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2 Kings Chapter Fourteen

 

2 Kings 14 Outline of Contents

Amaziah Reigns in Judah (v.1~22)

Jeroboam II Reigns in Israel (v.23~29)

New King James Version (NKJV)

 

INTRODUCTION TO 2 KINGS 14

In this chapter we have the good reign of Amaziah king of Judah his victories over the Edomites and war with Jehoash king of Israel by whom he was taken who died quickly after 2 Kings 14:1 but Amaziah lived fifteen years afterwards and was slain by a conspiracy against him and Azariah his son reigned in his stead 2 Kings 14:17 and a short account is given of the reign of Jeroboam the second king of Israel 2 Kings 14:23.

 

2 Kings 14:1  In the second year of Joash the son of Jehoahaz king of Israel Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah became king.

   YLT  1In the second year of Joash son of Jehoahaz king of Israel reigned hath Amaziah son of Joash king of Judah;

In the second year of Joash son of Jehoahaz king of Israel reigned Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah. As Joash king of Israel began to reign in the thirty seventh of Joash king of Judah 2 Kings 13:10 who reigned forty years Amaziah must therefore begin his reign in the fourth of Joash king of Israel; this therefore must be understood of his second year after he reigned alone for he reigned two or three years in his father's lifetime.

 

2 Kings 14:2   2 He was twenty-five years old when he became king and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jehoaddan of Jerusalem.

   YLT  2a son of twenty and five years was he in his reigning and twenty and nine years he hath reigned in Jerusalem and the name of his mother [is] Jehoaddan of Jerusalem

He was twenty and five years old when he began to reign and reigned twenty and nine years in Jerusalem .... Fourteen years contemporary with Joash king of Israel who reigned sixteen years 2 Kings 13:10 and fifteen after him 2 Kings 14:17

and his mother's name was Jehoaddan of Jerusalem; of whom we nowhere else read

 

2 Kings 14:3  3 And he did what was right in the sight of the Lord yet not like his father David; he did everything as his father Joash had done.

   YLT  3and he doth that which [is] right in the eyes of Jehovah only not like David his father according to all that Joash his father did he hath done

And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord ..... At least externally and at the beginning of his reign:

yet not like David his father; not with a perfect heart with that sincerity and uprightness as he did see 2 Chronicles 25:2

he did according to all things as Joash his father did; who at first reigned well and then fell into idolatry as this his son did.

 

2 Kings 14:4  4 However the high places were not taken away and the people still sacrificed and burned incense on the high places.

   YLT  4only the high places have not turned aside -- yet are the people sacrificing and making perfume in high places.

Howbeit the high places were not taken away .... Though he first did that which was right before God; nor did his father take them away; see 2 Kings 12:3.

 

2 Kings 14:5  5 Now it happened as soon as the kingdom was established in his hand that he executed his servants who had murdered his father the king.

   YLT  5And it cometh to pass when the kingdom hath been strong in his hand that he smiteth his servants those smiting the king his father

And it came to pass as soon as the kingdom was strengthened in his hand .... That he was well settled on the throne and had a share in the affection of the people and the idolatry and murder his father had committed were worn off of the minds of the people and the friends of the conspirators against him were become few or none:

that he slew his servants that had slain the king his father; charged them with the murder in a court of judicature obtained a sentence against them and had them executed.

 

2 Kings 14:6  6 But the children of the murderers he did not execute according to what is written in the Book of the Law of Moses in which the Lord commanded saying “Fathers shall not be put to death for their children nor shall children be put to death for their fathers; but a person shall be put to death for his own sin.”[a]

   YLT  6and the sons of those smiting [him] he hath not put to death as it is written in the book of the law of Moses that Jehovah commanded saying `Fathers are not put to death for sons and sons are not put to death for fathers but each for his own sin is put to death.'

