King James Version

What Does 2 Chronicles 25:5 Mean?

2 Chronicles 25:5 in the King James Version says “Moreover Amaziah gathered Judah together, and made them captains over thousands, and captains over hundreds, according t... — study this verse from 2 Chronicles chapter 25 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

Moreover Amaziah gathered Judah together, and made them captains over thousands, and captains over hundreds, according to the houses of their fathers, throughout all Judah and Benjamin: and he numbered them from twenty years old and above, and found them three hundred thousand choice men, able to go forth to war, that could handle spear and shield.

2 Chronicles 25:5 · KJV


Context

3

Now it came to pass, when the kingdom was established to him, that he slew his servants that had killed the king his father. established: Heb. confirmed upon him

4

But he slew not their children, but did as it is written in the law in the book of Moses, where the LORD commanded, saying, The fathers shall not die for the children, neither shall the children die for the fathers, but every man shall die for his own sin.

5

Moreover Amaziah gathered Judah together, and made them captains over thousands, and captains over hundreds, according to the houses of their fathers, throughout all Judah and Benjamin: and he numbered them from twenty years old and above, and found them three hundred thousand choice men, able to go forth to war, that could handle spear and shield.

6

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

7

But there came a man of God to him, saying, O king, let not the army of Israel go with thee; for the LORD is not with Israel, to wit, with all the children of Ephraim.


Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
Moreover Amaziah gathered Judah together, and made them captains over thousands, and captains over hundreds, according to the houses of their fathers, throughout all Judah and Benjamin: and he numbered them from twenty years old and above, and found them three hundred thousand choice men, able to go forth to war, that could handle spear and shield.

This verse is part of the narrative of Judah's kings, specifically addressing Half-hearted obedience and pride's consequences. The Chronicler's theological perspective emphasizes immediate divine retribution—kings who seek God prosper, while those who forsake Him face judgment. This pattern provides instruction for the post-exilic community on the conditions for God's blessing.

The account demonstrates God's covenant faithfulness despite human unfaithfulness. Even in judgment, God preserves a remnant and offers restoration through repentance. The repeated cycle of apostasy, judgment, and restoration reveals both human sinfulness and divine mercy. References to the temple, proper worship, and priestly service emphasize the Chronicler's concern for correct religious observance.

Theologically, these accounts point beyond immediate history to God's ultimate purposes through the Davidic line. Despite repeated failures, God preserves David's dynasty, anticipating the perfect King who will reign in righteousness. The pattern of judgment for sin and restoration through repentance prefigures the gospel message of salvation through Christ.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

This passage occurs during the divided monarchy period when Judah existed separately from northern Israel. The Chronicler writes from a post-exilic perspective, addressing the restored community in Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile (539 BCE onward). His emphasis on temple worship, proper religious observance, and God's covenant faithfulness speaks directly to the needs of his audience who had just rebuilt the temple and were reestablishing their identity as God's people.

The historical context demonstrates both God's judgment on persistent sin and His readiness to restore those who genuinely repent. The Chronicler omits most northern kingdom material, focusing on Judah and the Davidic line to emphasize God's faithfulness to His covenant promises. Archaeological discoveries from sites like Lachish, Beersheba, and Jerusalem corroborate the biblical accounts of various kings' reigns and building projects.

Understanding the Chronicler's post-exilic perspective is crucial—he's not merely recording history but applying past lessons to his contemporary audience, showing that the same principles of seeking God, maintaining proper worship, and covenant faithfulness that determined blessing or judgment in the past still apply.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does this verse illustrate the principle of divine retribution (blessing for obedience, judgment for sin)?
  2. What specific applications does this passage have for maintaining spiritual faithfulness in contemporary Christian life?
  3. How does this account point to God's ultimate purposes through the Davidic line and the coming Messiah?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 29 words
וַיִּקְבֹּ֤ץ1 of 29

gathered

H6908

to grasp, i.e., collect

אֲמַצְיָ֙הוּ֙2 of 29

Moreover Amaziah

H558

amatsjah, the name of four israelites

אֶת3 of 29
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

יְהוּדָ֖ה4 of 29

Judah

H3063

jehudah (or judah), the name of five israelites; also of the tribe descended from the first, and of its territory

וַיַּֽעֲמִידֵ֣ם5 of 29

and made

H5975

to stand, in various relations (literal and figurative, intransitive and transitive)

לְבֵית6 of 29

according to the houses

H1004

a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)

אָב֗וֹת7 of 29

of their fathers

H1

father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application

וּלְשָׂרֵ֣י8 of 29

and captains

H8269

a head person (of any rank or class)

אֶ֤לֶף9 of 29

over thousands

H505

hence (the ox's head being the first letter of the alphabet, and this eventually used as a numeral) a thousand

וּלְשָׂרֵ֣י10 of 29

and captains

H8269

a head person (of any rank or class)

מֵא֨וֹת11 of 29

hundred

H3967

a hundred; also as a multiplicative and a fraction

לְכָל12 of 29
H3605

properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)

יְהוּדָ֖ה13 of 29

Judah

H3063

jehudah (or judah), the name of five israelites; also of the tribe descended from the first, and of its territory

וּבִנְיָמִ֑ן14 of 29

and Benjamin

H1144

binjamin, youngest son of jacob; also the tribe descended from him, and its territory

וַֽיִּפְקְדֵ֗ם15 of 29

and he numbered

H6485

to visit (with friendly or hostile intent); by analogy, to oversee, muster, charge, care for, miss, deposit, etc

לְמִבֶּ֨ן16 of 29

old

H1121

a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or

עֶשְׂרִ֤ים17 of 29

them from twenty

H6242

twenty; also (ordinal) twentieth

שָׁנָה֙18 of 29

years

H8141

a year (as a revolution of time)

וָמַ֔עְלָה19 of 29

and above

H4605

properly,the upper part, used only adverbially with prefix upward, above, overhead, from the top, etc

וַיִּמְצָאֵ֗ם20 of 29

and found

H4672

properly, to come forth to, i.e., appear or exist; transitively, to attain, i.e., find or acquire; figuratively, to occur, meet or be present

שְׁלֹשׁ21 of 29

them three

H7969

three; occasionally (ordinal) third, or (multiple) thrice

מֵא֨וֹת22 of 29

hundred

H3967

a hundred; also as a multiplicative and a fraction

אֶ֤לֶף23 of 29

over thousands

H505

hence (the ox's head being the first letter of the alphabet, and this eventually used as a numeral) a thousand

בָּחוּר֙24 of 29

choice

H977

properly, to try, i.e., (by implication) select

יוֹצֵ֣א25 of 29

men able to go forth

H3318

to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim

צָבָ֔א26 of 29

to war

H6635

a mass of persons (or figuratively, things), especially reg. organized for war (an army); by implication, a campaign, literally or figuratively (speci

אֹחֵ֖ז27 of 29

that could handle

H270

to seize (often with the accessory idea of holding in possession)

רֹ֥מַח28 of 29

spear

H7420

a lance (as thrown); especially the iron point

וְצִנָּֽה׃29 of 29

and shield

H6793

a (large) shield (as if guarding by prickliness)


Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of 2 Chronicles. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

2 Chronicles 25:5 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to 2 Chronicles 25:5 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

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