2 Chronicles 25:26

KJV

Now the rest of the acts of Amaziah, first and last, behold, [are] they not written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel?

KJV (with Strong's)

Now the rest {H3499} of the acts {H1697} of Amaziah {H558}, first {H7223} and last {H314}, behold, are they not written {H3789} in the book {H5612} of the kings {H4428} of Judah {H3063} and Israel {H3478}?

Complete Jewish Bible

Other activities of Amatzyah, from beginning to end, are recorded in the Annals of the Kings of Y'hudah and Isra'el.

Berean Standard Bible

As for the rest of the acts of Amaziah, from beginning to end, are they not written in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel?

American Standard Version

Now the rest of the acts of Amaziah, first and last, behold, are they not written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel?

Commentary

### SUMMARY
2 Chronicles 25:26 serves as a formulaic concluding statement regarding the reign of King Amaziah of Judah, a common literary device found throughout the historical books of the Old Testament. This verse indicates that while the biblical account provides a divinely inspired and sufficient narrative for its theological purposes, it is not an exhaustive biography, pointing instead to other, more detailed historical records of the time for comprehensive details of Amaziah's "first and last" acts.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse appears at the conclusion of the narrative detailing King Amaziah's reign in [2 Chronicles 25](/2_chronicles/25 "2 Chronicles 25 - The Reign of Amaziah"). The chapter meticulously chronicles his initial obedience to the Lord, albeit with a heart "not wholly true" ([2 Chronicles 25:2](/2_chronicles/25-2 "2 Chronicles 25:2 - Amaziah's Initial Reign")). It highlights his military successes, particularly against Edom, and his judicious handling of his father's assassins. However, the narrative sharply pivots after his victory over Edom, revealing Amaziah's tragic turn to idolatry, bringing back and worshipping the very gods of the defeated Edomites ([2 Chronicles 25:14](/2_chronicles/25-14 "2 Chronicles 25:14 - Amaziah's Idolatry")). This disobedience leads to divine judgment, a humiliating defeat by King Joash of Israel, the breaching of Jerusalem's walls, and ultimately, Amaziah's assassination by conspirators. The Chronicler, similar to the authors of the Books of Kings, frequently employs these summary statements to mark the end of a king's story, directing readers to more extensive, extra-biblical records for full biographical details, while emphasizing the spiritual trajectory of their reign.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In the ancient Near East, it was a common practice for kingdoms to maintain official court annals or chronicles. These records served as state archives, documenting the reigns of kings, significant events, military campaigns, and administrative decisions. They were often kept by royal scribes and provided a continuous historical record for the kingdom. The "book of the kings of Judah and Israel" mentioned here refers to such an official state chronicle, now lost to us, which served as a primary historical source for the biblical authors of Chronicles and Kings. It was distinct from the inspired biblical text itself but provided the factual framework upon which the divinely guided narrative was constructed. The mention of both Judah and Israel suggests a comprehensive record system that, at least retrospectively, covered both the northern and southern kingdoms, even after their division.
* **Key Themes:** This concluding verse contributes to several important theological and narrative themes within Chronicles and the broader Old Testament. Firstly, it underscores the **Theological Purpose of Scripture**. The Bible is not merely a secular history textbook aiming for exhaustive detail, but a divinely inspired narrative that selectively presents events to reveal God's character, His covenant relationship with His people, the consequences of obedience and disobedience, and the unfolding of His redemptive plan. Secondly, the reference to external records highlights **Divine Sovereignty over History**, implying that God oversees and uses human history and its documentation, even secular records, to establish the factual basis of the biblical narrative. Lastly, the phrase "the rest of the acts" points to the **Accountability of Leadership**. It suggests that the comprehensive record of a ruler's deeds, both commendable and flawed, is preserved in history and ultimately before God, emphasizing their ultimate responsibility for their actions and the spiritual trajectory of their reign, as seen in Amaziah's mixed legacy.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Acts (Hebrew, _dibre'_):** This word, often translated as "acts" or "deeds," can more broadly mean "words," "affairs," "events," or "chronicles." In this context, it implies a comprehensive account or record of a king's entire reign, encompassing all his significant undertakings, decisions, and experiences. It suggests a full historical documentation beyond what is presented in the inspired biblical narrative.
* **First and last (Hebrew, _rishonim ve'aharonim'_):** This is a Hebrew merism, a literary device where two contrasting parts represent the whole. It signifies totality and completeness, meaning "from beginning to end" or "in their entirety." Applied to Amaziah's acts, it emphasizes that the external record contained the full scope of his reign, from its inception to its conclusion.
