2 Kings 14:1-6

Amaziah Reigns in Judah

1 In the second year of the reign of Jehoash ^[a] son of Jehoahaz over Israel, Amaziah son of Joash became king of Judah. ¹

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 And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, but not as his father David had done. He did everything as his father Joash had done.

4 Nevertheless, the high places were not taken away, and the people continued sacrificing and burning incense on the high places.

5 As soon as the kingdom was firmly in his grasp, Amaziah executed the servants who had murdered his father the king.

6 Yet he did not put the sons of the murderers to death, but acted according to what is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, where the LORD commanded: “Fathers must not be put to death for their children, and children must not be put to death for their fathers; each is to die for his own sin.” ^[b]

2 Kings 14:1-6 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

• 1. (2 Chronicles 25:1–4)

Footnotes

• [a] Hebrew Joash, a variant of Jehoash; also in verses 13, 23, and 27
• [b] Deuteronomy 24:16