Read 2 Kings 14
Amaziah King of Judah
14 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 Jehoaddan; 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 children of the assassins to death, in accordance with what is written in the Book of the Law of Moses where the Lord commanded: “Parents are not to be put to death for their children, nor children put to death for their parents; each will die for their own sin.”
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, let us face each other in battle.”
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. 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 four hundred cubits 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 ancestors 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 ancestors, in the City of David.
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 ancestors.
Jeroboam II King of Israel
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 Dead Sea, 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 Judah, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Israel? 29 Jeroboam rested with his ancestors, the kings of Israel. And Zechariah his son succeeded him as king.
Go Deeper
In 2 Kings 14, we continue the pattern of learning about the King of Judah and the King of Israel, but the two intersect when they battle each other.
Amaziah has been taking names and takes the throne! First, he kills the conspirators who murdered his father (in 2 Kings 12). Then, he proceeds to run the Edomites out of Judah’s territory, killing 10,000 of their men in the process, and capturing the major Edomite city of Sela. Amaziah is feeling strong, so he makes a power move. The Message shares verse 8 this way, “One day Amaziah sent envoys to Jehoash… king of Israel, challenging him to a fight: “Come and meet with me—dare you. Let’s have it face-to-face!”
Jehoash responds with a parable. Jehoash recognizes Amaziah’s victory over Edom but warns him (the itty-bitty irritating thorn bush) not to risk it all against Israel (the great, big, mighty powerful tree). Amaziah, full of pride and void of wisdom, refused to heed the warning or to ask God’s guidance. The two kingdoms entered into battle with Israel, emerging easily as victors and plundering the Temple.
We may criticize Amaziah’s prideful foolishness, but how often do we feel confident in our abilities and dive into decisions without consulting God, His Word, and His people? Like Amaziah attempting to conquer Israel on his own, we often try to conquer our fears, achieve our goals, and navigate our world, on our own. We become the thornbush ourselves ordering, these to move over without God’s guidance and strength. We would do well to remember how this approach ended for the thornbush!
Questions
- In what circumstances in the past have you behaved like King Amaziah, attempting to conquer things on your own?
- How effective was this approach?
- In what areas of your life today should you seek counsel from God, His Word, and your Life Group or community?
By the Way
Jehoash’s demolition of part of Jerusalem’s wall remains in rubble for 50 years until King Hezekiah rebuilds it even better. Read 2 Chronicles 32:1-8 and compare Hezekiah’s approach to Amaziah’s approach to leading Judah.
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6 responses to “2 Kings 14”
“Remember: by now it had been over 200 years since David was king, and over 500 years since God gave Moses the Torah. The Torah had been given to a wandering group of desert dwellers who lived in tents. So for these more modern Hebrews who lived a settled life in their own country, in towns and cities with stone houses, and who grew crops on terraced fields, established trade routes to distant lands, formed political alliances with their gentile neighbors, and were ruled by a Hebrew monarchy, Moses and the Torah was old news. It seemed to them that things had changed sufficiently that the new ways they practiced their religion must be better than the old ways God had originally laid down.”
Torah Class
How much we would not have to endure if we would just seek God first?
We get into trouble by doing our own thing then seeking God, and He helps but we have consequences for our actions.
Unbelief, idolatry, pride all the things that we experience because return to past sins in search of identity, protection, or belonging BUT GOD being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved Eph 2:4
Seek God first. Dont be a double-minded person that doesnt wholehearted serve God. Prov 16:18 Pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall.
What I have gleaned today is that “I want to fix things”. I dont want to wait on God. So in my “control” I fix “things” and then God is like but if you would have ask me first…. But because you didnt and are coming asking for forgiveness, I will forgive but now you have to endure the consequences of your action. My prayer for today forward is to seek God first.
God thank You for helping me to remember to seek You first on all things. God thank You for these minutes of this day. Thank You for helping me to come to YOU first for all things big or small. God thank You for grace, mercy and that You are faithful. Thank You for eyes of understanding being enlighted and that You know how my story ends. God thank You for Shema hearing to obedience and being bold to declare You to all I know and meet today in these minutes in Jesus name amen.
WOOHOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I’m noticing a pattern in scripture that when a new king begins to reign the name of his mother is also mentioned. It highlights how vital our roles are as parents to shepherd the hearts of our children to know and follow Christ. No other person has the opportunity to impact their lives in such a profound way as parents do. I’m recalling the “life verse” of my precious mom which was Psalm 139:23-24, “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”
Very interesting–thank you for pointing that out, Ella!
Messy Kings, Messy Leaders, Merciful God
For as long as I’ve been old enough to pay attention to such things, I don’t think I’ve ever seen modern leaders resemble the complicated kings of Judah and Israel as closely as they do today. Leadership is messy. Good people do bad things, bad people do good things. And always—God works according to His perfect plan, not their flawed character or imperfect choices.
2 Kings 14 holds up a mirror. It reveals how easily it is to slip into halfhearted obedience, selfish ambition or misplaced pride that blinds us to God’s way. But it also reminds us of who God is: a loving Father who disciplines His children out of love, and a Redeemer who never stops showing mercy.
This gives me such hope. Even in these times of devastating bewilderment, I can remain confident in God’s perfect, unshakable justice—and rest in His compassionate, unfailing mercy.
2 He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-nine years. His mother’s name was Jehoaddan; she was from Jerusalem.
The ages of these young men coming into a huge responsibility as king, questions why their decisions are made hastily without the seeking God wholeheartedly. How much influence did he have from his mother?
Partial obedience serves as a reminder that God desires our full commitment. Let us strive to follow God with our whole heart, as partial obedience can lead us astray.
11 Amaziah, however, would not listen
An audiologist once told me that my hearing was in fine shape, but I might have a listening problem!
Ouch! The truth hurts!