II
K I N G S
CHAP. XIV.
This
chapter continues the history of the succession in the kingdoms both of
Judah
and Israel. I. In the
kingdom
of Judah
here is, 1. The entire history (as much as is
recorded in this book) of Amaziah's reign (1.) His good character, ver. 1-4.
(2.) The justice he executed on the murderers of his father, ver. 5, 6. (3.)
His victory over the Edomites, ver. 7. (4.) His war with Joash, and his defeat
in that war, ver. 8-14. (5.) His fall, as last, by a conspiracy against him,
ver. 17-20. 2. The beginning of the history of Azariah, ver. 21, 22. II. In
the kingdom of Israel, the conclusion of the reign of Joash (ver. 15, 16), and
the entire history of Jeroboam his son, the second of that name, ver. 23-29.
How many great men are made to stand in a little compass in God's book!
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The
Reign of Amaziah.
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B.
C. 828.
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1 In the second year of Joash son of Jehoahaz
king of Israel reigned Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah. 2
He was twenty and five years old when he began to reign, and reigned twenty
and nine years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Jehoaddan of
Jerusalem. 3 And he did that which was right in the sight
of the LORD,
yet not like David his father: he did according to all things as Joash his
father did. 4 Howbeit the high places were not taken away: as yet
the people did sacrifice and burnt incense on the high places. 5
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. 6 But the
children of the murderers he slew not: according unto that which is written in
the book of the law of Moses, wherein the LORD
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 be put to
death for his own sin. 7 He slew of Edom in the valley of salt ten
thousand, and took Selah by war, and called the name of it Joktheel unto this
day.
Amaziah, the son and successor of Joash, is the king whom here we have an
account of. Let us take a view of him,
I. In the temple; and there he acted, in some measure, well, like Joash, but
not like David, v. 3. He began well, but did not persevere: He did
that which was right in the sight of the Lord, kept up his attendance on
God's altars and his attention to God's word, yet not like David. It is not
enough to do that which our pious predecessors did, merely to keep up the
usage, but we must do it as they did it, from the same principle of
faith and devotion and with the same sincerity and resolution. It is here
taken notice of, as before, that the high places were not taken away, v.
4. It is hard to get clear of those corruptions which, by long usage, have
gained both prescription and a favourable opinion.
II. On the bench; and there we have him doing justice on the traitors that
murdered his father, not as soon as ever he came to the crown, lest it should
occasion some disturbance, but he prudently deferred it till the kingdom
was confirmed in his hand, v. 5. To weaken a factious party
gradually, when it is not safe to provoke, often proves the way to ruin it
effectually. Justice strikes surely by striking slowly, and is often executed
most prudently when it is not executed presently. Wisdom here is profitable to
direct. Amaziah did thus, 1. According to the rule of the law, that ancient
rule, that he that sheds man's blood by man shall his blood be shed.
Never let traitors or murderers expect to come to their graves like other men.
Let them flee to the pit, and let no man stay them. 2. Under the
limitation of the law: The children of the murderers he slew not,
because the law of Moses had expressly provided that the children should
not be put to death for the fathers, v. 6. It is probable that this
is taken notice of because there were those about him that advised him to that
rigour, both in revenge (because the crime was extraordinary--the murder of a
king) and in policy, that the children might not plot against him, in revenge
of their father's death. But against these insinuations he opposed the express
law of God (Deut. xxiv. 16), which he was to judge by, and which he resolved
to adhere to and trust God with the issue. God visits the iniquity of the
fathers upon the children, because every man is guilty before him and owes him
a death; so that, if he require the life for the father's sin, he does not
wrong, the sinner having forfeited it already by his own. But he does not
allow earthly princes to do thus: the children, before them, are innocent, and
therefore must not suffer as guilty.
III. In the field; and there we find him triumphing over the Edomites, v.
7. Edom had revolted from under the hand of Judah in Joram's time, ch.
viii. 22. Now he makes war upon them to bring them back to their allegiance,
kills 10,000 and takes the chief city of Arabia the stony (called Selah--a
rock), and gave it a new name. We shall find a larger account of this
expedition, 2 Chron. xxv. 5, &c.
8 Then Amaziah sent messengers to Jehoash, the
son of Jehoahaz son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying, Come, let us look one
another in the face. 9 And Jehoash 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 thy daughter to my son to
wife: and there passed by a wild beast that was in Lebanon, and trode
down the thistle. 10 Thou hast indeed smitten Edom, and thine
heart hath lifted thee up: glory of this, and tarry at home: for why
shouldest thou meddle to thy hurt, that thou shouldest fall, even
thou, and Judah with thee? 11 But Amaziah would not hear.
