2 chronicles 25 and 26

Read 2 Chronicles 25 and 26 at Bible Gateway.

The Hebrew paragraph divisions:

2 Chr 25:1-10 {s} Amaziah king of Judah, his army +100,00 mighty men hired from Ephraim
2 Chr 25:11-13 {p} Amaziah’s victory over Edom in the Valley of Salt/ discharged soldiers raided the cities of Judah
2 Chr 25:14-16 {p} Amaziah set up the idols of Edom, dismissed the prophet sent to warn him
2 Chr 25:17-24 {p} Amaziah warred with Israel, was defeated/ Jerusalem’s walls broken down + treasures taken
2 Chr 25:25-26:2 {p} Amaziah killed in a conspiracy after he turned from the LORD + his son Uzziah king
2 Chr 26:3-10 {s} Uzziah prospered + became strong/ defeated the Philistines + fortified the walls of Jerusalem
2 Chr 26;11-23 {p} Uzziah’s military might/ transgressed in offering incense in the temple + became a leper

The chiastic structure:

1a) 2 Chr 25:1-10 {s} The beginning of Amaziah’s reign: he obeyed the Law of the Lord + listened to His prophets;

1b) 2 Chr 25:11-24 {p+s+p} Amaziah’s reign: his victory + transgression + pride/ consequence;

1) 2 Chr 25:11-13 {p} 1) Amaziah strengthened himself + 2) his victory over the Edomites;

2) 2 Chr 25:14-16a, Amaziah’s transgression + his pride when rebuked by the prophet;

1) 2 Chr 25:14, Amaziah set up the gods of the Edomites + burned incense to them;
2) 2 Chr 25:15, The LORD’s prophet rebuked him: Why seek gods who were not able to rescue their own people;
3) 2 Chr 25:16a, Amaziah: “Have we made you the king’s counselor? Cease! Why should you be killed?”

3) 2 Chr 25:16b-24 {s+p} The consequence of Amaziah’s pride: Judah was defeated + Jerusalem broken into;

1a) 2 Chr 25:16b {s} Prophet: God has determined to destroy you, since have not repented nor listened;
1b) 2 Chr 25:17a, Now Amaziah king of Judah asked advice;
central axis) 2 Chr 25:17b, He sent to Joash king of Israel: “Come, let us face one another in battle;”
2b) 2 Chr 25:18-19, Joash king of Israel’s advice: Your heart has been lifted up, stay home;
2a) 2 Chr 25:20-24 {p} Amaziah did not heed, for it was from God: Judah defeated + Jerusalem’s walls broken down;

central axis) 2 Chr 25:25-26:5, Amaziah turned from the LORD + did not prosper/ Uzziah sought the LORD + did prosper (comparison/ contrast);

2 Chr 25:25-26:2 {p} Amaziah turned from the LORD and did not prosper;

1a) 2 Chr 25:25-26, The acts of Amaziah king of Judah written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel;
1b) 2 Chr 25:27, When Amaziah turned from the LORD, they conspired against him + killed him (he did not prosper);
central axis) 2 Chr 25:28, They buried him with his fathers in the city of Judah;
2b) 2 Chr 26:1, Judah took 16-year-old Uzziah and made him king instead of his father Amaziah;
2a) 2 Chr 26:2 {p} An act of Amaziah: he built Elath + restored it to Judah, then the king rested with his fathers;

2 Chr 26:3-5, Uzziah became king at 16 + his reign/ he did right + sought God, and prospered;

2b) 2 Chr 26:6-20 Uzziah’s reign: his victory + transgression + pride/ consequence;

1) 2 Chr 26:6-15, 2) Uzziah’s victory over the Philistines + 1) he became exceedingly strong;

2) 2 Chr 26:6-8a, Uzziah’s victory over the Philistines;
1) 2 Chr 26:8b-15, Uzziah was helped until he became exceedingly strong;

1a) 2 Chr 26:8b, His fame spread as far as the entrance of Egypt, for he became exceedingly strong;
1b) 2 Chr 26:9a, Uzziah built towers in Jerusalem at the gates and corners + fortified the walls with them;
central axis) 2 Chr 16:9b {s} He dug wells for his livestock/ had farmers + vinedressers, for he loved the soil;
2b) 2 Chr 26:11-15a, Uzziah equipped his army/ machines for defense in the corner towers;
2a) 2 Chr 26:15b, So his fame spread far and wide, for he was marvelously helped till he became strong;

2+3) 2 Chr 26:16-20, Uzziah’s heart was lifted up/ his transgression + anger/ its consequence;

1a) 2 Chr 26:16a, But when he was strong his heart was lifted up, to his destruction;

central axis) 2 Chr 26:16b-19a, Uzziah’s transgression + his anger when rebuked by the priest;

1) 2 Chr 26:16b, He transgressed by entering the temple to burn incense on the altar of incense;
2) 2 Chr 26:17-18, Azariah the priest withstood the king: “You may not burn incense to the Lord, but the priests;”
3) 2 Chr 26:19a, Uzziah became furious instead of listening;

2a) 2 Chr 26:19b-20, His destruction: leprosy broke out upon the king;

2a) 2 Chr 26:21-23 {p} The end of King Uzziah’s reign: was a leper until the day of his death.

We see the pattern repeat today, of success and might lifting up the heart of the king, so that he turns from his beginning in doing right. The chiastic structure even seems to link pride with anger, and I think Scripture might be giving us a clue, that anger is one of the fruits of pride. Another repetition we see is refusal to listen to correction from God’s appointed authority. We have previously seen in Proverbs that a fool refuses to listen to correction, and fools likewise are lifted up in pride or anger, while wise men walk in humility. What feeds wisdom to diminish pride? The fear of the LORD. What feeds the fear of the LORD? The word of God, especially the Law of God. Listen, the Law of God is not evil, just because obedience to it is not the means of salvation. It has a definite beautiful purpose to play in our long- term blessing, for us and for our children.