mh_parser/vol_split/14 - 2Chronicles/Chapter 25.xml

<div2 id="iiCh.xxvi" n="xxvi" next="iiCh.xxvii" prev="iiCh.xxv" progress="85.32%" title="Chapter XXV">
<h2 id="iiCh.xxvi-p0.1">S E C O N D   C H R O N I C L E
S</h2>
<h3 id="iiCh.xxvi-p0.2">CHAP. XXV.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="iiCh.xxvi-p1">Amaziah's reign, recorded in this chapter, was not
one of the worse and yet for from good. Most of the passages in
this chapter we had before more briefly related, <scripRef id="iiCh.xxvi-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.14.1-2Kgs.14.22" parsed="|2Kgs|14|1|14|22" passage="2Ki 14:1-22">2 Kings xiv.</scripRef> Here we find Amaziah, I. A
just revenger of his father's death, <scripRef id="iiCh.xxvi-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.25.1-2Chr.25.4" parsed="|2Chr|25|1|25|4" passage="2Ch 25:1-4">ver. 1-4</scripRef>. II. An obedient observer of the
command of God, <scripRef id="iiCh.xxvi-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.25.5-2Chr.25.10" parsed="|2Chr|25|5|25|10" passage="2Ch 25:5-10">ver.
5-10</scripRef>. III. A cruel conqueror of the Edomites, <scripRef id="iiCh.xxvi-p1.4" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.25.11-2Chr.25.13" parsed="|2Chr|25|11|25|13" passage="2Ch 25:11-13">ver. 11-13</scripRef>. IV. A foolish
worshipper of the gods of Edom and impatient of reproof for it,
<scripRef id="iiCh.xxvi-p1.5" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.25.14-2Chr.25.16" parsed="|2Chr|25|14|25|16" passage="2Ch 25:14-16">ver. 14-16</scripRef>. V. Rashly
challenging the king of Israel, and smarting for his rashness,
<scripRef id="iiCh.xxvi-p1.6" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.25.17-2Chr.25.24" parsed="|2Chr|25|17|25|24" passage="2Ch 25:17-24">ver. 17-24</scripRef>. And,
lastly, ending his days ingloriously, <scripRef id="iiCh.xxvi-p1.7" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.25.25-2Chr.25.28" parsed="|2Chr|25|25|25|28" passage="2Ch 25:25-28">ver. 25-28</scripRef>.</p>
<scripCom id="iiCh.xxvi-p0.1_1" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.25" parsed="|2Chr|25|0|0|0" passage="2Ch 25" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="iiCh.xxvi-p0.2_1" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.25.1-2Chr.25.13" parsed="|2Chr|25|1|25|13" passage="2Ch 25:1-13" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:2Chr.25.1-2Chr.25.13">
<h4 id="iiCh.xxvi-p1.10">Amaziah's Reign and
Victories. (<span class="smallcaps" id="iiCh.xxvi-p1.11">b. c.</span> 838.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="iiCh.xxvi-p2">1 Amaziah <i>was</i> twenty and five years old
<i>when</i> he began to reign, and he reigned twenty and nine years
in Jerusalem. And his mother's name <i>was</i> Jehoaddan of
Jerusalem.   2 And he did <i>that which was</i> right in the
sight of the <span class="smallcaps" id="iiCh.xxvi-p2.1">Lord</span>, but not with a
perfect heart.   3 Now it came to pass, when the kingdom was
established to him, that he slew his servants that had killed the
king his father.   4 But he slew not their children, but
<i>did</i> as <i>it is</i> written in the law in the book of Moses,
where the <span class="smallcaps" id="iiCh.xxvi-p2.2">Lord</span> commanded, saying,
The fathers shall not die for the children, neither shall the
children die for the fathers, but every man shall die for his own
sin.   5 Moreover Amaziah gathered Judah together, and made
them captains over thousands, and captains over hundreds, according
to the houses of <i>their</i> fathers, throughout all Judah and
Benjamin: and he numbered them from twenty years old and above, and
found them three hundred thousand choice <i>men, able</i> to go
forth to war, that could handle spear and shield.   6 He hired
also a hundred thousand mighty men of valour out of Israel for a
hundred talents of silver.   7 But there came a man of God to
him, saying, O king, let not the army of Israel go with thee; for
the <span class="smallcaps" id="iiCh.xxvi-p2.3">Lord</span> <i>is</i> not with Israel,
<i>to wit, with</i> all the children of Ephraim.   8 But if
thou wilt go, do <i>it,</i> be strong for the battle: God shall
make thee fall before the enemy: for God hath power to help, and to
cast down.   9 And Amaziah said to the man of God, But what
shall we do for the hundred talents which I have given to the army
of Israel? And the man of God answered, The <span class="smallcaps" id="iiCh.xxvi-p2.4">Lord</span> is able to give thee much more than this.
