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2 Chronicles 25:16

in 2 Chronicles 25

While he was still speaking, the king asked, “Have we made you the counselor to the king? Stop! Why be struck down?” So the prophet stopped, but he said, “I know that God has determined to destroy you, because you have done this and have not heeded my advice.”

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV

ASV

And it came to pass, as he talked with him, that the king said unto him, Have we made thee of the king’s counsel? forbear; why shouldest thou be smitten? Then the prophet forbare, and said, I know that God hath determined to destroy thee, because thou hast done this, and hast not hearkened unto my counsel.

KJV

And it came to pass, as he talked with him, that the king said unto him, Art thou made of the king’s counsel? forbear; why shouldest thou be smitten? Then the prophet forbare, and said, I know that God hath determined to destroy thee, because thou hast done this, and hast not hearkened unto my counsel.

This verse in 2 Chronicles 25

Commentary

9 notes on this verse
Art thou made of the king’s counsel? - A subtle irony: “Have I made thee one of my council? If not what entitles thee to offer thy advice?” For the fulfillment of the prophecy, see 2Ch 25:22-24, 2Ch 25:27.

This site's exposition

Why hast thou sought after the gods of the people

on 2 Chronicles 25:15-16

The prophet's question in verse 15 states the chapter's whole argument as a question, why hast thou sought after the gods of the people, which could not deliver their own people out of thine hand. Amaziah answers not with repentance but with a threat, forbear, why shouldest thou be smitten, and the prophet obeys and stops speaking, but not before pronouncing the verdict, I know that God hath determined to destroy thee. Silencing a true prophet does not silence the word already spoken; the narrator points back to this verse when the fulfillment comes at verse 27.

The record, by era

The Puritans and the Awakening4 voices

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

But this prophet, who dissuaded him from worshipping the gods of the Edomites, he ran upon with an unaccountable rage, which must be attributed to the witchcraft of idolatry. He was easily persuaded to part with his talents of silver, but by no means with his gods of silver.

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

proposed

It is at thy peril if thou sayest a word more of this matter." He seems to remind him of Zechariah's fate in the last reign, who was put to death for making bold with the king; and bids him take warning by him. Thus he justifies the killing of that prophet by menacing this, and so, in effect, makes himself guilty of the blood of both.

quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — odd-straight-quotes

A commentator

John Wesley

1703–1791

Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament (1765)

proposed

The secure sinner perhaps values himself on having silenced his reprovers and monitors. It is a plain indication he is marked out for ruin. They that are deaf to reproof, are ripening apace for destruction.
And it came to pass, as he talked with him, that the king said unto him, art thou made of the king's council?....

The Nineteenth Century1 voice

A commentator

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

proposed

as he talked with him, &c.--Those who were invested with the prophetic character were entitled to counsel kings. Amaziah, had he not been offended by unwelcome truths, would have admitted the claim of this prophet, who was probably the same that had given him counsel previous to the war with Edom.

quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase

2 more voices on this verse

The Nineteenth Century2 voices

A commentator

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

proposed

Amaziah . . . brought the gods of the children of Seir--The Edomites worshipped the sun under different forms and with various rites. But burning incense upon altars was a principal act of worship, and this was the very thing Amaziah is described as having with strange infatuation performed.

A commentator

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible · Written before 1832.

proposed

Art thou made of the king’s counsel? - How darest thou give advice to, or reprove, a king?

How the passage was read

What the Jewish commentators add

that God has given counsel to destroy you i.e., If you do not hearken to My advice to follow the straight path, you should know, O king, that the Lord has given counsel to destroy you because you have done this, and have not hearkened to the counsel.
Rashi: France, 1040–1105 · Rashi on II Chronicles 25:16:1, via Sefaria, The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg
1 more on this passage, in their own words ▾
Come, let us confront each other to show our might on horses with spears.
Rashi: France, 1040–1105 · Rashi on II Chronicles 25:17:1, via Sefaria, The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg

This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.

Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 3 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.

The words behind it

26 Hebrew words

Every Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.

  • וַיְהִ֣י׀and it was

    vayhiH19613559 times

  • בְּדַבְּר֣וֹwhen was speaking he

    bedaberoH16961141 times

  • אֵלָ֗יוto him

    ʾelavH4135510 times

  • וַיֹּ֤אמֶרand he said

    vaiyomerH5595305 times

  • לוֹ֙to him

    lo

  • הַלְיוֹעֵ֤ץ¿ into a counselor

    halyoetzH328979 times

  • לַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙of the king

    lamelekhH44282525 times

  • נְתַנּ֔וּךָhave we made you

    netanukhaH54142011 times

  • חֲדַל־cease

    chadal-H230858 times

  • לְךָ֖<for> yourself

    lekha

  • לָ֣מָּה<to> why?

    lamahH4100752 times

  • יַכּ֑וּךָwill people strike down you

    yakukhaH5221499 times

  • וַיֶּחְדַּ֣לand he ceased

    vaiyechdalH230858 times

  • הַנָּבִ֗יאthe prophet

    hanavi'H5030314 times

  • וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙and he said

    vaiyomerH5595305 times

  • יָדַ֗עְתִּיI know

    yada'tiH3045945 times

  • כִּֽי־that

    ki-H35884482 times

  • יָעַ֤ץhe has planned

    yaatzH328979 times

  • אֱלֹהִים֙God

    ʾelohimH4302601 times

  • לְהַשְׁחִיתֶ֔ךָto destroy you

    lehashchitekhaH7843146 times

  • כִּֽי־for

    ki-H35884482 times

  • עָשִׂ֣יתָyou have done

    ʾasitaH62132628 times

  • זֹּ֔אתthis

    zotH2063603 times

  • וְלֹ֥אand not

    velo'H38085168 times

  • שָׁמַ֖עְתָּyou have listened

    shama'taH80851159 times

  • לַעֲצָתִֽי׃ פto counsel my

    laatzatiH609889 times

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

The walk

8 stops

Each card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.

  • Through

    2 Timothy 4:3

    For the time will come when men will not tolerate sound doctrine, but with itching ears they will gather around themselves teachers to suit their own desires.

    it leads to

    • 2 Peter 2:1–3

      Now there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them—bringing swift destruction on…

    • 2 Timothy 3:1–6

      But understand this: In the last days terrible times will come.

    • 1 Timothy 4:1–3

      Now the Spirit expressly states that in later times some will abandon the faith to follow deceitful spirits and the teachings of demons,

    • 1 Timothy 1:10

      for the sexually immoral, for homosexuals, for slave traders and liars and perjurers, and for anyone else who is averse to sound teaching

    • Galatians 4:16

      Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth?

  • Through

    1 Samuel 2:25

    If a man sins against another man, God can intercede for him; but if a man sins against the LORD, who can intercede for him?” But they would not listen to their father, since…

    it leads to

    • Hebrews 10:26

      If we deliberately go on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no further sacrifice for sins remains,

    • 1 Samuel 3:14

      Therefore I have sworn to the house of Eli, ‘The iniquity of Eli’s house shall never be atoned for by sacrifice or offering.’”

    • Joshua 11:20

      For it was of the LORD to harden their hearts to engage Israel in battle, so that they would be set apart for destruction and would receive no mercy, being annihilated as the LORD…

About 2 Chronicles

Solomon Receives the Queen of Sheba, Gustave Doré, 1866. Public domain.
Solomon Receives the Queen of Sheba, Gustave Doré, 1866. Public domain.

This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Albert Barnes, Notes on the Old Testament; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.