2 Kings 14:1-22

Amaziah King of Judah

1 In the second year of Jehoash[a] son of Jehoahaz king of Israel, Amaziah son of Joash king of Judah began to reign.
2 He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-nine years. His mother’s name was Jehoaddan; she was from Jerusalem.
3 He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, but not as his father David had done. In everything he followed the example of his father Joash.
4 The high places, however, were not removed; the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense there.
5 After the kingdom was firmly in his grasp, he executed the officials who had murdered his father the king.
6 Yet he did not put the children of the assassins to death, in accordance with what is written in the Book of the Law of Moses where the LORD commanded: “Parents are not to be put to death for their children, nor children put to death for their parents; each will die for their own sin.”[b]
7 He was the one who defeated ten thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt and captured Sela in battle, calling it Joktheel, the name it has to this day.
8 Then Amaziah sent messengers to Jehoash son of Jehoahaz, the son of Jehu, king of Israel, with the challenge: “Come, let us face each other in battle.”
9 But Jehoash king of Israel replied to Amaziah king of Judah: “A thistle in Lebanon sent a message to a cedar in Lebanon, ‘Give your daughter to my son in marriage.’ Then a wild beast in Lebanon came along and trampled the thistle underfoot.
10 You have indeed defeated Edom and now you are arrogant. Glory in your victory, but stay at home! Why ask for trouble and cause your own downfall and that of Judah also?”
11 Amaziah, however, would not listen, so Jehoash king of Israel attacked. He and Amaziah king of Judah faced each other at Beth Shemesh in Judah.
12 Judah was routed by Israel, and every man fled to his home.
13 Jehoash king of Israel captured Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Joash, the son of Ahaziah, at Beth Shemesh. Then Jehoash went to Jerusalem and broke down the wall of Jerusalem from the Ephraim Gate to the Corner Gate—a section about four hundred cubits long.[c]
14 He took all the gold and silver and all the articles found in the temple of the LORD and in the treasuries of the royal palace. He also took hostages and returned to Samaria.
15 As for the other events of the reign of Jehoash, what he did and his achievements, including his war against Amaziah king of Judah, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Israel?
16 Jehoash rested with his ancestors and was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel. And Jeroboam his son succeeded him as king.
17 Amaziah son of Joash king of Judah lived for fifteen years after the death of Jehoash son of Jehoahaz king of Israel.
18 As for the other events of Amaziah’s reign, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Judah?
19 They conspired against him in Jerusalem, and he fled to Lachish, but they sent men after him to Lachish and killed him there.
20 He was brought back by horse and was buried in Jerusalem with his ancestors, in the City of David.
21 Then all the people of Judah took Azariah,[d] who was sixteen years old, and made him king in place of his father Amaziah.
22 He was the one who rebuilt Elath and restored it to Judah after Amaziah rested with his ancestors.

2 Kings 14:1-22 Meaning and Commentary

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, 2Ki 14:1-16, but Amaziah lived fifteen years afterwards, and was slain by a conspiracy against him, and Azariah his son reigned in his stead, 2Ki 14:17-22, and a short account is given of the reign of Jeroboam the second, king of Israel, 2Ki 14:23-29.

Cross References 20

  • 1. 2 Kings 12:3; 2 Kings 16:4
  • 2. 2 Kings 21:24
  • 3. 2 Kings 12:20
  • 4. S Deuteronomy 28:61
  • 5. S Numbers 26:11; Job 21:20; Jeremiah 31:30; Jeremiah 44:3; Ezekiel 18:4,20
  • 6. S 2 Samuel 8:13; 2 Chronicles 25:11
  • 7. S Judges 1:36
  • 8. Judges 9:8-15
  • 9. Deuteronomy 8:14; 2 Chronicles 26:16; 2 Chronicles 32:25
  • 10. S Joshua 15:10
  • 11. 1 Kings 22:36; 2 Samuel 18:17
  • 12. 1 Kings 3:1; 2 Chronicles 33:14; 2 Chronicles 36:19; Jeremiah 39:2
  • 13. Nehemiah 8:16; Nehemiah 12:39
  • 14. 2 Chronicles 26:9; 2 Chronicles 25:23; Jeremiah 31:38; Zechariah 14:10
  • 15. 2 Kings 13:12
  • 16. S 2 Kings 12:20
  • 17. S Joshua 10:3; 2 Kings 18:14,17
  • 18. S 2 Kings 9:28
  • 19. 2 Kings 15:1; 2 Chronicles 26:23; Isaiah 1:1; Hosea 1:1; Amos 1:1
  • 20. S 1 Kings 9:26; 2 Kings 16:6

Footnotes 4

  • [a]. Hebrew "Joash," a variant of "Jehoash" ; also in verses 13, 23 and 27
  • [b]. Deut. 24:16
  • [c]. That is, about 600 feet or about 180 meters
  • [d]. Also called "Uzziah"
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