AMAZIAH KING OF JUDAH JEROBOAM II KING OF ISRAEL 2 KINGS 14:1-29

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1 1 AMAZIAH KING OF JUDAH JEROBOAM II KING OF ISRAEL 2 KINGS 14:1-29 Landmark Publications, Inc., 1045 Maynor Street, Nashville, TN., 37216, U.S.A., John C. Sewell, Ph.D., Editor

2 2 Amaziah King of Judah Jeroboam II King of Israel Text: 2 Kings 14:1-29, 1. In the second year of Jehoash son of Jehoahaz king of Israel, Amaziah son of Joash king of Judah began to reign. 2. He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-nine years. His mother s name was Jehoaddin; she was from Jerusalem. 3. He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, but not as his father David had done. In everything he followed the example of his father Joash. 4. The high places, however, were not removed; the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense there. 5. After the kingdom was firmly in his grasp, he executed the officials who had murdered his father the king. 6. Yet he did not put the sons of the assassins to death, in accordance with what is written in the Book of the Law of Moses where the LORD commanded: Fathers shall not be put to death for their children, nor children put to death for their fathers; each is to die for his own sins. 7. He was the one who defeated ten thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt and captured Sela in battle, calling it Joktheel, the name it has to this day. 8. Then Amaziah sent messengers to Jehoash son of Jehoahaz, the son of Jehu, king of Israel, with the challenge: Come, meet me face to face. 9. But Jehoash king of Israel replied to Amaziah king of Judah: A thistle in Lebanon sent a message to a cedar in Lebanon, Give your daughter to my son in marriage. Then a

3 3 wild beast in Lebanon came along and trampled the thistle underfoot. 10. You have indeed defeated Edom and now you are arrogant. Glory in your victory, but stay at home! Why ask for trouble and cause your own downfall and that of Judah also? 11. Amaziah, however, would not listen, so Jehoash king of Israel attacked. He and Amaziah king of Judah faced each other at Beth Shemesh in Judah. 12. Judah was routed by Israel, and every man fled to his home. 13. Jehoash king of Israel captured Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Joash, the son of Ahaziah, at Beth Shemesh. Then Jehoash went to Jerusalem and broke down the wall of Jerusalem from the Ephraim Gate to the Corner Gate a section about six hundred feet long. 14. He took all the gold and silver and all the articles found in the temple of the LORD and in the treasuries of the royal palace. He also took hostages and returned to Samaria. 15. As for the other events of the reign of Jehoash, what he did and his achievements, including his war against Amaziah king of Judah, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Israel? 16. Jehoash rested with his fathers and was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel. And Jeroboam his son succeeded him as king. 17. Amaziah son of Joash king of Judah lived for fifteen years after the death of Jehoash son of Jehoahaz king of Israel. 18. As for the other events of Amaziah s reign, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Judah? 19. They conspired against him in Jerusalem, and he fled to Lachish, but they sent men after him to Lachish and killed him there. 20. He was brought back by horse and was buried in Jerusalem with his fathers, in the City of David.

4 4 21. Then all the people of Judah took Azariah, who was sixteen years old, and made him king in place of his father Amaziah. 22. He was the one who rebuilt Elath and restored it to Judah after Amaziah rested with his fathers. 23. In the fifteenth year of Amaziah son of Joash king of Judah, Jeroboam son of Jehoash king of Israel became king in Samaria, and he reigned forty-one years. 24. He did evil in the eyes of the LORD and did not turn away from any of the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, which he had caused Israel to commit. 25. He was the one who restored the boundaries of Israel from Lebo Hamath to the Sea of the Arabah, in accordance with the word of the LORD, the God of Israel, spoken through his servant Jonah son of Amittai, the prophet from Gath Hepher. 26. The LORD had seen how bitterly everyone in Israel, whether slave or free, was suffering; there was no one to help them. 27. And since the LORD had not said he would blot out the name of Israel from under heaven, he saved them by the hand of Jeroboam son of Jehoash. 28. As for the other events of Jeroboam s reign, all he did, and his military achievements, including how he recovered for Israel both Damascus and Hamath, which had belonged to Yaudi, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Israel? 29. Jeroboam rested with his fathers, the kings of Israel. And Zechariah his son succeeded him as king. (NIV 1984) Introduction: I. Smith wrote, When Joash king of Judah was assassinated, he was succeeded by his twenty-five (25) year old son Amaziah (who) ruled for twenty-nine (29) years ( B.C.).

5 5 II. The problems in dating the reigns of Amaziah and Azariah in the south and Jehoash and Jeroboam II in the north can possibly, Thiele and Hobbs as quoted by Long wrote, be resolved on the basis of co-regencies, two people such as father and son sharing the throne at the same time. A. All explanations to date these reigns leave certain unresolved problems, questions regarding certain ancient chronologies. III. Verses address the reign of Jeroboam II of the house of Jehu over Israel. Jeroboam II was a vitally important ruler who greatly expanded the borders of Israel and soundly defeated the Syrians. Jeroboam II s reign is discussed in only seven (7) verses because the emphasis in 2 Kings is on Judah rather than Israel. Commentary: Amaziah King of Judah 2 Kings 14:1, In the second year of Jehoash son of Jehoahaz king of Israel, Amaziah son of Joash king of Judah began to reign. (NIV 1984) I. In the second year of Jehoash son of Jehoahaz king of Israel, Amaziah son of Joash king of Judah began to reign. A. 2 Chronicles 25:1-4, Amaziah was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-nine years. His mother s name was Jehoaddin; she was from Jerusalem. He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, but not wholeheartedly. After the kingdom was firmly in his control, he executed the officials who had murdered his father the king. Yet he did not put

