2 CHRONICLES 25

5 Moreover Amaziah [Amatzyahu] gathered Judah [Yehudah] together, and made them [ set them in order in Bais Avot by officers ] captains over thousands, and captains over hundreds, according to the houses of their fathers, throughout all Judah and Benjamin [Yehudah and Binyamin]: and he numbered them from 20 years old [esrim shanah] and above, and found them 300 000 choice men [elef bachur], able to go forth to war [battle ready], that could handle spear and shield.

The king set himself to strengthen his army. In carrying out this work, he not only made something like a general conscription of Judah, but...

6 He hired also an 100 000 mighty men of valour out of Israel [elef gibbor chayil out of Yisroel] for 100 talents of silver [kesef].

A prophet sought to deter him from this part of the enterprise...

7 But there came a man [ Ish] of Elohim to him, saying, O king [HaMelech], let not the army of Israel [Tzeva Yisroel] go with thee; for Yahweh is not with Israel [Yisroel], to wit, with all the children of Ephraim [ kol Bnei Ephrayim].

8 But if thou wilt go, do it, be strong [chazak] for the battle [milchamah]: Elohim shall make thee fall before the enemy: for Elohim hath power [ko'ach] to help, and to cast down.

9 And [Amatzyahu] said to the man [ Ish] of Elohim, But what shall we do for the 100 talents which I have given to the army of Israel [Yisroel]? And the man of Elohim answered, Yahweh is able to give thee much more than this.

But the king had paid the money for which the soldiers were to be hired. This was a great difficulty with the king, as it would be to most people: in fact it would be considered a fatal objection in any question of duty that might be raised.

The prophet's answer was not a practical one as men think. Did the king require a final argument?

Amaziah gave in to the force of this argument, which has a strong bearing on the whole question of the ways of providence.

Ways of Providence Ch 21.