“After King Amaziah came from the slaughter of the Edomites, he brought the gods of the men of Seir. He set them up as his gods. He worshiped them, making offerings to them. Therefore Yahweh was angry with King Amaziah. He sent to him a prophet, who said to him. ‘Why have you resorted to a people’s gods who could not deliver their own people from your hand?’ But as he was speaking, the king said to him. ‘Have we made you a royal counselor? Stop! Why should you not be put to death?’ So the prophet stopped, but said. ‘I know that God has determined to destroy you, because you have done this. You have not listened to my counsel.’”
This biblical chronicler then explained why Judah was about to be defeated by Israel. King Amaziah had defeated the people of Seir in Edom. He took their gods and their statues and images back to Jerusalem. There he offered sacrifices to them and worshipped them. Obviously, Yahweh was angry. Once again, it is an unnamed prophet who calls King Amaziah out. He wanted to know why the king was worshiping a god that could not save his own people. However, the king was upset and said stop. He was not his counselor. He should be put to death. Then the prophet stopped. However, he warned that God would destroy him because he had not listened to his counsel.
Eugene Finnegan Bible Project 