Therefore Jehoash king of Israel went up; and he and Amaziah king of Judah
looked one another in the face at Beth-shemesh, which belongeth to
Judah. 12 And Judah was put to the worse before Israel; and they
fled every man to their tents. 13 And Jehoash king of Israel took
Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Jehoash the son of Ahaziah, at Beth-shemesh,
and came to Jerusalem, and brake down the wall of Jerusalem from the gate of
Ephraim unto the corner gate, four hundred cubits. 14 And he took
all the gold and silver, and all the vessels that were found in the house of
the LORD,
and in the treasures of the king's house, and hostages, and returned to
Samaria.
For several successions after the division of the kingdoms that of Judah
suffered much by the enmity of Israel. After Asa's time, for several
successions, it suffered more by the friendship of Israel, and by the
alliance and affinity made with them. But now we meet with hostility between
them again, which had not been for some ages before.
I. Amaziah, upon no provocation, and without showing any cause of quarrel,
challenged Joash into the field (v. 8): "Come, let us look one
another in the face; let us try our strength in battle." Had he
challenged him to a personal duel only, the error would have remained with
himself, but each must bring all their forces into the field, and thousands of
lives on both sides must be sacrificed to his capricious humour. Hereby he
showed himself proud, presumptuous, and prodigal of blood. Some think that he
intended to avenge the injury which the dismissed disgusted Israelites had
lately done to his country, in their return (2 Chron. xxv. 13), and that he
had also the vanity to think of subduing the kingdom of Israel, and reuniting
it to Judah. A fool's lips thus enter into contention, and his mouth
calleth for strokes. Those that challenge are chargeable with that
beginning of strife, which is as the letting forth of water. He that is eager
either to fight or to go to law may perhaps have enough of it quickly, and be
the first that repents it.
II. Joash sent him a grave rebuke for his challenge, with advice to withdraw
it, v. 9, 10. 1. He mortifies his pride, by comparing himself to a
cedar, a stately tree, and Amaziah to a thistle, a sorry weed, telling him he
was so far from fearing him that he despised him, and scorned as much to have
any thing to do with him, or make any alliance with him, as the cedar would to
match his daughter to a thistle. The ancient house of David he thinks not
worthy to be named the same day with the house of Jehu, though an upstart. How
may a humble man smile to hear two proud and scornful men set their wits on
work to vilify and undervalue one another! 2. He foretels his fall: A wild
beast trode down the thistle, and so put an end to his treaty with the
cedar; so easily does Joash think his forces can crush Amaziah, and so unable
does he think him to make any resistance. 3. He shows him the folly of his
challenge: "Thou hast indeed smitten Edom, a weak, unarmed,
undisciplined body of men, and therefore thinkest thou canst carry all before
thee and subdue the regular forces of Israel with as much ease. Thy heart
has lifted thee up." See where the root of all sin lies; it is in the
heart, thence it flows, and that must bear the blame. It is not Providence,
the event, the occasion (whatever it is), that makes men proud, or secure, or
discontented, or the like, but it is their own heart that does it. "Thou
art proud of the blow thou hast given to Edom, as if that had made thee
formidable to all mankind." Those wretchedly deceive themselves that
magnify their own performances, and, because they have been blessed with some
little success and reputation, conclude themselves fit for any thing and no
less sure of it. 4. He counsels him to be content with the honour he has won,
and not to hazard that, by grasping at more that was out of his reach: Why
shouldst thou meddle to thy hurt, as fools often do, that will be
meddling? Prov. xx. 3. Many would have had wealth and honour enough if they
had but known when they had enough. He warns him of the consequence, that it
would be fatal not to himself only, but to his kingdom, which he ought to
protect.
III. Amaziah persisted in his resolution, and the issue was bad; he had better
have tarried at home, for Joash gave him such a look in the face as put him to
confusion. Challengers commonly prove to be on the losing side. 1. His army
was routed and dispersed, v. 12. Josephus says, When they were to
engage they were struck with such terror that they did not strike a stroke,
but every one made the best of his way. 2. He himself was taken prisoner by
the king of Israel, and then had enough of looking him in the face.
Amaziah's pedigree comes in here somewhat abruptly (the son of Joash, the
son of Ahaziah), because perhaps he had gloried in the dignity of his
ancestors, or because he now smarted for their iniquity. 3. The conqueror
entered Jerusalem, which tamely opened to him, and yet he broke down their
wall (and, as Josephus says, drove his chariot in triumph through the breach),
in reproach to them, and that he might, when he pleased, take possession of
the royal city. 4. He plundered Jerusalem, took away all that was valuable,
and returned to Samaria, laden with spoils, v. 14. It was said of Joash
that he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, and of
Amaziah that he did that which was right; and yet Joash triumphs thus
over Amaziah, and why so? Because God would show, in Amaziah's fate, that he
resists the proud, or because, whatever they were otherwise, Joash had lately
been respectful to one of God's prophets (ch. xiii. 14), but Amaziah
had been abusive to another (2 Chron. xxv. 16), and God will honour those who
honour him in his prophets, but those who despise them, and him in them, shall
be lightly esteemed.
