1 In the second H8147 year H8141 of Joash H3101 son H1121 of Jehoahaz H3099 king H4428 of Israel H3478 reigned H4427 Amaziah H558 the son H1121 of Joash H3101 king H4428 of Judah. H3063
2 He was twenty H6242 and five H2568 years H8141 old H1121 when he began to reign, H4427 and reigned H4427 twenty H6242 and nine H8672 years H8141 in Jerusalem. H3389 And his mother's H517 name H8034 was Jehoaddan H3086 of Jerusalem. H3389
3 And he did H6213 that which was right H3477 in the sight H5869 of the LORD, H3068 yet H7535 not like David H1732 his father: H1 he did H6213 according to all things as Joash H3101 his father H1 did. H6213
4 Howbeit the high places H1116 were not taken away: H5493 as yet H5750 the people H5971 did sacrifice H2076 and burnt incense H6999 on the high places. H1116
5 And it came to pass, as soon as the kingdom H4467 was confirmed H2388 in his hand, H3027 that he slew H5221 his servants H5650 which had slain H5221 the king H4428 his father. H1
6 But the children H1121 of the murderers H5221 he slew H4191 not: according unto that which is written H3789 in the book H5612 of the law H8451 of Moses, H4872 wherein the LORD H3068 commanded, H6680 saying, H559 The fathers H1 shall not be put to death H4191 for the children, H1121 nor the children H1121 be put to death H4191 for the fathers; H1 but every man H376 shall be put to death H4191 for his own sin. H2399
7 He slew H5221 of Edom H123 in the valley H1516 of salt H4417 ten H6235 thousand, H505 and took H8610 Selah H5554 by war, H4421 and called H7121 the name H8034 of it Joktheel H3371 unto this day. H3117
8 Then Amaziah H558 sent H7971 messengers H4397 to Jehoash, H3060 the son H1121 of Jehoahaz H3059 son H1121 of Jehu, H3058 king H4428 of Israel, H3478 saying, H559 Come, H3212 let us look H7200 one another in the face. H6440
9 And Jehoash H3060 the king H4428 of Israel H3478 sent H7971 to Amaziah H558 king H4428 of Judah, H3063 saying, H559 The thistle H2336 that was in Lebanon H3844 sent H7971 to the cedar H730 that was in Lebanon, H3844 saying, H559 Give H5414 thy daughter H1323 to my son H1121 to wife: H802 and there passed H5674 by a wild H7704 beast H2416 that was in Lebanon, H3844 and trode down H7429 the thistle. H2336
10 Thou hast indeed H5221 smitten H5221 Edom, H123 and thine heart H3820 hath lifted thee up: H5375 glory H3513 of this, and tarry H3427 at home: H1004 for why shouldest thou meddle H1624 to thy hurt, H7451 that thou shouldest fall, H5307 even thou, and Judah H3063 with thee?
11 But Amaziah H558 would not hear. H8085 Therefore Jehoash H3060 king H4428 of Israel H3478 went up; H5927 and he and Amaziah H558 king H4428 of Judah H3063 looked H7200 one another in the face H6440 at Bethshemesh, H1053 which belongeth to Judah. H3063
12 And Judah H3063 was put to the worse H5062 before H6440 Israel; H3478 and they fled H5127 every man H376 to their tents. H168
13 And Jehoash H3060 king H4428 of Israel H3478 took H8610 Amaziah H558 king H4428 of Judah, H3063 the son H1121 of Jehoash H3060 the son H1121 of Ahaziah, H274 at Bethshemesh, H1053 and came H935 to Jerusalem, H3389 and brake down H6555 the wall H2346 of Jerusalem H3389 from the gate H8179 of Ephraim H669 unto the corner H6438 gate, H8179 four H702 hundred H3967 cubits. H520
14 And he took H3947 all the gold H2091 and silver, H3701 and all the vessels H3627 that were found H4672 in the house H1004 of the LORD, H3068 and in the treasures H214 of the king's H4428 house, H1004 and hostages, H1121 H8594 and returned H7725 to Samaria. H8111
15 Now the rest H3499 of the acts H1697 of Jehoash H3060 which he did, H6213 and his might, H1369 and how he fought H3898 with Amaziah H558 king H4428 of Judah, H3063 are they not written H3789 in the book H5612 of the chronicles H1697 H3117 of the kings H4428 of Israel? H3478
16 And Jehoash H3060 slept H7901 with his fathers, H1 and was buried H6912 in Samaria H8111 with the kings H4428 of Israel; H3478 and Jeroboam H3379 his son H1121 reigned H4427 in his stead.
