21 tn Heb “looked at each other [in the] face.” See the note on the expression “Come on, face me on the battlefield” in v. 17.
- 2 Chronicles 25:22 tn Heb “and Judah was struck down before Israel and they fled, each to his tent.”
- 2 Chronicles 25:23 tn Heb “400 cubits.” Assuming a cubit of 18 inches (45 cm), the distance would have been about 600 feet (180 m).
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