  10 Then Amaziah separated them, <i>to wit,</i> the army that
was come to him out of Ephraim, to go home again: wherefore their
anger was greatly kindled against Judah, and they returned home in
great anger.   11 And Amaziah strengthened himself, and led
forth his people, and went to the valley of salt, and smote of the
children of Seir ten thousand.   12 And <i>other</i> ten
thousand <i>left</i> alive did the children of Judah carry away
captive, and brought them unto the top of the rock, and cast them
down from the top of the rock, that they all were broken in pieces.
  13 But the soldiers of the army which Amaziah sent back,
that they should not go with him to battle, fell upon the cities of
Judah, from Samaria even unto Beth-horon, and smote three thousand
of them, and took much spoil.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiCh.xxvi-p3">Here is, I. The general character of
Amaziah: <i>He did that which was right in the eyes of the
Lord,</i> worshipped the true God, kept the temple service a going,
and countenanced religion in his kingdom; but he did not do it
<i>with a perfect heart</i> (<scripRef id="iiCh.xxvi-p3.1" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.25.2" parsed="|2Chr|25|2|0|0" passage="2Ch 25:2"><i>v.</i>
2</scripRef>), that is, he was not a man of serious piety or
devotion himself, nor had he any zeal for the exercises of
religion. He was no enemy to it, but a cool and indifferent friend.
Such is the character of too many in this Laodicean age: they do
that which is good, but not with the heart, not with a perfect
heart.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiCh.xxvi-p4">II. A necessary piece of justice which he
did upon the traitors that murdered his father: he put them to
death, <scripRef id="iiCh.xxvi-p4.1" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.25.3" parsed="|2Chr|25|3|0|0" passage="2Ch 25:3"><i>v.</i> 3</scripRef>. Though
we should suppose they intended to avenge on their king the death
of the prophet (as was intimated, <scripRef id="iiCh.xxvi-p4.2" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.24.25" parsed="|2Chr|24|25|0|0" passage="2Ch 24:25"><i>ch.</i> xxiv. 25</scripRef>), yet this would by no
means justify their wickedness; for <i>they</i> were not the
avengers, but presumptuously took God's work out of his hands: and
therefore Amaziah did what became him in calling them to an account
for it, but forbade the putting of the children to death for the
parents' sin, <scripRef id="iiCh.xxvi-p4.3" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.25.4" parsed="|2Chr|25|4|0|0" passage="2Ch 25:4"><i>v.</i>
4</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiCh.xxvi-p5">III. An expedition of his against the
Edomites, who, some time ago, had revolted from under the dominion
of Judah, to which he attempted to reduce them. Observe,</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiCh.xxvi-p6">1. The great preparation he made for this
expedition. (1.) He mustered his own forces, and marshalled them
(<scripRef id="iiCh.xxvi-p6.1" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.25.5" parsed="|2Chr|25|5|0|0" passage="2Ch 25:5"><i>v.</i> 5</scripRef>), and found
Judah and Benjamin in all but 300,000 men that were fit for war,
whereas, in Jehoshaphat's time, fifty or sixty years before, they
were four times as many. Sin weakens a people, diminishes them,
dispirits them, and lessens their number and figure. (2.) He hired
auxiliary troops out of the kingdom of Israel, <scripRef id="iiCh.xxvi-p6.2" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.25.6" parsed="|2Chr|25|6|0|0" passage="2Ch 25:6"><i>v.</i> 6</scripRef>. Finding his own kingdom
defective in men, he thought to make up the deficiency with his
money, and therefore took into his pay 100,000 Israelites. If he
had advised with any of his prophets before he did this, or had but
considered how little any of his ancestors got by their alliances
with Israel, he would not have had this to undo again. But rashness
makes work for repentance.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiCh.xxvi-p7">2. The command which God sent him by a
prophet to dismiss out of his service the forces of Israel,
