2 Chronicles 25:14

¶ Now it came to pass, after that Amaziah was come from the slaughter of the Edomites, that he brought the gods of the children of Seir, and set them up [to be] his gods, and bowed down himself before them, and burned incense unto them.

Now it came to pass, after {H310} that Amaziah {H558} was come {H935} from the slaughter {H5221} of the Edomites {H130}, that he brought {H935} the gods {H430} of the children {H1121} of Seir {H8165}, and set them up {H5975} to be his gods {H430}, and bowed down {H7812} himself before {H6440} them, and burned incense {H6999} unto them.

After Amatzyahu returned from the slaughter of the people from Edom, he brought the gods of the people of Se'ir and set them up as his own gods, prostrating himself before them and offering incense to them.

When Amaziah returned from the slaughter of the Edomites, he brought back the gods of the Seirites, set them up as his own gods, bowed before them, and burned sacrifices to them.

Now it came to pass, after that Amaziah was come from the slaughter of the Edomites, that he brought the gods of the children of Seir, and set them up to be his gods, and bowed down himself before them, and burned incense unto them.

Commentary

2 Chronicles 25:14 marks a pivotal and tragic turning point in the reign of King Amaziah of Judah. After achieving a significant military victory, Amaziah succumbs to a profound act of spiritual apostasy, directly defying the Lord who granted him success.

Context

King Amaziah began his reign with a mixed record, initially doing what was right in the eyes of the Lord, though not with a perfect heart. He gathered a large army and, following divine instruction, dismissed mercenary troops from Israel before engaging the Edomites. The Lord granted him a decisive victory, allowing Judah to slaughter many of the Edomites from Seir.

However, immediately following this divine deliverance and triumph, Amaziah makes a shocking spiritual misstep. Instead of giving all glory to the God of Israel, he brings back the idols of the very people he had just defeated. This act of adopting the defeated gods of the Edomites, the "children of Seir," reveals a deep spiritual misunderstanding and a lack of true devotion to the Lord.

Key Themes

  • Idolatry and Apostasy: The most glaring theme is Amaziah's direct violation of the first commandment: "Thou shalt have no other gods before me." He not only brought foreign gods into Judah but actively "set them up to be his gods," demonstrating a personal commitment to their worship through bowing down and burning incense.
  • Ingratitude and Folly: It is profoundly ironic that Amaziah worshipped the gods of a nation whose defeat was clearly orchestrated by the God of Israel. This act displays extreme ingratitude for divine assistance and profound folly in believing in deities proven powerless against his own God.
  • The Danger of Syncretism: Amaziah attempts to blend the worship of the true God with pagan practices. This spiritual syncretism was a recurring problem for Israel and Judah, always leading to spiritual decline and divine judgment.
  • Consequences of Success: This verse serves as a sober warning that success, particularly divinely granted success, can sometimes lead to spiritual pride or complacency, causing one to stray from God rather than draw closer.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "children of Seir" refers to the Edomites, descendants of Esau, whose territory was Mount Seir. The "gods" (Hebrew: elohim) are generic terms for deities, but in this context, they specifically refer to the idols and false gods worshipped by the Edomites. The actions of "bowed down himself before them, and burned incense unto them" are classic expressions of worship and devotion in ancient Near Eastern religions, indicating a full commitment to these foreign deities.

Practical Application

Amaziah's story in 2 Chronicles 25:14 offers several timeless lessons:

  • Vigilance After Victory: Spiritual success or personal achievements do not guarantee continued faithfulness. It is crucial to remain humble and devoted to God even (or especially) after experiencing His blessings and victories.
  • Beware of Subtle Idolatry: While we may not bow to physical idols today, modern idolatry can manifest as placing anything—money, career, relationships, comfort, self-image—above God. This verse reminds us to constantly examine what we truly worship and serve.
  • The Folly of Forsaking God: Just as Amaziah foolishly turned to the gods of a defeated people, it is equally foolish for us to rely on human wisdom, worldly systems, or anything other than the Almighty God who has proven His power and faithfulness throughout history. His powerless idols are no match for the living God.

Amaziah's subsequent reign and ultimate downfall, as detailed in 2 Chronicles 25:15 onwards, directly stem from this act of rebellion, underscoring the serious consequences of turning away from the true God.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 2 Chronicles 28:23

    For he sacrificed unto the gods of Damascus, which smote him: and he said, Because the gods of the kings of Syria help them, [therefore] will I sacrifice to them, that they may help me. But they were the ruin of him, and of all Israel.

  • Exodus 20:3

    Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

  • Exodus 20:5

    Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God [am] a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth [generation] of them that hate me;

  • Deuteronomy 7:25

    The graven images of their gods shall ye burn with fire: thou shalt not desire the silver or gold [that is] on them, nor take [it] unto thee, lest thou be snared therein: for it [is] an abomination to the LORD thy God.

  • Isaiah 44:19

    And none considereth in his heart, neither [is there] knowledge nor understanding to say, I have burned part of it in the fire; yea, also I have baked bread upon the coals thereof; I have roasted flesh, and eaten [it]: and shall I make the residue thereof an abomination? shall I fall down to the stock of a tree?

  • Deuteronomy 7:5

    But thus shall ye deal with them; ye shall destroy their altars, and break down their images, and cut down their groves, and burn their graven images with fire.

  • 2 Samuel 5:21

    And there they left their images, and David and his men burned them.
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