6 6 their sons to death, but acted in accordance with what is written in the Law, in the Book of Moses, where the LORD commanded: Fathers shall not be put to death for their children, nor children put to death for their fathers; each is to die for his own sins. (NIV 1984) B. Amaziah is classified by both the writers of Kings and Chronicles as among the good kings of Judah, but his life left much to be desired. (See Smith.) 1. In many ways, Smith states, Amaziah and his father Joash were alike in that they: a. both had a good beginning, but a tragic end. b. both were zealous for Yahweh at first, but later turned to idolatry. c. both opposed prophets and scorned their rebukers. d. both were murdered by malcontents. e. both were unsuccessful in war, experienced the siege of the capital, and surrendered to enemies much of their wealth and the temple treasures. f. both failed to remove the high places. 2 Kings 14:2, He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-nine years. His mother s name was Jehoaddin; she was from Jerusalem. (NIV 1984)

7 7 I. He was twenty-five (25) years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-nine (29) years. A. The twenty-nine (29) year reign of Amaziah must have included a twelve (12) year co-regency with his father Joash, Long wrote quoting Thiele. B. Regarding chronology, The Pulpit Commentary simply concluded, It is best to allow that the chronology of the latter half of the Israelite kingdom is in confusion. 1. This could be due to scribal errors. C. Josephus and the chronicler confirm these numbers Chronicles 25:1, Amaziah was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-nine years. His mother s name was Jehoaddin; she was from Jerusalem. (NIV 1984) II. His mother s name was Jehoaddin; she was from Jerusalem. A. Josephus references this person as Jodade while the Septuagint (LXX) references this person more correctly as Joadim. (The Pulpit Commentary) 2 Kings 14:3, He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, but not as his father David had done. In everything he followed the example of his father Joash. (NIV 1984) I. He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, but not as his father David had done.

8 8 A. The scribe who wrote 1 and 2 Kings had a similar appraisal of Asa, Jehoshaphat, Joash and, especially of David, Amaziah s royal ancestors. (See Long.) 1. 1 Kings 15:11, Asa did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, as his father David had done. (NIV 1984) a. Only one king of Judah, Asa, to this point has earned the high praise that he did that which was right in the eyes of the Lord, as did David his father. (1 Kings 15:11) 2. 1 Kings 22:40-43, Jehoshaphat son of Asa became king of Judah in the fourth year of Ahab king of Israel. Jehoshaphat was thirty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-five years. His mother s name was Azubah daughter of Shilhi. In everything he walked in the ways of his father Asa and did not stray from them; he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD. The high places, however, were not removed, and the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense there. (NIV 1984) 3. 2 Kings 12:2, Joash did what was right in the eyes of the LORD all the years Jehoiada the priest instructed him. (NIV 1984) 4. 1 Kings 15:1-5, In the eighteenth year of the reign of Jeroboam son of Nebat, Abijah became king of Judah, and he reigned in Jerusalem three years. His mother s name was Maacah daughter of Abishalom. He committed all the sins his father had done before him; his heart was not fully devoted to the LORD

9 9 his God, as the heart of David his forefather had been. Nevertheless, for David s sake the LORD his God gave him a lamp in Jerusalem by raising up a son to succeed him and by making Jerusalem strong. For David had done what was right in the eyes of the LORD and had not failed to keep any of the LORD s commands all the days of his life except in the case of Uriah the Hittite. (NIV 1984) B. Some of the problems with Amaziah were that he did not serve God with a perfect heart; that is, a fixed intention to do God s will, he was proud and boastful, he gave way to idolatry in his later years and he despised the reproof of the prophet who was sent to rebuke his sin. (The Pulpit Commentary) 1. 2 Chronicles 25:1-2, 10, 14-16, Amaziah was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-nine years. His mother s name was Jehoaddin; she was from Jerusalem. He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, but not wholeheartedly. So Amaziah dismissed the troops who had come to him from Ephraim and sent them home. They were furious with Judah and left for home in a great rage. When Amaziah returned from slaughtering the Edomites, he brought back the gods of the people of Seir. He set them up as his own gods, bowed down to them and burned sacrifices to them. The anger of the LORD burned against Amaziah, and he sent a prophet to him, who said, Why do you consult this people s gods, which could not save their own people from your hand? While he was still speaking, the king said to him, Have we appointed you an adviser to the king? Stop! Why be struck down?

10 10 So the prophet stopped but said, I know that God has determined to destroy you, because you have done this and have not listened to my counsel. (NIV 1984) 2. Comparatively speaking, he was regarded as one of Judah s better kings which can only mean that some of the other kings were pretty bad. II. In everything he followed the example of his father Joash. A. Like father, like son! B. Joash turned away from Yahweh after the death of Jehoiada, the priest, while Amaziah evidently remained more faithful to God all his life. C. Perhaps what is meant here is that in governmental matters, he followed the pattern Joash had designed. D. Both Joash and Amaziah were assassinated by conspirators. E. Coffman quoted Cook as writing, Both were zealous for Jehovah in the earlier portions of their reigns, but in the latter parts fell away. Both disregarded the rebukes of prophets; and both, having forsaken God, were in the end conspired against and slain. F. Coffman wrote, Amaziah s father was an apostate from God, and so was Amaziah. G. The Pulpit Commentary classifies this statement, In everything he followed the example of his father Joash, as an oriental hyperbole.

