2 chronicles 25:23 - Joash king of Israel took Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Joash the son of Jehoahaz, at Beth Shemesh, and brought him to Jerusalem, and broke down the wall of Jerusalem from the gate of Ephraim to the corner gate, four hundred cubits.

Generated Verse: 2 chronicles 25:23

What does "2 chronicles 25:23" mean?


This verse (2 Chronicles 25:23) describes a significant military defeat for the Kingdom of Judah at the hands of the Kingdom of Israel. Here's a breakdown of what it means:

"Joash king of Israel took Amaziah king of Judah..." This establishes that a war took place between the northern kingdom of Israel (ruled by Joash) and the southern kingdom of Judah (ruled by Amaziah). Israel was victorious.

"...the son of Joash the son of Jehoahaz..." This specifies which Joash is being discussed by giving his lineage. This is Joash, the king of Israel, who was the son of Jehoahaz.

"...at Beth Shemesh..." This indicates that the battle where Amaziah was captured occurred at Beth Shemesh, a city located on the border between Judah and the Philistine territory. It was likely a strategically important location.

"...and brought him to Jerusalem..." After capturing Amaziah, Joash took him as a prisoner back to Jerusalem, the capital city of Judah. This symbolizes the complete subjugation of Judah to Israel.

"...and broke down the wall of Jerusalem from the gate of Ephraim to the corner gate, four hundred cubits." This describes a deliberate act of destruction meant to weaken and humiliate Jerusalem. Joash of Israel had a significant section of the wall (400 cubits, which is roughly 600 feet) torn down, making the city vulnerable to future attacks and demonstrating Israel's dominance.

In essence, the verse conveys:

Israel's victory: Joash of Israel defeated Amaziah of Judah in battle.
Judah's defeat: Amaziah was captured and taken to Jerusalem as a prisoner.
Humiliation and weakening of Jerusalem: The destruction of a significant portion of the city wall symbolized the subjugation of Judah and left the city vulnerable.

Historical Context:

This event is part of a larger narrative in 2 Chronicles, which generally focuses on the history of the Kingdom of Judah and its kings. The chronicler often emphasizes the importance of obedience to God and the consequences of disobedience. Amaziah's defeat is portrayed as a result of his turning away from God and worshipping idols (as described earlier in the chapter). The war with Israel was, in the chronicler's view, a divine punishment for his idolatry.

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