1
In the second year of the reign of Joash son of Jehoahaz, king of Israel, Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah became king.
2
He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jehoaddan of Jerusalem.
3
He did what was right in the sight of the LORD, yet not like David his forefather. He did exactly as Joash his father had done.
4
However, the high places were not removed. The people still offered and burned sacrifices on the high places.
5
As soon as the royal power was firmly in his hand, he put to death the servants who had killed the king, his father.
6
But he did not put the children of the murderers to death, according to 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; but each person shall be put to death for his own sin.”
7
He struck down Edom in the Valley of Salt, ten thousand men, and took Sela in battle, and he called the city Joktheel, as it is to this day.
8
At that time Amaziah sent messengers to Jehoash son of Jehoahaz son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying, “Come, let us face one another in battle!”
9
But Jehoash king of Israel sent word to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, “The thornbush that was in Lebanon sent a message to the cedar that was in Lebanon, saying, ‘Give your daughter to my son as a wife.’ But a wild beast that was in Lebanon passed by and trampled the thornbush.
10
You have indeed struck down Edom, and your heart has lifted you up. Be content with the honor you have won, and stay at home. Why should you provoke trouble, so that you fall, you and Judah with you?”
11
But Amaziah would not listen. So Jehoash king of Israel went up, and they faced one another in battle, he and Amaziah king of Judah, at Beth-shemesh, which belongs to Judah.
12
Judah was defeated by Israel, and every man fled to his tent.
13
Jehoash king of Israel captured Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Jehoash son of Ahaziah, at Beth-shemesh. Then Jehoash came to Jerusalem and broke down the wall of Jerusalem from the Gate of Ephraim to the Corner Gate, four hundred cubits in length.
14
After that he took all the gold and silver and all the vessels found in the house of the LORD and in the treasuries of the king’s house, also the hostages, and then he returned to Samaria.
15
The rest of the acts of Joash, what he did, and his might, and how he fought against Amaziah king of Judah, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?
16
Then Joash rested with his fathers, and he was buried in Samaria beside the kings of Israel. And Jeroboam his son became king in his place.
17
Amaziah the son of Joash, king of Judah, lived fifteen years after the death of Joash the son of Jehoahaz, king of Israel.
18
The rest of the acts of Amaziah, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?
19
A conspiracy was formed against him in Jerusalem, so he fled to Lachish. But they sent men after him to Lachish, and there they killed him.
20
They brought him on horses, and he was buried in Jerusalem beside his fathers in the city of David.
21
All the people of Judah took Azariah, who was sixteen years old, and made him king in place of his father Amaziah.
22
He built up Elath and restored it to Judah, after the king rested with his fathers.
23
In the fifteenth year of Amaziah the son of Joash, king of Judah, Jeroboam the son of Joash, king of Israel, became king in Samaria. He reigned forty-one years.
24
He did what was evil in the sight of the LORD. He did not turn away from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, by which he caused Israel to sin.
25
He restored the border of Israel from Lebo-hamath as far as the Sea of the Arabah, according to the word of the LORD, the God of Israel, which he spoke by his servant Jonah the son of Amittai, the prophet, from Gath-hepher.
26
For the LORD saw how bitter the affliction of Israel was; there was none left, whether bond or free, and there was no helper for Israel.
27
But the LORD had not said that he would blot out the name of Israel from under heaven; so he saved them by the hand of Jeroboam the son of Joash.
28
The rest of the acts of Jeroboam, and all that he did, and his might, how he fought, and how he restored Damascus and Hamath of Judah to Israel, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?
29
Then Jeroboam rested with his fathers, the kings of Israel. And Zechariah his son became king in his place.
⚔️👑🏛️ Summary of 2 Kings 14 – Amaziah, Half-Hearted Victory, and Destructive Pride
2 Kings 14 records the reign of Amaziah, king of Judah, who ruled with partial obedience — he did what was right in the sight of God, but not with his whole heart. He defeated Edom, but later challenged the king of Israel, Joash, out of pride, which ended in defeat and the ruin of Jerusalem. Meanwhile, the kingdom of Israel was expanded again by Jeroboam II, though its spiritual condition remained corrupt.
📌 1. Amaziah Reigned over Judah with Half a Heart (verses 1–6)
➡️ Amaziah came to the throne at the age of 25 and reigned 29 years
➡️ He did “what was right in the eyes of the LORD,” but not like David — only like his father Joash
➡️ The high places were left standing
➡️ Amaziah killed the murderers of his father, but did not touch their children, according to the law of Moses
🎯 Partial obedience is better than none at all, but it is not enough for the nation’s full restoration.
📌 2. Amaziah Defeats Edom (verse 7)
➡️ Amaziah defeated the Edomites in the Valley of Salt and captured Sela (Petra)
🎯 Victory over enemies often brings self-confidence, but it can turn into pride.
📌 3. Amaziah Challenges Joash, King of Israel (verses 8–14)
➡️ After winning, Amaziah challenged Joash to fight
➡️ Joash refused with a parable: a thornbush challenging a cedar — a rebuke of Amaziah’s pride
➡️ Amaziah still pressed on and was defeated
➡️ Jerusalem was breached, its wall was broken down for 200 cubits, the treasures of the house of God were taken, and hostages were taken
🎯 Pride after victory can bring great ruin — even from a fellow believer.
📌 4. The Death of Amaziah (verses 15–22)
➡️ Amaziah lived 15 years after Joash died
➡️ A conspiracy arose and he was killed at Lachish
➡️ The people brought his body back and buried him in Jerusalem
➡️ His son, Azariah (Uzziah), succeeded him
🎯 A leader who is unwise and does not repent will eventually lose the people’s support.
📌 5. Jeroboam II Reigns over Israel and Expands the Territory (verses 23–29)
➡️ Jeroboam II reigned 41 years, expanding Israel’s territory to its ancient borders
➡️ Though he lived wickedly like Jeroboam I, the Lord used him to restore the land of Israel
➡️ This happened because of God’s compassion in seeing the bitter suffering of His people
🎯 The Lord sometimes uses an ungodly leader for the purpose of national restoration, because of His mercy, not because of the people’s goodness.
📖 Main Teaching
- Half-hearted obedience is not enough to keep one from ruin
- Spiritual and political pride after success can lead to downfall
- The Lord does not forget the suffering of His people, though they are undeserving
- The history of Israel and Judah shows that civil war and struggles for power only bring destruction
- A leader used by God is not necessarily righteous before Him
✨ Spiritual Meaning (New Testament)
📖 1 Corinthians 10:12
“Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.”
➡️ Amaziah felt strong after defeating Edom, then fell because of pride.
📖 James 4:6
“God opposes the proud, but shows mercy to the humble.”
➡️ Amaziah’s pride brought ruin, while the Lord still showed mercy to Israel.
📖 Matthew 5:44–45
“He causes his sun to rise on the evil and on the good.”
➡️ The wicked Jeroboam II was still used by God to restore the nation — because God is gracious.
📖 Romans 2:4
“Do you despise the riches of His kindness…? Do you not know that the purpose of God’s kindness is to lead you to repentance?”
➡️ The restoration the Lord gives should be an invitation to repent, not a continuation of foolishness.
🕊️ “He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, only not like David, his forefather.” – 2 Kings 14:3
🕊️ “A thornbush… challenging a cedar…” – 2 Kings 14:9
🕊️ “The LORD saw the affliction of Israel… so the LORD did not say that He would blot out the name of Israel.” – 2 Kings 14:26–27
🕊️ “He restored the border of Israel from the entrance of Hamath to the Sea of the Arabah.” – 2 Kings 14:25
