“Amaziah was twenty and five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned twenty and nine years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Jehoaddan of Jerusalem.”
Cross references: : 2 Kings 14:2
“And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, but not with a perfect heart.”
Meaning, in respect of his predecessors albeit he had his imperfections.
“But he slew not their children, but did as it is written in the law in the book of Moses, where the LORD 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.”
That is, for that fault wherefore the child is punished, except he be culpable of the same. Deut. 24:16 ; 2 Kings 14:6 ; Jer. 31:30 ; Ezek. 18:10
“Moreover Amaziah gathered Judah together, and made them captains over thousands, and captains over hundreds, according to the houses of their fathers, throughout all Judah and Benjamin: and he numbered them from twenty years old and above, and found them three hundred thousand choice men, able to go forth to war, that could handle spear and shield.”
So many as were able men to bear weapons and go to the war.
“He hired also an hundred thousand mighty men of valour out of Israel for an hundred talents of silver.”
That is, out of the ten tribes, which had separated themselves before, both from God and their true king.
“But there came a man of God to him, saying, O king, let not the army of Israel go with thee; for the LORD is not with Israel, to wit, with all the children of Ephraim.”
And therefore to think to have help of them, whom the Lord favoreth not, is to cast off the help of the Lord.
“But if thou wilt go, do it, be strong for the battle: God shall make thee fall before the enemy: for God hath power to help, and to cast down.”
If thou wilt not give credit to my words.
“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 LORD is able to give thee much more than this. army: Heb. band”
He showeth that if we depend only upon God, we shall not need to be troubled with these worldly respects, for he will give at all times that which shall be necessary, if we obey his word.
“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.”
For the Idumeans whom David had brought to subjection, rebelled under Jehoram Jehoshaphat’s son.
“And other ten thousand left 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.”
In 2 Kings 14:7 , this rock is called the city Sela.
“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 Bethhoron, and smote three thousand of them, and took much spoil. the soldiers: Heb. the sons of the band”
That is, the hundred thousand of Israel.
“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 to be his gods, and bowed down himself before them, and burned incense unto them.”
Thus where he should have given the praise to God for his benefits and great victory, he fell from God, and did most vilely dishonor him.
“Wherefore the anger of the LORD 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?”
He proveth that whatsoever cannot save himself nor his worshippers, is no God but an idol.
“And it came to pass, as he talked with him, that the king 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. determined: Heb. counselled”
So hard it is, for the carnal man to be admonished of his fault, that he contemneth, mocketh, and threateneth him that warneth him: yea, imprisoneth him and putteth him to death, 2 Chron. 16:10 and 18:26 and 24:21. Meaning, the King.
“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.”
That is, let us try the matter hand to hand: for he was offended, that the army of the Israelites, whom he had in wages, and dismissed by the counsel of the Prophet, had destroyed certain of the cities of Judah.
“But Amaziah would not hear; for it came of God, that he might deliver them into the hand of their enemies, because they sought after the gods of Edom.”
Thus God oft times plagueth by those means wherein men most trust, to teach them to have their recourse only to him, and to show his judgments, moveth their hearts to follow that which shall be their destruction.
“And he took all the gold and the silver, and all the vessels that were found in the house of God with Obededom, and the treasures of the king's house, the hostages also, and returned to Samaria.”
Meaning, the successors of Obed Edom: for the house bare the name of the chief father.