Charles Ellicott Commentary 2 Chronicles 25:14

"Now it came to pass, after that Amaziah was come from the slaughter of the Edomites, that he brought the gods of the children of Seir, and set them up to be his gods, and bowed down himself before them, and burned incense unto them." — 2 Chronicles 25:14 (ASV)

AMAZIAH ADOPTS THE EDOMITE FORM OF WORSHIP, AND SPURNS A PROPHETIC WARNING (2 Chronicles 25:14–16).

From the slaughter. — From smiting.

Brought the gods. —The Assyrian inscriptions often refer to this custom of carrying off the idols of conquered countries. Esarhaddon states that he restored the gods of Hazael, king of Arabia, at that prince's request, after engraving on them “the might of Asshur” and his own name. Assurbanipal recovered an image of Nana, which an Elamite sovereign had carried off one thousand six hundred and thirty-five years previously.

The children of Seir. — Bnê Seir, the tribal designation of the Edomites (1 Chronicles 1:38).

Set them up to be his gods. — This action did not necessarily mean he abandoned the worship of Jehovah. (Compare to the conduct of Ahaz, 2 Chronicles 28:23; 2 Kings 16:10 and following; also 2 Kings 17:27–33.) Thenius says this contradicts 2 Kings 14:3; and it may be acknowledged that the chronicler portrays Amaziah in a darker light than the older account does. This difference, however, only demonstrates the chronicler's independence of judgment and possession of additional information. Thenius and Bertheau further suppose that the chronicler, from his theocratic standpoint, merely inferred Amaziah's idolatry from his lack of success against Israel. It is more likely, however, that this idolatry was mentioned in one of the histories that the compiler had before him.

Bowed down himself. —Literally, And before them would he bow himself, and to them would he offer incense; relating his habitual practice.