But the children of the murderers he slew not .... Which is an instance of his clemency and goodness and of his strict regard to justice and to the law of God; though he might fear these being spared would one time or other revenge their fathers' deaths:

according to that which is written in the book of the law of Moses see Deuteronomy 24:16

wherein the Lord commanded saying the fathers shall not be put to death for the children nor the children &c. to which command Amaziah was obedient.

 

2 Kings 14:7  7 He killed ten thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt and took Sela by war and called its name Joktheel to this day.

   YLT  7He hath smitten Edom in the valley of salt -- ten thousand and seized Selah in war and [one] calleth its name Joktheel unto this day

He slew of Edom in the valley of Salt ten thousand .... Of which valley; see Gill on 2 Samuel 8:13 the Edomites having revolted from Judah in the days of Joram 2 Kings 8:20. Amaziah undertook to reduce them with an army of 300 000 choice men; and besides these hired also of Israel 100 000 valiant men for one hundred talents of silver; but at the instance of a prophet of the Lord he dismissed the latter and went against Edom only with his men and slew of the Edomites 10 000 besides other 10 000 he took alive and cast headlong from a rock which came into his hands see 2 Chronicles 25:5

and took Selah by war; which signifies a rock the same with Petra the metropolis of Arabia Petraea the country of the Edomites. The city itself was not a rock nor built on one but was situated in a plain surrounded with rocks and mountains as StraboF26Geograph. l. 16. p. 536. and PlinyF1Nat. Hist. l. 6. c. 28. relate from whence it seems to have its name; and by the Syrians called Recem where Rocan a king of Midian reignedF2Hieron. de loc. Heb. fol. 93. M. & 94. A. Vid. Joseph. Antiqu. l. 4. c. 7. sect. 1. called in the Greek version of Numbers 31:8 Recon; though VitringaF3Comment. in Jesaiam c. 16. 1. is of opinion that not Petra the metropolis of Edom is meant but Maalehakrabbim Joshua 15:3 which lay on the south border of Judea near the salt sea:

and called the name of it Joktheel; which signifies "the obedience of God"; in memory of his obedience to the prophet of the Lord in consequence of which he obtained this victory: and the name continued unto this day: the time of the writing this book.

 

2 Kings 14:8  8 Then Amaziah sent messengers to Jehoash[b] the son of Jehoahaz the son of Jehu king of Israel saying “Come let us face one another in battle.

   YLT  8then hath Amaziah sent messengers unto Jehoash son of Jehoahaz son of Jehu king of Israel saying `Come we look one another in the face.'

Then Amaziah sent messengers to Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz the son of Jehu king of Israel .... The occasion of it was this when Amaziah dismissed the hired soldiers of Israel they were displeased and fell upon the cities of Judea from Samaria to Bethhoron slew 3000 men and took much spoil 2 Chronicles 25:13 wherefore when Amaziah returned from the slaughter of the Edomites being elated with his victories he sent the following message to the king of Israel in order to revenge the injuries his soldiers had done; and perhaps retaining an old grudge for what Jehu the grandfather of the king of Israel had done to his ancestors and it may be in hope of reducing the ten tribes to obedience to the house of David:

saying come let us look one another in the face; that is in battle as the Targum adds; it was a challenge to meet him in the field of battle and fight with him and try each other's courage and see who was the best man.

 

2 Kings 14:9  9 And Jehoash 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’; and a wild beast that was in Lebanon passed by and trampled the thistle.

   YLT  9And Jehoash king of Israel sendeth unto Amaziah king of Judah saying `The thorn that [is] in Lebanon hath sent unto the cedar that [is] in Lebanon saying Give thy daughter to my son for a wife; and pass by doth a beast of the field that [is] in Lebanon and treadeth down the thorn.

