2 Kings 14:5

_AND IT CAME TO PASS, AS SOON AS THE KINGDOM WAS CONFIRMED IN HIS HAND, THAT HE SLEW HIS SERVANTS WHICH_ _ 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._ As soon as the kingdom was confirmed in his hand. This is regarded as implying that Judah had become a tributary dependency of Assyria, and that each prince, at his accession, required to be formally confirmed in his kingdom by his Assyrian suzerain. It was an act of justice, no less than of filial piety, to avenge the murder of his father; but it is evident that the two assassins must have possessed considerable weight and influence, as the king was obliged to retain them in his service, and durst not, for fear of their friends and supporters, institute proceedings against them until his power had been fully consolidated....

1-7 Amaziah began well, but did not go on so. It is not enough to do that which our pious predecessors did, merely to keep up the common usage, but we must do it as they did, from the same principle of faith and devotion, and with the same sincerity and resolution....

Verse 2 Kings 14:5. _AS SOON AS THE KINGDOM WAS CONFIRMED IN HIS HAND_] No doubt those wicked men, _Jozachar_ and _Jehozabad_, who murdered his father, had considerable power and influence; and therefore he found it dangerous to bring them to justice, till he was assured of the loyalty of his other officers: when this was clear, he called them to account, and put them to death....

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 recognized by his subjects....

EXPOSITION 2 KINGS 14:1 REIGNS OF AMAZIAH, SON OF JOASH KING OF JUDAH, OVER JUDAH, AND OF JEROBOAM, SON OF JOASH KING OF ISRAEL, OVER ISRAEL. 2 KINGS 14:1 THE REIGN OF AMAZIAH OVER JUDAH. This chapter takes up the history of the kingdom of Judah from the each of...

AND IT CAME TO PASS, AS SOON AS THE KINGDOM WAS STRENGTHENED IN HIS HAND,.... That he was well settled on the throne, and had a share in the affection of the people, and the idolatry and murder his father had committed were worn off of the minds of the people, and the friends of the conspirators against him were become few or none: THAT HE SLEW HIS SERVANTS THAT HAD SLAIN THE KING HIS FATHER; charged them with the murder in a court of judicature, obtained a sentence against them, and had them executed....

6. KINGS OF ISRAEL AND JUDAH CHAPTER 14 _ 1. Amaziah's reign over Judah (2 Kings 14:1; 2 Chronicles 25)_ 2. The conflict between Israel and Judah (2 Kings 14:8; 2 Chronicles 25:17) 3. Judah's defeat and Jerusalem taken (2 Kings 14:12) 4. Jehoash and his successor (2 Kings 14:15) 5. Death of Amaziah (2 Kings 14

THE REIGN OF AMAZIAH, SON OF JOASH, KING OF JUDAH. Amaziah was a virtuous king like his father Joash, but not according to the standard of David. This is the judgment of the Deuteronomist, who refers to the law-book of his age, approving the king's forbearance in not punishing the sons of his father's murderers (Deuteronomy 21:1 *, Deuteronomy 24:16). Amaziah was successful in his wars with Edom, whose territory was peculiarly important to Judah as giving access to the Red Sea. The Edomites were defeated in the Valley of Salt as in David's time (2 Samuel 8:13, LXX). There is a place of the same name near Beersheba, but the topography here seems to require it to be in the southern Arabah, S. of the Dead Se

_as soon as the kingdom was confirmed_[R.V. ESTABLISHED] _in his hand_ The change is in conformity with 2 Chronicles. It is worth notice that the conspirators made no attempt, as it seems, to divert the succession from the house of David, though they might have expected that the son would take revenge on his father's murderers....

AS SOON AS THE KINGDOM WAS CONFIRMED—HE SLEW HIS SERVANTS, &C.— It seems, that the two assassins continued to be men of weight and interest at court even after they had murdered the king; for Amaziah retained them in his service for some time, nor durst venture to execute justice upon them till he was well settled in his authority. He acted, however, in the punishment of them like a good man, and contrary to the wicked customs of many kingdoms; where, if any one be guilty of high treason, not only he, but his children likewise, who neither partake nor are conscious of any of his traitorous practices, are equally devoted to destruction, lest they should form any faction against the prince, or seek revenge for their father's death....