◄ 2 Chronicles 25:19 ►
You have said, 'Look, I have defeated Edom,' and your heart has become proud and boastful. Now stay at home. Why should you stir up trouble so that you fall--you and Judah with you?"
Study Bible
You have said, ‘Look, I have defeated Edom,’
This phrase refers to King Amaziah of Judah, who had recently achieved a military victory over the Edomites. The Edomites were descendants of Esau and often in conflict with Israel and Judah. This victory might have been seen as a fulfillment of God's promise to give Israel victory over their enemies, but Amaziah's attitude reveals a deeper issue. The victory over Edom is recorded in 2 Chronicles 25:11-12, where Amaziah's forces killed ten thousand Edomites and captured another ten thousand. This success, however, led to pride rather than humility and gratitude towards God.

and your heart has become proud and boastful.
Pride is a recurring theme in the Bible, often leading to downfall. Proverbs 16:18 warns that pride goes before destruction. Amaziah's pride is a spiritual issue, reflecting a heart that has turned away from reliance on God. This pride is reminiscent of other biblical figures who fell due to arrogance, such as King Saul and King Nebuchadnezzar. The Bible consistently teaches that God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble (James 4:6).

Now stay at home.
This counsel is given by King Jehoash of Israel, warning Amaziah to refrain from further military ambitions. The phrase suggests a call to contentment and a warning against unnecessary conflict. Staying at home implies focusing on internal matters rather than seeking external conquests. This advice aligns with biblical principles of peace and wisdom, as seen in Proverbs 17:14, which advises stopping strife before it breaks out.

Why should you stir up trouble so that you fall—you and Judah with you?”
The warning highlights the potential consequences of Amaziah's prideful actions, not just for himself but for the entire nation of Judah. This reflects the biblical principle that leaders' actions can have widespread effects on their people. The fall of a leader often leads to national disaster, as seen in the history of Israel and Judah. The warning is prophetic, as Amaziah's refusal to heed it leads to his defeat and capture by Jehoash, as recorded later in 2 Chronicles 25:21-24. This serves as a reminder of the importance of humility and seeking God's guidance in leadership.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Amaziah
King of Judah who became proud after defeating Edom. His pride led him to challenge Israel, which resulted in his downfall.

2. Edom
A nation defeated by Amaziah, which led to his prideful attitude. Historically, Edom was often in conflict with Israel and Judah.

3. Judah
The southern kingdom of Israel, ruled by Amaziah. The kingdom was affected by Amaziah's decisions and pride.

4. Israel
The northern kingdom, which Amaziah challenged. This led to a conflict that Judah was not prepared for.

5. Joash
King of Israel who warned Amaziah against his prideful challenge, ultimately defeating him.
Teaching Points
The Dangers of Pride
Pride can lead to overconfidence and poor decision-making, as seen in Amaziah's challenge to Israel.

Heeding Wise Counsel
Joash's warning to Amaziah serves as a reminder to listen to wise advice and avoid unnecessary conflicts.

Consequences of Arrogance
Amaziah's account illustrates how arrogance can lead to personal and communal downfall.

The Importance of Humility
Embracing humility can prevent the destructive path of pride and align us with God's grace.

Learning from History
Reflecting on past mistakes, like Amaziah's, can guide us in making better choices today.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does Amaziah's pride after defeating Edom reflect the warning in Proverbs 16:18 about pride and destruction?

2. In what ways can we apply the lesson of heeding wise counsel from Joash's warning to our own lives?

3. How does Amaziah's account illustrate the consequences of arrogance, and what can we learn from it to avoid similar pitfalls?

4. How can we cultivate humility in our daily lives, as encouraged in James 4:6 and 1 Peter 5:5?

5. What are some modern-day examples of pride leading to downfall, and how can we learn from these to make better decisions?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Proverbs 16:18
This verse speaks about pride leading to destruction, which is a direct parallel to Amaziah's situation.

