Study Desk

Moreover, Amaziah assembled Judah and appointed them according to their fathers' households under commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds throughout Judah and Benjamin; and he ^(F1)took a census of those ^(C1)from twenty years old and upward and found them to be ^(C2)three hundred thousand choice men, able to go to war and handle spear and shield.

He also hired a hundred thousand valiant warriors from Israel for ^(F1)a hundred talents of silver.

But ^(C1)a man of God came to him saying, "O king, do not let the army of Israel come with you, for the LORD is not with Israel nor with any of the sons of Ephraim.

"But if you do go, do it, be strong for the battle; yet God will ^(F1)bring you down before the enemy, ^(C1)for God has the power to help and to ^(F2)bring down."

Amaziah said to the man of God, "But what are we to do about the ^(F1)hundred talents which I have given to the troops of Israel?" And the man of God answered, "^(C1)The LORD has much more to give you than this."

Then Amaziah ^(F1)dismissed the troops which came to him from Ephraim, to go home; so their anger burned against Judah, and they returned ^(F2)home in fierce anger.

Now Amaziah gathered his courage and led his people out, and went to ^(C1)the Valley of Salt, and struck and killed ten thousand of the sons of Seir.

The sons of Judah also captured ten thousand alive and brought them to the top of the cliff, and threw them down from the top of the cliff so that they were all dashed to pieces.

But the ^(F1)troops whom Amaziah sent back, those not going with him to battle, raided the cities of Judah from Samaria to Beth-horon, and struck and killed three thousand of them, and plundered a large amount of spoils.

Now after Amaziah came from slaughtering the Edomites, ^(C1)he brought the gods of the sons of Seir and set them up as his gods. Then he bowed down before them and burned incense to them.

So the anger of the LORD burned against Amaziah, and He sent him a prophet who said to him, "Why have you sought the gods of the people ^(C1)who have not saved their own people from your hand?"

As he was talking with him, ^(F1)the king said to him, "Have we appointed you to be a royal counselor? Stop! Why should ^(F2)you be put to death?" Then the prophet stopped and said, "I know that God has planned to destroy you, because you have done this and have not listened to my counsel."