<scripRef id="iiCh.xxvi-p7.1" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.25.7-2Chr.25.8" parsed="|2Chr|25|7|25|8" passage="2Ch 25:7,8"><i>v.</i> 7, 8</scripRef>. He would
not have him call in any assistance at all: it looked like distrust
of God. If he made sure of God's presence, the army he had of his
own was sufficient. But particularly he must not take in
<i>their</i> assistance: <i>For the Lord is not with the children
of Ephraim, because they are not with him,</i> but worship the
calves. This was a good reason why he should not make use of them,
because he could not depend upon them to do him any service. What
good could be expected from those that had not God with them, nor
his blessings upon their undertakings? It is comfortable to employ
those who, we have reason to hope, have an interest in heaven, and
dangerous to associate with those from whom the Lord has departed.
The prophet assured him that if he persisted in his resolution to
take these idolatrous apostate Israelites with him, in hopes
thereby to make himself strong for the battle, it was at his peril;
they would prove a dead weight to his army, would sink and betray
it: "<i>God shall make thee fall before the enemy,</i> and these
Israelites will be the ruin of thy cause; for God has power to help
thee without them, and to cast thee down though thou hast them with
thee."</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiCh.xxvi-p8">3. The objection which Amaziah made against
this command, and the satisfactory answer which the prophet gave to
that objection, <scripRef id="iiCh.xxvi-p8.1" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.25.9" parsed="|2Chr|25|9|0|0" passage="2Ch 25:9"><i>v.</i>
9</scripRef>. The king had remitted 100 talents to the men of
Israel for advance-money. "Now," says he, "if I send them back, I
shall lose that: <i>But what shall we do for the 100 talents?</i>"
This is an objection men often make against their duty: they are
afraid of losing by it. "Regard not that," says the prophet:
"<i>The Lord is able to give thee much more than this;</i> and,
thou mayest depend upon it, he will not see thee lose by him. What
are 100 talents between thee and him? He has ways enough to make up
the loss to thee; it is below thee to speak of it." Note, A firm
belief of God's all-sufficiency to bear us out in our duty, and to
make up all the loss and damage we sustain in his service
abundantly to our advantage, will make his yoke very easy and his
burden very light. What is it to trust in God, but to be willing to
venture the loss of any thing for him, in confidence of the
goodness of the security he gives us that we shall not lose by him,
but that whatever we part with for his sake shall be made up to us
in kind or kindness. When we grudge to part with any thing for God
and our religion, this should satisfy us, that God is able to give
us much more than this. He is just, and he is good, and he is
solvent. The king lost 100 talents by his obedience; and we find
just that sum given to his grandson Jotham as a present (<scripRef id="iiCh.xxvi-p8.2" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.27.5" parsed="|2Chr|27|5|0|0" passage="2Ch 27:5"><i>ch.</i> xxvii. 5</scripRef>); then the
principal was repaid, and, for interest, 10,000 measures of wheat
and as many of barley.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiCh.xxvi-p9">4. His obedience to the command of God,
which is upon record to his honour. He would rather lose his money,
disoblige his allies, and dismiss a fourth part of his army just as
they were going to take the field, than offend God: <i>He separated
the army of Ephraim, to go home again,</i> <scripRef id="iiCh.xxvi-p9.1" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.25.10" parsed="|2Chr|25|10|0|0" passage="2Ch 25:10"><i>v.</i> 10</scripRef>. And they went home in great
anger, taking it as a great affront thus to be made fools of, and
to be cashiered as men not fit to be employed, and being perhaps
disappointed of the advantages they promised themselves in spoil
and plunder by joining with Judah against Edom. Men are apt to
resent that which touches them in their profit or reputation,
