2 Kings 14

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 ( 2 Chronicles 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 ( 2 Kings 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.

2 Kings 14:17-20 . HE IS SLAIN BY A CONSPIRACY.

19, 20. they made a conspiracy against him in Jerusalem--Amaziah's apostasy ( 2 Chronicles 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 [ 2 Kings 14:13 2 Kings 14:14 ], 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.

2 Kings 14:21 2 Kings 14:22 . AZARIAH SUCCEEDS HIM.

21. all the people of Judah took Azariah--or Uzziah ( 2 Kings 15:30 , 2 Chronicles 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.

2 Kings 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 ( 2 Kings 14:25 ), but adhered to the favorite religious policy of the Israelitish sovereigns ( 2 Kings 14:24 ). While God granted him so great a measure of national prosperity and eminence, the reason is expressly stated ( 2 Kings 14:26 2 Kings 14:27 ) to be that the purposes of the divine covenant forbade as yet the overthrow of the kingdom of the ten tribes (see 2 Kings 13:23 ).