2 Kings 14

King James Version

Full text for 2 Kings Chapter 14

1¶ In the second year of Joash son of Jehoahaz king of Israel reigned Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah.

2He was twenty and five years old when he began to reign, and reigned twenty and nine years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name [was] Jehoaddan of Jerusalem.

3And he did [that which was] right in the sight of the LORD, yet not like David his father: he did according to all things as Joash his father did.

4Howbeit the high places were not taken away: as yet the people did sacrifice and burnt incense on the high places.

5And it came to pass, as soon as the kingdom was confirmed in his hand, that he slew his servants which had slain the king his father.

6But the children of the murderers he slew not: according unto that which is written in the book of the law of Moses, wherein the LORD 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 be put to death for his own sin.

7He slew of Edom in the valley of salt ten thousand, and took Selah by war, and called the name of it Joktheel unto this day.

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

9And Jehoash 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 thy daughter to my son to wife: and there passed by a wild beast that [was] in Lebanon, and trode down the thistle.

10Thou hast indeed smitten Edom, and thine heart hath lifted thee up: glory [of this], and tarry at home: for why shouldest thou meddle to [thy] hurt, that thou shouldest fall, [even] thou, and Judah with thee?

11But Amaziah would not hear. Therefore Jehoash king of Israel went up; and he and Amaziah king of Judah looked one another in the face at Bethshemesh, which [belongeth] to Judah.

12And Judah was put to the worse before Israel; and they fled every man to their tents.

13And Jehoash king of Israel took Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Jehoash the son of Ahaziah, at Bethshemesh, and came to Jerusalem, and brake down the wall of Jerusalem from the gate of Ephraim unto the corner gate, four hundred cubits.

14And he took all the gold and silver, and all the vessels that were found in the house of the LORD, and in the treasures of the king's house, and hostages, and returned to Samaria.

15¶ Now the rest of the acts of Jehoash which he did, and 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?

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

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

18And the rest of the acts of Amaziah, [are] they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?

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

20And they brought him on horses: and he was buried at Jerusalem with his fathers in the city of David.

21And all the people of Judah took Azariah, which [was] sixteen years old, and made him king instead of his father Amaziah.

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

23¶ 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, [and reigned] forty and one years.

24And he did [that which was] evil in the sight of the LORD: he departed not from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin.

25He restored the coast of Israel from the entering of Hamath unto the sea of the plain, 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 prophet, which [was] of Gathhepher.

26For the LORD saw the affliction of Israel, [that it was] very bitter: for [there was] not any shut up, nor any left, nor any helper for Israel.

27And the LORD said not 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.

28Now the rest of the acts of Jeroboam, and all that he did, and his might, how he warred, and how he recovered Damascus, and Hamath, [which belonged] to Judah, for Israel, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?

29And Jeroboam slept with his fathers, [even] with the kings of Israel; and Zachariah his son reigned in his stead.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Amaziah, king of Judah, initially did right but retained high places. After defeating Edom, he foolishly challenged Jehoash, king of Israel, leading to Judah's defeat, Jerusalem's wall being breached, and the temple plundered. Amaziah was later assassinated, while Jeroboam II of Israel, though evil, expanded his kingdom according to prophecy, saving Israel from severe affliction.

Medium Summary

Amaziah began his reign in Judah at twenty-five, ruling for twenty-nine years, and generally did what was right in the LORD's sight, though he did not remove the high places. He justly executed his father's assassins but spared their children, adhering to the Law of Moses. After a significant victory over Edom, Amaziah, emboldened, challenged Jehoash, king of Israel, to battle. Jehoash warned him against this prideful act with a parable, but Amaziah refused to listen. Consequently, Judah was decisively defeated at Bethshemesh, Amaziah was captured, and Jehoash breached Jerusalem's wall, plundering the temple and royal treasures. Amaziah survived Jehoash by fifteen years but was eventually assassinated in a conspiracy and buried in Jerusalem. Concurrently, Jeroboam II began his forty-one-year reign in Israel, doing evil in the LORD's sight. However, the LORD used Jeroboam to restore Israel's borders, fulfilling the prophecy of Jonah, because He saw the severe affliction of Israel and did not intend to blot out their name.