17 And Amaziah H558 the son H1121 of Joash H3101 king H4428 of Judah H3063 lived H2421 after H310 the death H4194 of Jehoash H3060 son H1121 of Jehoahaz H3059 king H4428 of Israel H3478 fifteen H2568 H6240 years. H8141
18 And the rest H3499 of the acts H1697 of Amaziah, H558 are they not written H3789 in the book H5612 of the chronicles H1697 H3117 of the kings H4428 of Judah? H3063
19 Now they made H7194 a conspiracy H7195 against him in Jerusalem: H3389 and he fled H5127 to Lachish; H3923 but they sent H7971 after H310 him to Lachish, H3923 and slew H4191 him there.
20 And they brought H5375 him on horses: H5483 and he was buried H6912 at Jerusalem H3389 with his fathers H1 in the city H5892 of David. H1732
21 And all the people H5971 of Judah H3063 took H3947 Azariah, H5838 which was sixteen H8337 H6240 years H8141 old, H1121 and made him king H4427 instead of his father H1 Amaziah. H558
22 He built H1129 Elath, H359 and restored H7725 it to Judah, H3063 after H310 that the king H4428 slept H7901 with his fathers. H1
23 In the fifteenth H2568 H6240 H8141 year H8141 of Amaziah H558 the son H1121 of Joash H3101 king H4428 of Judah H3063 Jeroboam H3379 the son H1121 of Joash H3101 king H4428 of Israel H3478 began to reign H4427 in Samaria, H8111 and reigned forty H705 and one H259 years. H8141
24 And he did H6213 that which was evil H7451 in the sight H5869 of the LORD: H3068 he departed H5493 not from all the sins H2403 of Jeroboam H3379 the son H1121 of Nebat, H5028 who made Israel H3478 to sin. H2398
25 He restored H7725 the coast H1366 of Israel H3478 from the entering H935 of Hamath H2574 unto the sea H3220 of the plain, H6160 according to the word H1697 of the LORD H3068 God H430 of Israel, H3478 which he spake H1696 by the hand H3027 of his servant H5650 Jonah, H3124 the son H1121 of Amittai, H573 the prophet, H5030 which was of Gathhepher. H1662
26 For the LORD H3068 saw H7200 the affliction H6040 of Israel, H3478 that it was very H3966 bitter: H4784 for there was not H657 any shut up, H6113 nor any left, H5800 nor any helper H5826 for Israel. H3478
27 And the LORD H3068 said H1696 not that he would blot out H4229 the name H8034 of Israel H3478 from under heaven: H8064 but he saved H3467 them by the hand H3027 of Jeroboam H3379 the son H1121 of Joash. H3101
28 Now the rest H3499 of the acts H1697 of Jeroboam, H3379 and all that he did, H6213 and his might, H1369 how he warred, H3898 and how he recovered H7725 Damascus, H1834 and Hamath, H2574 which belonged to Judah, H3063 for Israel, H3478 are they not written H3789 in the book H5612 of the chronicles H1697 H3117 of the kings H4428 of Israel? H3478
29 And Jeroboam H3379 slept H7901 with his fathers, H1 even with the kings H4428 of Israel; H3478 and Zachariah H2148 his son H1121 reigned H4427 in his stead.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on 2 Kings 14
Commentary on 2 Kings 14 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 14
2Ki 14:1-6. Amaziah's Good Reign over Judah.
3-6. He did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, yet not like David his father—The beginning of his reign was excellent, for he acted the part of a constitutional king, according to the law of God, yet not with perfect sincerity of heart (compare 2Ch 25:2). As in the case of his father Joash, the early promise was belied by the devious course he personally followed in later life (see 2Ch 20:14), as well as by the public irregularities he tolerated in the kingdom.
5. as soon as the kingdom was confirmed in his hand—It was an act of justice no less than of filial piety to avenge the murder of his father. But it is evident that the two assassins must have possessed considerable weight and influence, as the king was obliged to retain them in his service, and durst not, for fear of their friends and supporters, institute proceedings against them until his power had been fully consolidated.