though it frees them from trouble.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiCh.xxvi-p10">5. His triumphs over the Edomites,
<scripRef id="iiCh.xxvi-p10.1" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.25.11-2Chr.25.12" parsed="|2Chr|25|11|25|12" passage="2Ch 25:11,12"><i>v.</i> 11, 12</scripRef>. He
left dead upon the spot, in the field of battle, 10,000 men; 10,000
more he took prisoners, and barbarously killed them all by throwing
them down some steep and craggy precipice. What provocation he had
to exercise this cruelty towards them we are not told; but it was
certainly very severe.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiCh.xxvi-p11">6. The mischief which the disbanded
soldiers of Israel did to the cities of Judah, either in their
return or soon after, <scripRef id="iiCh.xxvi-p11.1" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.25.13" parsed="|2Chr|25|13|0|0" passage="2Ch 25:13"><i>v.</i>
13</scripRef>. They were so enraged at being sent home that, if
they might not go to share with Judah in the spoil of Edom, they
would make a prey of Judah. Several cities that lay upon the
borders they plundered, killing 3000 men that made resistance. But
why should God suffer this to be done? Was it not in obedience to
him that they were sent home, and yet shall the country thus suffer
by it? Surely God's way is in the sea! Did not the prophet say that
God was not with the children of Ephraim, and yet they are suffered
to prevail against Judah? Doubtless God intended hereby to chastise
those cities of Judah for their idolatries, which were found most
in those parts that lay next to Israel. The men of Israel had
corrupted them, and now they were made a plague to them. Satan both
tempts and torments.</p>
</div><scripCom id="iiCh.xxvi-p0.3" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.25.14-2Chr.25.16" parsed="|2Chr|25|14|25|16" passage="2Ch 25:14-16" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:2Chr.25.14-2Chr.25.16">
<h4 id="iiCh.xxvi-p11.3">Amaziah's Idolatry. (<span class="smallcaps" id="iiCh.xxvi-p11.4">b. c.</span> 826.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="iiCh.xxvi-p12">14 Now it came to pass, after that Amaziah was
come from the slaughter of the Edomites, that he brought the gods
of the children of Seir, and set them up <i>to be</i> his gods, and
bowed down himself before them, and burned incense unto them.
  15 Wherefore the anger of the <span class="smallcaps" id="iiCh.xxvi-p12.1">Lord</span> was kindled against Amaziah, and he sent
unto him a prophet, which said unto him, Why hast thou sought after
the gods of the people, which could not deliver their own people
out of thine hand?   16 And it came to pass, as he talked with
him, that <i>the king</i> said unto him, Art thou made of the
king's counsel? forbear; why shouldest thou be smitten? Then the
prophet forbare, and said, I know that God hath determined to
destroy thee, because thou hast done this, and hast not hearkened
unto my counsel.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiCh.xxvi-p13">Here is, I. The revolt of Amaziah from the
God of Israel to the gods of the Edomites. Egregious folly! Ahaz
worshipped the gods of those that had conquered him, for which he
had some little colour, <scripRef id="iiCh.xxvi-p13.1" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.28.23" parsed="|2Chr|28|23|0|0" passage="2Ch 28:23"><i>ch.</i>
xxviii. 23</scripRef>. But to worship the gods of those whom he had
conquered, who could not protect their own worshippers, was the
greatest absurdity that could be. What did he see in the gods of
the children of Seir that could tempt him to set them up for <i>his
gods</i> and <i>bow himself down before them?</i> <scripRef id="iiCh.xxvi-p13.2" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.25.14" parsed="|2Chr|25|14|0|0" passage="2Ch 25:14"><i>v.</i> 14</scripRef>. If he had cast the
idols down from the rock and broken them to pieces, instead of the
prisoners, he would have manifested more of the piety as well as
more of the pity of an Israelite; but perhaps for that barbarous
inhumanity he was given up to this ridiculous idolatry.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiCh.xxvi-p14">II. The reproof which God sent to him, by a