11 11 1. Both kings began better than they ended. 2. Both initially served God, but later turned to idolatry. 3. Both treated certain prophets with scorn. 4. Both were murdered by conspirators. 5. Both were unsuccessful in war, endured sieges of Jerusalem and gave temple and national treasures as ransom. 2 Kings 14:4, The high places, however, were not removed; the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense there. (NIV 1984) I. The high places, however, were not removed; the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense there. A. One shortcoming of Amaziah was that he did not remove the high places, altars, worship sites Kings 15:14, Although he did not remove the high places, Asa s heart was fully committed to the LORD all his life. (NIV 1984) 2. 1 Kings 22:40-43, Jehoshaphat son of Asa became king of Judah in the fourth year of Ahab king of Israel. Jehoshaphat was thirty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-five years. His mother s name was Azubah daughter of Shilhi. In everything he walked in the ways of his father Asa and did not stray from them; he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD. The high places, however, were not removed, and the

12 12 people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense there. (NIV 1984) 3. 2 Kings 12:1-3, In the seventh year of Jehu, Joash became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem forty years. His mother s name was Zibiah; she was from Beersheba. Joash did what was right in the eyes of the LORD all the years Jehoiada the priest instructed him. The high places, however, were not removed; the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense there. (NIV 1984) B. Sometimes high places were used as worship and sacrificial sites for Jehovah rather than confining worship to the temple site, but more often the high places were used for idol worship. 1. Neither of these uses of high places was pleasing to God. C. Hezekiah was the first king of Judah to remove the high places Kings 18:1-4, In the third year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, Hezekiah son of Ahaz king of Judah began to reign. He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-nine years. His mother s name was Abijah daughter of Zechariah. He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, just as his father David had done. He removed the high places, smashed the sacred stones and cut down the Asherah poles. He broke into pieces the bronze snake Moses had made, for up to that time the Israelites had been burning incense to it. (It was called Nehushtan.) (NIV 1984)

13 Kings 3:1-3, Solomon made an alliance with Pharaoh king of Egypt and married his daughter. He brought her to the City of David until he finished building his palace and the temple of the LORD, and the wall around Jerusalem. The people, however, were still sacrificing at the high places, because a temple had not yet been built for the Name of the LORD. Solomon showed his love for the LORD by walking according to the statutes of his father David, except that he offered sacrifices and burned incense on the high places. (NIV 1984) a. Sacrifices were offered on the high places on occasion to Jehovah as well as to idols. 2 Kings 14:5, After the kingdom was firmly in his grasp, he executed the officials who had murdered his father the king. (NIV 1984) 1. After the kingdom was firmly in his grasp, he executed the officials who had murdered his father the king. A. 2 Kings 12:18-21, But Joash king of Judah took all the sacred objects dedicated by his fathers Jehoshaphat, Jehoram and Ahaziah, the kings of Judah and the gifts he himself had dedicated and all the gold found in the treasuries of the temple of the LORD and of the royal palace, and he sent them to Hazael king of Aram, who then withdrew from Jerusalem. As for the other events of the reign of Joash, and all he did, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Judah? His officials conspired against him and assassinated him at Beth Millo, on the road down to Silla. The officials who murdered him were Jozabad son of Shimeath and Jehozabad son of Shomer. He died and was buried with

14 14 his fathers in the City of David. And Amaziah his son succeeded him as king. (NIV 1984) 1. Joash, Amaziah s father, had been murdered in Jerusalem by conspirators. B. Clarke identified these assassins as Jozachar and Jehozabad Chronicles 24:25, When the Arameans withdrew, they left Joash severely wounded. His officials conspired against him for murdering the son of Jehoiada the priest, and they killed him in his bed. So he died and was buried in the City of David, but not in the tombs of the kings. (NIV 1984) 2. Before executing his father s murderers, Amaziah made sure his position as king was secure and that he had the support of his governmental officials. (See Clarke.) C. When Amaziah was firmly in control of the government, opposition having been overcome, he set about to execute those who had murdered his father, Joash. 2 Kings 14:6, Yet he did not put the sons of the assassins to death, in accordance with what is written in the Book of the Law of Moses where the LORD commanded: Fathers shall not be put to death for their children, nor children put to death for their fathers; each is to die for his own sins. (NIV 1984) I. Yet he did not put the sons of the assassins to death, in accordance with what is written in the Book of the Law of Moses where the LORD commanded:...

15 15 A. This was in keeping with the teachings of the Law of Moses. 1. Deuteronomy 24:16, Fathers shall not be put to death for their children, nor children put to death for their fathers; each is to die for his own sin. (NIV 1984) 2. This action speaks highly of Amaziah. B. Others such as Jehu and Athaliah had put to death the sons of their adversaries. 1. It was customary in the East for the sons of traitors to share the fate of their fathers. (The Pulpit Commentary) 2. A Greek poet went so far as to say that a man was a fool who put to death the father, and allowed the son to live. (The Pulpit Commentary) 3. 2 Kings 9:26, Yesterday I saw the blood of Naboth and the blood of his sons, declares the LORD, and I will surely make you pay for it on this plot of ground, declares the LORD. Now then, pick him up and throw him on that plot, in accordance with the word of the LORD. (NIV 1984) C. David had given the standard for kings to follow Kings 2:1-12, When the time drew near for David to die, he gave a charge to Solomon his son. I am about to go the way of all the earth, he said. So be strong, show yourself a man, and observe what the LORD your God requires: Walk in his

