Study Desk

And Amaziah gathered Judah together, and appointed them by their ancestral houses, as rulers of thousands and as rulers of hundreds, for all Judah and Benjamin, - and he numbered them, from twenty years old and upwards, and found them three hundred thousand choice men, able to go forth to war, who could grasp spear and shield.

And he hired out of Israel, a hundred thousand heroes of valour, for a hundred talents of silver.

But, a man of God, came unto him, saying, O king! let not the host of Israel come with thee, - for Yahweh is not with Israel, with any of the sons of Ephraim.

But, if thou art going, do, be strong for the battle, - God will cause thee to fall before the enemy, for there is strength in God, to help or to cause to fall.

And Amaziah said unto the man of God, What then shall be done as to the hundred talents, which I have given to the company of Israel? Then said the man of God, Yahweh is able to give thee much more than this.

So Amaziah separated them, appointing unto the company which had come unto him out of Ephraim, to depart unto their own place, - wherefore their anger was greatly kindled against Judah, so they returned to their own place, in a heat of anger.

And, Amaziah, took courage, and led forth his people, and went to the valley of salt, - and smote of the sons of Seir, ten thousand;

and the sons of Judah took captive, ten thousand alive, and brought to the top of the crag, - and cast them down from the top of the crag, and, all of them, were torn asunder.

But, as for the sons of the company which Amaziah sent back from going with him to the war, they spread themselves out against the cities of Judah, from Samaria, even unto Beth-horon, - and smote of them three thousand, and took great plunder.

And so it was, after Amaziah came in from smiting the Edomites, that he brought in the gods of the sons of Seir, and set them up for himself, as gods, - and, before them, used he to bow himself down, and, unto them, used he to burn a perfume.

Then was kindled the anger of Yahweh, against Amaziah, - and he sent unto him a prophet, and said unto him, Wherefore hast thou sought the gods of the people, which delivered not their own people out of thy hand?

And it came to pass, as he spake unto him, that he said to him, To be, counselor to the king, have we appointed thee? forbear thou, wherefore should they smite thee? So 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.