The record in Chronicles gives a fuller account of the underlying causes of the impending war. In addition to his own large army, Amaziah had hired “an hundred thousand mighty men of valour out of Israel for an hundred talents of silver” (2 Chron. 25:6). The king, being warned, however, by a prophet that the Lord would not be with him if these forces from Israel accompanied him, dismissed the men. Disgusted at this treatment, the returning soldiers attacked and plundered a number of the cities of Judah (2 Chron. 25:7-10, 13). Amaziah, intoxicated by his success against Edom, and angered by the ravaging of the cities of Judah by the returning Israelites, decided on war against Israel.

A challenge to war. The language suggests an invitation to personal combat.