2Ki 14 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for 2Kgs 14:1-2: 14:1-2 The twenty-nine years of Amaziah ’s reign (796–767 BC ) included a long co-regency with his son Uzziah (from 792 BC ).

Summary for 2Kgs 14:1-2: 14:1-2 ^a The twenty-nine years of Amaziah’s reign (796–767 BC) included a long co-regency with his son Uzziah (from 792 BC).
Summary for 2Kgs 14:3-4: 14:3-4 ^b While Amaziah’s basic spiritual evaluation was satisfactory, he did not serve the Lord wholeheartedly as his ancestor David had (2 Chr 25:2 ^c). David continued to be the spiritual standard for evaluating the kings of Judah (2 Kgs 16:2 ^d; 18:3 ^e; 1 Kgs 15:5 ^f, 11 ^g). Tolerance for long-established pagan shrines remained a stumbling block for Judah (2 Kgs 12:3 ^h; 1 Kgs 14:23 ⁱ; 15:14 ^j; 22:43 ^k).
Summary for 2Kgs 14:5-6: 14:5-6 ^l When Amaziah ... executed his father’s assassins, he followed the standards of the law concerning “Parents ... crimes” (Deut 24:16 ^m; see also 2 Chr 25:4 ⁿ) and did not put their children to death.
14:7 ^o 10,000 Edomites: Amaziah’s victory, mentioned only briefly here, is discussed in detail in 2 Chr 25:5-15 ^p. Despite granting Amaziah this victory, God chastised him both for hiring Israelite mercenaries and for carrying home Edomite gods and worshiping them.

• The Valley of Salt was about three miles south of the Dead Sea.

• Sela is traditionally identified as a site in the rocks and cliffs near Petra in modern Jordan. The capture of this highly defensible location demonstrated that Amaziah’s victory was God-given.
14:8 ^q Amaziah’s challenge to Israel’s King Jehoash may have been provoked by thoughts of revenge (see 2 Chr 25:13 ^r). Perhaps Amaziah had also become overly confident and proud because of his recent victory over Edom.
Summary for 2Kgs 14:9-10: 14:9-10 ^s Jehoash’s reply came as a parable (see Judg 9:7-15 ^t). In essence, Amaziah had as much of a chance of defeating Israel in war as a thistle trying to make demands against a mighty cedar tree. Amaziah and Judah would be defeated as easily as a random step would crush the proud thistle.
Summary for 2Kgs 14:11-12: 14:11-12 ^u Beth-shemesh, a fortress town fifteen miles west of Jerusalem, was a natural place for the battle between Israel and Judah. The city history stretched back to when Judah occupied it after the Danites migrated northward (Josh 21:16 ^v; see also 1 Sam 6:1-14 ^w; 2 Chr 28:18 ^x).
Summary for 2Kgs 14:13-14: 14:13-14 ^y The extensive demolition of Jerusalem’s wall and the thorough looting of the city testify to Jehoash’s overwhelming victory. Carrying off Temple and palace treasures and taking hostages are often noted in the annals of victorious Assyrian kings. See also 12:17-18 ^z; 18:13-15 ^aa; 24:13-14 ^ab; 25:8-21 ^ac; 1 Kgs 14:25-26 ^ad.
Summary for 2Kgs 14:17-18: 14:17-18 ^ae Some suggest that Jehoash took Amaziah back to Samaria where he remained captive until Jehoash’s death. Subsequently released, Amaziah ruled jointly with his son Uzziah for fifteen years.

• The Book of the History of the Kings of Judah: See study note on 1 Kgs 14:29-31.
Summary for 2Kgs 14:19-20: 14:19-20 ^af Like his father Joash (12:20-21 ^ag), Amaziah was killed by assassins. The Chronicler blames his spiritual infidelity for the conspiracy against him (2 Chr 25:27 ^ah).

• Lachish, southwest of Jerusalem, was the site of an important victory by King Sennacherib of Assyria during his invasion of Judah in 701 BC (2 Kgs 18:14 ^ai). It was also seized during Nebuchadnezzar II’s advance against Jerusalem in 588 BC (Jer 34:7 ^aj).
14:21 ^ak The fifty-two year reign of Uzziah ended in 740 BC; he was sixteen years old when he became co-regent with his father in 792 BC. Apparently both Jehoash and Amaziah made their sons co-regents before going to war, in order to assure a smooth succession of government.
14:22 ^al Elath, built by Solomon (2 Chr 8:17 ^am) on the Gulf of Aqaba, provided an important commercial gateway to the Red Sea.
14:23 ^an The fifteenth year of King Amaziah’s reign in Judah marks the beginning of Jeroboam II’s independent reign (782 BC). His reign of forty-one years includes the earlier co-regency with his father (793–782 BC).
14:24 ^ao Jeroboam II perpetuated the apostate religion instituted by Jeroboam I (1 Kgs 12:28-33 ^ap) that led to Israel’s demise (2 Kgs 17:21-23 ^aq; 1 Kgs 14:16 ^ar).
14:25 ^as Israel and Judah apparently lived in harmony at this time so that both kingdoms prospered and recovered nearly all the territory that Solomon had held (see 2 Chr 26:6-15 ^at).

• Lebo-hamath, known from Egyptian and Assyrian inscriptions, lay some forty-five miles north of Damascus in the Beqa‘ Valley. The extent of Jeroboam’s conquests testifies to the northern kingdom’s military power. Israel’s victories against the Arameans were possible because Aram had been weakened by earlier conquests of Adad-nirari III of Assyria.

• Jonah is the famous prophet who pronounced the doom of Nineveh but was disappointed when God spared its repentant people (Jon 3:3–4:3 ^au).
Summary for 2Kgs 14:26-28: 14:26-28 ^av The Lord ... used Jeroboam II: God saw his people’s helplessness and remained faithful to the covenant established with Israel’s patriarchs (13:23 ^aw).

• everything he did: The narrator hints at the extent of Jeroboam’s God-given power and prosperity. The Samaria ostraca also indicate the prosperity of the era. The prophecies of Hosea and Amos show that despite the prosperity during Jeroboam’s reign, the Israelites refused to turn to the Lord.