2 Chronicles 25:10

_THEN AMAZIAH SEPARATED THEM, TO WIT, 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._ Separated them ... the army ... out of Ephraim ... their anger was greatly kindled against Judah. Amaziah, who knew his position, as the Lord's viceroy, complied with the prophet's counsel, and, consenting to forfeit the purchase-money of the Israelite soldiers, discharged them. Exasperated at this treatment, they resolved to indemnify themselves for the loss of their expected booty, and so on their return home they plundered all the towns in their way, committing great havoc both of life and property, without any stoppage, as the king of Judah and his army had set out on their expedition (2 Kings 14:7)....

1-13 Amaziah was no enemy to religion, but cool and indifferent friend. Many do what is good, but not with a perfect heart. Rashness makes work for repentance. But Amaziah's obedience to the command of God was to his honour. A firm belief of God's all-sufficiency to bear us out in our duty, and to make up all the loss and damage was sustain in his service, will make his yoke very easy, and his burden very light. When we are called to part with any thing for God and our religion, it should satisfy us, that God is able to give us much more than this. Convinced sinners, who have not true faith, always object to self-denying obedience. They are like Amaziah; they say, But what shall we do for the hundred talents? What shall we do if by keeping the sabbath holy we lose so many good customers? What shall we do without this gain? What shall we do if we lose the friendship of the world? Many en...

Verse 2 Chronicles 25:10. _THEY RETURNED HOME IN GREAT ANGER_] They thought they were insulted, and began to meditate revenge. See the notes on 2 Kings 14:1, where almost every circumstance in this chapter is examined and explained....

Such a dismissal could not fail to arouse great indignation. The Israelites would suppose themselves dismissed because their good faith was suspected. On the consequences of their indignation, see 2 Chronicles 25:13....

EXPOSITION This chapter is filled up with a very graphic account of the entire career of Amaziah, and its twenty-eight verses are paralleled by the twenty verses of 2 Kings 14:1, where the narrative reads in several places much more curtly. Our chapter opens with the familiar anticipatory summary of the man, his age, pedigree, and character, whose course is to be detailed more precisely in following verses, again and yet again sounding the clear key-note of an unclean character and reign (2 Chronicles 25:1, 2 Chronicles 25:2); it proceeds to record the king's avenging of his father's murder (2 Chro

THEN AMAZIAH SEPARATED THEM,.... From his army, among whom they were incorporated and ranked, to wit, THE ARMY THAT WAS COME TO HIM OUT OF EPHRAIM; which he had hired of the ten tribes, these he singled out: TO GO HOME AGAIN; to their own country: WHEREFORE THEIR ANGER WAS GREATLY KINDLED AGAINST JUDAH, AND THEY RETURNED HOME IN GREAT ANGER; it being a great slight put upon them, and a reproach to them, to be thus dismissed, as they thought; and especially if they understood that it was because they were idolaters; and the rather as they might have hoped to have had their share in the plunder of the Edomites....

5. DECLINE AND APOSTASY UNDER AMAZIAH, UZZIAH, JOTHAM AND AHAZ CHAPTER 25 The Reign of Amaziah _ 1. The record of Amaziah's reign (2 Chronicles 25:1)_ 2. The war against Edom (2 Chronicles 25:5) 3. His idolatry and the divine rebuke (2 Chronicles 25:14) 4. The war between Judah and Israel (2 Chronicles 25:17) 5. The death of Amaziah (2 Chronicles 25:26) Joash's son Amaziah (strength of the Lord) took up the government in Judah when he wa

THE REIGN OF AMAZIAH. This section is taken from 2 Kings 14:1 with some considerable additions and modifications characteristic of the Chronicler. 2 Chronicles 25:1. See notes on 2 Kings 14:1; the Chronicler omits all reference to worship on the high places. 2 Chronicles 25:5. A midrashic expansion of 2 Kings 14:7, forming a background to the verses which follow. 2 Chronicles 25:7. a man of God:...

_in great anger_ R.V. IN FIERCE ANGER....

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 o