1V druhém roce Jóáše, syna Jóácházova, krále Isráélova, se ujal kralování Amacjáhú, syn Jóáše, krále Júdova. 2Při započetí svého kralování byl ve věku dvaceti a pěti let a kraloval v Jerúsalémě dvacet a devět let, a jméno jeho matky Jehóaddán z Jerúsaléma. 3A jal se činit, co bylo správné v očích Hospodinových, jenže ne jako Dávid, jeho otec; činil podle všeho, co činil Jóáš, jeho otec. 4Jenže výšiny nebyly odstraněny; lid - ti ještě na výšinách obětovali a zakuřovali. 5A jak se kralování v jeho ruce upevnilo, stalo se, že pobil své služebníky, již skolili krále, jeho otce, 6ale dětí těch, již ho skolili, neusmrtil, jak je psáno v knize zákona Mojžíšova, co Hospodin rozkázal výrokem: Otcové nesmějí být usmrcováni za děti, aniž smějí být usmrcovány děti za otce; nýbrž každý musí být usmrcován pro svůj hřích. 7On v průrvě Soli pobil Edóma, deset tisíc, a zmocnil se Sely a její jméno nazval Joktheél, až po tento den. 8Tehdy poslal Amacjá k Jehóášovi, synu Jehóácháze, syna Jéhúova, králi Isráélovu, posly se vzkazem: Pojď, hleďme si vzájemně v tvář. 9A Jehóáš, král Isráélův, poslal Amacjáhúovi, králi Júdovu, vzkaz: Bodlák, jenž byl na Levánónu, poslal cedru, jenž byl na Levánónu, vzkaz: Dej svou dceru mému synu za ženu. A mimo šlo polní zvíře, jež bylo na Levánónu, a ten bodlák zašláplo. 10Ovšem, pobil jsi Edóma a tvé srdce tě povzneslo; užívej si své slávy a seď ve svém domě, ano, nač by ses měl vydávat v neštěstí, a padnout, ty a Júdá s tebou? 11Ale Amacjáhú neuposlechl a Jehóáš, král Isráélův, vystoupil a pohleděli si vzájemně v tvář, on a Amacjáhú, král Júdův, v Béth-šemeši, jež patří Júdovi; 12a Júdá byl před tváří Isráélovou poražen, takže prchli, každý k svým stanům, 13a Amacjáhúa, krále Júdova, syna Jehóáše, syna Achazjáhúova, se Jehóáš, král Isráélův, v Béth-šemeši zmocnil a vstoupil v Jerúsalém a učinil průlom ve zdi Jerúsaléma, u brány Efrájimovy až po bránu Nároží, čtyři sta loket, 14a pobral všechno zlato a všechno stříbro a všechna náčiní, jež se shledala v domě Hospodinově a v pokladnicích domu králova, a rukojmí a vrátil se do Šómrónu. 15A ostatní věci Jehóášovy, co vykonal, a jeho hrdinství a jak bojoval s Amacjou, králem Júdovým, - zda nejsou ony vypsány na knize letopisů králů Isráélových? 16I ulehl Jehóáš se svými otci a byl pohřben v Šómrónu s králi Isráélovými; a kralování se místo něho ujal Jároveám, jeho syn. 17A Amacjáhú, syn Jóášův, král Júdův, žil po smrti Jehóáše, syna Jehóácházova, krále Isráélova, patnáct let. 18A ostatní věci Amacjáhúovy - zda nejsou ony vypsány na knize letopisů králů Júdových? 19A v Jerúsalémě proti němu zosnovali spiknutí, i prchl do Láchíše, ale poslali do Láchíše za ním a usmrtili ho tam. 20A vyzvedli ho na koně a byl v Jerúsalémě pohřben se svými otci, ve městě Dávidově. 21A vzali, všechen lid Júdův, Azarju, jenž byl ve věku šestnácti let, a uvedli ho v kralování místo jeho otce Amacjáhúa. 22On po ulehnutí krále s jeho otci vybudoval Élath a navrátil jej Júdovi. 23V roce patnácti let Amacjáhúa, syna Jóášova, krále Júdova, se kralování v Šómrónu ujal Jároveám, syn Jóáše, krále Isráélova, na čtyřicet a jeden rok. 24A jal se činit, co bylo zlé v očích Hospodinových, neodvrátil se od žádného z hříchů Jároveáma, syna Nevátova, jimiž svedl Isráéle k hřešení. 25On obnovil pomezí Isráélovo od vstupu v Chamáth po moře stepi, podle slova Hospodina, Boha Isráélova, jež vyslovil skrze svého nevolníka Jónu, syna Amittajova, proroka, jenž byl z Gath-Cheferu. 26Ano, Hospodin viděl strast Isráélovu, velmi hořkou, neboť byl konec zadrženého a konec propuštěného a Isráél neměl pomocníka. 27A Hospodin nepromluvil o vyhlazení jména Isráélova zpod nebes, i vysvobodil je skrze Jároveáma, syna Jóášova. 28A ostatní věci Jároveámovy a vše, co vykonal, a jeho hrdinství, jak bojoval a jak zpět získal Damašek a Chamáth, patřivší Júdovi v Isráélovi, - zda nejsou ony vypsány na knize letopisů králů Isráélových? 29I ulehl Jároveám se svými otci, s králi Isráélovými, a kralování se místo něho ujal Zecharjá, jeho syn.
