2 KINGS—NOTE ON 2 KINGS 14:1 Amaziah, Jeroboam II, and Azariah. The recovery that began under Jehoash (see note on 13:23–25) continues into ch. 2 Kings 14:1. The house of Jehu brings Israel relief from Syria to the north and also from a hostile Judah to the south. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getEle... [ Continue Reading ]
2 KINGS—NOTE ON 2 KINGS 14:7 STRUCK DOWN TEN THOUSAND EDOMITES. Edom had revolted against Judean rule during Jehoram’s reign (2 Kings 8:20). Amaziah does not reestablish Judean control over Edom, but this important victory does improve Judah’s ability to trade (see note on 14:22). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images... [ Continue Reading ]
2 KINGS—NOTE ON 2 KINGS 14:9 A THISTLE... SENT TO A CEDAR. Emboldened by the success of his Edomite campaign (v. 2 Kings 14:7), Amaziah of Judah has decided to confront the more powerful Jehoash of Israel. Jehoash responds with this insult as a warning. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagN... [ Continue Reading ]
2 KINGS—NOTE ON 2 KINGS 14:11 BETH-SHEMESH. This town on the northwest border of Judah, about 20 miles (32 km) by road from Jerusalem, guarded an important pass from the Philistine plain. Judah’s defeat here led inevitably to an assault on Jerusalem itself and the destruction of about 600 feet (183... [ Continue Reading ]
2 KINGS—NOTE ON 2 KINGS 14:15 THE REST OF THE ACTS OF JEHOASH. The information about Jehoash’s death is repeated from 2 Kings 13:12 (where he is called Joash). This may have been to contrast his death with that of Amaziah (see 2 Kings 14:19). It is also possible that Jehoash is highlighted here beca... [ Continue Reading ]
2 KINGS—NOTE ON 2 KINGS 14:19 THEY MADE A CONSPIRACY AGAINST HIM. Amaziah was bound to be unpopular since Jerusalem was invaded during his failed military action (vv. 2 Kings 14:11). LACHISH was the most important fortified city in Judah besides Jerusalem. It defended one of the east-west valleys th... [ Continue Reading ]
2 KINGS—NOTE ON 2 KINGS 14:22 Azariah, the next king of Judah, strengthened Amaziah’s gains in Edom by claiming the port of ELATH at the north end of the Gulf of Aqaba (the Red Sea). (But see 2 Kings 16:6 and note.) This town was closely associated with Ezion-geber and the worldwide trade of Solomon... [ Continue Reading ]
2 KINGS—NOTE ON 2 KINGS 14:25 The Assyrian assault on the area north of Israel had seriously weakened the kingdoms of that region, including Syria. This had allowed Jehoash to recapture some Israelite towns from the Syrians (2 Kings 13:25). In the next few years, the Assyrian kings only occasionally... [ Continue Reading ]
2 KINGS—NOTE ON 2 KINGS 14:27 To BLOT OUT THE NAME OF ISRAEL FROM UNDER HEAVEN would be to destroy Israel completely (see Deuteronomy 9:14), making forgiveness and restoration impossible (see Deuteronomy 29:20). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, l [ Continue Reading ]
2 KINGS—NOTE ON 2 KINGS 14:28 JUDAH IN ISRAEL. This phrase reflects the unusual situation during the reigns of Jehoash and Jeroboam II, when the kings of Israel apparently controlled Judah as well (see note on vv. 15–17). During this time territory is being RESTORED (see v. 2 Kings 14:22) to both th... [ Continue Reading ]