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
The trees H6086 went forth H1980 H1980 on a time to anoint H4886 a king H4428 over them; and they said H559 unto the olive tree, H2132 Reign H4427 thou over us. But the olive tree H2132 said H559 unto them, Should I leave H2308 my fatness, H1880 wherewith by me they honour H3513 God H430 and man, H582 and go H1980 to be promoted H5128 over the trees? H6086 And the trees H6086 said H559 to the fig tree, H8384 Come H3212 thou, and reign H4427 over us. But the fig tree H8384 said H559 unto them, Should I forsake H2308 my sweetness, H4987 and my good H2896 fruit, H8570 and go H1980 to be promoted H5128 over the trees? H6086 Then said H559 the trees H6086 unto the vine, H1612 Come H3212 thou, and reign H4427 over us. And the vine H1612 said H559 unto them, Should I leave H2308 my wine, H8492 which cheereth H8055 God H430 and man, H582 and go H1980 to be promoted H5128 over the trees? H6086 Then said H559 all the trees H6086 unto the bramble, H329 Come H3212 thou, and reign H4427 over us. And the bramble H329 said H559 unto the trees, H6086 If in truth H571 ye anoint H4886 me king H4428 over you, then come H935 and put your trust H2620 in my shadow: H6738 and if not, let fire H784 come out H3318 of the bramble, H329 and devour H398 the cedars H730 of Lebanon. H3844
And the LORD H3068 sent H7971 Nathan H5416 unto David. H1732 And he came H935 unto him, and said H559 unto him, There were two H8147 men H582 in one H259 city; H5892 the one H259 rich, H6223 and the other H259 poor. H7326 The rich H6223 man had exceeding H3966 many H7235 flocks H6629 and herds: H1241 But the poor H7326 man had nothing, save one H259 little H6996 ewe lamb, H3535 which he had bought H7069 and nourished up: H2421 and it grew up H1431 together H3162 with him, and with his children; H1121 it did eat H398 of his own meat, H6595 and drank H8354 of his own cup, H3563 and lay H7901 in his bosom, H2436 and was unto him as a daughter. H1323 And there came H935 a traveller H1982 unto the rich H6223 man, H376 and he spared H2550 to take H3947 of his own flock H6629 and of his own herd, H1241 to dress H6213 for the wayfaring man H732 that was come H935 unto him; but took H3947 the poor H7326 man's H376 lamb, H3535 and dressed H6213 it for the man H376 that was come H935 to him.
Then Amaziah H558 separated H914 them, to wit, the army H1416 that was come H935 to him out of Ephraim, H669 to go H3212 home H4725 again: H3212 wherefore their anger H639 was greatly H3966 kindled H2734 against Judah, H3063 and they returned H7725 home H4725 in great H2750 anger. H639 And Amaziah H558 strengthened H2388 himself, and led forth H5090 his people, H5971 and went H3212 to the valley H1516 of salt, H4417 and smote H5221 of the children H1121 of Seir H8165 ten H6235 thousand. H505 And other ten H6235 thousand H505 left alive H2416 did the children H1121 of Judah H3063 carry away captive, H7617 and brought H935 them unto the top H7218 of the rock, H5553 and cast them down H7993 from the top H7218 of the rock, H5553 that they all were broken in pieces. H1234 But the soldiers H1121 of the army H1416 which Amaziah H558 sent back, H7725 that they should not go H3212 with him to battle, H4421 fell H6584 upon the cities H5892 of Judah, H3063 from Samaria H8111 even unto Bethhoron, H1032 and smote H5221 three H7969 thousand H505 of them, and took H962 much H7227 spoil. H961
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).