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 ,.... So that he reigned fourteen or fifteen years contemporary with him; for Amaziah reigned twenty nine years: and reigned forty and one years ; Josephus says F9 Ut supra, (Antiqu. l. 9.) c. 10. sect. 1. forty, giving only the round number. read more
And he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord ,.... Was guilty of idolatry: he departed not from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin ; the worship of the calves is especially meant; he was in all respects of the same cast with his ancestor of the same name, from whom he had it, in veneration of him. read more
He restored the coast of Israel ,.... The cities upon it, which had been taken away from them by their enemies: from the entering of Hamath ; which was the northern border of the land of Canaan, the entrance into it from Syria, see Numbers 34:8 , unto the sea of the plain : of Jordan, called sometimes the salt sea and the Dead Sea; the lake Asphaltites, as Josephus F11 Ut supra, (Antiqu. l. 9.) c. 10. sect. 1. , where formerly stood Sodom and Gomorrah: according to the... read more
For the Lord saw the affliction of Israel, that it was very bitter ,.... Being sorely oppressed by their enemies, especially the Syrians; and he was moved to have compassion upon them, and show mercy to them: for, there was not any shut up, nor any left, nor any helper for Israel: they were in the most forlorn and helpless condition; See Gill on Deuteronomy 32:36 . read more
And the Lord said not that he would blot out the name of Israel from under heaven ,.... Had not as yet declared it by any of his prophets, that he would do it, as he afterwards did by Hosea, Hosea 1:4 , and was fulfilled in the reign of Hoshea king of Israel, 2 Kings 17:1 . but he saved them by the hand of Jeroboam the son of Joash ; the instrument of their deliverance from the hands of their enemies, and of recovering their borders as afore time. read more
He restored the coast of Israel - From the description that is here given, it appears that Jeroboam reconquered all the territory that had been taken from the kings of Israel; so that Jeroboam the second left the kingdom as ample as it was when the ten tribes separated under Jeroboam the first. read more
The Lord saw the affliction of Israel - It appears that about this time Israel had been greatly reduced; and great calamities had fallen upon all indiscriminately; even the diseased and captives in the dungeon had the hand of God heavy upon them, and there was no helper; and then God sent Jonah to encourage them, and to assure them of better days. He was the first of the prophets, after Samuel, whose writings are preserved; yet the prophecy delivered on this occasion is not... read more
REIGNS OF AMAZIAH , SON OF JOASH KING OF JUDAH , OVER JUDAH , AND OF JEROBOAM , SON OF JOASH KING OF ISRAEL , OVER ISRAEL . read more
Significant facts in God's government. "In the second year of Joash," etc. In this chapter we have a sketch of a succession of kings both of Judah and Israel. Here are two kings of Judah—Amaziah and Azariah; and Joash, Jeroboam, and his son Zachariah, kings of Israel. The whole chapter suggests certain significant facts in God's government of mankind. I. THE ENORMOUS FREEDOM OF ACTION WHICH HE ALLOWS WICKED MEN . Here we learn: 1. That God allows wicked men to... read more
Get Bible verse every day in your inbox
Read on Mobile
Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Kings 14:23-29
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,... read more