Page 726 - The MacArthur Daily Bible

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JULY 15
thousand alive, brought them to the top of the one another at Beth Shemesh, which belongs
rock, and cast them down from the top of the to Judah. And Judah was defeated by Israel,
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rock, so that they all were dashed in pieces. and every man fled to his tent. Then Joash
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13 But as for the soldiers of the army which the king of Israel captured Amaziah king of Ju-
Amaziah had discharged, so that they would dah, the son of Joash, the son of Jehoahaz, at
not go with him to battle, they raided the cities Beth Shemesh; and he brought him to Jerusa-
of Judah from Samaria to Beth Horon, killed lem, and broke down the wall of Jerusalem
three thousand in them, and took much spoil. from the Gate of Ephraim to the Corner Gate—
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14 Now it was so, after Amaziah came from the four hundred cubits. And he took all the gold
slaughter of the Edomites, that he brought the and silver, all the articles that were found in
gods of the people of Seir, set them up to be his the house of God with Obed-Edom, the trea-
gods, and bowed down before them and burned sures of the king’s house, and hostages, and
incense to them. Therefore the anger of the returned to Samaria.
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LORD was aroused against Amaziah, and He 25 Amaziah the son of Joash, king of Judah,
sent him a prophet who said to him, “Why have lived fifteen years after the death of Joash the
you sought the gods of the people, which could son of Jehoahaz, king of Israel. Now the rest
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not rescue their own people from your hand?” of the acts of Amaziah, from first to last,
16 So it was, as he talked with him, that the indeed are they not written in the book of the
king said to him, “Have we made you the king’s kings of Judah and Israel? After the time that
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counselor? Cease! Why should you be killed?” Amaziah turned away from following the LORD,
they made a conspiracy against him in Jerusa-
lem, and he fled to Lachish; but they sent after
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him to Lachish and killed him there. Then
they brought him on horses and buried him
25:14–16 Amaziah did the unthinkable from
both a biblical and political perspective—he with his fathers in the City of Judah.
embraced the false gods of the people whom Now all the people of Judah took Uzziah,
he had just defeated. Perhaps he did this 26 who was sixteen years old, and made
2
because he was seduced by the wicked plea- him king instead of his father Amaziah. He
sures of idolatry and because he thought it built Elath and restored it to Judah, after the
would help him in assuring no future threat king rested with his fathers.
from Edom. However, it only brought destruc- 3 Uzziah was sixteen years old when he
tion to the king, who just wanted to silence became king, and he reigned fifty-two years in
the voice of God. Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jecholiah
4
of Jerusalem. And he did what was right in
the sight of the LORD, according to all that his
Then the prophet ceased, and said, “I know father Amaziah had done. He sought God in
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that God has determined to destroy you, the days of Zechariah, who had understanding
because you have done this and have not in the visions of God; and as long as he sought
heeded my advice.” the LORD, God made him prosper.
17 Now Amaziah king of Judah asked advice 6 Now he went out and made war against the
and sent to Joash the son of Jehoahaz, the son Philistines, and broke down the wall of Gath,
of Jehu, king of Israel, saying, “Come, let us the wall of Jabneh, and the wall of Ashdod; and
face one another in battle.” he built cities around Ashdod and among the
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18 And Joash king of Israel sent to Amaziah Philistines. God helped him against the
king of Judah, saying, “The thistle that was in Philistines, against the Arabians who lived in
Lebanon sent to the cedar that was in Lebanon, Gur Baal, and against the Meunites. Also the
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saying, ‘Give your daughter to my son as wife’; Ammonites brought tribute to Uzziah. His
and a wild beast that was in Lebanon passed fame spread as far as the entrance of Egypt,
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by and trampled the thistle. Indeed you say for he became exceedingly strong.
that you have defeated the Edomites, and your 9 And Uzziah built towers in Jerusalem at the
heart is lifted up to boast. Stay at home now; Corner Gate, at the Valley Gate, and at the cor-
why should you meddle with trouble, that you ner buttress of the wall; then he fortified
should fall—you and Judah with you?” them. Also he built towers in the desert. He
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20 But Amaziah would not heed, for it came dug many wells, for he had much livestock,
from God, that He might give them into the both in the lowlands and in the plains; he also
hand of their enemies, because they sought the had farmers and vinedressers in the moun-
gods of Edom. So Joash king of Israel went tains and in Carmel, for he loved the soil.
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out; and he and Amaziah king of Judah faced 11 Moreover Uzziah had an army of fighting
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