2 Chronicles 25:6

KJV

He hired also an hundred thousand mighty men of valour out of Israel for an hundred talents of silver.

KJV (with Strong's)

He hired {H7936} also an hundred {H3967} thousand {H505} mighty {H1368} men of valour {H2428} out of Israel {H3478} for an hundred {H3967} talents {H3603} of silver {H3701}.

Complete Jewish Bible

He also hired 100,000 strong, brave men from Isra'el for three-and-a-third tons of silver.

Berean Standard Bible

He also hired 100,000 mighty warriors from Israel for a hundred talents of silver.

American Standard Version

He hired also a hundred thousand mighty men of valor out of Israel for a hundred talents of silver.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Second Chronicles 25:6 records King Amaziah of Judah's strategic, yet spiritually flawed, decision to hire a massive mercenary force of one hundred thousand "mighty men of valour" from the northern kingdom of Israel. This substantial acquisition, costing a significant one hundred talents of silver, was intended to bolster his military might for an impending campaign against Edom. However, this act, born of a desire for human strength rather than complete reliance on God, sets the stage for divine intervention and a profound lesson on the dangers of ungodly alliances and the true source of victory.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is situated early in the reign of King Amaziah, son of Joash. The preceding verses (2 Chronicles 25:1-4) establish Amaziah's initial, albeit imperfect, righteousness, noting that "he did what was right in the sight of the Lord, though not with a perfect heart." He began by executing those who murdered his father, adhering to the Mosaic Law by not punishing their children. The narrative then shifts to his preparation for war against the Edomites, who had rebelled against Judah (2 Chronicles 21:8-10). Verse 6 specifically details his method of military expansion—hiring mercenaries—which immediately precedes a pivotal divine confrontation in 2 Chronicles 25:7-9, where a prophet warns him against this alliance. This sequence highlights the Chronicler's consistent theological agenda: demonstrating that Judah's prosperity and success are directly tied to the kings' obedience and trust in Yahweh, while disobedience leads to dire consequences, as seen in the broader narrative of Amaziah's reign, which eventually ends in apostasy and defeat (2 Chronicles 25:14-28).
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** King Amaziah reigned over the Kingdom of Judah from approximately 796-767 BC. During this period, the divided kingdoms of Judah (south) and Israel (north) existed as separate political entities, often in conflict despite their shared heritage. The northern kingdom of Israel, at this time under King Joash (or Jehoash), was characterized by deep-seated idolatry, having long departed from the worship of Yahweh. The practice of hiring mercenary soldiers was common in the ancient Near East, as rulers sought to augment their armies for various campaigns. However, for a king of Judah, whose covenant with God demanded exclusive loyalty and reliance on divine provision, forming military alliances with idolatrous nations was a profound spiritual compromise. This act by Amaziah, while militarily pragmatic by human standards, represented a failure to fully trust in God's ability to grant victory, echoing the warnings against relying on foreign alliances found throughout the prophetic literature (e.g., [Isaiah 31:1](/isaiah/31-1 "Isaiah 31:1 - Woe to Those Who Go Down to Egypt for Help")).
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully introduces several key theological and narrative themes central to the book of Chronicles. Firstly, it underscores the **tension between human strength and divine help**. Amaziah's decision to hire a vast army from Israel reveals an initial inclination to depend on numerical superiority and worldly resources rather than solely on God's power, a recurring motif in Chronicles, which often contrasts the efficacy of God's intervention with the futility of human might (e.g., [2 Chronicles 14:11](/2_chronicles/14-11 "2 Chronicles 14:11 - Asa's Prayer for Victory")). Secondly, the verse highlights the **danger of ungodly alliances**. For a king of Judah, a covenant nation, aligning with or depending on the idolatrous northern kingdom of Israel was spiritually perilous. Such alliances represented a compromise with systems that did not honor Yahweh, leading to potential spiritual contamination and divine disapproval, a theme also explored in other historical books (e.g., [1 Kings 11:1-8](/1_kings/11 "1 Kings 11 - Solomon's Idolatry Through Foreign Wives")). Finally, the "hundred talents of silver" points to the **cost of disobedience and misplaced trust**. This substantial financial investment, as subsequent verses reveal, would prove to be a waste, symbolizing the greater spiritual and material costs incurred when leaders and nations fail to trust God completely and instead pursue humanly conceived solutions.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Hired (Hebrew, _śāḵar'_):** This verb signifies to "hire" or "employ for wages." Its use here emphasizes that Amaziah was not forming a covenant alliance based on shared values or a common God, but rather a transactional relationship for military service. This commercial arrangement, while common, underscores the king's pragmatic, rather than faith-driven, approach to securing victory.
* **Mighty men of valour (Hebrew, _gibbôrê ḥayil'_):** This phrase describes warriors who are strong, capable, courageous, and often wealthy or influential. It denotes elite, experienced soldiers. The Chronicler's use of this term emphasizes the perceived quality and formidable nature of the mercenary force Amaziah acquired, highlighting why he would have considered them a valuable asset. The irony, as the narrative unfolds, is that even such "mighty men" are useless without God's blessing.
* **Talents of silver (Hebrew, _kikkĕrê keseph'_):** A "talent" was a significant unit of weight, typically around 75 pounds (34 kg), and thus a substantial measure of currency in the ancient world. One hundred talents of silver represented an enormous sum, equivalent to many years of a common laborer's wages or the annual tribute of a small nation. This detail underscores the immense financial investment Amaziah made in this human-centric military strategy, emphasizing the scale of his reliance on worldly resources.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"He hired also an hundred thousand mighty men of valour":** This clause reveals Amaziah's proactive decision to augment his army through external means. The sheer number, "an hundred thousand," signifies a massive military expansion, indicating Amaziah's ambition and his reliance on overwhelming numerical superiority for his campaign against Edom. The description "mighty men of valour" further highlights the quality of the troops he sought, suggesting a strategic move to acquire elite fighting power.
* **"out of Israel":** This specifies the origin of the mercenary force—the northern kingdom of Israel. This detail is crucial for the Chronicler's theological message. Israel, having largely apostatized from Yahweh worship, represented an ungodly alliance for Judah. This choice immediately signals a spiritual compromise on Amaziah's part, setting the stage for divine disapproval and intervention.
* **"for an hundred talents of silver":** This final clause quantifies the enormous financial cost of Amaziah's decision. The "hundred talents of silver" was an exorbitant sum, emphasizing the king's willingness to invest heavily in human resources rather than trusting God for victory. This financial outlay foreshadows the economic waste that will result from God's rejection of this alliance, underscoring the futility of investing in plans not sanctioned by God.