prophet, for this sin. <i>The anger of the Lord was kindled against
him,</i> and justly; yet, before he sent to destroy him, he sent to
convince and reclaim him, and so to prevent his destruction. The
prophet reasoned with him very fairly and very mildly: <i>Why hast
thou sought</i> the favour of those gods <i>which could not deliver
their own people?</i> <scripRef id="iiCh.xxvi-p14.1" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.25.15" parsed="|2Chr|25|15|0|0" passage="2Ch 25:15"><i>v.</i>
15</scripRef>. If men would but duly consider the inability of all
those things to help them to which they have recourse when they
forsake God, they would not be such enemies to themselves.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiCh.xxvi-p15">III. The check he gave to the reprover,
<scripRef id="iiCh.xxvi-p15.1" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.25.16" parsed="|2Chr|25|16|0|0" passage="2Ch 25:16"><i>v.</i> 16</scripRef>. He could say
nothing in excuse of his own folly; the reproof was too just to be
answered. But he fell into a passion with the reprover. 1. He
taunted him as saucy and impertinent, and meddling with that which
did not belong to him: <i>Art thou made of the king's counsel?</i>
Could not a man speak reasonably to him, but he must be upbraided
as usurping the place of a privy-counsellor? But, as a prophet, he
really was made of the king's counsel by the King of kings, in duty
to whom the king was bound not only to hear, but to ask and take
his counsel. 2. He silenced him, bade him forbear and say not a
word more to him. He <i>said to the seer, See not,</i> <scripRef id="iiCh.xxvi-p15.2" osisRef="Bible:Isa.30.10" parsed="|Isa|30|10|0|0" passage="Isa 30:10">Isa. xxx. 10</scripRef>. Men would gladly have
their prophets thus under their girdles, as we say, to speak just
when and what they would have them speak, and not otherwise. 3. He
threatened him: "<i>Why shouldst thou be smitten?</i> It is at thy
peril if thou sayest a word more of this matter." He seems to
remind him of Zechariah's fate in the last reign, who was put to
death for making bold with the king; and bids him take warning by
him. Thus he justifies the killing of that prophet by menacing
this, and so, in effect, makes himself guilty of the blood of both.
He had hearkened to the prophet who ordered him to send back the
army of Israel, and was ruled by him, though he contradicted his
politics and lost him 100 talents, <scripRef id="iiCh.xxvi-p15.3" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.25.10" parsed="|2Chr|25|10|0|0" passage="2Ch 25:10"><i>v.</i> 10</scripRef>. But this prophet, who
dissuaded him from worshipping the gods of the Edomites, he ran
upon with an unaccountable rage, which must be attributed to the
witchcraft of idolatry. He was easily persuaded to part with his
talents of silver, but by no means with his gods of silver.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiCh.xxvi-p16">IV. The doom which the prophet passed upon
him for this. He had more to say to him by way of instruction and
advice; but, finding him obstinate in his iniquity, he forbore. He
is <i>joined to idols; let him alone,</i> <scripRef id="iiCh.xxvi-p16.1" osisRef="Bible:Hos.4.17" parsed="|Hos|4|17|0|0" passage="Ho 4:17">Hos. iv. 17</scripRef>. Miserable is the condition of
that man with whom the blessed Spirit, by ministers and conscience,
<i>forbears to strive,</i> <scripRef id="iiCh.xxvi-p16.2" osisRef="Bible:Gen.6.3" parsed="|Gen|6|3|0|0" passage="Ge 6:3">Gen. vi.
3</scripRef>. And both the reprovers in the gate and that in the
bosom, if long brow-beaten and baffled, will at length forbear. So
I <i>gave them up to their own hearts' lusts.</i> The secure sinner
perhaps values himself upon it as a noble and happy achievement to
have silenced his reprovers and monitors, and to get clear of them;
but what comes of it? "<i>I know that God has determined to destroy
thee;</i> it is a plain indication that thou art marked for ruin
<i>that thou hast done this, and hast not hearkened to my
counsel.</i>" Those that are deaf to reproof are ripening apace for
destruction, <scripRef id="iiCh.xxvi-p16.3" osisRef="Bible:Prov.29.1" parsed="|Prov|29|1|0|0" passage="Pr 29:1">Prov. xxix.