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Reign
of Jeroboam, King of Israel.
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B.
C. 825.
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15 Now the rest of the acts of Jehoash which he
did, and his might, and how he fought with Amaziah king of Judah, are
they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?
16 And Jehoash slept with his fathers, and was buried in Samaria with the
kings of Israel; and Jeroboam his son reigned in his stead. 17 And
Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah lived after the death of Jehoash son of
Jehoahaz king of Israel fifteen years. 18 And the rest of the acts
of Amaziah, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the
kings of Judah? 19 Now they made a conspiracy against him in
Jerusalem: and he fled to Lachish; but they sent after him to Lachish, and
slew him there. 20 And they brought him on horses: and he was
buried at Jerusalem with his fathers in the city of David. 21 And
all the people of Judah took Azariah, which was sixteen years old, and
made him king instead of his father Amaziah. 22 He built Elath,
and restored it to Judah, after that the king slept with his fathers.
Here are three kings brought to their graves in these few verses:-- 1. Joash
king of Israel, v. 15, 16. We attended his funeral once before, ch.
xiii. 12, 13. But, because the historian had occasion to give a further
account of his life and actions, he again mentions his death and burial. 2.
Amaziah king of Judah. Fifteen years he survived his conqueror the king of
Israel, v. 17. A man may live a great while after he has been shamed,
may be thoroughly mortified (as Amaziah no doubt was) and yet not dead. His
acts are said to be found written in his annals (v. 18), but not his
might; for his cruelty when he was a conqueror over the Edomites, and his
insolence when he challenged the king of Israel, showed him void of true
courage. He was slain by his own subjects, who hated him for his
maladministration (v. 19) and made Jerusalem too hot for him, the
ignominious breach made in their walls being occasioned by his folly and
presumption. He fled to Lachish. How long he continued concealed or sheltered
there we are not told, but, at last, he was there murdered, v. 19. No
further did the rage of the rebels extend, for they brought him in a chariot
to Jerusalem, and buried him there among his ancestors. 3. Azariah succeeded
Amaziah, but not till twelve years after his father's death, for Amaziah died
in the fifteenth year of Jeroboam (as appears by comparing v. 23 with v.
2), but Azariah did not begin his reign till the twenty-seventh of Jeroboam (ch.
xv. 1), for he was but four years old at the death of his father, so that, for
twelve years, till he came to be sixteen, the government was in the hands of
protectors. He reigned very long (ch. xv. 2) and yet the account of his
reign is here industriously huddled up, and broken off abruptly (v.
22): He built Elath (which had belonged to the Edomites, but, it is
probable, was recovered by his father, v. 7), after that the king
slept with his fathers, as if that had been all he did that was worth
mentioning, or rather it is meant of king Amaziah: he built it soon after
Amaziah died.
23 In 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, and reigned forty and one years. 24 And he did that
which was evil in the sight of the LORD:
he departed not from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made
Israel to sin. 25 He restored the coast of Israel from the
entering of Hamath unto the sea of the plain, according to the word of the LORD
God of Israel, which he spake by the hand of his servant Jonah, the son of
Amittai, the prophet, which was of Gath-hepher. 26 For the
LORD
saw the affliction of Israel, that it was very bitter: for there was
not any shut up, nor any left, nor any helper for Israel. 27 And
the LORD
said not that he would blot out the name of Israel from under heaven: but he
saved them by the hand of Jeroboam the son of Joash. 28 Now the
rest of the acts of Jeroboam, and all that he did, and his might, how he
warred, and how he recovered Damascus, and Hamath, which belonged to
Judah, for Israel, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the
kings of Israel? 29 And Jeroboam slept with his fathers, even
with the kings of Israel; and Zachariah his son reigned in his stead.
Here is an account of the reign of Jeroboam the second. I doubt it is an
indication of the affection and adherence of the house of Jehu to the sins of Jeroboam
the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin, that they called an
heir-apparent to the crown by his name, thinking that an honourable name which
in the book of God is infamous and stigmatized as much as any.
I. His reign was long, the longest of all the reigns of the kings of Israel: He
reigned forty-one years; yet his contemporary Azariah, the king of Judah,
reigned longer, even fifty-two years. This Jeroboam reigned just as long as
Asa had done (1 Kings xv. 10), yet one did that which was good and the other
that which was evil. We cannot measure men's characters by the length of their
lives or by their outward prosperity. There is one event to the righteous
and to the wicked.
