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2 Kings14

World English Bible · Public Domain

1In the second year of Joash, son of Joahaz, king of Israel, Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah began to reign.

2He was twenty-five years old when he began to reign; and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jehoaddin of Jerusalem.

3He did that which was right in Yahweh’s eyes, yet not like David his father. He did according to all that Joash his father had done.

4However the high places were not taken away. The people still sacrificed and burned incense in the high places.

5As soon as the kingdom was established in his hand, he killed his servants who had slain the king his father,

6but the children of the murderers he didn’t put to death, according to that which is written in the book of the law of Moses, as Yahweh commanded, saying, “The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, nor the children be put to death for the fathers; but every man shall die for his own sin.”

7He killed ten thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt, and took Sela by war, and called its name Joktheel, to this day.

8Then Amaziah sent messengers to Jehoash, the son of Jehoahaz son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying, “Come, let’s look one another in the face.”

9Jehoash the king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, “The thistle that was in Lebanon sent to the cedar that was in Lebanon, saying, ‘Give your daughter to my son as wife.’ Then a wild animal that was in Lebanon passed by, and trampled down the thistle.

10You have indeed struck Edom, and your heart has lifted you up. Enjoy the glory of it, and stay at home; for why should you meddle to your harm, that you fall, even you, and Judah with you?”

11But Amaziah would not listen. So Jehoash king of Israel went up; and he and Amaziah king of Judah looked one another in the face at Beth Shemesh, which belongs to Judah.

12Judah was defeated by Israel; and each man fled to his tent.

13Jehoash king of Israel took Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Jehoash the son of Ahaziah, at Beth Shemesh and came to Jerusalem, then broke down the wall of Jerusalem from the gate of Ephraim to the corner gate, four hundred cubits.

14He took all the gold and silver and all the vessels that were found in Yahweh’s house and in the treasures of the king’s house, the hostages also, and returned to Samaria.

15Now the rest of the acts of Jehoash which he did, and his might, and how he fought with Amaziah king of Judah, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?

16Jehoash slept with his fathers, and was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel; and Jeroboam his son reigned in his place.

17Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah lived after the death of Jehoash son of Jehoahaz, king of Israel, fifteen years.

18Now the rest of the acts of Amaziah, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?

19They made a conspiracy against him in Jerusalem, and he fled to Lachish; but they sent after him to Lachish and killed him there.

20They brought him on horses, and he was buried at Jerusalem with his fathers in David’s city.

21All the people of Judah took Azariah, who was sixteen years old, and made him king in the place of his father Amaziah.

22He built Elath and restored it to Judah. After that the king slept with his fathers.

23In the fifteenth year of Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah, Jeroboam the son of Joash king of Israel began to reign in Samaria for forty-one years.

24He did that which was evil in Yahweh’s sight. He didn’t depart from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, with which he made Israel to sin.

25He restored the border of Israel from the entrance of Hamath to the sea of the Arabah, according to Yahweh, the God of Israel’s word, which he spoke by his servant Jonah the son of Amittai, the prophet, who was from Gath Hepher.

26For Yahweh saw the affliction of Israel, that it was very bitter for all, slave and free; and there was no helper for Israel.

27Yahweh didn’t say that he would blot out the name of Israel from under the sky; but he saved them by the hand of Jeroboam the son of Joash.

28Now the rest of the acts of Jeroboam, and all that he did, and his might, how he fought, and how he recovered Damascus, and Hamath, which had belonged to Judah, for Israel, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?

29Jeroboam slept with his fathers, even with the kings of Israel; and Zechariah his son reigned in his place.

Study Guide

Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for 2 Kings 14.

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Chapter Summary

In this chapter: Amaziah's good reign. (1–7). Amaziah provokes Jehoash king of Israel, and is overcome. (8–14). He is slain by conspirators. (15–22). Wicked reign of Jeroboam II. (23–29).

vv1-7

Amaziah began well, but did not go on so. It is not enough to do that which our pious predecessors did, merely to keep up the common usage, but we must do it as they did, from the same principle of faith and devotion, and with the same sincerity and resolution.

vv8-14

For some time after the division of the kingdoms, Judah suffered much from the enmity of Israel. After Asa's time, it suffered more by the friendship of Israel, and by the alliance made with them. Now we meet with hostility between them again. How may a humble man smile to hear two proud and scornful men set their wits on work, to vilify and undervalue one another! Unholy success excites pride; pride excites contentions. The effects of pride in others, are insufferable to those who are proud themselves. These are the sources of trouble and sin in private life; but when they arise between princes, they become the misery of their whole kingdoms. Jehoash shows Amaziah the folly of his challenge; Thine heart has lifted thee up. The root of all sin is in the heart, thence it flows. It is not Providence, the event, the occasion, whatever it is, that makes men proud, secure, discontented, or the like, but their own hearts do it. (2Ki 14:15-22)

vv15-22

Amaziah survived his conqueror fifteen years. He was slain by his own subjects. Azariah, or Uzziah, seems to have been very young when his father was slain. Though the years of his reign are reckoned from that event, he was not fully made king till eleven years afterwards.

Cross References

2 Kings 14

Directly quoted law stating fathers and children shall not be put to death for each other's sins.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

Parallel account providing crucial context for Amaziah's challenge and the actions of the Israeli mercenaries.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v9Judges 9:8-15thematic

Classic biblical plant fable (Jotham's parable) establishing the parabolic genre of Jehoash's thistle response.

Supported by JFB

Explains Amaziah's refusal to hear as divine judgment for adopting the gods of Edom.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v25Jonah 1:1thematic

Identifies the prophet Jonah, son of Amittai, whose political prophecy undergirded Jeroboam II's conquests.

Supported by Matthew Henry

Uses Deuteronomy's exact phrasing 'none shut up, nor any left' to describe Israel's extreme desperation.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v72 Kings 8:20-22thematic

Explains Amaziah's Edom campaign as attempting to subdue the revolt that began under Jehoram.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

Details that the conspiracy in Jerusalem began after Amaziah turned away from following the Lord.

Supported by JFB

Parallel coronation of Azariah (Uzziah) by the people of Judah after his father's murder.

Supported by JFB

Parallel highlights that Amaziah did right in God's eyes, 'but not with a perfect heart.'

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v52 Kings 12:20thematic

Identifies the conspiracy and murder of Amaziah's father Joash, which Amaziah is now avenging.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v221 Kings 9:26thematic

Establishes Elath (Ebron-geber) as Solomon's ancient Red Sea port, highlighting its economic/strategic restoration.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v23Amos 7:10-11thematic

Prophetic confrontation under Amos during Jeroboam's reign, warning of Israel's ultimate exile.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v252 Kings 13:5fulfillment

Jeroboam II acts as the 'savior' promised by God to deliver Israel from Syrian oppression.

Supported by Matthew Henry