2 Kings 14:1
The history of Judah is resumed 2 Kings 14:1, followed by a brief account of the contemporary history of Israel under Jeroboam II 2 Kings 14:23. The earlier narrative runs parallel with 2 Chronicles 25.... [ Continue Reading ]
The history of Judah is resumed 2 Kings 14:1, followed by a brief account of the contemporary history of Israel under Jeroboam II 2 Kings 14:23. The earlier narrative runs parallel with 2 Chronicles 25.... [ Continue Reading ]
Joash of Judah reigned forty years 2 Kings 12:1, and Joash of Israel ascended the throne in his namesake’s thirty-seventh year 2 Kings 13:10; hence, we should have expected to hear that Amaziah succeeded his father in the fourth rather than in the second year of Joash (of Israel). The usual explanat... [ Continue Reading ]
HE DID ... AS JOASH - There is a curious parity between the lives of Joash and Amaziah. Both were zealous for Yahweh in the earlier portion of their reigns, but in the latter part fell away; both disregarded the rebukes of prophets; and both, having forsaken God, were in the end conspired against an... [ Continue Reading ]
The phrase, “confirmed in his hand” 2 Kings 15:19, usually expresses the authorisation of a new reign by an imperial superior (see 2 Kings 15:19 note); but here it describes the result when the troubles consequent upon the murder of Joash had passed away. The new king’s authority was generally recog... [ Continue Reading ]
THE CHILDREN OF THE MURDERERS HE SLEW NOT - This seems to be noted as a rare instance of clemency (compare 2 Kings 9:26 note). It is strange at first sight, that, when the Law contained so very plain a prohibition (marginal references), the contrary practice should have established itself. But we mu... [ Continue Reading ]
Amaziah’s Idumaean war is treated at length by the writer of Chronicles (marginal reference). The “Valley of Salt” is usually identified with the broad open plain called the Sabkah, at the southern end of the Dead Sea - the continuation of the Ghor or Jordan gorge. At the north-western corner of thi... [ Continue Reading ]
Amaziah’s success against Edom had so elated him that he thought himself more than a match for his northern neighbor. The grounds of the quarrel between them were furnished by the conduct of the hired, but dismissed, Israelite soldiers (see the marginal reference). LET US LOOK ONE ANOTHER IN THE FA... [ Continue Reading ]
The Oriental use of apologues on the most solemn and serious occasions is well known to all, and scarcely needs illustration (compare marginal reference). It is a common feature of such apologues that they are not exact parallels to the case whereto they are applied, but only general or partial rese... [ Continue Reading ]
GLORY OF THIS ... - literally, “Be honored;” i. e. “Enjoy thy honor ... be content with it.” “Why wilt thou meddle with misfortune?”... [ Continue Reading ]
Jehoash did not wait to be attacked. Invading Judaea from the west, and so ascending out of the low coast tract, he met the army of Amaziah at Beth-shemesh (see Joshua 19:21 note), about 15 miles from Jerusalem.... [ Continue Reading ]
The author of Chronicles notes that Amaziah’s obstinacy, and his consequent defeat and captivity, were judgments upon him for an idolatry into which he had fallen after his conquest of Edom 2Ch 25:14, 2 Chronicles 25:20.... [ Continue Reading ]
The object of breaking down the wall was to leave Jerusalem at the mercy of her rival; and it must have been among the conditions of the peace that the breach thus made should not be repaired. Gates in Oriental cities are named from the places to which they lead. The gate of Ephraim must therefore h... [ Continue Reading ]
This is the only distinct mention of “hostages” in the Old Testament. It would seem that the Oriental conquerors generally regarded the terror of their arms as sufficient to secure the performance of the engagements contracted toward them.... [ Continue Reading ]
These two verses (repeated from 2 Kings 13:12) are out of place here, where they interrupt the history of Amaziah’s reign.... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY BROUGHT HIM ON HORSES - i. e. they conveyed his body back to Jerusalem in the royal chariot. The combination of relentless animosity against the living prince with the deepest respect for his dead remains is very characteristic of an Oriental people.... [ Continue Reading ]
ALL THE PEOPLE OF JUDAH - The words imply that the conspiracy was one in which the general mass of the people did not participate. There was no confusion and trouble as on the occasion of the murder of Joash. Azariah (“the strength of Yahweh”), and Uzziah (“whom Yahweh assists”), were mere variants... [ Continue Reading ]
Elath, or Eloth (marginal reference 1 Kings 9:26), was near Ezion-Geber, in the Gulf of Akabah. It had been lost to the Jews on the revolt of Edom from Joram 2 Kings 8:22. Uzziah’s re-establishment of the place, rendered possible by his father’s successes 2 Kings 14:7, was one of his first acts, and... [ Continue Reading ]
JEROBOAM - This is the only instance, in the history of either kingdom, of a recurrent royal appellation. We can scarcely doubt that Jeroboam II was named after the great founder of the Israelite kingdom by a father who trusted that he might prove a sort of second founder. Perhaps the prophecy of Jo... [ Continue Reading ]
HE RESTORED THE COAST OF ISRAEL - Jeroboam, in the course of his long reign, recovered the old boundaries of the holy land to the north, the east, and the southeast. The “entering in of Hamath” is spoken of as the northern boundary; the “sea of the plain,” or the Dead Sea, is the southern boundary ... [ Continue Reading ]
THE AFFLICTION OF ISRAEL - That which the Israelites had suffered for two reigns at the hands of the Syrians 2 Kings 10:32; 2 Kings 13:3, 2 Kings 13:7,2 Kings 13:22. THERE WAS NOT ANY SHUT UP, NOR ANY LEFT - A phrase implying complete depopulation (see the marginal reference note; 1 Kings 14:10), b... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE LORD SAID NOT - Though the Israelites were brought thus low, yet the fiat did not as yet go forth for their destruction. God did not send a prophet to say that He would blot out the name of Israel from under heaven; but on the contrary sent two to announce that they should be delivered from... [ Continue Reading ]
HE RECOVERED DAMASCUS - Jeroboam probably gained certain advantages over Benhadad, which induced the latter to make his submission and consent to such terms as those extorted by Ahab 1 Kings 20:34. Hamath was probably among the actual conquests of Jeroboam. It was brought so low in his reign, as to... [ Continue Reading ]