2 Chronicles 21:16Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The text illustrates how the Lord raises adversaries to devastate the lands that He considers deserving of such judgment. Can it be that the Philistines and Arabians invaded the land of Judah without exercising their own choice? Alternatively, did they act of their own volition, thus suggesting that the Scripture has erred in stating that the Lord incited their spirit against Judah? In truth, both statements hold validity. They came of their own accord, yet it was the Lord who prompted their spirit. We can assert that although their spirit was indeed stirred up by the Lord, they still acted out of their free will. The Lord Almighty, whose will is devoid of injustice, operates within the hearts of people, steering their intentions in such a manner that His purposes are accomplished through them.

This narrative reveals that the Amazons resided near the Ethiopians, as the aforementioned author described the foes who confronted Joram as being close to the Ethiopians.