Long Summary

The chapter opens with Amaziah's ascension to the throne of Judah in the second year of Joash of Israel, reigning for twenty-nine years from Jerusalem. He is described as doing right in the LORD's sight, though not perfectly like David, and notably failed to remove the high places where people continued to sacrifice. Upon confirming his rule, Amaziah executed the servants who had murdered his father, King Joash, but meticulously refrained from harming their children, adhering strictly to the Mosaic law regarding individual accountability for sin. His early reign saw a significant military success against Edom, where he slew ten thousand in the Valley of Salt and captured Selah, renaming it Joktheel. However, Amaziah's victory led to an ill-advised challenge to Jehoash, king of Israel, initiating a confrontation. Jehoash responded with a dismissive parable of a thistle challenging a cedar, warning Amaziah against pride and self-inflicted harm. Despite this clear admonition, Amaziah persisted, leading to a battle at Bethshemesh where Judah was soundly defeated, and its soldiers fled. Jehoash captured Amaziah, marched to Jerusalem, and systematically broke down four hundred cubits of the city wall from the Gate of Ephraim to the Corner Gate. He then plundered all the gold, silver, and vessels from the Temple and the king's house, taking hostages before returning to Samaria. Jehoash of Israel died and was succeeded by his son Jeroboam II. Amaziah of Judah lived for fifteen years after Jehoash's death, but a conspiracy formed against him in Jerusalem, forcing him to flee to Lachish, where he was ultimately assassinated. His body was brought back to Jerusalem and buried with his fathers. The people of Judah then made his sixteen-year-old son Azariah (Uzziah) king. The narrative then shifts to Jeroboam II's reign in Israel, which began in Amaziah's fifteenth year and lasted forty-one years. Despite doing evil in the LORD's sight, continuing the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, he remarkably restored Israel's territory from Hamath to the Sea of the Plain. This expansion was attributed to the word of the LORD God of Israel, spoken through the prophet Jonah, son of Amittai. The LORD acted because He observed the severe affliction of Israel, recognizing their dire state with no helper, and chose not to blot out their name, thus saving them through Jeroboam II. Jeroboam II's reign of might and territorial recovery concluded with his death, and his son Zachariah succeeded him.

Core Concepts

  • Amaziah's Mixed ReignAmaziah of Judah is depicted as doing right in the LORD's sight, yet he failed to remove the high places, indicating a partial obedience that fell short of David's standard. This highlights a recurring theme of incomplete religious reform among Judah's kings.
  • Adherence to Mosaic LawAmaziah demonstrated strict adherence to the Law of Moses by executing his father's murderers but sparing their children, upholding the principle of individual accountability for sin as commanded in Deuteronomy. This act contrasts with common ancient Near Eastern practices of collective punishment.
  • Pride and DownfallAmaziah's victory over Edom led to a prideful challenge against Jehoash of Israel, despite a clear warning. This hubris resulted in Judah's devastating defeat, the capture of its king, and the plundering and breaching of Jerusalem's defenses, illustrating the consequences of arrogance.
  • Divine Providence amidst SinJeroboam II of Israel is characterized as an evil king who continued the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat. Nevertheless, the LORD used him to restore Israel's borders and save them from severe affliction, demonstrating God's sovereign hand working through imperfect human instruments for His purposes.
  • Prophetic FulfillmentThe restoration of Israel's territory under Jeroboam II is explicitly stated to be according to the word of the LORD spoken by the prophet Jonah. This underscores the role of prophecy in guiding and interpreting historical events, even when executed by unrighteous kings.
  • Consequences of Inter-Kingdom ConflictThe war between Judah and Israel, initiated by Amaziah, resulted in significant losses for Judah, including military defeat, the capture of its king, and the destruction of part of Jerusalem's wall and the plundering of its treasures. This illustrates the destructive nature of internal strife among God's people.
  • Assassination and SuccessionBoth Amaziah of Judah and Jehoash of Israel (by implication, as his son succeeds him) face the reality of royal succession, with Amaziah specifically falling victim to a conspiracy. This highlights the political instability and dangers inherent in ancient monarchies.