Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Chronicles 25:8
But if thou wilt go, do [it], be strong for the battle: God shall make thee fall before the enemy: for God hath power to help, and to cast down.
8. do it] R.V. do valiantly (spoken ironically).
shall make thee fall ] R.V. shall cast thee down.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
If the present text is regarded as sound, this passage must be taken ironically. But most recent commentators supply a second negative, and render it: But go thou alone, act, be strong for the battle – God shall then not make thee to fall.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Be strong for the battle; take courage, and strengthen thyself as much as thou canst. It is an ironical concession, like that, Go, and prosper.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
But if thou wilt go, do it, be strong for the battle,…. An ironical expression; if thou wilt not be advised, take them with thee, and try what thou canst do; exert all thy courage, and use thy military skill, and mark the issue:
God shall make thee fall before the enemy; notwithstanding the number of thy troops, and those of thy auxiliaries; though some take them to be spoken seriously, and read the words, “but go thou”; that is, alone, without the hired troops, and fight boldly and courageously; or otherwise “God shall make thee fall”, c.
for God hath power to help and to cast down to help with a few, and to cast down with many; to help without the hired Israelites, and to cast down with them.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(8) But if thou wilt go.Rather, But go thyself; in contrast with the prohibition, Let not the army of Israel go.
Do it, be strong for the battle.Compare 1Ch. 22:16 : Arise! act!
God shall make thee fall.Before these words, the expression wl, and not, must have dropped out of the text. Venture on the expedition by thyself. with a good courage, says the prophet, and God will not let thee stumble before the foe.
For God hath power.For there is strength in God, to help and to make to stumble. (Comp. 2Ch. 20:6; 1Ch. 29:12; Psa. 9:3.) The ancient versions were evidently embarrassed by the passage. The LXX. render: Because if thou think to prevail through them, then will the Lord rout thee before thy foes; because it is from the Lord both to be strong and to rout. Vulg.: But if thou thinkest that wars depend on the strength of an army, God will make thee to be overcome by the enemy. Syriac: Because thou art going to make war, the Lord will cast thee down before thy foes; because thou hast not praised the Lord, who is the helper and uplifter. It is noticeable that no version inserts the required negative; the omission, therefore, is ancient.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
2Ch 25:8. But if thou wilt go, do it, &c. But if thou wilt be more obstinate, and go to the war, the Lord shall cause thee to fall before the enemy. Houbigant; who renders the last clause of the preceding verse, the Lord is not with Israel, who are all the children of Ephraim.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
2Ch 25:8 But if thou wilt go, do [it], be strong for the battle: God shall make thee fall before the enemy: for God hath power to help, and to cast down.
Ver. 8. But if thou wilt go. ] If thou hast a mind to wrestle a fall with the Almighty, at thy own peril be it.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
be strong. Figure of speech Eironeia. App-6.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
be strong: 2Ch 18:14, Ecc 11:9, Isa 8:9, Isa 8:10, Joe 3:9-14, Mat 26:45
God hath power: 2Ch 14:11, 2Ch 20:6, Jdg 7:7, 1Sa 14:6, Job 5:18, Job 9:13, Psa 20:7, Psa 33:16-20, Psa 62:11, Ecc 9:11
army: Heb. band, 2Ch 25:13
The Lord: 2Ch 1:12, Deu 8:18, Psa 24:1, Pro 10:22, Hag 2:8, Luk 18:29, Luk 18:30, Phi 4:19
Reciprocal: 2Sa 3:6 – Abner 1Ki 12:24 – Ye shall not go up 1Ki 18:27 – Elijah 1Ki 20:22 – strengthen 2Ch 18:19 – go up 2Ch 26:5 – and as long Psa 89:43 – not made Psa 102:10 – thou hast Eze 38:7 – General Joe 3:10 – let Nah 2:1 – keep
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
25:8 But {f} if thou wilt go, do [it], be strong for the battle: God shall make thee fall before the enemy: for God hath power to help, and to cast down.
(f) If you will not give credit to my words.