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.
But the soldiers from the army that Amaziah had sent home, telling them not to go into battle with him, attacked the cities of Judah. They raided from Samaria all the way to Beth-horon, killed three thousand people, and carried off large amounts of treasure and goods.
The writer is showing how the mercenary soldiers that King Amaziah dismissed turned around and attacked his own kingdom, causing great destruction and loss of life.
📚 Historical Context
During the reign of King Amaziah of Judah, he assembled an army to fight against Edom but was advised by a prophet not to use troops from the northern kingdom of Israel, as God was not with them. After sending those soldiers back, they became enraged and attacked cities in Judah, killing three thousand people and seizing valuables as they returned home. This event reflects the tensions between the divided kingdoms of Israel and Judah, illustrating the dangers of alliances that disregard divine guidance in the ancient Near Eastern context.
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