6. But the children of the murderers he slew not—This moderation, inspired by the Mosaic law (De 24:16), displays the good character of this prince; for the course thus pursued toward the families of the regicides was directly contrary to the prevailing customs of antiquity, according to which all connected with the criminals were doomed to unsparing destruction.
2Ki 14:7. He Smites Edom.
7. He slew of Edom in the valley of salt ten thousand—In the reign of Joram the Edomites had revolted (see 2Ki 8:20). But Amaziah, determined to reduce them to their former subjection, formed a hostile expedition against them, in which he routed their army and made himself master of their capital.
the valley of salt—that part of the Ghor which comprises the salt and sandy plain to the south of the Dead Sea.
Selah—literally, "the rock"; generally thought to be Petra.
Joktheel—that is, "given" or "conquered by God." See the history of this conquest more fully detailed (2Ch 25:6-16).
2Ki 14:8-16. Joash Defeats Him.
8. Amaziah sent messengers to Jehoash, the son of Jehoahaz, son of Jehu, king of Israel—This bold and haughty challenge, which was most probably stimulated by a desire of satisfaction for the outrages perpetrated by the discharged auxiliaries of Israel (2Ch 25:13) on the towns that lay in their way home, as well as by revenge for the massacre of his ancestors by Jehu (2Ki 9:1-37) sprang, there is little doubt, from pride and self-confidence, inspired by his victory over the Edomites.
9. Jehoash the king of Israel sent to Amaziah—People in the East very often express their sentiments in a parabolic form, especially when they intend to convey unwelcome truths or a contemptuous sneer. This was the design of the admonitory fable related by Joash in his reply. The thistle, a low shrub, might be chosen to represent Amaziah, a petty prince; the cedar, the powerful sovereign of Israel, and the wild beast that trampled down the thistle the overwhelming army with which Israel could desolate Judah. But, perhaps, without making so minute an application, the parable may be explained generally, as describing in a striking manner the effects of pride and ambition, towering far beyond their natural sphere, and sure to fall with a sudden and ruinous crash. The moral of the fable is contained in 2Ki 14:10.
11-14. But Amaziah would not hear—The sarcastic tenor of this reply incited the king of Judah the more; for, being in a state of judicial blindness and infatuation (2Ch 25:20), he was immovably determined on war. But the superior energy of Joash surprised him ere he had completed his military preparations. Pouring a large army into the territory of Judah, he encountered Amaziah in a pitched battle, routed his army, and took him prisoner. Then having marched to Jerusalem [2Ki 14:13], he not only demolished part of the city walls, but plundered the treasures of the palace and temple. Taking hostages to prevent any further molestation from Judah, he terminated the war. Without leaving a garrison in Jerusalem, he returned to his capital with all convenient speed, his presence and all his forces being required to repel the troublesome incursions of the Syrians.
2Ki 14:17-20. He Is Slain by a Conspiracy.
19, 20. they made a conspiracy against him in Jerusalem—Amaziah's apostasy (2Ch 25:27) was followed by a general maladministration, especially the disastrous issue of the war with Israel. The ruinous condition of Jerusalem, the plunder of the temple, and the loss of their children who were taken as hostages [2Ki 14:13, 14], lost him the respect and attachment not of the grandees only, but of his subjects generally, who were in rebellion. The king fled in terror to Lachish, a frontier town of the Philistines, where, however, he was traced and murdered. His friends had his corpse brought without any pomp or ceremony, in a chariot to Jerusalem, where he was interred among his royal ancestors.
2Ki 14:21, 22. Azariah Succeeds Him.
21. all the people of Judah took Azariah—or Uzziah (2Ki 15:30; 2Ch 26:1). The popular opposition had been personally directed against Amaziah as the author of their calamities, but it was not extended to his family or heir.
22. He built Elath—fortified that seaport. It had revolted with the rest of Edom, but was now recovered by Uzziah. His father, who did not complete the conquest of Edom, had left him that work to do.
2Ki 14:23-29. Jeroboam's Wicked Reign over Israel.
23. Jeroboam, the son of Joash king of Israel—This was Jeroboam II who, on regaining the lost territory, raised the kingdom to great political power (2Ki 14:25), but adhered to the favorite religious policy of the Israelitish sovereigns (2Ki 14:24). While God granted him so great a measure of national prosperity and eminence, the reason is expressly stated (2Ki 14:26, 27) to be that the purposes of the divine covenant forbade as yet the overthrow of the kingdom of the ten tribes (see 2Ki 13:23).