And Jehoash the king of Israel sent to Amaziah the king of Judah .... By the return of his messengers:

saying the thistle that was in Lebanon sent to the cedar that was in Lebanon; intending by this proverbial way of speaking to humble the pride of Amaziah; comparing him to a thistle or thorn a low mean abject weak prickly and troublesome shrub and himself to a cedar a tree high and lofty strong large and spreading:

saying give thy daughter to my son to wife; signifying that if in a peaceable manner he had desired to contract affinity with him and so establish mutual friendship he should have despised him as being as much below him as the thistle is below a cedar; and therefore should still more despise and defy him who addressed him in an hostile manner and in such haughty language:

and there passed by a wild beast that was in Lebanon and trod down the thistle; and so there was an end put at once to its pride and ambition and to its treaty with the cedar; intimating hereby that his soldiers would as easily vanquish and destroy the army of Amaziah as a wild beast can destroy a thistle.

 

2 Kings 14:10  10 You have indeed defeated Edom and your heart has lifted you up. Glory in that and stay at home; for why should you meddle with trouble so that you fall—you and Judah with you?”

   YLT  10Thou hast certainly smitten Edom and thy heart hath lifted thee up; be honoured and abide in thy house; and why dost thou stir thyself up in evil that thou hast fallen thou and Judah with thee?'

Thou hast indeed smitten Edom and thine heart hath lifted thee up .... Swelled him with pride and vanity on account of the victory he had obtained over the Edomites; which pride was at the bottom of his message to him and that goes before a fall: Proverbs 16:18.

glory of this and tarry at home; be content with the glory of it and boast of it at home but do not swagger abroad and insult thy neighbours:

for why shouldest thou meddle to thy hurt that thou shouldest fall even thou and Judah with thee? suggesting to him that he had better be quiet since it would be to the harm if not the ruin of him and his kingdom.

 

2 Kings 14:11  11 But Amaziah would not heed. Therefore Jehoash king of Israel went out; so he and Amaziah king of Judah faced one another at Beth Shemesh which belongs to Judah.

   YLT  11And Amaziah hath not hearkened and go up doth Jehoash king of Israel and they look one another in the face he and Amaziah king of Judah in Beth-Shemesh that [is] Judah's

But Amaziah would not hear .... Being given up to a judicial hardness of heart through pride; for this was of God and by his overruling providence that he might be punished for his idolatry in setting up the gods of Edom to be his gods and offering to them 2 Chronicles 25:14.

therefore Jehoash king Israel went up; from Samaria to the land of Judah which was higher ground:

and he and Amaziah looked one another in the face; in the field of battle:

at Bethshemesh which belongeth to Judah; which is observed not merely to distinguish it from another Bethshemesh in Naphtali but to observe that the king of Israel waited not for him to give him the challenge but met his adversary in his own country whither he carried the war not suffering him to come into his.

 

2 Kings 14:12  12 And Judah was defeated by Israel and every man fled to his tent.

   YLT  12and Judah is smitten before Israel and they flee each to his tent.

And Judah was put to the worse before Israel .... Could not face them; but as JosephusF4Antiqu. l. 9. c. 9. sect. 3. says a sudden fear and consternation seized them and before they joined battle with the Israelites turned their backs:

and they fled every man to their tents; to their cities as the Targum and left their king alone.

 

2 Kings 14:13  13 Then Jehoash king of Israel captured Amaziah king of Judah the son of Jehoash the son of Ahaziah at Beth Shemesh; and he went to Jerusalem and broke down the wall of Jerusalem from the Gate of Ephraim to the Corner Gate—four hundred cubits.

   YLT  13And Amaziah king of Judah son of Jehoash son of Ahaziah caught hath Jehoash king of Israel in Beth-Shemesh and they come in to Jerusalem and he bursteth through the wall of Jerusalem at the gate of Ephraim unto the gate of the corner four hundred cubits

And Jehoash king of Israel took Amaziah king of Judah the son of Jehoash the son of Ahaziah at Bethshemesh .... And then they looked one another in the face indeed but Amaziah must look very silly:

and came to Jerusalem; the metropolis of Judah with his royal prisoner:

and broke down the wall of Jerusalem; in at the breach of which he went with his chariot as Josephus saysF5Antiqu. l. 9. c. 9. sect. 3. in triumph:

from the gate of Ephraim unto the corner gate four hundred cubits; the gate of Ephraim was to the north of the city towards the tribe of Ephraim from whence it had its name; and the corner gate was that which joined the northern and western walls together or rather the northern and eastern walls; for Rauwolff saysF6Travels par. 3. ch. 3. p. 228. by Ray. there is still the corner gate in its old place where the north and east walls meet on large and high rocks and is still called by some the gate of Naphtali.

