Tyndale Open Study Notes2 Chronicles 25

Amaziah reigned for twenty-nine years, from 796 to 767 BC. During this time, he shared the throne with his son Uzziah, starting in 792 BC.

but not wholeheartedly: See 2 Kings 14:3–4 for more details.

Amaziah executed the officials to avenge his father and fulfill the justice described in the Law.

Including Benjamin in this list of military officers shows that this tribe was part of the kingdom of Judah then.

Amaziah's army of 300,000 was smaller than Asa's 580,000 or Jehoshaphat's 1,160,000. This might explain why Amaziah wanted to hire more troops from Israel, the northern kingdom.

• The phrase a man of God referred to a prophet (as in Deuteronomy 33:1; 1 Samuel 2:27; 9:6–10; 1 Kings 13:1–31).

• The kingdom of Israel was politically foreign and spiritually unfaithful. Relying on Israel's troops for military strength would lead to spiritual compromise and God's opposition.

• The Valley of Salt, located south of the Dead Sea, was a frequent battlefield. David also fought the Edomites there (2 Samuel 8:13; see Psalm 60).

• Amaziah did not capture the port at Elath (2 Chronicles 26:2); his conquest was limited to northern Edom.

Conquerors sometimes worshiped the gods of a defeated nation, mistakenly thinking those gods helped them win. Amaziah shared this belief; he did not accept that the Lord is the only true God (see Isaiah 40:18–28; 42:8; Jeremiah 10:1–16).

Amaziah showed his pride by not seeking God. He overestimated his military strength after defeating Edom. His choice to fight Jehoash came from trusting other gods and ignoring God's judgment (see 2 Chronicles 18:9–34; 2 Thessalonians 2:11).

Beth-shemesh guarded the entrance to the Sorek Valley and Jerusalem's route to the coast. Jehoash might have wanted to block Jerusalem's trade or expand his own trade routes.

The Ephraim Gate was on the north side of the city, and the Corner Gate was on the west wall.