1 Samuel 15:23
Highlights the consequences of rebellion and arrogance, similar to Amaziah's prideful actions.

James 4:6
Discusses God opposing the proud but giving grace to the humble, relevant to Amaziah's downfall due to pride.

Galatians 6:3
Warns against self-deception and pride, which aligns with Amaziah's overestimation of his own strength.

1 Peter 5:5
Encourages humility, contrasting Amaziah's prideful behavior.
Sermons
Human PresumptionW. Clarkson 2 Chronicles 25:17-24
The Battle of Beth-Shemesh; Or, the Downfall of a BoasterT. Whitelaw 2 Chronicles 25:17-24
People
Ahaziah, Amaziah, Benjamin, David, Edomites, Jehoaddan, Jehoahaz, Jehoash, Jehu, Joash, Obededom, Seir
Places
Beth-horon, Beth-shemesh, Corner Gate, Edom, Ephraim Gate, Jerusalem, Lachish, Lebanon, Samaria, Seir, Valley of Salt
Topics
Abide, Arrogant, Behold, Boast, Boastfulness, Boasting, Cause, Causes, Contend, Danger, Defeated, Downfall, Edom, Edomites, Evil, Fall, Fallen, Glory, Hast, Heart, Home, Hurt, Judah, Lift, Lifted, Lifteth, Lifts, Meddle, Misfortune, Overcome, Pride, Proud, Provoke, Putting, Sayest, Shouldest, Shouldst, Smitten, Stay, Stir, Struck, Therein, Thinkest, Thyself, Trouble
Dictionary of Bible Themes
2 Chronicles 25:19

     5793   arrogance
     5960   success

2 Chronicles 25:1-28

     5366   king

2 Chronicles 25:17-24

     7245   Judah, kingdom of

2 Chronicles 25:18-19

     5438   parables

Library
Prudence and Faith
'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.'--2 CHRON. xxv. 9. The character of this Amaziah, one of the Kings of Judah, is summed up by the chronicler in a damning epigram: 'He did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, but not with a perfect heart.' He was one of your half-and-half people, or, as Hosea says, 'a cake not turned,' …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Amaziah
BY REV. J. G. GREENHOUGH, M.A. "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."--2 CHRON. xxv. 9. Amaziah, King of Judah, belonged to that numerous class of men who wish to stand well with both worlds. He was what we call in religious matters half-and-half. He wanted to secure the favour and protection of God without losing much or anything …
George Milligan—Men of the Bible; Some Lesser-Known

The Blessedness of Giving
"Blessed is he that considereth the poor; the Lord will deliver him in time of trouble." "Honor the Lord with thy substance, and with the first fruits of all thine increase, so shalt thy barns be filled with plenty." "There is that scattereth and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it lendeth to poverty." "The liberal soul shall be made fat, and he that watereth shall be watered also himself." "He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord; and that …
Various—The Wonders of Prayer

The Unmerciful Servant.
"Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants. And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents. But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. Then the lord of that servant was moved …
William Arnot—The Parables of Our Lord

That the Employing Of, and Associating with the Malignant Party, According as is Contained in the Public Resolutions, is Sinful and Unlawful.
That The Employing Of, And Associating With The Malignant Party, According As Is Contained In The Public Resolutions, Is Sinful And Unlawful. If there be in the land a malignant party of power and policy, and the exceptions contained in the Act of Levy do comprehend but few of that party, then there need be no more difficulty to prove, that the present public resolutions and proceedings do import an association and conjunction with a malignant party, than to gather a conclusion from clear premises. …
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

Chronicles
The comparative indifference with which Chronicles is regarded in modern times by all but professional scholars seems to have been shared by the ancient Jewish church. Though written by the same hand as wrote Ezra-Nehemiah, and forming, together with these books, a continuous history of Judah, it is placed after them in the Hebrew Bible, of which it forms the concluding book; and this no doubt points to the fact that it attained canonical distinction later than they. Nor is this unnatural. The book …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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