 

2 Kings 14:14  14 And he took all the gold and silver all the articles that were found in the house of the Lord and in the treasuries of the king’s house and hostages and returned to Samaria.

   YLT  14and hath taken all the gold and the silver and all the vessels that are found in the house of Jehovah and in the treasures of the house of the king and the sons of the pledges and turneth back to Samaria.

And he took all the gold and silver and all the vessels that were found in the house of the Lord .... In 2 Chronicles 25:24 it is added "with Obededom" who and his family had the care of them by lot see 1 Chronicles 26:15.

and in the treasures of the king's house; which were also spoiled and plundered:

and hostages; either such as the king of Judah had taken from Edom as pledges of their fidelity that they might not rebel; or which the king of Israel took of Judah even sons of the princes as the Targum for security that they would give him no more trouble:

and returned to Samaria; without attempting to bring the kingdom of Judah into subjection to him which he might suppose he could not hold and having enough to do with the Syrians his avowed enemies.

 

2 Kings 14:15  15 Now the rest of the acts of Jehoash which he did—his might and how he fought with Amaziah king of Judah—are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?

   YLT  15And the rest of the matters of Jehoash that he did and his might and how he fought with Amaziah king of Judah are they not written on the book of the Chronicles of the kings of Israel?

Now the rest of the acts of Jehoash which he did and his might .... His valiant and mighty acts which he did in his wars with the Syrians 2 Kings 13:25

and how he fought with Amaziah king of Judah; a short account of which is given in the preceding verses:

are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel? a book very often mentioned and referred to as containing the history of the events and transactions of every reign.

 

2 Kings 14:16  16 So Jehoash rested with his fathers and was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel. Then Jeroboam his son reigned in his place.

   YLT  16And Jehoash lieth with his fathers and is buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel and reign doth Jeroboam his son in his stead.

And Jehoash slept with his fathers .... Died as they died:

and was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel; where they were:

and Jeroboam his son reigned in his stead; which was Jeroboam the second.

 

2 Kings 14:17  17 Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah lived fifteen years after the death of Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz king of Israel.

   YLT  17And Amaziah son of Joash king of Judah liveth after the death of Jehoash son of Jehoahaz king of Israel fifteen years

And Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah lived after the death of Jehoash son of Jehoahaz king of Israel fifteen years. Which with the fourteen he reigned contemporary with him made the twenty nine years he reigned 2 Kings 14:2. The Vulgate Latin version is "twenty five years".

 

2 Kings 14:18  18 Now the rest of the acts of Amaziah are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?

   YLT  18and the rest of the matters of Amaziah are they not written on the book of the Chronicles of the kings of Judah?

And the rest of the acts of Amaziah are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? Not in the canonical book of Chronicles; though there are some things of him recorded there which are not here; but in the annals of each reign written by the king's historian appointed for that purpose.

 

2 Kings 14:19  19 And they formed a conspiracy against him in Jerusalem and he fled to Lachish; but they sent after him to Lachish and killed him there.

   YLT  19And they make a conspiracy against him in Jerusalem and he fleeth to Lachish and they send after him to Lachish and put him to death there

Now they made a conspiracy against him in Jerusalem .... Against Amaziah; the inhabitants of Jerusalem the principal men of it; perhaps those whose sons the king of Israel had carried away as hostages which they imputed to the ill conduct of Amaziah as well as the breaking of the wall of Jerusalem and the pillaging of the temple and the king's palace:

and he fled to Lachish; a fortified city in the tribe of Judah Joshua 15:39 but they sent after him to Lachish and slew him there; in a private manner as JosephusF7Ut supra. (Antiqu. l. 9. c. 9. sect. 3.) relates.

