_A.M. 3165. B.C. 839._ The good character of Amaziah, 2 Kings 14:1. He avenges his father's death, 2 Kings 14:5; 2 Kings 14:6. Overthrows the Edomites, 2 Kings 14:7. Is defeated by Joash, king of Israel, 2 Kings 14:8. The death and burial of Jehoash, 2 Kings 14:15; 2 Kings 14:16. Amaziah is killed... [ Continue Reading ]
_In the second year of Joash, king of Israel_ After he began to reign alone: for he reigned two or three years with his father, of which see the note on 2 Kings 13:10. This, as Dr. Lightfoot observes, was the thirty-eighth year of his father Joash, king of Judah, three years before his death. For Jo... [ Continue Reading ]
_He did right in the sight of the Lord_ In many respects, attending on God's altars, and attending to his word: _yet not like David his father_ Or progenitor: not obeying in the same spirit of faith and devotion, and with the same sincerity, resolution, and perseverance. _As Joash his father did_ Wh... [ Continue Reading ]
_As soon as the kingdom was confirmed, he slew his servants_, &c. It is implied in this, that his father's murderers continued to be men of weight and interest at court, even after they had perpetrated that crime; for Amaziah retained them in his service for some time, nor durst venture to execute j... [ Continue Reading ]
_But the children of the murderers he slew not_ In this he acted like a good man, and showed both faith and courage, in that he would obey the command of God, though it might be attended with great hazard to himself, and was not moved to cut off the children, through fear lest they should raise a fa... [ Continue Reading ]
_He slew of Edom_ That is, of the _Edomites_, or _the children of Seir_, as they are called 2 Chronicles 25:1. The Edomites, after having been subject to Judah from the time of David, who subdued them, revolted in the days of Jehoram, (2 Kings 8:10,) and now Amaziah endeavoured to reduce them: and h... [ Continue Reading ]
_Let us look one another in the face_ Let us try our valour and strength in battle. Being flushed with his late great victory over the Edomites, and incensed by the injury which the dismissed, disgusted Israelites had lately done to his country in their return, (2 Chronicles 25:13,) he sent this cha... [ Continue Reading ]
_Jehoash sent to Amaziah, saying, The thistle_, &c. By the thistle, a mean, despicable, and yet troublesome weed, he understands Amaziah, and by the cedar, himself, whom he intimates to be far stronger than he, and out of his reach. Considering the circumstances of the person addressed, who was a pe... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thou hast indeed smitten Edom_ A weak, unarmed, undisciplined body of men; and therefore thou thinkest thou canst carry all before thee, and subdue the regular forces of Israel with as much ease. _Thy heart hath lifted thee up_ Here lies the root of all sin; it is in the heart; thence it proceeds,... [ Continue Reading ]
_Amaziah would not hear_ Being blinded and hardened by God to his destruction, as a punishment of his abominable and ridiculous idolatry, 2 Chronicles 25:10. _Therefore Jehoash went up_ Namely, into the kingdom of Judah, carrying the war into his enemies' country. _At Beth-shemesh, which belongeth t... [ Continue Reading ]
_Jehoash took Amaziah king of Judah_, &c. Amaziah's pedigree comes in here somewhat abruptly. _The son of Jehoash, the son of Ahaziah_ Because perhaps he had gloried in the dignity of his ancestors, or now smarted for their iniquity. _And came to Jerusalem_ Which tamely opened to him; probably becau... [ Continue Reading ]
_They made a conspiracy against him_ That is, the people, and princes, and chief men among them did this; possibly those whose sons he had delivered up as hostages to Jehoash. It is likely this conspiracy was formed with the connivance, if not approbation, of the people, because the design was carri... [ Continue Reading ]
_The people of Judah took Azariah_ Called _Uzziah_, chap. 2 Kings 15:30, and 2 Chronicles 26:1. The two names signify nearly the same thing, the former meaning _the help of God_, and the latter, _the strength of God. And made him king_ Either in opposition to the conspirators, or to show their affec... [ Continue Reading ]
_He built Elath_ Repaired and fortified it; for it was built before, Deuteronomy 2:8. _And restored it to Judah_ From whom it had revolted with the rest of Edom, in which land it lay, upon the Red sea. _After that the king_ Namely, his father Amaziah; _slept with his fathers_ The meaning is, that Am... [ Continue Reading ]
_He restored the coast, &c., from Hamath_ Which was the northern border of the kingdom of Israel; _unto the sea of the plain_ The Dead sea, which was once a goodly plain, and was their southern border. _Which he spake by his servant Jonah_ Or _Jonas;_ one of the lesser prophets. The only mention tha... [ Continue Reading ]
_The Lord saw the affliction of Israel, that it was very bitter _ Whereby he was moved to pity and help them, though they were an unworthy people. They that lived in those parts of their country, of which their enemies were masters, were miserably oppressed and enslaved, and could call nothing their... [ Continue Reading ]
_And how he recovered Damascus and Hamath_ These were cities of Syria, but were taken from the Syrians by David and Solomon, and probably by them incorporated with, and added to, the possessions of their own tribe, to which, from that time, they belonged: but afterward they were retaken by the Syria... [ Continue Reading ]
_And Jeroboam slept with his fathers_, &c. It was in the reign of this Jeroboam, that Hosea (who continued very long a prophet) began to prophesy, and he was the first that wrote his prophecies. At the same time Amos prophesied, and wrote his prophecy, and soon after Micah, and then Isaiah, in the d... [ Continue Reading ]