* **Book of the kings of Judah and Israel:** This phrase refers to official, non-canonical state annals or chronicles that were maintained by the royal courts. These were historical documents, distinct from the inspired Scriptures, which served as primary sources for the biblical authors of Kings and Chronicles. Their existence validates the historical grounding of the biblical narrative, even as the biblical text itself focuses on theological interpretation.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Now the rest of the acts of Amaziah, first and last":** This introductory clause signals to the reader that the biblical account of King Amaziah's reign is drawing to a close and that there exists a more comprehensive, external record of his entire life and rule, from its inception ("first") to its conclusion ("last"). It implies that the inspired text has selectively presented what is necessary for its theological purpose.
* **"behold, [are] they not written":** This rhetorical question serves to affirm the existence and accessibility of these external historical records. It is a common literary device in the historical books, engaging the reader and asserting the factual basis of the narrative by pointing to readily available (at the time of writing) documentation.
* **"in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel?":** This specifies the particular source of these comprehensive records. It refers to official state chronicles that documented the reigns of kings from both the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah, serving as a widely recognized historical reference point for the Chronicler's audience.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several significant literary devices. The most prominent is the **Rhetorical Question** ("are they not written?"), which serves not to elicit an answer, but to emphatically affirm the existence and common knowledge of the external historical records. This device engages the reader and lends credibility to the biblical narrative by referencing verifiable sources. Furthermore, the phrase "first and last" is a clear example of a **Merism**, a figure of speech where two contrasting parts stand for the whole, emphasizing the comprehensive nature of the external records of Amaziah's reign. Finally, the entire verse functions as a **Formulaic Conclusion** or **Colophon**, a recurring literary pattern found at the end of a king's narrative in both Kings and Chronicles. This formula signals the completion of a particular segment of the historical narrative and directs the reader to supplementary historical documentation, underscoring the biblical author's reliance on existing records while maintaining the unique divine inspiration and theological focus of the biblical text itself.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
2 Chronicles 25:26 powerfully reiterates that the Bible's primary purpose is not to serve as an exhaustive historical encyclopedia but as a divinely inspired revelation of God's character, His dealings with humanity, and His unfolding plan of redemption. The existence of external records, to which the biblical authors freely refer, validates the historical grounding of Scripture, demonstrating that its narratives are rooted in real events and verifiable history. However, the Bible's selectivity underscores its unique spiritual authority and sufficiency for faith and practice, focusing on the spiritual lessons, moral implications, and theological truths embedded within historical accounts. It reminds us that while human history records "acts, first and last," the divine record evaluates them through the lens of covenant faithfulness and obedience to God.

* [1 Kings 14:29](/1_kings/14-29 "1 Kings 14:29 - Reference to the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah")
* [1 Kings 16:5](/1_kings/16-5 "1 Kings 16:5 - Reference to the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel")
* [John 20:30-31](/john/20-30-31 "John 20:30-31 - Purpose of Gospel Writing")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
This seemingly simple concluding verse carries profound implications for our lives today. It reminds us that while the details of our lives may not be recorded in human annals, all our "acts, first and last," are known to God. This truth calls us to live with integrity, purpose, and a constant awareness of our ultimate accountability before our Creator. The Bible's selective nature, focusing on what is spiritually significant, encourages us to prioritize the eternal over the temporal and to seek out the spiritual lessons embedded within every narrative, rather than merely historical facts. Amaziah's story, even in its summarized form, serves as a poignant warning about the dangers of partial obedience and the devastating consequences of turning away from God after experiencing His blessings. We are called to wholehearted devotion, not just outward conformity, recognizing that God sees beyond our public "acts" into the true condition of our hearts.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does understanding the Bible's selective nature impact your approach to reading historical narratives within Scripture, and what spiritual lessons do you seek?**
* **What does the concept of "all acts, first and last" being known to God imply about your personal accountability and the way you conduct your daily life?**
* **In what areas of your life might you be exhibiting "partial obedience," similar to Amaziah, and what are the potential spiritual consequences of such a posture?**

