2 Kings 14:9 NIV

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 2 Kings 14:9

2 Kings 14:9. Jehoash sent to Amaziah, saying, The thistle, &c. By the thistle, a mean, despicable, and yet troublesome weed, he understands Amaziah, and by the cedar, himself, whom he intimates to be far stronger than he, and out of his reach. Considering the circumstances of the person addressed, who was a petty prince, flushed with a little good success, and thereupon impatient to enlarge his kingdom, no similitude could be better adapted than that of a thistle, a low, contemptible... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 14:1-22

13:1-17:41 HISTORY TO THE FALL OF ISRAELAfter the anti-Baal revolution (13:1-14:22)Jehu’s son Jehoahaz followed the sins of earlier Israelite kings, and so did his people. The Syrian attacks foreseen by Elisha were so severe that, had God not mercifully intervened, the whole population would have been left homeless and the entire army destroyed (13:1-9).The next king, Jehoash, learnt from Elisha that he would win three battles against Syria. He would have won more, had he not lacked faith in... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - 2 Kings 14:9

The thistle, or briar or thorn. Hebrew. choch, rendered thistle here, and in 2 Chronicles 25:18 . Job 31:40 ; thorn in 2 Chronicles 33:11 .Job 41:2 .Proverbs 26:9 . Song of Solomon 2:2 .Hosea 9:6 ; and bramble in Isaiah 34:13 . sent. For a similar fable, see Judges 9:8 . Figure of speech Prosopopoeia. read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - 2 Kings 14:9

2 Kings 14:9. The thistle that was in Lebanon— This address is a proverb derived from the fable; a kind of speech which corresponds in all respects to writing by hieroglyphics; each being a symbol of something else to be understood: and as it sometimes happened when a hieroglyphic became famous, that it lost its particular signification, and assumed a general one, as the caducaeus, which at first was painted only to denote the pacific office of Hermes, became in time the common symbol of league... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - 2 Kings 14:9

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... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 2 Kings 14:1-22

6. Amaziah’s good reign in Judah 14:1-22Amaziah of Judah reigned over Judah for 29 years (796-767 B.C.). He began reigning when Jehoash was king over Israel and died during the reign of Jehoash’s son and successor Jeroboam II. The prophet Joel may have ministered in Judah during his reign. [Note: Proponents of this view include Freeman, p. 148; and Gleason A. Archer Jr., A Survey of Old Testament Introduction, p. 305.] read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 2 Kings 14:7-14

Amaziah’s wars 14:7-14God blessed Amaziah by allowing him to subdue the Edomites who had revolted from Judean control during the reign of Judah’s king Jehoram (cf. 2 Chronicles 25:5-16). The Valley of Salt lay south of the Salt (Dead) Sea in the Arabah. Sela was the capital of Edom at this time.Amaziah’s heart became proud because of this victory. He concluded that his superior power had gained it rather than God’s might. This led him to challenge Israel in battle. King Jehoash’s parable (2... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Kings 14:1-29

Reigns of Amaziah of Judah and Jeroboam of Israel1. In the second year of Joash.. king of Israel] Joash of Judah reigned 40 years, and as his thirty-seventh year corresponded to the first year of Joash of Israel (2 Kings 13:10) the accession of his son Amaziah could not coincide with the Israelite king’s second year; so that there is some slight error of calculation.3. Not like David] He was not perfectly faithful to the Lord, for late in his reign he worshipped the gods of Edom (2 Chronicles... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - 2 Kings 14:9

(9) The thistle.—Or bramble or briar. (Comp. Job 31:40; Song of Solomon 2:2.) The LXX. and Vulg. render “thistle;” the Syriac, “blackthorn” (Prunus silvestris).Give thy daughter to my son to wife.—Perhaps hinting at Amaziah’s demand for the surrender of Israel (the “daughter” of Jehoash) to Judah (the “son” of Amaziah).And there passed by a wild beast that was in Lebanon.—Rather, and the wild beasts that were in Lebanon passed over it. So LXX. and Vulg. It is obvious to compare with this brief... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - 2 Kings 14:1-29

The Thistle and the Cedar 2 Kings 14:9 There are two striking fables in the Old Testament: that of Jotham, and this of Jehoash the King of Israel. I. The Fable Illustrates the Variety of Humanity. 'The thistle that was in Lebanon:' the word may mean a thorn or a brier; whichever it be it represents what is mean, contemptible, low, troublesome. And quite near it uprose 'the cedar that was in Lebanon' grand, majestic, sublime. Thistles and cedars are alike part of the economy of God. Which are... read more