2 Kings 14
World English Bible
WEB1In the second year of Joash, son of Joahaz, king of Israel, Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah began to reign. 2He was twenty-five years old when he began to reign; and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jehoaddin of Jerusalem. 3He did that which was right in Yahweh’s eyes, yet not like David his father. He did according to all that Joash his father had done. 4However the high places were not taken away. The people still sacrificed and burned incense in the high places. 5As soon as the kingdom was established in his hand, he killed his servants who had slain the king his father, 6but the children of the murderers he didn’t put to death, according to that which is written in the book of the law of Moses, as Yahweh 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 die for his own sin.” 7He killed ten thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt, and took Sela by war, and called its name Joktheel, to this day. 8Then Amaziah sent messengers to Jehoash, the son of Jehoahaz son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying, “Come, let’s look one another in the face.” 9Jehoash 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 your daughter to my son as wife.’ Then a wild animal that was in Lebanon passed by, and trampled down the thistle. 10You have indeed struck Edom, and your heart has lifted you up. Enjoy the glory of it, and stay at home; for why should you meddle to your harm, that you fall, even you, and Judah with you?” 11But Amaziah would not listen. So Jehoash king of Israel went up; and he and Amaziah king of Judah looked one another in the face at Beth Shemesh, which belongs to Judah. 12Judah was defeated by Israel; and each man fled to his tent. 13Jehoash king of Israel took Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Jehoash the son of Ahaziah, at Beth Shemesh and came to Jerusalem, then broke down the wall of Jerusalem from the gate of Ephraim to the corner gate, four hundred cubits. 14He took all the gold and silver and all the vessels that were found in Yahweh’s house and in the treasures of the king’s house, the hostages also, 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, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel? 16Jehoash slept with his fathers, and was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel; and Jeroboam his son reigned in his place. 17Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah lived after the death of Jehoash son of Jehoahaz, king of Israel, fifteen years. 18Now the rest of the acts of Amaziah, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? 19They made a conspiracy against him in Jerusalem, and he fled to Lachish; but they sent after him to Lachish and killed him there. 20They brought him on horses, and he was buried at Jerusalem with his fathers in David’s city. 21All the people of Judah took Azariah, who was sixteen years old, and made him king in the place 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 for forty-one years. 24He did that which was evil in Yahweh’s sight. He didn’t depart from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, with which he made Israel to sin. 25He restored the border of Israel from the entrance of Hamath to the sea of the Arabah, according to Yahweh, the God of Israel’s word, which he spoke by his servant Jonah the son of Amittai, the prophet, who was from Gath Hepher. 26For Yahweh saw the affliction of Israel, that it was very bitter for all, slave and free; and there was no helper for Israel. 27Yahweh didn’t say that he would blot out the name of Israel from under the sky; 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 fought, and how he recovered Damascus, and Hamath, which had belonged to Judah, for Israel, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel? 29Jeroboam slept with his fathers, even with the kings of Israel; and Zechariah his son reigned in his place.
World English Bible, 2020 stable text edition. Public domain; “World English Bible” is a trademark of eBible.org. eBible.org
Overview
2 Kings Chapter 14 recounts the reign of King #Amaziah of Judah, who ascended to the throne after the death of his father, #Joash. Amaziah is noted for doing what was right in the eyes of the Lord, yet he did not fully remove the high places where people continued to worship idols. His reign is marked by a significant military victory against the Edomites, where he defeats them in the Valley of Salt and captures #Selah, renaming it #Joktheel. This victory not only demonstrates God’s favor upon Amaziah but also reinforces the importance of obedience to God’s commands in achieving success. The chapter emphasizes the theme of divine justice, as Amaziah's actions lead to both triumph and eventual downfall.
The narrative then shifts to the northern kingdom of Israel, where #Jeroboam II reigns. His rule is characterized by territorial expansion and prosperity, fulfilling the prophecy given to #Jonah regarding the restoration of Israel's borders. However, despite the outward success, Jeroboam II's reign is marked by continued idolatry and sin, leading the nation further away from God. The chapter concludes with the death of Amaziah and the subsequent rise of his son #Uzziah, highlighting the cyclical nature of leadership in Israel and Judah, where faithfulness to God is often overshadowed by the lure of idolatry and rebellion against divine authority.
Referenced by
- 2 Kings 15:3v32 Kings 15:3 notes that Azariah (Uzziah) did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, similar to his father Amaziah as mentioned in 2 Kings 14:3. Both kings are noted for their partial obedience, as they did not remove the high places.
- John 7:52v25In John 7:52, the Pharisees dismiss the possibility of a prophet coming from Galilee. However, 2 Kings 14:25 mentions Jonah, a prophet from Gath-hepher, a town in Galilee, highlighting the Pharisees' oversight.
Topics in this chapter
- Humility
- Pride
- Obedience
- Amaziah
- Conflict
- Faithfulness
- Justice
- Edom
- Israel
- Jerusalem
- Sovereignty of God
- Consequences
- Covenant
- Division
- Holiness
- Jehoash
- Jonah
- Judah
- King of Israel
- Kings of Judah
- Leadership
- Mercy
- Prophecy
- Repentance
- Worship
- Accountability
- Assassination
- Avoiding Pride
- Bethshemesh
- Complete Devotion
- Davidic Covenant
- Deliverance
- Dependence on God
- Divided Kingdom
- Divine Mercy
- Divine Rule
- Elisha
- Forgiveness
- God's Favor
- High Places
- Idolatry
- Instability
- Integrity
- Judah vs. Israel
- Judgment
- Kings
- Kings of Israel
- Kings of Judah
- Kingship
- Law
- Law of Moses
- Lovingkindness
- Mosaic Law
- Northern Kingdom of Israel
- Parables
- Prophet
- Protection
- Reform
- Relying on God
- Restoration
- Samaria
- Sin
- Spiritual Growth
- Temple
- The Word of God
- Victory
Related chapters
- 2 Chronicles 25AmaziahInstabilityAssassination
- 2 Kings 13Kings of IsraelJehoashElisha
- 2 Kings 15Kings of JudahInstabilityAssassination
- 2 Kings 12JehoashAssassinationKings of Judah
- Deuteronomy 24Mosaic Law
- Jonah 1JonahDivine Mercy
- 1 Kings 16InstabilityAssassinationKings
- Proverbs 16PrideLovingkindness
- Amos 7AmaziahConflict
- Obadiah 1Avoiding PrideEdomDependence on God
- Amos 6Northern Kingdom of IsraelSamariaDependence on God
- 1 Kings 15Divided KingdomHigh PlacesReform
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