 

2 Kings 14:20  20 Then they brought him on horses and he was buried at Jerusalem with his fathers in the City of David.

   YLT  20and lift him up on the horses and he is buried in Jerusalem with his fathers in the city of David.

And they brought him on horses .... That is in a chariot or hearse drawn by horses; though the JewsF8Hieron. Trad. Heb. in lib. paralip. fol. 85. L. suppose he was carried on horses and that because he worshipped the gods of the Edomites who were themselves carried on horses; and he was not carried on the shoulders of men because he neglected to serve the God of Israel whose mysteries were carried on the shoulders of men:

and he was buried at Jerusalem with his fathers in the city of David; and very probably in the sepulchre of the kings though his father was not.

 

2 Kings 14:21  21 And all the people of Judah took Azariah [c] who was sixteen years old and made him king instead of his father Amaziah.

   YLT  21And all the people of Judah take Azariah and he [is] a son of sixteen years and cause him to reign instead of his father Amaziah;

And all the people of Judah took Azariah .... Called Uzziah in the next chapter and so in the book of Chronicles; both names signifying much the same the one "the help of the Lord" the other "the strength of the Lord":

(which was sixteen years old;) yet as he began to reign in the twenty seventh year of Jeroboam 2 Kings 15:1 and Jeroboam began to reign in the fifteenth yaer of Amaziah 2 Kings 14:23 he could be but four years of age for the solution of which; see Gill on 2 Kings 15:1

and made him king instead of his father Amaziah; which was after his death and not when he fled to Lachish as Kimchi thinks.

 

2 Kings 14:22  22 He built Elath and restored it to Judah after the king rested with his fathers.

   YLT  22he hath built Elath and bringeth it back to Judah after the lying of the king with his fathers.

He built Elath .... A port which belonged to Edom Deuteronomy 2:8 which very probably David took from them when he made them tributary and which they retook when they revolted and Amaziah got again when he defeated them; and this his son rebuilt and fortified:

and restored it to Judah; annexed it to the kingdom of Judah as in the days of David and Solomon:

after that the king slept with his fathers; after the death of his father Amaziah.

 

2 Kings 14:23  23 In the fifteenth year of Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah Jeroboam the son of Joash king of Israel became king in Samaria and reigned forty-one years.

   YLT  23In the fifteenth year of Amaziah son of Joash king of Judah reigned hath Jeroboam son of Joash king of Israel in Samaria -- forty and one years

In 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 .... So that he reigned fourteen or fifteen years contemporary with him; for Amaziah reigned twenty nine years:

and reigned forty and one years; Josephus saysF9Ut supra (Antiqu. l. 9.) c. 10. sect. 1. forty giving only the round number.

 

2 Kings 14:24  24 And he did evil in the sight of the Lord; he did not depart from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat who had made Israel sin.

   YLT  24and he doth the evil thing in the eyes of Jehovah he hath not turned aside from all the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat that he caused Israel to sin.

And he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord .... Was guilty of idolatry:

he departed not from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat who made Israel to sin; the worship of the calves is especially meant; he was in all respects of the same cast with his ancestor of the same name from whom he had it in veneration of him.

 

2 Kings 14:25  25 He restored the territory of Israel from the entrance of Hamath to the Sea of the Arabah according to the word of the Lord God of Israel which He had spoken through His servant Jonah the son of Amittai the prophet who was from Gath Hepher.

