2 Kings 14

Amazia is good in the beginning of his reign, v.1,&c. He punisheth the murderers of his Father, 5. Vanquisheth the Edomites, 7. Offereth to make war against the King of Israel, 8. Is smitten by him, 12. Is pursued, and slain by his own people, and buried, 19. Azaria his son reigneth,21. Jerobeam is King over Israel, 23. His acts, 25. He dieth, and Zacharia his son reigneth after him, 29.

1. In the second year of Joas the son Of Joahaz the King of Israel, Amazia [Heb. Amatsiaha] the son of Joas King of Juda became King.

2. He was five and twenty years old, [Heb. A son of twenty and five years] when he became King, and reigned nine and twenty years at Jerusalem: [In this number are comprehended the twelve years, wherein he lived a banished man at Lachis, being expelled by his own subjects, below v.19.] and his mothers name was Joaddan, [Heb. Jehohaddan] of Jerusalem.

3. And he did that which was right in they eyes of the LORD, yet not like David his father: [That is, not with an upright heart, 2 Chron.25.2.] he did according to all that Joas his Father had done. [For as Joas in the first year of his reign, as long as Jojada the Priest lived, behaved himself well, setting up, and maintaining the pure worship of God that was decayed; but afterward by the counsel of his Princes turned aside to Idolatry, above chap.12.3. 2 Chron.24.17,18. So did Amasia also behave himself well at first, but afterward fell to Idolatry, 2 Chron.25.7,&c. and v.14,&c.]

4. Onely the high places were not taken away: [Compare 1 Kings 3:2. Item, above chap.12.3.] the people still offered, and burnt incense in the high places.

5. Now it came to pass, when the Kingdom was confirmed in his hand, that he smote [That is, punished with death: see Gen.8.on v.21.] his servants, that had smitten the King hid Father. [see above chap.12. vers.20, 21.]

6. But the children of the murderers, he slew not; as is written in the book of the Law of Moseh, where the LORD commanded, saying; The Father shall not be put to death for the Fathers; but every man shall be put to death for his own sin. [See Deut.24.v.16. and the annotate. thereon; also Ezek.18.20.]

7. He smote (of) the Edomites in the valley of salt [Which was in Idumea: see further hereof, 2 Sam.8.13. and Psal.60.2.] ten thousand, and took Sela [i.e. Rock. The Metropolis, or chief city of Arabia Petrea, or, the stony Arabia: which lying upon a rock, took from thence and from the country its denomination. Compare 2 Chron.25.12.] by war, and called the name thereof Jokteel, [This name may be translated the obedience of God; that is, the obedience performed to God. Amazia seemeth to have called this city thus, because he held the subduing of this city to be a reward of this disobedience, which he shewed to God, when at the Prophets command he dishanded the Israelites, which he had hired for an hundred talents, &c. See 2 Chron.25.8,9.] unto this day. [i.e. this name continued still to this very time, wherein this book was written.]

8. Then Amazia sent messengers to Joas the son of Joahaz the son of Jehu the King of Israel, saying; Come let us see one anothers face. [That is, let us fight with one another: so below v.11. Item, chap.23.v.29. and 2 Chron.25.v.17, and 21. It seemeth that he would revenge the death of his friends by this war undertaken, or begun by him, whereof see above chap.9.27. and 10 14. or at least the mischief and robbery done in this land by the disbanded Israelites: of which see 2 Chron. chap.25.v.13.]

9. But Joas King of Israel sent to Amazia King of Juda, saying; The thistle, that is in Libanon, [See 1 Kings 4.on v.33.] sent to the Cedar, that is in Libanon, saying; Give thy daughter to my son to wife; but the beast of the field, that is on Libanon, passeth by, and trod down the thistle. [The King of Israel doth here compare the King of Juda to a thistle, or thorn-bush, and himself to a Cedar-tree, his souldiers to the wild beast of Libanon, and the harm that the King of Israel was to expect to the treading down of the thistle. it is as much as if he had said: If thou (who for strength of people, and royal honour art no more to be compared to me then a poor despised thistle to a tall Cedar) hadst sued to me for peace and friendship, thou shouldest hardly have obtained it; how much less shall this hostile presumption of thine be successful unto thee? therefore, if thou art wise, desist, and keep out of harms way.]

10. Thou hast smitten the Edomites valiantly, [Heb. Smitting smitten: see above v.7.] therefore thine heart hath lifted thee up: take the honour, and tarry at home; for why shouldest thou mingled thy self in the evil, [viz. of war. Or, why shouldest thou mingled, or, thrust thy self (into the battle) to (thy) hurt?] that thou shouldest fall, thou, and Juda with thee? [because he would not tarry till Amazia assaults him own land, but would rather encounter with him in his.]

11. But Amazia hearkened not: Therefore Joas King of Israel marched up, so that he, and Amazia King of Juda looked one another in the face [That is, fought with one another. See above on v.8.] at Beth-Sanes, which is in Juda. [this Beth-Sanes here mentioned, is a city lying in the border of the tribe of Juda. Jos.15.1. allotted to the Levites, Jos.21.16. taken by the Philistines in the this beth-Sames here mentioned is a city lying in the border of the tribe of Juda, Jos.15.1. allotted to the Levites, Jos.21.16. Taken by the Philistines in the reign of Achaz, 2 Chron.28.18. Is to be distinguished from another Beth-Semes, lying in the tribe of Napthali, Judg.1.33.]