#### Literary Devices
The Chronicler employs several literary devices in this verse to convey its profound theological message. **Hyperbole** or perhaps simply a staggering scale is evident in the "hundred thousand mighty men," emphasizing the magnitude of Amaziah's human-centric military buildup and the perceived power he sought to amass. This grand scale serves to highlight the subsequent divine intervention that renders such a force irrelevant. **Foreshadowing** is also present, as the immense cost and the origin "out of Israel" subtly hint at the negative consequences to follow. The reader, familiar with the Chronicler's theological framework, immediately senses that such an alliance, despite its human logic, will not receive divine blessing. Furthermore, there is an implicit **contrast** between Amaziah's initial, albeit imperfect, obedience to God (2 Chronicles 25:2-4) and this act of relying on human strength and ungodly alliances, setting up the dramatic tension that unfolds in the subsequent verses.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
The narrative of Amaziah hiring mercenaries from Israel serves as a powerful theological lesson on the nature of true strength and the dangers of compromising faith for perceived expediency. It highlights the recurring biblical principle that God's people are called to rely on His power and provision, not on human might or ungodly alliances. Amaziah's substantial investment in worldly power, despite his initial partial obedience, demonstrates a lack of perfect trust in Yahweh, who alone grants victory. This episode teaches that even the most impressive human resources or strategic plans are futile if they are not aligned with God's will and if they betray a fundamental reliance on anything other than Him. The subsequent divine intervention confirms that God will not share His glory or allow His people to believe that their victories come from human strength.

* [2 Chronicles 25:7-9](/2_chronicles/25-7 "2 Chronicles 25:7-9 - The Prophet's Warning to Amaziah") - A prophet confronts Amaziah, explicitly stating, "The Lord is not with Israel," and urging him to dismiss the troops, underscoring God's disapproval of the alliance.
* [Psalm 20:7](/psalms/20-7 "Psalm 20:7 - Trust in the Name of the Lord") - "Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God," directly contrasting human military might with divine reliance.
* [Psalm 33:16-17](/psalms/33-16 "Psalm 33:16-17 - God's Deliverance, Not Human Strength") - "No king is saved by the multitude of an army; a mighty man is not delivered by great strength. The war horse is a false hope for deliverance, and by its great might it cannot rescue."