   YLT  25He hath brought back the border of Israel from the entering in of Hamath unto the sea of the desert according to the word of Jehovah God of Israel that He spake by the hand of His servant Jonah son of Amittai the prophet who [is] of Gath-Hepher

He restored the coast of Israel .... The cities upon it which had been taken away from them by their enemies:

from the entering of Hamath; which was the northern border of the land of Canaan the entrance into it from Syria see Numbers 34:8

unto the sea of the plain: of Jordan called sometimes the salt sea and the Dead Sea; the lake Asphaltites as JosephusF11Ut supra (Antiqu. l. 9.) c. 10. sect. 1. where formerly stood Sodom and Gomorrah:

according to the word of the Lord God of Israel which he spake by the hand of his servant Jonah the son of Amittai; the same with him whose prophecy among the small prophets bears this name; and though his prophecy concerning Jeroboam's success and victories is not there nor anywhere else recorded at length yet needed not to be doubted of; this is the first of the prophets spoken of whose books are extant:

which was of Gathhepher; a city in the tribe of Zebulun Joshua 19:13 which contradicts a notion of the Jews that no prophet came out of Galilee when the very first of those that were the penmen of the books of prophecies was from thence see John 7:52.

 

2 Kings 14:26  26 For the Lord saw that the affliction of Israel was very bitter; and whether bond or free there was no helper for Israel.

   YLT  26for Jehovah hath seen the affliction of Israel -- very bitter and there is none restrained and there is none left and there is no helper to Israel;

For the Lord saw the affliction of Israel that it was very bitter .... Being sorely oppressed by their enemies especially the Syrians; and he was moved to have compassion upon them and show mercy to them: for there was not any shut up nor any left nor any helper for Israel: they were in the most forlorn and helpless condition; See Gill on Deuteronomy 32:36.

 

2 Kings 14:27  27 And the Lord did not say that He would blot out the name of Israel from under heaven; but He saved them by the hand of Jeroboam the son of Joash.

   YLT  27and Jehovah hath not spoken to blot out the name of Israel from under the heavens and saveth them by the hand of Jeroboam son of Joash.

And the Lord said not that he would blot out the name of Israel from under heaven .... Had not as yet declared it by any of his prophets that he would do it as he afterwards did by Hosea Hosea 1:4 and was fulfilled in the reign of Hoshea king of Israel 2 Kings 17:1.

but he saved them by the hand of Jeroboam the son of Joash; the instrument of their deliverance from the hands of their enemies and of recovering their borders as afore time.

 

2 Kings 14:28  28 Now the rest of the acts of Jeroboam and all that he did—his might how he made war and how he recaptured for Israel from Damascus and Hamath what had belonged to Judah—are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?

   YLT  28And the rest of the matters of Jeroboam and all that he did and his might with which he fought and with which he brought back Damascus and Hamath of Judah into Israel are they not written on the book of the Chronicles of the kings of Israel?

Now the rest of the acts of Jeroboam and all that he did and his might how he warred .... His valiant acts and warlike exploits:

and how he recovered Damascus and Hamath which belonged to Judah for Israel; which cities in the times of David and Solomon were tributary to Judah but afterwards fell into the hands of the Syrians from whom Jeroboam recovered them and annexed them to the kingdom of Israel; or as Kimchi though Jeroboam was king of Israel yet having taken them he restored them to the king of Judah to whom they belonged:

are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel? where all events of any moment were registered.

 

2 Kings 14:29  29 So Jeroboam rested with his fathers the kings of Israel. Then Zechariah his son reigned in his place.

   YLT  29And Jeroboam lieth with his fathers with the kings of Israel and reign doth Zechariah his son in his stead.

And Jeroboam slept with his fathers even with the kings of Israel .... Died and was buried with them:

and Zachariah his son reigned in his stead: who was of the fourth generation from Jehu as was promised to him 2 Kings 10:30.

 

──John Gill’s Exposition of the Bible

 

New King James Version (NKJV)

Footnotes:

  1. 2 Kings 14:6 Deuteronomy 24:16
  2. 2 Kings 14:8 Spelled Joash in 13:12 and 2 Chronicles 25:17
  3. 2 Kings 14:21 Called Uzziah in 2 Chronicles 26:1 Isaiah 6:1 and elsewhere