Matthew Henry on 2 Chronicles 25:17–end
We have here this degenerate prince mortified by his neighbour and murdered by his own subjects.
I. Never was proud prince more thoroughly mortified than Amaziah was by Joash king of Israel.
1. This part of the story (which was as fully related Kg2 14:8, etc., as it is here) - embracing the foolish challenge which Amaziah sent to Joash (Ch2 25:17), his haughty scornful answer to it (Ch2 25:18), with the friendly advice he gave him to sit still and know when he was well off, (Ch2 25:19), - his wilfully persisting in his challenge (Ch2 25:20, Ch2 25:21), the defeat that was given him (Ch2 25:22), and the calamity he brought upon himself and his city thereby (Ch2 25:23, Ch2 25:24), - verifies t…
Read the whole note in the consoleJamieson-Fausset-Brown on 2 Chronicles 25:17
HE PROVOKES JOASH TO HIS OVERTHROW. (Ch2 25:17)
Then Amaziah . . . sent to Joash . . . Come, let us see one another in the face--(See on Kg2 14:8-20).
Next: 2 Chronicles Chapter 26
Adam Clarke on 2 Chronicles 25:18
The thistle that was in Lebanon - See the explanation of this Kg2 14:9 (note). After reciting this fable, the Targum adds, "Thus hast thou done in the time thou didst send unto me, and didst lead up from the house of Israel a hundred thousand strong warriors for a hundred talents of silver: and after they were sent, thou didst not permit them to go with thee to war, but didst send them back, greatly enraged, so that they spread themselves over the country; and having cut off three thousand, they brought back much spoil."
John Gill on 2 Chronicles 25:20
But Amaziah would not hear,.... What the king of Israel advised him to, not to meddle to his hurt:
for it came of God, that he might deliver them into the hand of their enemies; Amaziah and his army into the hands of Joash and his; this was the will of God, and was brought about by his providence; and that it might be, Amaziah was given up to blindness and hardness of heart, as a punishment of his idolatry:
because they sought after the gods of Edom; he and his nobles, and many of the people following his example; from hence to the end of the chapter the same things are recorded as in 2 Kings 14:11, see the notes there; see Gill on 2 Kings 14:11, 2 Kings 14:12, 2 Kings 14:13, 2 Kings 14:14…