1</scripRef>.</p>
</div><scripCom id="iiCh.xxvi-p0.4" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.25.17-2Chr.25.28" parsed="|2Chr|25|17|25|28" passage="2Ch 25:17-28" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:2Chr.25.17-2Chr.25.28">
<h4 id="iiCh.xxvi-p16.5">The Death of Amaziah. (<span class="smallcaps" id="iiCh.xxvi-p16.6">b. c.</span> 825.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="iiCh.xxvi-p17">17 Then Amaziah king of Judah took advice, and
sent to Joash, the son of Jehoahaz, the son of Jehu, king of
Israel, saying, Come, let us see one another in the face.   18
And Joash king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, The
thistle that <i>was</i> in Lebanon sent to the cedar that
<i>was</i> in Lebanon, saying, Give thy daughter to my son to wife:
and there passed by a wild beast that <i>was</i> in Lebanon, and
trode down the thistle.   19 Thou sayest, Lo, thou hast
smitten the Edomites; and thine heart lifteth thee up to boast:
abide now at home; why shouldest thou meddle to <i>thine</i> hurt,
that thou shouldest fall, <i>even</i> thou, and Judah with thee?
  20 But Amaziah would not hear; for it <i>came</i> of God,
that he might deliver them into the hand <i>of their enemies,</i>
because they sought after the gods of Edom.   21 So Joash the
king of Israel went up; and they saw one another in the face,
<i>both</i> he and Amaziah king of Judah, at Beth-shemesh, which
<i>belongeth</i> to Judah.   22 And Judah was put to the worse
before Israel, and they fled every man to his tent.   23 And
Joash the king of Israel took Amaziah king of Judah, the son of
Joash, the son of Jehoahaz, at Beth-shemesh, and brought him to
Jerusalem, and brake down the wall of Jerusalem from the gate of
Ephraim to the corner gate, four hundred cubits.   24 And
<i>he took</i> all the gold and the silver, and all the vessels
that were found in the house of God with Obed-edom, and the
treasures of the king's house, the hostages also, and returned to
Samaria.   25 And Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah lived
after the death of Joash son of Jehoahaz king of Israel fifteen
years.   26 Now the rest of the acts of Amaziah, first and
last, behold, <i>are</i> they not written in the book of the kings
of Judah and Israel?   27 Now after the time that Amaziah did
turn away from following the <span class="smallcaps" id="iiCh.xxvi-p17.1">Lord</span>
they made a conspiracy against him in Jerusalem; and he fled to
Lachish: but they sent to Lachish after him, and slew him there.
  28 And they brought him upon horses, and buried him with his
fathers in the city of Judah.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiCh.xxvi-p18">We have here this degenerate prince
mortified by his neighbour and murdered by his own subjects.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiCh.xxvi-p19">I. Never was proud prince more thoroughly
mortified than Amaziah was by Joash king of Israel.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiCh.xxvi-p20">1. This part of the story (which was as
fully related <scripRef id="iiCh.xxvi-p20.1" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.14.8-2Kgs.14.22" parsed="|2Kgs|14|8|14|22" passage="2Ki 14:8-22">2 Kings xiv.
