And he took all the gold and silver, and all the vessels that were found in the house of the LORD, and in the treasuries of the king's house, and hostages, and returned to Samaria.
Read Chapter 14
Augustine of Hippo
AD 430
The Almighty, who cannot possibly will anything unjust, is able to set in motion even the inclinations of their will in people’s hearts in order to accomplish through these people whatever he wishes to achieve through their agency. What meaning can these words have that the man of God addressed to King Amaziah: “Do not allow the army of Israel to go out with you, for the Lord is not with Israel and all the children of Ephraim. And if you think to prevail over them, God will put you to flight before your enemies; for it belongs to God both to help and to put to flight”?
How does the power of God help some in war by giving them confidence and turns others to flight by instilling them with fear, except for this reason, that he who has made all things as he willed in heaven and on earth, also works in the human hearts? We also read of what Joash, king of Israel, said when he dispatched a messenger to King Amaziah, who had a mind to go to war with him. Having mentioned certain things, he we...
Hostages, as he left Amasias, on condition he should pay tribute, (Menochius) and took "the children of the nobles "(Chaldean) to secure his fidelity. (Haydock)