### FAQ
**What is "the book of the kings of Judah and Israel" mentioned here?**

Answer: It refers to a non-canonical, official state chronicle or set of annals maintained by the royal courts of the kingdoms of Judah and Israel. These were historical records, likely kept by royal scribes, that meticulously documented the reigns, wars, significant events, and administrative decisions of the kings. The biblical authors of Kings and Chronicles frequently refer to these external sources, indicating that they were drawing upon existing historical documentation for their narratives, even as they shaped those narratives with a distinct theological purpose. These specific books are now lost to us, but their mention affirms the historical grounding of the biblical narrative.

**Does this verse imply the Bible is incomplete or not exhaustive?**

Answer: No, it does not imply the Bible is incomplete in its divine purpose. Rather, it highlights the Bible's **selectivity** and **sufficiency**. The biblical authors, guided by the Holy Spirit, chose specific events and details to convey God's redemptive plan, His character, and the consequences of human actions. The mention of external records confirms the historical grounding of the biblical narrative while affirming that its primary goal is theological and spiritual instruction, not exhaustive secular history. As [John 20:30-31](/john/20-30-31 "John 20:30-31 - Purpose of Gospel Writing") states regarding Jesus' ministry, "Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name." The Bible contains everything necessary for faith and salvation.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While earthly kings like Amaziah have their "acts, first and last," recorded in human annals, often revealing mixed motives and ultimate failure, the ultimate "record" is found in the person and work of Jesus Christ. His life is the perfect fulfillment of God's righteous reign, not merely documented in external chronicles, but eternally established in the divine plan. Unlike Amaziah, whose partial obedience led to his downfall, Christ's entire life was one of perfect, unwavering obedience to the Father, from His miraculous birth to His atoning death and glorious resurrection. His "acts, first and last," are not merely historical events but the very foundation of salvation, perfectly fulfilling all righteousness and providing a complete and sufficient record of obedience for all who believe, enabling them to stand righteous before God ([2 Corinthians 5:21](/2_corinthians/5-21 "2 Corinthians 5:21 - Christ Became Sin for Us")). The historical accounts of flawed kings in the Old Testament, with their external records, point to the desperate need for a perfect King, one whose reign is not marked by human frailty or partial obedience, but by complete faithfulness and divine power. Jesus is that King, whose triumph over sin and death ([Colossians 2:15](/colossians/2-15 "Colossians 2:15 - Triumph over Principalities and Powers")) establishes an eternal kingdom ([Luke 1:33](/luke/1-33 "Luke 1:33 - Christ's Eternal Kingdom")) that will never end. He is the [faithful and true witness](/revelation/3-14 "Revelation 3:14 - Jesus, the Faithful and True Witness") whose entire life and redemptive work are perfectly recorded in the divine narrative, culminating in His [resurrection and ascension](/acts/1-9-11 "Acts 1:9-11 - Jesus' Ascension"), providing the ultimate and complete record for humanity's salvation.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

2 Kings 14:15

¶ Now the rest of the acts of Jehoash which he did, and his might, and how he fought with Amaziah king of Judah, [are] they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?

2 Chronicles 20:34

Now the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, first and last, behold, they [are] written in the book of Jehu the son of Hanani, who [is] mentioned in the book of the kings of Israel.