16 16 ways, and keep his decrees and commands, his laws and requirements, as written in the Law of Moses, so that you may prosper in all you do and wherever you go, and that the LORD may keep his promise to me: If your descendants watch how they live, and if they walk faithfully before me with all their heart and soul, you will never fail to have a man on the throne of Israel. Now you yourself know what Joab son of Zeruiah did to me what he did to the two commanders of Israel s armies, Abner son of Ner and Amasa son of Jether. He killed them, shedding their blood in peacetime as if in battle, and with that blood stained the belt around his waist and the sandals on his feet. Deal with him according to your wisdom, but do not let his gray head go down to the grave in peace. But show kindness to the sons of Barzillai of Gilead and let them be among those who eat at your table. They stood by me when I fled from your brother Absalom. And remember, you have with you Shimei son of Gera, the Benjamite from Bahurim, who called down bitter curses on me the day I went to Mahanaim. When he came down to meet me at the Jordan, I swore to him by the LORD: I will not put you to death by the sword. But now, do not consider him innocent. You are a man of wisdom; you will know what to do to him. Bring his gray head down to the grave in blood. Then David rested with his fathers and was buried in the City of David. He had reigned forty years over Israel seven years in Hebron and thirtythree in Jerusalem. So Solomon sat on the throne of his father David, and his rule was firmly established. (NIV 1984)

17 17 D. Coffman mentioned that the entire family of Achan was killed because his family was complicit in his sin. 1. Joshua 7:1-26, But the Israelites acted unfaithfully in regard to the devoted things; Achan son of Carmi, the son of Zimri, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took some of them. So the LORD s anger burned against Israel. Now Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is near Beth Aven to the east of Bethel, and told them, Go up and spy out the region. So the men went up and spied out Ai. When they returned to Joshua, they said, Not all the people will have to go up against Ai. Send two or three thousand men to take it and do not weary all the people, for only a few men are there. So about three thousand men went up; but they were routed by the men of Ai, who killed about thirty-six of them. They chased the Israelites from the city gate as far as the stone quarries and struck them down on the slopes. At this the hearts of the people melted and became like water. Then Joshua tore his clothes and fell facedown to the ground before the ark of the LORD, remaining there till evening. The elders of Israel did the same, and sprinkled dust on their heads. And Joshua said, Ah, Sovereign LORD, why did you ever bring this people across the Jordan to deliver us into the hands of the Amorites to destroy us? If only we had been content to stay on the other side of the Jordan! O Lord, what can I say, now that Israel has been routed by its enemies? The Canaanites and the other people of the country will hear about this and they will surround us and wipe out our name from the earth. What then will you do for your own great name? The LORD said to Joshua, Stand up!

18 18 What are you doing down on your face? Israel has sinned; they have violated my covenant, which I commanded them to keep. They have taken some of the devoted things; they have stolen, they have lied, they have put them with their own possessions. That is why the Israelites cannot stand against their enemies; they turn their backs and run because they have been made liable to destruction. I will not be with you anymore unless you destroy whatever among you is devoted to destruction. Go, consecrate the people. Tell them, Consecrate yourselves in preparation for tomorrow; for this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: That which is devoted is among you, O Israel. You cannot stand against your enemies until you remove it. In the morning, present yourselves tribe by tribe. The tribe that the LORD takes shall come forward clan by clan; the clan that the LORD takes shall come forward family by family; and the family that the LORD takes shall come forward man by man. He who is caught with the devoted things shall be destroyed by fire, along with all that belongs to him. He has violated the covenant of the LORD and has done a disgraceful thing in Israel! Early the next morning Joshua had Israel come forward by tribes, and Judah was taken. The clans of Judah came forward, and he took the Zerahites. He had the clan of the Zerahites come forward by families, and Zimri was taken. Joshua had his family come forward man by man, and Achan son of Carmi, the son of Zimri, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, was taken. Then Joshua said to Achan, My son, give glory to the LORD, the God of Israel, and give him the praise. Tell me what you have done; do not hide it from me. Achan replied, It is true! I have

19 19 sinned against the LORD, the God of Israel. This is what I have done: When I saw in the plunder a beautiful robe from Babylonia, two hundred shekels of silver and a wedge of gold weighing fifty shekels, I coveted them and took them. They are hidden in the ground inside my tent, with the silver underneath. So Joshua sent messengers, and they ran to the tent, and there it was, hidden in his tent, with the silver underneath. They took the things from the tent, brought them to Joshua and all the Israelites and spread them out before the LORD. Then Joshua, together with all Israel, took Achan son of Zerah, the silver, the robe, the gold wedge, his sons and daughters, his cattle, donkeys and sheep, his tent and all that he had, to the Valley of Achor. Joshua said, Why have you brought this trouble on us? The LORD will bring trouble on you today. Then all Israel stoned him, and after they had stoned the rest, they burned them. Over Achan they heaped up a large pile of rocks, which remains to this day. Then the LORD turned from his fierce anger. Therefore that place has been called the Valley of Achor ever since. (NIV 1984) II. Fathers shall not be put to death for their children, nor children put to death for their fathers; each is to die for his own sins. A. This command is clearly understandable, but it was frequently disregarded as with Jehu and Athaliah Kings 10:6-7, Then Jehu wrote them a second letter, saying, If you are on my side and will obey me, take the heads of your master s sons and come to me in Jezreel by this time tomorrow. Now the

