2 Kings 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

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).