Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Chronicles 25:13
But the soldiers of the army which Amaziah sent back, that they should not go with him to battle, fell upon the cities of Judah, from Samaria even unto Beth-horon, and smote three thousand of them, and took much spoil.
13 (no parallel in Kings). Outrages of the Ephraimite Mercenaries
13. the soldiers of the army ] Heb., the sons of the troop.
the cities of Judah, from Samaria even unto Beth-horon ] This phrase is strange, for we expect the two names given to be names of cities belonging to the Southern Kingdom. Perhaps we should read for Samaria either Zemaraim (2Ch 13:4; Jos 18:22) or Ephrain ( Ephron; 2Ch 13:19; cp. Jos 15:9). Both Zemaraim and Ephrain were border cities.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
To revenge the insult 2Ch 25:10, the troops of Joash proceeded southward and ravaged all the Jewish towns and villages between the Israelite frontier and Bethboron. This invasion probably took place while Amaziah was still in Edom.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Unto Beth-horon, to wit, Beth-horon the lower, which was in the tribe of Benjamin; and from thence to Samaria; either,
1. To the city of Samaria; for the kings of Judah had taken divers places within the kingdom of Israel. Or,
2. To the kingdom of Samaria; Beth-horon and all other places between that city and their own kingdom.
Smote, i.e. killed, as that word is generally understood.
Three thousand of them; not three thousand cities, but three thousand persons dwelling in them, who possibly opposed them in taking the spoil, which was the thing they sought.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
But the soldiers of the army which Amaziah sent back, that they should not go with him to battle, e.] The 100,000 men hired out of Israel, whom he dismissed before he went against Edom:
fell upon the cities of Judah, from Samaria even unto Bethhoron which, though it formerly belonged to Ephraim, had been taken by the men of Judah; they did not fall on these as they returned home, for then it would have been said from Bethhoron to Samaria: but after they had returned home, they meditated this piece of revenge for the ill treatment of them, as they reckoned it:
and smote three thousand of them; of the inhabitants of the cities, who rose up and opposed them:
and took much spoil; out of them, and went their way with it.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(13) But the soldiers of the army.Literally, Now the sons of the troop whom Amaziah had caused to return from marching with him to the war, they fell upon, &c.
Fell upon.The verb used in 1Ch. 14:9; 1Ch. 14:13 : Spread themselves. Here it means attacked with a view to plunder (Job. 1:17).
From Samaria even unto Beth-horon.Samaria is probably corrupt. Otherwise we must suppose that the mercenaries first returned home, and then, by order of king Joash, started afresh from Samaria, and invaded the northern districts of the kingdom of Judah. For Beth-horon, see Note on 1Ch. 7:24.
And smote . . . of them.Of their inhabitants.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
2Ch 25:13 But the soldiers of the army which Amaziah sent back, that they should not go with him to battle, fell upon the cities of Judah, from Samaria even unto Bethhoron, and smote three thousand of them, and took much spoil.
Ver. 13. From Samaria even to Bethhoron. ] All along the breadth of Judah. Some will have this not to have been done till Amaziah’s return from the slaughter of Edom, for a punishment of his pride and idolatry. a
a Lyra. Mayer.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
them: i.e. men, not villages.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
soldiers of the army: Heb. sons of the band, 2Ch 25:9
fell upon the cities: These Israelites seem to have returned home, when discharged by Amaziah, whose powerful army deterred them from attempting revenge at that time; but when he was engaged in war with the Edomites, they marched from Samaria, and plundered all the cities till they came to Beth-horon, where they slew 3,000 of the inhabitants.
Samaria: 1Ki 16:24, 1Ki 16:29
Bethhoron: 2Ch 8:5, 1Ki 9:17
Reciprocal: Jdg 20:48 – smote them 1Ki 13:32 – in the cities 2Ch 25:8 – army 2Ch 25:17 – Amaziah
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
2Ch 25:13. The army which Amaziah sent back, fell upon the cities of Judah Thus God chastised those cities of Judah for their idolatries, which were found most in the parts next to Israel. The men of Israel had corrupted them, and now are a plague to them. And thus Amaziah also was punished for having entered into an alliance with idolaters, though at the prophets reproof he broke it off: and perhaps, likewise, this calamity befell his subjects, because he had used his victory over the Edomites with so much cruelty.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
25:13 But the soldiers of the {k} army which Amaziah sent back, that they should not go with him to battle, fell upon the cities of Judah, from Samaria even unto Bethhoron, and smote three thousand of them, and took much spoil.
(k) That is, the 100,000 of Israel.