20 20 royal princes, seventy of them, were with the leading men of the city, who were rearing them. When the letter arrived, these men took the princes and slaughtered all seventy of them. They put their heads in baskets and sent them to Jehu in Jezreel. (NIV 1984) 2. 2 Kings 11:1, When Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she proceeded to destroy the whole royal family. (NIV 1984) 2 Kings 14:7, He was the one who defeated ten thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt and captured Sela in battle, calling it Joktheel, the name it has to this day. (NIV 1984) I. He (Amaziah) was the one who defeated ten thousand (10,000) Edomites in the Valley of Salt and... A. 2 Chronicles 25:5-16, Amaziah called the people of Judah together and assigned them according to their families to commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds for all Judah and Benjamin. He then mustered those twenty years old or more and found that there were three hundred thousand men ready for military service, able to handle the spear and shield. He also hired a hundred thousand fighting men from Israel for a hundred talents of silver. But a man of God came to him and said, O king, these troops from Israel must not march with you, for the LORD is not with Israel not with any of the people of Ephraim. Even if you go and fight courageously in battle, God will overthrow you before the enemy, for God has the power to help or to overthrow. Amaziah asked the man of God, But what about the hundred talents I paid for these Israelite troops? The man of God replied, The LORD can give

21 21 you much more than that. So Amaziah dismissed the troops who had come to him from Ephraim and sent them home. They were furious with Judah and left for home in a great rage. Amaziah then marshaled his strength and led his army to the Valley of Salt, where he killed ten thousand men of Seir. The army of Judah also captured ten thousand men alive, took them to the top of a cliff and threw them down so that all were dashed to pieces. Meanwhile the troops that Amaziah had sent back and had not allowed to take part in the war raided Judean towns from Samaria to Beth Horon. They killed three thousand people and carried off great quantities of plunder. When Amaziah returned from slaughtering the Edomites, he brought back the gods of the people of Seir. He set them up as his own gods, bowed down to them and burned sacrifices to them. The anger of the LORD burned against Amaziah, and he sent a prophet to him, who said, Why do you consult this people s gods, which could not save their own people from your hand? While he was still speaking, the king said to him, Have we appointed you an adviser to the king? Stop! Why be struck down? So the prophet stopped but said, I know that God has determined to destroy you, because you have done this and have not listened to my counsel. (NIV 1984) B. Smith wrote, Subjugation of Edom was vital to the prosperity of Judah, which had rebelled and regained their independence some fifty (50) years previously. (The Pulpit Commentary) 1. 2 Kings 8:20-22, In the time of Jehoram, Edom rebelled against Judah and set up its own king. So Jehoram went to Zair with all his chariots. The Edomites surrounded him and his chariot

22 22 commanders, but he rose up and broke through by night; his army, however, fled back home. To this day Edom has been in rebellion against Judah. Libnah revolted at the same time. (NIV 1984) 2. Amaziah amassed a huge army, killed ten thousand (10,000) enemy soldiers in battle and ruthlessly executed an equal number by throwing them off a high cliff. (See Smith.) 3. Of all things, after Yahweh had given Judah this great victory, Amaziah brought Edom s captured gods to Jerusalem and the people worshiped them. a. What behooved Judah to worship the gods of a defeated nation? b. These gods didn t save Edom. What good could they do Judah? Amaziah s sin was so ridiculous as to be unbelievable. (Coffman) c. Yahweh had given Judah the victory! Worship him. d. 2 Chronicles 25:14-16, When Amaziah returned from slaughtering the Edomites, he brought back the gods of the people of Seir. He set them up as his own gods, bowed down to them and burned sacrifices to them. The anger of the LORD burned against Amaziah, and he sent a prophet to him, who said, Why do you consult this people s gods, which could not save their own people from your hand? While he was still speaking, the king said to him, Have we appointed you an adviser to the king? Stop!

23 23 Why be struck down? So the prophet stopped but said, I know that God has determined to destroy you, because you have done this and have not listened to my counsel. (NIV 1984) 4. The Valley of Salt is thought to be located at the southern extremity of the Dead Sea which is a large flat area of at least six by ten miles. II. captured Sela (Selah) in battle, calling it Joktheel, the name it has to this day. A. Sela (Selah), later known as Petra, was captured and renamed Joktheel (subdued by God). (See Smith.) 1. Isaiah 16:1, Send lambs as tribute to the ruler of the land, from Sela, across the desert, to the mount of the Daughter of Zion. (NIV 1984) 2. Obadiah 1:3, The pride of your heart has deceived you, you who live in the clefts of the rocks and make your home on the heights, you who say to yourself, Who can bring me down to the ground? (NIV 1984) 3. Jeremiah 49:16, The terror you inspire and the pride of your heart have deceived you, you who live in the clefts of the rocks, who occupy the heights of the hill. Though you build your nest as high as the eagle s, from there I will bring you down, declares the LORD. (NIV 1984) 4. Joktheel was the name used in reference to Sela (Selah) for a while, but Petra is the name by which this location is known through the centuries.

