2 Chronicles 25:12

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.

And other ten {H6235} thousand {H505} left alive {H2416} did the children {H1121} of Judah {H3063} carry away captive {H7617}, and brought {H935} them unto the top {H7218} of the rock {H5553}, and cast them down {H7993} from the top {H7218} of the rock {H5553}, that they all were broken in pieces {H1234}.

The people of Y'hudah took another 10,000 away alive, brought them to the top of the Rock and threw them off the top of the Rock, so that they were all dashed to pieces.

and the army of Judah also captured 10,000 men alive. They took them to the top of a cliff and threw them down so that all were dashed to pieces.

And other ten thousand did the children of Judah carry away alive, and brought them unto the top of the rock, and cast them down from the top of the rock, so that they were all broken in pieces.

2 Chronicles 25:12 describes a grim and brutal act of retribution carried out by King Amaziah of Judah against the defeated Edomites following his military victory. This verse provides a stark glimpse into the harsh realities of ancient warfare and the severe consequences faced by vanquished enemies.

Context

This verse immediately follows Judah's decisive victory over the Edomites in the Valley of Salt, a battle led by King Amaziah. According to 2 Chronicles 25:11, Amaziah had already slain ten thousand Edomite soldiers in battle. This verse recounts the fate of an additional ten thousand who were taken alive as captives. The "top of the rock" almost certainly refers to Sela, the capital city of Edom (also known as Petra), a city renowned for its formidable, cliff-edged location. The act of casting captives from a great height was a horrifying, yet not uncommon, method of execution in ancient times, designed to demonstrate absolute dominance and inflict maximum terror and humiliation upon the enemy.

Key Themes

  • Brutality of Ancient Warfare: The verse vividly illustrates the extreme cruelty and lack of mercy often characteristic of conflicts in the ancient Near East. It serves as a sobering reminder of humanity's capacity for violence.
  • Vengeance and Retribution: This act was a clear demonstration of vengeance by Amaziah and the people of Judah against their long-standing enemies, the Edomites, who were descendants of Esau and often hostile to Israel.
  • Amaziah's Character: While Amaziah began his reign doing what was right in the eyes of the Lord (as noted in 2 Chronicles 25:2), this act of extreme cruelty, followed by his later turn to idolatry (2 Chronicles 25:14), reveals a darker, less righteous side to his leadership and character.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "top of the rock" is significant. In Hebrew, "Sela" (סֶלַע) means "rock" or "crag," and it was the name of the Edomite capital city. Its geographical features, particularly its high cliffs and formidable natural defenses, made it a symbolic location for such a public and devastating act of execution. The description "broken in pieces" emphasizes the complete and utter destruction of the captives.

Practical Application

While this verse describes a historical event from a vastly different cultural context, it offers important reflections for today:

  • Contrast with God's Character: This human act of extreme vengeance stands in stark contrast to the divine call for mercy, forgiveness, and love, even for enemies, as taught in later biblical texts such as Matthew 5:44.
  • Dangers of Unchecked Power: The account serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of unchecked power and the potential for human cruelty when not tempered by divine principles or compassion.
  • Understanding Human Nature: It reminds us of the inherent fallenness of human nature and the need for spiritual transformation that leads to justice tempered with mercy.
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • 2 Chronicles 20:10

    And now, behold, the children of Ammon and Moab and mount Seir, whom thou wouldest not let Israel invade, when they came out of the land of Egypt, but they turned from them, and destroyed them not;

  • 1 Chronicles 20:3

    And he brought out the people that [were] in it, and cut [them] with saws, and with harrows of iron, and with axes. Even so dealt David with all the cities of the children of Ammon. And David and all the people returned to Jerusalem.

  • 2 Chronicles 21:8

    In his days the Edomites revolted from under the dominion of Judah, and made themselves a king.

  • 2 Chronicles 21:10

    So the Edomites revolted from under the hand of Judah unto this day. The same time [also] did Libnah revolt from under his hand; because he had forsaken the LORD God of his fathers.

  • 2 Samuel 12:31

    And he brought forth the people that [were] therein, and put [them] under saws, and under harrows of iron, and under axes of iron, and made them pass through the brickkiln: and thus did he unto all the cities of the children of Ammon. So David and all the people returned unto Jerusalem.
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