II. His character was the same with that of the rest of those kings: He did
that which was evil (v. 24), for he departed not from the sins
of Jeroboam; he kept up the worship of the calves, and never left that,
thinking there was no harm in it, because it had been the way of all his
ancestors and predecessors. But a sin is never the less evil in God's sight,
whatever it is in ours, for its being an ancient usage; and a frivolous plea
it will be against doing good, that we have been accustomed to do evil.
III. Yet he prospered more than most of them, for though, in that one thing,
he did evil in the sight of the Lord, yet it is likely, in other respects,
there was some good found in him and therefore God owned him, 1. By prophecy.
He raised up Jonah the son of Amittai, a Galilean (so much were those mistaken
that said, Out of Galilee ariseth no prophet, John vii. 52), and by him
intimated the purposes of his favour to Israel, notwithstanding their
provocations, encouraged him and his kingdom to take up arms for the recovery
of their ancient possessions, and (which would contribute not a little to
their success) assured them of victory. It is a sign that God has not cast off
his people if he continue faithful ministers among them; when Elisha, who
strengthened the hands of Joash, was removed, Jonah was sent to encourage his
son. Happy is the land that has a succession of prophets running parallel with
a succession of princes, that the word of the Lord may endure for ever. Of
this Jonah we read much in that little book of scripture that bears his name.
It is probable that it was when he was a young man, and fit for such an
expedition, that God sent him to Nineveh, and that it was when he had yet been
but a little conversant with the visions of God that he flew off and fretted
as he did; and, if so, this is an undoubted evidence of the forgiveness of his
faults and follies, that he was afterwards employed as a messenger of mercy to
Israel. A commission amounts to a pardon, and he that had himself found mercy,
notwithstanding his provocations, could the better encourage them with the
hope of mercy notwithstanding theirs. Some that have been foolish and
passionate, and have gone about their work very awkwardly at first, yet
afterwards have proved useful and eminent. Men must not be thrown away for
every fault. 2. By providence. The event was according to the word of the
Lord: his arms were successful; he restored the coast of Israel,
recovered those frontier-towns and countries that lay from Hamath in the north
to the sea of the plain, (that is, the sea of Sodom) in the south, all which
the Syrians had possessed themselves of, v. 25. Two reasons are here
given why God blessed them with those victories:-- (1.) Because their distress
was very great, which made them the objects of his compassion, v. 26.
Though he saw not any signs of their repentance and formation, yet he saw
their affliction, that it was very bitter. Those that lived in those
countries which the enemies were masters of were miserably oppressed and
enslaved, and could call nothing their own; the rest, we may suppose, were
much impoverished by the frequent incursions the enemy made upon them to
plunder them, and continually terrified by their threatenings, so that there
was none shut up or left, both towns and countries were laid waste and
stripped of their wealth, and no helper appeared. To this extremity were they
reduced, in many parts of the country, in the beginning of Jeroboam's reign,
when God, in mere pity to them, heard the cry of their affliction (for no
mention is made here of the cry of their prayers), and wrought this
deliverance for them by the hand of Jeroboam. Let those whose case is pitiable
take comfort from the divine pity; we read of God's bowels of mercy (Isa.
lxiii. 15; Jer. xxxi. 20) and that he is full of compassion, Ps. lxxxvi. 15.
(2.) Because the decree had not yet gone forth for their utter destruction; he
had not as yet said he would blot out the name of Israel (v.
27), and because he had not said it he would not do it. If this be understood
of the dispersion of the ten tribes, he did say it and do it, for that name
still remains under heaven in the gospel Israel, and will to the end of
time; and because they, at present, bore that name which was to have this
lasting honour, he showed them this favour, as well as for the sake of the
ancient honour of that name, ch. xiii. 23.
IV. Here is the conclusion of Jeroboam's reign. We read (v. 28) of his
might, and how he warred, but (v. 29) he slept with his fathers;
for the mightiest must yield to death, and there is no discharge in that war.
Many prophets there had been in Israel, a constant succession of them in every
age, but none of the prophets had left any of their prophecies in writing till
those of this age began to do it, and their prophecies are part of the canon
of scripture. It was in the reign of this Jeroboam that Hosea (who
continued very long a prophet) began to prophesy, and he was the first that
wrote his prophecies; therefore the word of the Lord by him is called the
beginning of the word of the Lord, Hos. i. 2. Then that part of the
word of the Lord began to be written. At the same time Amos
prophesied, and wrote his prophecy, soon afterwards Micah, and then Isaiah,
in the days of Ahaz and Hezekiah. Thus God never left himself without witness,
but, in the darkest and most degenerate ages of the church, raised up some to
be burning and shining lights in it to their own age by their preaching and
living, and a few by their writings to reflect light upon us on whom the ends
of the world have come.
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