24 24 5. To this day refers to the time of the writer who composed the account of Amaziah s reign. B. The Idumeans (Edomites) had been defeated and subjugated by David, but they had regained their independence during the reign of Joram king of Judah. (See Clarke.) 1. Amaziah soundly defeated the Edomites and placed them again in submission to Judah. 2 Kings 14:8, Then Amaziah sent messengers to Jehoash son of Jehoahaz, the son of Jehu, king of Israel, with the challenge: Come, meet me face to face. (NIV 1984) I. Then Amaziah sent messengers to Jehoash son of Jehoahaz, the son of Jehu, king of Israel with the challenge: Come, meet me face to face. A. 2 Chronicles 25:17-24, After Amaziah king of Judah consulted his advisers, he sent this challenge to Jehoash son of Jehoahaz, the son of Jehu, king of Israel: Come, meet me face to face. But Jehoash king of Israel replied to Amaziah king of Judah: A thistle in Lebanon sent a message to a cedar in Lebanon, Give your daughter to my son in marriage. Then a wild beast in Lebanon came along and trampled the thistle underfoot. You say to yourself that you have defeated Edom, and now you are arrogant and proud. But stay at home! Why ask for trouble and cause your own downfall and that of Judah also? Amaziah, however, would not listen, for God so worked that he might hand them over to Jehoash, because they sought the gods of Edom. So Jehoash king of Israel attacked. He and Amaziah king of Judah faced each other at Beth Shemesh in Judah. Judah was routed

25 25 by Israel, and every man fled to his home. Jehoash king of Israel captured Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Joash, the son of Ahaziah, at Beth Shemesh. Then Jehoash brought him to Jerusalem and broke down the wall of Jerusalem from the Ephraim Gate to the Corner Gate a section about six hundred feet long. He took all the gold and silver and all the articles found in the temple of God that had been in the care of Obed-Edom, together with the palace treasures and the hostages, and returned to Samaria. (NIV 1984) B. Amaziah had recruited one hundred thousand (100,000) mercenaries from Ephraim in the Northern Kingdom of Israel to fight against Edom, but, at the instruction of a prophet, Amaziah had discharged these soldiers before the fighting with Edom started. 1. These soldiers, on their way to their homes in the north, ravaged Judah, killing some three thousand (3,000) men and taking much spoil. (See Smith.) 2. This was the situation that led to Amaziah s going to war with Jehoash. a. 2 Chronicles 25:6-13, He also hired a hundred thousand fighting men from Israel for a hundred talents of silver. But a man of God came to him and said, O king, these troops from Israel must not march with you, for the LORD is not with Israel not with any of the people of Ephraim. Even if you go and fight courageously in battle, God will overthrow you before the enemy, for God has the power to help or to overthrow. Amaziah asked the man of God, But what about the hundred

26 26 talents I paid for these Israelite troops? The man of God replied, The LORD can give you much more than that. So Amaziah dismissed the troops who had come to him from Ephraim and sent them home. They were furious with Judah and left for home in a great rage. Amaziah then marshaled his strength and led his army to the Valley of Salt, where he killed ten thousand men of Seir. The army of Judah also captured ten thousand men alive, took them to the top of a cliff and threw them down so that all were dashed to pieces. Meanwhile the troops that Amaziah had sent back and had not allowed to take part in the war raided Judean towns from Samaria to Beth Horon. They killed three thousand people and carried off great quantities of plunder. (NIV 1984) C. Long wrote that the double patronyms, son of Jehoahaz, the son of Jehu and the son of Joash, the son of Ahaziah, may refer to the fact that a son of Ahaziah was inciting a war against a son of Jehu, who assassinated Ahaziah of Judah on the way to Megiddo Kings 9:26-28, When Ahaziah king of Judah saw what had happened, he fled up the road to Beth Haggan. Jehu chased him, shouting, Kill him too! They wounded him in his chariot on the way up to Gur near Ibleam, but he escaped to Megiddo and died there. His servants took him by chariot to Jerusalem and buried him with his fathers in his tomb in the City of David. (NIV 1984) 2. This may have been the reason Amaziah sought war with Israel.

27 27 a. If this were the case, he violated Deuteronomy 24:16 this time. i. Deuteronomy 24:16, Fathers shall not be put to death for their children, nor children put to death for their fathers; each is to die for his own sin. (NIV 1984) 3. Also, Amaziah may have sought to reunite Israel- Judah and restore the glory days of David and Solomon. (See Long.) D. Amaziah s victory convinced him that he could reunite Israel under the Davidic dynasty; and Josephus via Coffman tells us, Amaziah told the king of Israel that if he would consent to such a restoration of united Israel; then he would have to fight for his dominion. E. Amaziah declared war against Israel, the reason being that the mercenaries he had paid one hundred (100) talents when discharged without doing battle with Edom kept the one hundred (100) talents and, on their way back to Israel, killed three thousand (3,000) men of Judah and took much spoil. (See Clarke.) 2 Kings 14:9, But Jehoash king of Israel replied to Amaziah king of Judah: A thistle in Lebanon sent a message to a cedar in Lebanon, Give your daughter to my son in marriage. Then a wild beast in Lebanon came along and trampled the thistle underfoot. (NIV 1984) I. But Jehoash king of Israel replied to Amaziah king of Judah: A thistle in Lebanon sent a message to a cedar in Lebanon, Give your daughter to my son in marriage.

28 28 A. Jehoash ridiculed Amaziah by calling him a thistle, the lowest and most despised plant in the forest. (See Smith.) 1. Jehoash likened himself to the stately cedar of whom the lowly thistle requested his daughter in marriage. (Smith) a. Amaziah was claiming equality with Jehoash (Smith), but Jehoash insisted he was far superior to Amaziah. 2. A beast happened by and stepped on the thistle. That was the end of the thistle. II. Then a wild beast in Lebanon came along and trampled the thistle underfoot. A. Jehoash warned Amaziah if he persisted in going to war with Israel, Judah would be crushed! (See Long.) B. Clarke gave the following explanation of this parable: The thistle that was in Lebanon Amaziah, king of Judah, sent to the cedar that was in Lebanon Jehoash, king of Israel, saying, Give they daughter a part of your kingdom, to my son to wife to be united to, and possessed by the kings of Judah. And there passed by a wild beast Jehoash and his enraged army, and trode down the thistle utterly discomfited Amaziah and his troops, pillaged the temple, and broke down the walls of Jerusalem. Probably Amaziah had required certain cities of Israel to be given up to Judah; if so, this accounts for that part of the parable, Give your daughter to my son to wife. 2 Kings 14:10, You have indeed defeated Edom and now you are arrogant. Glory in your victory, but stay at home! Why ask

