History · Chapter 14 of 25

2 Kings 14

Amaziah of Judah does right but not wholeheartedly. He executes his father's assassins yet spares their children according to the law of Moses, and defeats Edom. Emboldened, he challenges Jehoash of Israel, who warns him with a parable and then crushes Judah, breaks Jerusalem's wall, and plunders the temple. In Israel, Jeroboam the Second restores the nation's borders as God, seeing Israel's affliction, shows unexpected mercy.

What happens in 2 Kings 14

Amaziah reigns in Judah, doing right though not like David, and the high places remain. Once secure, he executes the servants who killed his father but spares their children, obeying the Mosaic command that each dies for his own sin. He defeats Edom, then, lifted up with pride, challenges Jehoash of Israel to meet face to face. Jehoash answers with a parable of a thistle presuming against a cedar and warns Amaziah to stay home. Amaziah refuses, and the armies clash at Bethshemesh, where Judah is routed.

Jehoash captures Amaziah, breaks down a large section of Jerusalem's wall, and carries off the temple and palace treasures and hostages. Amaziah outlives Jehoash but is later assassinated in a conspiracy, and young Azariah succeeds him. In Israel, Jeroboam the Second reigns long and restores Israel's borders, for the LORD saw their bitter affliction and, though they were undeserving, refused to blot out Israel's name.

2 Kings 14 in context

The chapter interweaves the parallel monarchies of Judah and Israel. Amaziah's obedience to the law of Moses in sparing the murderers' children marks a notable ethical advance over surrounding cultures. His pride, however, leads to national humiliation. Jeroboam the Second, though an evil king, presides over a period of territorial expansion and prosperity for the northern kingdom, prophesied through Jonah.

Behind the political fortunes stands God's patient compassion, restraining the judgment Israel deserves.

Main themes of 2 Kings 14

2 Kings 14 (KJV)

1In the second year of Joash son of Jehoahaz king of Israel reigned Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah. 2He 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. 3And 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. 4Howbeit the high places were not taken away: as yet the people did sacrifice and burnt incense on the high places. 5And 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. 6But 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 his own sin. 7He 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. 8Then 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. 9And 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. 10Thou 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? 11But 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. 12And Judah was put to the worse before Israel; and they fled every man to their tents. 13And 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. 14And 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. 15Now 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? 16And Jehoash slept with his fathers, and was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel; and Jeroboam his son reigned in his stead. 17And Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah lived after the death of Jehoash son of Jehoahaz king of Israel fifteen years. 18And the rest of the acts of Amaziah, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? 19Now they made a conspiracy against him in Jerusalem: and he fled to Lachish; but they sent after him to Lachish, and slew him there. 20And they brought him on horses: and he was buried at Jerusalem with his fathers in the city of David. 21And all the people of Judah took Azariah, which was sixteen years old, and made him king instead of his father Amaziah. 22He built Elath, and restored it to Judah, after that the king slept with his fathers. 23In 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. 24And 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. 25He 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. 26For 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. 27And 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. 28Now 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? 29And Jeroboam slept with his fathers, even with the kings of Israel; and Zachariah his son reigned in his stead.

Verses to carry from 2 Kings 14

“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 his own sin.”2 Kings 14:6

“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?”2 Kings 14:10

“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.”2 Kings 14:27

Reflection

Amaziah did well until success went to his head, then a single proud challenge cost his kingdom dearly. Achievement is a spiritual danger point. When has a victory made you overconfident, prone to pick fights or presume on God? True strength stays humble in success, remembering that every good thing is a gift, not a trophy that makes us invincible.

A prayer from 2 Kings 14