2 Chronicles 25:16

While he was still speaking, the king asked, “Have we made you the counselor to the king? Stop! Why be struck down?” So the prophet stopped, but he said, “I know that God has determined to destroy you, because you have done this and have not heeded my advice.”

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The prophet addresses King Amaziah of Judah during a rebuke concerning the worship of Edomite idols. Amaziah interrupts to mock the prophet’s authority, prompting the prophet to halt his message and declare that God has resolved to destroy the king for ignoring divine counsel.

The words — The Hebrew חֲדַל (cha.dal) literally means "cease" or "stop," marking the prophet’s sudden pause after the king’s challenge. The phrase הַ/לְ/יוֹעֵץ לַ/מֶּ֙לֶךְ (ha/l./yo.'Etz la./Me.lekh) translates to "into a counselor to the king," reflecting Amaziah’s sarcastic refusal to accept the prophet’s standing.

The thread — This pattern of royal rejection and subsequent divine hardening appears in Exodus 9:16 and Deuteronomy 2:30, where God confirms judgment after repeated warnings. The principle that unheeded prophetic counsel leads to fixed outcomes is echoed in 1 Samuel 2:25.

Why it lands — The text records that ignoring direct correction results in confirmed judgment, not merely warning. It requires the reader to treat scriptural or prophetic instruction as binding decree rather than optional advice.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

וַיְהִ֣י׀va/y.Hiand/ it was בְּדַבְּר֣וֹbe./da.be.R/owhen/ was speaking/ he אֵלָ֗יו'e.La/vto/ him וַיֹּ֤אמֶרva/i.Yo.merand/ he saidלוֹ֙l/oto/ himהַלְיוֹעֵ֤ץha/l./yo.'Etz¿/ into/ a counselor לַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙la./Me.lekhof the/ king נְתַנּ֔וּךָne.ta.Nu./khahave we made/ you חֲדַל־cha.dal-ceaseלְךָ֖le./Kha<for>/ yourselfלָ֣מָּהLa./mah<to>/ why?יַכּ֑וּךָya.Ku./khawill people strike down/ you וַיֶּחְדַּ֣לva/i.yech.Daland/ he ceased הַנָּבִ֗יאha./na.Vi'the/ prophet וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙va/i.Yo.merand/ he said יָדַ֗עְתִּיya.Da'.tiI know כִּֽי־ki-that יָעַ֤ץya.'Atzhe has planned אֱלֹהִים֙'E.lo.HimGod לְהַשְׁחִיתֶ֔ךָle./hash.chi.Te./khato/ destroy/ you כִּֽי־ki-for עָשִׂ֣יתָ'a.Si.tayou have done זֹּ֔אתZotthis וְלֹ֥אve./Lo'and/ not שָׁמַ֖עְתָּsha.Ma'.tayou have listened לַעֲצָתִֽי׃ פla./'a.tza.T/ito/ counsel/ my

King James Version

And it came to pass, as he talked with him, that the king said unto him, Art thou made of the king’s counsel? forbear; why shouldest thou be smitten? Then the prophet forbare, and said, I know that God hath determined to destroy thee, because thou hast done this, and hast not hearkened unto my counsel.

Cross-references

Exodus 9:16 But I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display My power to you, and that My name might be proclaimed in all the earth.
Deuteronomy 2:30 But Sihon king of Heshbon would not let us pass through, for the LORD your God had made his spirit stubborn and his heart obstinate, that He might deliver him into your hand, as is the case this day.
1 Samuel 2:25 If a man sins against another man, God can intercede for him; but if a man sins against the LORD, who can intercede for him?” But they would not listen to their father, since the LORD intended to put them to death.
2 Chronicles 16:10 Asa was angry with the seer and became so enraged over this matter that he put the man in prison. And at the same time Asa oppressed some of the people.
2 Chronicles 18:20 Then a spirit came forward, stood before the LORD, and said, ‘I will entice him.’ ‘By what means?’ asked the LORD.
2 Chronicles 18:25 And the king of Israel declared, “Take Micaiah and return him to Amon the governor of the city and to Joash the king’s son,
2 Chronicles 24:21 But they conspired against Zechariah, and by order of the king, they stoned him in the courtyard of the house of the LORD.
Proverbs 9:7 He who corrects a mocker brings shame on himself; he who rebukes a wicked man taints himself.
Isaiah 30:10 They say to the seers, “Stop seeing visions!” and to the prophets, “Do not prophesy to us the truth! Speak to us pleasant words; prophesy illusions.
Isaiah 46:10 I declare the end from the beginning, and from ancient times what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and all My good pleasure I will accomplish.’