In the second year of Joash son of Jehoahaz king of Israel reigned Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah. Ver. 1. _In the second year, &c., _] viz., When he reigned alone, after his father's death. _ Reigned Amaziah._] A notorious hypocrite, and one that filled up the measure of his fathers. Mat... [ Continue Reading ]
He 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. Ver. 2. And his mother's name was Jehoaddan.] The mothers of the kings of Judah are expressed by name; not so of Israel. See on 1 Kings 15:10... [ Continue Reading ]
And 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. Ver. 3. _Yet not like David his father._] Who did all the wills of God Act 13:22 with a perfect heart. 1Sa 13:14 Not so Amaziah, who had a good name, bu... [ Continue Reading ]
Howbeit the high places were not taken away: as yet the people did sacrifice and burnt incense on the high places. Ver. 4. _Howbeit the high places were not taken away._] So that he did not that which was right, &c. 2Ki 14:3 - that which was, for the substance of it, approved of God - but with an e... [ Continue Reading ]
And 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. Ver. 5. _As soon as the kingdom was confirmed in his hand_] He politically dissembled his displeasure till he found his time. _Qui nescit dissimulate, nescit regnare... [ Continue Reading ]
But 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 h... [ Continue Reading ]
He 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. Ver. 7. _In the valley of Salt._] Near to the Lake Asphaltites, which yielded much salt. _a_ See 2 Samuel 8:13 . _ Ten thousand._] Besides ten thousand more whom he cast dow... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 8. _Then Amaziah sent._] Being puffed up with his recent victory over the Edomites, he had a proud conceit that he should prosper in whatsoever he undert... [ Continue Reading ]
And 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. Ver. 9. _The thistle that... [ Continue Reading ]
Thou 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? Ver. 10. _And thine heart hath lifted thee up._] Here vice correcteth sin, as we say. _Cal... [ Continue Reading ]
But 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. Ver. 11. _But Amaziah would not hear._] See the reason in 2 Chronicles 25:20. He was ripe for ruin, and therefore, like a... [ Continue Reading ]
And Judah was put to the worse before Israel; and they fled every man to their tents. Ver. 12. _And Judah was put to the worse; and they fled._] Josephus saith that before the fight they began to flee away; and so the king was taken by the enemy, who threatened presently to put him to a cruel death... [ Continue Reading ]
And 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. Ver. 13. _And Jehoash king of Israel took Amaziah._] Whom he... [ Continue Reading ]
And 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. Ver. 14. _And he took all the gold and silver, &c._] He took not the crown, as he might have done, as fearing he could... [ Continue Reading ]
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? Ver. 15. _And his might._] Showed against the Syrians chiefly.... [ Continue Reading ]
And Jehoash slept with his fathers, and was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel; and Jeroboam his son reigned in his stead. Ver. 16. _And Jehoash slept._] He died the same year wherein he had vanquished Amaziah, as may easily be gathered; so little enjoyment had he of his victory.... [ Continue Reading ]
And Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah lived after the death of Jehoash son of Jehoahaz king of Israel fifteen years. Ver. 17. Lived … fifteen years.] But it was a kind of a lifeless life. _Mortis habet vices quae trahitur vita gemitibus._ He lay all the while under the hatred and contempt of h... [ Continue Reading ]
_And the rest of the acts of Amaziah, [are] they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?_ Ver. 18. _And the rest, &c._] See 1 Kings 14:10; 1 Kings 14:29 .... [ Continue Reading ]
Now they made a conspiracy against him in Jerusalem: and he fled to Lachish; but they sent after him to Lachish, and slew him there. Ver. 19. _Now they made a conspiracy._] The people generally did, because he had, by challenging Jehoash, subjected them to so much misery, and did, after that overth... [ Continue Reading ]
And they brought him on horses: and he was buried at Jerusalem with his fathers in the city of David. Ver. 20. _And they brought him on horses._] In a chariot drawn with horses. He had brought the idols of Edom to Jerusalem on horses, say the Rabbis, and is therefore so brought himself, and not on... [ Continue Reading ]
And all the people of Judah took Azariah, which [was] sixteen years old, and made him king instead of his father Amaziah. Ver. 21. _And all the people of Judah took Azariah._] Called also Uzziah. 2Ch 26:1 _Itaque hic duo nomina habuit confinia, Consilium Domini et Auxilium Dei,_ saith Vatablus: His... [ Continue Reading ]
He built Elath, and restored it to Judah, after that the king slept with his fathers. Ver. 22. _He built Elath._] A place of great importance, as being a port town, say some, near the Red Sea.... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 23. _And reigned forty and one years._] This Jeroboam II was a long lived and a victorious prince: so was our Edward III.... [ Continue Reading ]
And 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. Ver. 24. _He departed not._] See 1 Kings 16:19. For this cause Amos prophesied against him, and was banished from Bethel. Amo 7:10-12... [ Continue Reading ]
He 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. Ver. 25. _To the sea of the plain._] Called the salt s... [ Continue Reading ]
For 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. Ver. 26. _For the Lord saw, &c., _] _sc., _ In the days of Jehoahaz, when, likely, Jonah was sent with the above said prophecy.... [ Continue Reading ]
And 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. Ver. 27. _And the Lord said not._] Yet afterwards he both said it, Hosea 1:6 _; _ Hos 1:9 and did it. 2Ki 17:18... [ Continue Reading ]
Now 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? Ver. 28. _And Hamath._] Which lay near to Damascus, a... [ Continue Reading ]
And Jeroboam slept with his fathers, [even] with the kings of Israel; and Zachariah his son reigned in his stead. Ver. 29. _And Jeroboam slept._] Amo 7:11 "Jeroboam shall die by the sword": but who said so? Not Amos, but Amaziah, the priest of Bethel, who belied him to Jeroboam.... [ Continue Reading ]