29 29 for trouble and cause your own downfall and that of Judah also? (NIV 1984) I. You have indeed defeated Edom and now you are arrogant. A. Johash acknowledged that Amaziah had defeated Edom, but made it clear that Amaziah was no match for him. 1. Jehoash advised Amaziah to stay home, keep the peace and control his pride. 2. Jehoash evidently thought arrogance resulting from Judah s victory over Edom was the reason Amaziah now was seeking war with Israel. B. Coffman wrote, The record of Amaziah is the story of how an arrogant heart lifted up in pride is abased, and how the Lord brought judgment upon arrogant pride. II. Glory in your victory, but stay at home! A. Clarke called Jehoash s response insolent, and said it contains nothing conciliatory and no offer to make amends for the damage the mercenaries had caused Judah. 1. Amaziah s cause was just, but he was defeated by Jehoash because Amaziah had brought back Edom s gods to Jerusalem and worshiped them. a. 2 Chronicles 25:14, 20, When Amaziah returned from slaughtering the Edomites, he brought back the gods of the people of Seir. He set them up as his own gods, bowed down to them and burned sacrifices to them. Amaziah, however, would not listen, for God so worked

30 30 that he might hand them over to Jehoash, because they sought the gods of Edom. (NIV 1984) 2. Amaziah had one victory to his credit, that being over the Edomites, but Jehoash had three victories over Syria to his credit. a. 2 Kings 13:25, Then Jehoash son of Jehoahaz recaptured from Ben-Hadad son of Hazael the towns he had taken in battle from his father Jehoahaz. Three times Jehoash defeated him, and so he recovered the Israelite towns. (NIV 1984) III. Why ask for trouble and cause your own downfall and that of Judah also? A. Johash told Amaziah he would be crushed just like the thistle that was stepped on by the wandering beast. 1. After all Jehoash had also won three (3) recent impressive victories over the powerful Arameans. 2 Kings 14:11, Amaziah, however, would not listen, so Jehoash king of Israel attacked. He and Amaziah king of Judah faced each other at Beth Shemesh in Judah. (NIV 1984) I. Amaziah, however, would not listen, so Jehoash king of Israel attacked. A. 2 Chronicles 25:17-24, After Amaziah king of Judah consulted his advisers, he sent this challenge to Jehoash son of Jehoahaz, the son of Jehu, king of Israel: Come, meet me face to face. But Jehoash king of Israel replied to Amaziah king of Judah: A thistle in Lebanon sent a

31 31 message to a cedar in Lebanon, Give your daughter to my son in marriage. Then a wild beast in Lebanon came along and trampled the thistle underfoot. You say to yourself that you have defeated Edom, and now you are arrogant and proud. But stay at home! Why ask for trouble and cause your own downfall and that of Judah also? Amaziah, however, would not listen, for God so worked that he might hand them over to Jehoash, because they sought the gods of Edom. So Jehoash king of Israel attacked. He and Amaziah king of Judah faced each other at Beth Shemesh in Judah. Judah was routed by Israel, and every man fled to his home. Jehoash king of Israel captured Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Joash, the son of Ahaziah, at Beth Shemesh. Then Jehoash brought him to Jerusalem and broke down the wall of Jerusalem from the Ephraim Gate to the Corner Gate a section about six hundred feet long. He took all the gold and silver and all the articles found in the temple of God that had been in the care of Obed-Edom, together with the palace treasures and the hostages, and returned to Samaria. (NIV 1984) B. Amaziah would not listen! 1. Jehoash was provocative, not conciliatory, in his response. (The Pulpit Commentary) II. He and Amaziah king of Judah faced each other at Beth Shemesh in Judah. A. Jehoash launched an attack through the Philistine plain. (Smith) 1. The battle was joined at Beth Shemesh which lies about fifteen (15) miles almost due west of Jerusalem

32 32 on the western frontier of Judah (Smith) on the road from Hebron to Joppa. a. Joshua 19:38, Iron, Migdal El, Horem, Beth Anath and Beth Shemesh. There were nineteen towns and their villages. (NIV 1984) 2. Long further wrote, Beth Shemesh in Judah was a border town in the Shephelah which guarded the Sorek Pass, a route from the Philistine plain to Jerusalem. B. Jehoash did not wait for Amaziah to attack him, but attacked Amaziah s forces on their home ground. 2 Kings 14:12, Judah was routed by Israel, and every man fled to his home. (NIV 1984) I. Judah was routed by Israel, and every man fled to his home. A. The army of Judah was utterly defeated! B. Smith observed that this was the first battle between the northern and southern kingdoms in over a hundred (100) years, the last being in the days of Abijam but another was yet future Chronicles 28:6-8, In one day Pekah son of Remaliah killed a hundred and twenty thousand soldiers in Judah because Judah had forsaken the LORD, the God of their fathers. Zicri, an Ephraimite warrior, killed Maaseiah the king s son, Azrikam the officer in charge of the palace, and Elkanah, second to the king. The Israelites took captive from their kinsmen two hundred thousand wives, sons and daughters. They also took a great