Jamieson Fausset Brown Bible Commentary 3 AMAZIAH'S GOOD REIGN OVER JUDAH. (
2Kgs 14:1-6)
He did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, yet not like David his father--The beginning of his reign was excellent, for he acted the part of a constitutional king, according to the law of God, yet not with perfect sincerity of heart (compare
2Chr 25:2). As in the case of his father Joash, the early promise was belied by the devious course he personally followed in later life (see
2Chr 20:14), as well as by the public irregularities he tolerated in the kingdom.
5 as soon as the kingdom was confirmed in his hand--It was an act of justice no less than of filial piety to avenge the murder of his father. But it is evident that the two assassins must have possessed considerable weight and influence, as the king was obliged to retain them in his service, and durst not, for fear of their friends and supporters, institute proceedings against them until his power had been fully consolidated.
6 But the children of the murderers he slew not--This moderation, inspired by the Mosaic law (
Deut 24:16), displays the good character of this prince; for the course thus pursued toward the families of the regicides was directly contrary to the prevailing customs of antiquity, according to which all connected with the criminals were doomed to unsparing destruction.
7 HE SMITES EDOM. (
2Kgs 14:7)
He slew of Edom in the valley of salt ten thousand--In the reign of Joram the Edomites had revolted (see
2Kgs 8:20). But Amaziah, determined to reduce them to their former subjection, formed a hostile expedition against them, in which he routed their army and made himself master of their capital.
the valley of salt--that part of the Ghor which comprises the salt and sandy plain to the south of the Dead Sea.
Selah--literally, "the rock"; generally thought to be Petra.
Joktheel--that is, "given" or "conquered by God." See the history of this conquest more fully detailed (
2Chr 25:6-16).
8 JOASH DEFEATS HIM. (
2Kgs 14:8-16)
Amaziah sent messengers to Jehoash, the son of Jehoahaz, son of Jehu, king of Israel--This bold and haughty challenge, which was most probably stimulated by a desire of satisfaction for the outrages perpetrated by the discharged auxiliaries of Israel (
2Chr 25:13) on the towns that lay in their way home, as well as by revenge for the massacre of his ancestors by Jehu (2Ki. 9:1-37) sprang, there is little doubt, from pride and self-confidence, inspired by his victory over the Edomites.
9 Jehoash the king of Israel sent to Amaziah--People in the East very often express their sentiments in a parabolic form, especially when they intend to convey unwelcome truths or a contemptuous sneer. This was the design of the admonitory fable related by Joash in his reply. The thistle, a low shrub, might be chosen to represent Amaziah, a petty prince; the cedar, the powerful sovereign of Israel, and the wild beast that trampled down the thistle the overwhelming army with which Israel could desolate Judah. But, perhaps, without making so minute an application, the parable may be explained generally, as describing in a striking manner the effects of pride and ambition, towering far beyond their natural sphere, and sure to fall with a sudden and ruinous crash. The moral of the fable is contained in
2Kgs 14:10.
11 But Amaziah would not hear--The sarcastic tenor of this reply incited the king of Judah the more; for, being in a state of judicial blindness and infatuation (
2Chr 25:20), he was immovably determined on war. But the superior energy of Joash surprised him ere he had completed his military preparations. Pouring a large army into the territory of Judah, he encountered Amaziah in a pitched battle, routed his army, and took him prisoner. Then having marched to Jerusalem [
2Kgs 14:13], he not only demolished part of the city walls, but plundered the treasures of the palace and temple. Taking hostages to prevent any further molestation from Judah, he terminated the war. Without leaving a garrison in Jerusalem, he returned to his capital with all convenient speed, his presence and all his forces being required to repel the troublesome incursions of the Syrians.
19 HE IS SLAIN BY A CONSPIRACY. (
2Kgs 14:17-20)
they made a conspiracy against him in Jerusalem--Amaziah's apostasy (
2Chr 25:27) was followed by a general maladministration, especially the disastrous issue of the war with Israel. The ruinous condition of Jerusalem, the plunder of the temple, and the loss of their children who were taken as hostages [
2Kgs 14:13-14], lost him the respect and attachment not of the grandees only, but of his subjects generally, who were in rebellion. The king fled in terror to Lachish, a frontier town of the Philistines, where, however, he was traced and murdered. His friends had his corpse brought without any pomp or ceremony, in a chariot to Jerusalem, where he was interred among his royal ancestors.
21 AZARIAH SUCCEEDS HIM. (
2Kgs 14:21-22)
all the people of Judah took Azariah--or Uzziah (
2Kgs 15:30;
2Chr 26:1). The popular opposition had been personally directed against Amaziah as the author of their calamities, but it was not extended to his family or heir.
22 He built Elath--fortified that seaport. It had revolted with the rest of Edom, but was now recovered by Uzziah. His father, who did not complete the conquest of Edom, had left him that work to do.
23 JEROBOAM'S WICKED REIGN OVER ISRAEL. (
2Kgs 14:23-29)
Jeroboam, the son of Joash king of Israel--This was Jeroboam II who, on regaining the lost territory, raised the kingdom to great political power (
2Kgs 14:25), but adhered to the favorite religious policy of the Israelitish sovereigns (
2Kgs 14:24). While God granted him so great a measure of national prosperity and eminence, the reason is expressly stated (
2Kgs 14:26-27) to be that the purposes of the divine covenant forbade as yet the overthrow of the kingdom of the ten tribes (see
2Kgs 13:23).