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Amaziah's decision to hire a mercenary army, though seemingly pragmatic, serves as a timeless cautionary tale for believers today. In our own lives, when faced with challenges or pursuing goals, it is tempting to rely on our own resources, connections, or worldly strategies, even if they compromise our spiritual principles. We might invest heavily in what appears to be a "sure thing" from a human perspective—whether it's a career path, a financial venture, or a relationship—without truly seeking or submitting to God's will. This verse challenges us to examine where our ultimate trust lies. Do we believe that true success and security come from our own efforts and alliances, or from God's sovereign power and provision? The "hundred talents of silver" represents the significant cost we might incur—financially, emotionally, or spiritually—when we pursue paths that lack divine blessing. True wisdom and lasting success are found not in accumulating human might, but in humble, unwavering dependence on the Lord, even when His path seems counter-intuitive or requires us to relinquish what we perceive as our greatest assets.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "mighty men of valour" or "talents of silver" do I tend to rely on instead of fully trusting God in my current challenges?**
* **Are there any "ungodly alliances" or compromises I am making in my life (e.g., in relationships, work, or entertainment) that might be hindering God's blessing?**
* **How does my willingness to invest time, money, or effort in worldly solutions compare to my investment in prayer, spiritual disciplines, and seeking God's guidance?**
* **What would it look like to truly "dismiss" a "hundred thousand mighty men" in my life and rely solely on God for a particular situation?**

### FAQ

**Why was Amaziah's decision to hire mercenaries from Israel problematic, given that it was a common military practice?**

Answer: While hiring mercenaries was common in the ancient Near East, Amaziah's decision was problematic for a king of Judah primarily due to the *source* of the mercenaries and the *spiritual implications* for a covenant nation. The northern kingdom of Israel had largely apostatized from the worship of Yahweh, engaging in idolatry and often standing in opposition to Judah. For Amaziah, a king meant to lead Judah in fidelity to God, forming such a military alliance represented a compromise with an ungodly entity. It indicated a reliance on human strength and a lack of full trust in God's ability to grant victory, which the Chronicler consistently emphasizes as the true source of Judah's success (e.g., [2 Chronicles 14:11](/2_chronicles/14-11 "2 Chronicles 14:11 - Asa's Prayer for Victory")). The prophet's immediate intervention in [2 Chronicles 25:7](/2_chronicles/25-7 "2 Chronicles 25:7 - The Prophet's Warning") explicitly states, "The Lord is not with Israel," confirming God's disapproval of this alliance.

**What was the significance of "an hundred talents of silver"?**

Answer: "An hundred talents of silver" represented an enormous financial outlay, underscoring the substantial investment Amaziah made in this human-centric military strategy. A talent was a large unit of weight, roughly 75 pounds (34 kilograms), so 100 talents would be about 7,500 pounds of silver. This amount was equivalent to many years of a common laborer's wages or even the annual tribute of a small nation. The Chronicler highlights this immense cost to emphasize the futility and wastefulness of relying on human resources when God's blessing is absent. It foreshadows the economic loss Amaziah would incur when he was forced to dismiss these troops, illustrating the greater spiritual cost of not trusting God completely.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The narrative of Amaziah's reliance on human strength and ungodly alliances, contrasted with the divine call to trust in God alone, finds its ultimate fulfillment and resolution in the person and work of Jesus Christ. While Amaziah sought to secure victory through a massive, expensive, and ultimately flawed human army, Jesus, the true King of Judah, accomplished salvation not through worldly power or alliances, but through perfect obedience and self-sacrifice. He did not hire "mighty men of valour" but called humble fishermen and tax collectors, demonstrating that God's power is made perfect in weakness ([2 Corinthians 12:9](/2_corinthians/12-9 "2 Corinthians 12:9 - God's Power in Weakness")). The "hundred talents of silver" that Amaziah wasted points to the immeasurable "cost" of our salvation, not paid by us, but by Christ's infinitely precious blood ([1 Peter 1:18-19](/1_peter/1-18 "1 Peter 1:18-19 - Redemption Through Christ's Blood")). Unlike Amaziah, who momentarily wavered in his trust, Jesus perfectly relied on His Father, even facing the cross, declaring, "Not my will, but yours be done" ([Luke 22:42](/luke/22-42 "Luke 22:42 - Jesus' Prayer in Gethsemane")). In Christ, we find the ultimate victory over sin and death, achieved not through human might or compromise, but through the perfect, divine wisdom and power of God, freely offered to all who trust in Him as the true "Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" ([John 1:29](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God")).

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.