And Amaziah said to the man of God, But what shall we do for the hundred talents which I have given to the army of Israel? And the man of God answered, The LORD is able to give thee much more than this.
And Amaziah {H558} said {H559} to the man {H376} of God {H430}, But what shall we do {H6213} for the hundred {H3967} talents {H3603} which I have given {H5414} to the army {H1416} of Israel {H3478}? And the man {H376} of God {H430} answered {H559}, The LORD {H3068} is {H3426} able to give {H5414} thee much more {H7235} than this.
Amatzyahu said to the man of God, "But what do we do about the three-and-a-third tons [of silver] I paid for Isra'el's army?"The man of God answered, "ADONAI can give you far more than that!"
Amaziah asked the man of God, “What should I do about the hundred talents I have given to the army of Israel?” And the man of God replied, “The LORD is able to give you much more than this.”
And Amaziah said to the man of God, But what shall we do for the hundred talents which I have given to the army of Israel? And the man of God answered, Jehovah is able to give thee much more than this.
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Proverbs 10:22
¶ The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it. -
Deuteronomy 8:18
But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for [it is] he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as [it is] this day.
Context
This verse finds King Amaziah of Judah at a critical juncture in his reign. Having ascended the throne, he was preparing for war against the Edomites (the "children of Seir"). In an attempt to bolster his army, he hired 100,000 mighty men from Israel (the northern kingdom) for 100 talents of silver. However, a "man of God"—a prophet sent by the Lord—warned him that God was not with Israel due to their idolatry, and that using their help would lead to defeat. The prophet commanded Amaziah to dismiss the hired troops, even though it meant forfeiting the considerable sum he had already paid. Amaziah's question in this verse, "But what shall we do for the hundred talents which I have given to the army of Israel?", reveals his immediate concern over the significant financial loss. The prophet's response underscores a profound truth about God's limitless ability to compensate and provide.
For the full background of Amaziah's decision and the prophetic warning, see 2 Chronicles 25:6-8.
Key Themes
Linguistic Insights
The term "talents" refers to a significant unit of weight for silver or gold in ancient times. One hundred talents of silver represented a substantial amount of wealth, equivalent to many years of a laborer's wages. This emphasizes the magnitude of the financial sacrifice Amaziah was being asked to make. The phrase "The LORD is able to give thee much more than this" powerfully conveys God's omnipotence and inexhaustible supply, a stark contrast to human limitations and finite resources.
Practical Application
This verse offers timeless wisdom for believers today. We often face situations where obedience to God might seem to incur a personal cost—whether it's financial, social, or reputational. Amaziah's initial reluctance mirrors our own struggles when we must choose between a tangible, immediate loss and an intangible, future reward from God. The prophet's answer serves as a powerful reminder that:
The lesson for us is to choose obedience, trusting that God's generosity and faithfulness will always outstrip any perceived loss. This principle is foundational to a life of faith, encouraging us to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, confident that all other things will be added.