2 Tawarikh 25:18-19

25:18 King Joash of Israel sent this message back to King Amaziah of Judah, “A thorn bush in Lebanon sent this message to a cedar in Lebanon, ‘Give your daughter to my son as a wife.’ Then a wild animal of Lebanon came by and trampled down the thorn bush. ¹  25:19 You defeated Edom ²  and it has gone to your head. ³  Gloat over your success, ⁴  but stay in your palace. Why bring calamity on yourself? Why bring down yourself and Judah along with you?” ⁵ 

[25:18]  ¹ sn The thorn bush in the allegory is Judah. Amaziah’s success had deceived him into thinking he was on the same level as the major powers in the area (symbolized by the cedar). In reality he was not capable of withstanding an attack by a real military power such as Israel (symbolized by the wild animal).

[25:19]  ² tn Heb “you say [to yourself], ‘look, you have defeated Edom.’”

[25:19]  ³ tn Heb “and your heart is lifted up.”

[25:19]  ⁴ tn Heb “to glorify.”

[25:19]  ⁵ tn Heb “Why get involved in calamity and fall, you and Judah with you?”