33 33 deal of plunder, which they carried back to Samaria. (NIV 1984) C. The Chronicler attributes Judah s defeat to their worshipping Edom s gods following their defeat by Judah Chronicles 25:20, Amaziah, however, would not listen, for God so worked that he might hand them over to Jehoash, because they sought the gods of Edom. (NIV 1984) 2 Kings 14:13, Jehoash king of Israel captured Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Joash, the son of Ahaziah, at Beth Shemesh. Then Jehoash went to Jerusalem and broke down the wall of Jerusalem from the Ephraim Gate to the Corner Gate a section about six hundred feet long. (NIV 1984) I. Jehoash king of Israel captured Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Joash, the son of Ahaziah, at Beth Shemesh. A. The Bible does not specifically state how long Amaziah was a prisoner, but at sometime later he was again ruling in Jerusalem. 1. Josephus wrote that Amaziah was deserted by his troops and he was then easily captured by Jehoash. B. Coffman referencing Josephus wrote that, after looting the temple and palace treasures and totally humiliating Amaziah, Jehoash/Joash left him on the throne in Jerusalem. 1. Coffman further wrote, One may be sure that powerful enemies of Amaziah within Judah then and there resolved to kill him.

34 34 2. Clarke stated, It is plain that Amaziah afterwards had his liberty; but how or on what terms he got it, is not known. II. Then Jehoash went to Jerusalem and broke down the wall of Jerusalem from the Ephraim Gate to the Corner Gate a section about six hundred (600) feet long. A. This, Smith advised, was the northern wall of Jerusalem, essentially all of it. B. The Ephraim Gate was the main gate on the north side of Jerusalem which exited toward Ephraim s territory while the Corner Gate was on the northwest approach to the city. (Long) 1. The Ephraim Gate is also known as the Benjamin Gate. (The Pulpit Commentary) C. This destruction would allow easy admission of Jehoash s army into Jerusalem. D. Clarke wrote, It is likely that Amaziah gave some of the nobles and some of his own family as hostages, that he might regain his liberty. Indeed, we cannot tell how he got his liberty. E. The Pulpit Commentary stated the breech in Jerusalem s walls was not the result of a siege, but a procedure designed to leave the city defenseless. 2 Kings 14:14, He took all the gold and silver and all the articles found in the temple of the LORD and in the treasuries of the royal palace. He also took hostages and returned to Samaria. (NIV 1984)

35 35 I. He took all the gold and silver and all the articles found in the temple of the LORD and in the treasuries of the royal palace. A. The spoils of war fell to the conqueror, Smith stated. 1. This included what Amaziah had taken from Edom and from the temple, and what had been accumulated since Joash of Judah had bribed Hazael with its treasure. (Smith) B. It may have been after the payment of this huge ransom that Amaziah was released from custody. C. However, some believe Amaziah was taken to Samaria by Jehoash where he remained indefinitely. II. He also took hostages and returned to Samaria. A. Smith observed that hostages would discourage a retaliatory attack by Judah. 2 Kings 14:15, As for the other events of the reign of Jehoash, what he did and his achievements, including his war against Amaziah king of Judah, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Israel? (NIV 1984) I. As for the other events of the reign of Jehoash, what he did and his achievements, including his war against Amaziah king of Judah, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Israel? A. The placement of the conclusion for the reign of Jehoash, in the heart of the account of Amaziah, is curious, Long wrote, out of place, The Pulpit Commentary reads.

36 Kings 14:15-16 and 2 Kings 13:12-13 are very similar. a. 2 Kings 13:12-13, As for the other events of the reign of Jehoash, all he did and his achievements, including his war against Amaziah king of Judah, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Israel? Jehoash rested with his fathers, and Jeroboam succeeded him on the throne. Jehoash was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel. (NIV 1984) b. The dominant personality in this period was Jehoash rather than Amaziah. (See Long.) 2 Kings 14:16, Jehoash rested with his fathers and was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel. And Jeroboam his son succeeded him as king. (NIV 1984) I. Jehoash rested with his fathers and was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel. A. Jehoash died peacefully while Amaziah was murdered. II. And Jeroboam his son succeeded him as king. A. The accession of Jeroboam to the throne of Israel was an important event. His long reign became the high point of Northern Israel s prosperity; and under his kingship the territory of Israel once more reached the dimensions of the Solomonic empire, an achievement which the prophet Jonah the son of Amittai had prophesied, Coffman wrote.

37 37 2 Kings 14:17, Amaziah son of Joash king of Judah lived for fifteen years after the death of Jehoash son of Jehoahaz king of Israel. (NIV 1984) I. Amaziah son of Joash king of Judah lived for fifteen (15) years after the death of Jehoash son of Jehoahaz king of Israel. A. Amaziah of Judah lived for fifteen (15) years after the death of Jehoash of Israel which, Long wrote, reinforces the view that Azariah (Uzziah) was con-regent with his father Amaziah. 1. Notice, Long mentioned, that this verse says Amaziah lived for fifteen (15) years after the death of Jehoash, not that he reigned for fifteen (15) years after Jehoash s death. 2. Thiele via Long suggested this indicates Azariah was placed on the throne at the imprisonment of Amaziah in Samaria. Thiele suggested Amaziah must have been released at the death of Jehoash at which time he returned to Jerusalem to live, but not to reign. 2 Kings 14:18, As for the other events of Amaziah s reign, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Judah? (NIV 1984) I. As for the other events of Amaziah s reign, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Judah? A. Included among the other events would certainly be such things as: 1. his war with Edom.