8</scripRef>, &amp;c., as it is here)—embracing the foolish
challenge which Amaziah sent to Joash (<scripRef id="iiCh.xxvi-p20.2" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.25.17" parsed="|2Chr|25|17|0|0" passage="2Ch 25:17"><i>v.</i> 17</scripRef>), his haughty scornful answer
to it (<scripRef id="iiCh.xxvi-p20.3" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.25.18" parsed="|2Chr|25|18|0|0" passage="2Ch 25:18"><i>v.</i> 18</scripRef>), with
the friendly advice he gave him to sit still and know when he was
well off, (<scripRef id="iiCh.xxvi-p20.4" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.25.19" parsed="|2Chr|25|19|0|0" passage="2Ch 25:19"><i>v.</i>
19</scripRef>),—his wilfully persisting in his challenge
(<scripRef id="iiCh.xxvi-p20.5" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.25.20-2Chr.25.21" parsed="|2Chr|25|20|25|21" passage="2Ch 25:20,21"><i>v.</i> 20, 21</scripRef>), the
defeat that was given him (<scripRef id="iiCh.xxvi-p20.6" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.25.22" parsed="|2Chr|25|22|0|0" passage="2Ch 25:22"><i>v.</i>
22</scripRef>), and the calamity he brought upon himself and his
city thereby (<scripRef id="iiCh.xxvi-p20.7" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.25.23-2Chr.25.24" parsed="|2Chr|25|23|25|24" passage="2Ch 25:23,24"><i>v.</i> 23,
24</scripRef>),—verifies two of Solomon's proverbs:—(1.) That
<i>a man's pride will bring him low,</i> <scripRef id="iiCh.xxvi-p20.8" osisRef="Bible:Prov.29.23" parsed="|Prov|29|23|0|0" passage="Pr 29:23">Prov. xxix. 23</scripRef>. It goes before his
destruction; not only procures it meritoriously, but is often the
immediate occasion of it. <i>He that exalteth himself shall be
abased.</i> (2.) That he that <i>goes forth hastily to strive</i>
will probably not know what to do in the end thereof, <i>when his
neighbour has put him to shame,</i> <scripRef id="iiCh.xxvi-p20.9" osisRef="Bible:Prov.25.8" parsed="|Prov|25|8|0|0" passage="Pr 25:8">Prov. xxv. 8</scripRef>. He that is fond of contention
may have enough of it sooner than he thinks of.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiCh.xxvi-p21">2. But there are two passages in this story
which we had not before in the <i>Kings.</i> (1.) That <i>Amaziah
took advice</i> before he challenged the king of Israel, <scripRef id="iiCh.xxvi-p21.1" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.25.17" parsed="|2Chr|25|17|0|0" passage="2Ch 25:17"><i>v.</i> 17</scripRef>. But of whom? Not of
the prophet—he was <i>not made of the king's counsel;</i> but of
his statesmen that would flatter him and bid him go up and prosper.
It is good to take advice, but then it must be of those that are
fit to advise us. Those that will not take advice from the word of
God, which would guide them aright, will justly be left to the bad
advice of those that will counsel them to their destruction. Let
those be made fools that will not be made wise. (2.) Amaziah's
imprudence is here made the punishment of his impiety (<scripRef id="iiCh.xxvi-p21.2" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.25.20" parsed="|2Chr|25|20|0|0" passage="2Ch 25:20"><i>v.</i> 20</scripRef>): <i>It was of the
Lord;</i> he left him to himself to act thus foolishly, that he and
his people might be <i>delivered into the hands of their enemies,
because</i> they had forsaken God and <i>sought after the gods of
Edom.</i> Those that will not persuaded to do well for their souls
will justly be given up to their own counsels to do ill for
themselves even in their outward affairs.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiCh.xxvi-p22">II. Never was poor prince more violently
pursued by his own subjects. <i>From the time</i> that he departed
from the Lord (so it may be read, <scripRef id="iiCh.xxvi-p22.1" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.25.27" parsed="|2Chr|25|27|0|0" passage="2Ch 25:27"><i>v.</i> 27</scripRef>) the hearts of his subjects
departed from him, and they began to form a design against him in
Jerusalem. It is probable they were exasperated against him more
for his rashly engaging in a war against Israel than for his
worshipping the gods of Edom. But at length the ferment grew so
high, and he perceived the plot to be laid so deeply, that he
thought fit to quit his royal city and flee to Lachish, either as a
private place where he might be hid or as a strong place where he
might be guarded; but they sent after him thither, and slew him
there. By this the putting of him to death seems to have been done
deliberately, and to have been the act, not of a disgusted servant
or two, but of a considerable body that durst avow it. How
unrighteous soever they were herein, God was righteous.</p>
</div></div2>