12. And Juda was smitten before the face of Israel; and they fled every man into his tents. [i.e. to their dwellings. See above chap.13.on v.5.]

13. And Joas the King Israel took Amazia the King of Juda, the son of Joas the son of Ahazia at Beth-Semes, and came to Jerusalem, from the gate of Ephraim, [so called, because they passed thorough it to the land of Ephraim] unto the corner-gate, [Heb. the gate of the corner: Otherwise called the gate of the corners, zach.14.10. Item, the gate looking out: that is, a gate striking out as it were with a corner. See 2 Chron.25.23. and the anootat. It was so called, because it stood at the corner of a city] four hundred ells. [see Genes.6.on v.15.]

14. And he took all the gold, and the silver, and all the vessels, that were found in the house of the LORD, and in the treasures of the Kings house, as also the hostages: [Heb. sons of suretiships, or, pledges. Understand persons of special descent and quality, which King Joas took with him out of Juda, for the securing of future peace] and he returning to Samaria.

15. Now the rest of the acts of Joas, what he did, and his might, and how he fought against Amazia the King of Juda; are they not written in the book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel?

16. And Joas fell asleep with his Fathers, and was buried at Samaria by the Kings of Israel: And Jerobeam his son became King in his stead.

17. New Amazia the son of Joas King of Juda lived after the death of Joas the son of Joahaz, the King of Israel, fifteen years.

18. Now the rest of the acts Amazia; are they not written in the book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Juda?

19. And the made a conspiracy against him at Jerusalem, [To wit, in the fourth year after the death of Joas, or of the reign of Jerobeam his son] (so) that he fled to Lachis: but they sent after him to Lachis, [a city lying in the west-border of the tribe of Juda. See hereof Jos.10.31. and 15.39.] and put him to death there.

20. And they brought him on horses; [That is, on a charet, Compare above chap.9.28.] and he was buried at Jerusalem, by his Fathers, in the City of David.

21. And all the people of Juda took Azaria, [Otherwise called Uzzia, below chap.15.v.13.30. 2 Chron.26. Under this King did Isaia begim to prophesy, Isa. chap.1.1.] (who was now sixteen years old,) and made him King in the room of his Fathers Amazia. [to wit, when Amazia fled to Lachis. And hence it appeareth, that eleven following years of the reign, are not only ascribed to Amazia, but also to Azaria his son.]

22. He built Elath, [See likewise of this city, Deut.2.8. Now Azari is said to have built this city, not in respect of laying the first foundation thereof, but of repairing the same, because it was decayed] and brought it again to Juda, after that the King [namely, Amazia his father] was fallen asleep with his fathers.

23. In the fifteenth year of Amazia the son of Joas King of Juda, Jerobeam the son of Joas became King over Israel at Samaria, (and reigned) [see of these inserted words, above chap.13.on v.1.] one and fourty years.

24. And did that which was evil in the eyes of the LORD: He departed not from all the sins of Jerobeam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin.

25. He brought also against [To wit, under the power and dominion of the Kings of Israel. See above chap.13.on v.25.] the border of Israel from the entering of hamath, [see hereof, Numb.13.21. and 34.8.] unto the sea of the plain field, [see likewise of this sea, Deut.3.7.] according to the word of the LORD the God of Israel, which he had spoken by the ministery [Heb.hand] of his servant Jona the son of Amithei the Prophet, [this is the same prophet Jona that was sent by the LORD of Ninive, and whose prophesy we have in the bible with the other Prophets] that was of Gath-Hepher. [a city lying in the tribe of Zebulon, Jos.19.v.13.]

26. For the LORD saw that the misery of Israel was very bitter, [Or rebellious; that is, very hard, and grievious; which rebellion some also apply to Israel, as who were very rebellious, and were therefore punished] and that there were none shut up, nor left, [see of this phrase Deut.32.on v. 36. Item, 1 Kings.14.10. and 21.21.] and that Israel had no helper.

27. And the LORD had not spoken that he would destroy the name of Israel from under heaven; [The LORD indeed soon after caused the ruine of the house of Israel, and the final rejection of this people to be foretold by the Prophet Hosea, as appeareth, Hos.1.v5,6,9. and likewise actually executed the same, 2 Kings 17:18. But he would not as yet do it at this time, but in his infinite mercy spared Israel as yet, because of his covenant which he had made with their Fathers. See also chap.13.23.] but he delivered them by the hand of Jerobeam the son of Joas.

28. Now the rest of the acts of Jerobeam, and all that he did, and his might, how he warred, and how he brought Damascus, and Hamath (belonging) to Juda, again to Israel; [These two cities were subudued by David and Salomon, 2 Sam.8.6. and 2 Chron.8.3. And therefore belonged to the Kings of Juda, when they were yet Kings over all Israel. But when afterward they were loft, and taken away by them from the Syrians, 1 King.11.24. this Jerobeam in his time recovered them again, not for the Kings of Juda, but for the Kings of Israel] are they not written in the book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel?

29. And Jerobeam fell asleep with his Fathers, with the Kings of Israel: and his Zacharia became King in his Stead.