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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Kings 14:8-14

For several successions after the division of the kingdoms that of Judah suffered much by the enmity of Israel. After Asa's time, for several successions, it suffered more by the friendship of Israel, and by the alliance and affinity made with them. But now we meet with hostility between them again, which had not been for some ages before. I. Amaziah, upon no provocation, and without showing any cause of quarrel, challenged Joash into the field (2 Kgs. 14:8): ?Come, let us look one another in... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 14:9

And Jehoash the king of Israel sent to Amaziah the king of Judah ,.... By the return of his messengers: saying, the thistle that was in Lebanon sent to the cedar that was in Lebanon ; intending by this proverbial way of speaking to humble the pride of Amaziah; comparing him to a thistle or thorn, a low, mean, abject, weak, prickly, and troublesome shrub, and himself to a cedar, a tree high and lofty, strong, large, and spreading: saying, give thy daughter to my son to wife ;... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Kings 14:9

Jehoash - sent to Amaziah - saying - The meaning of this parable is plain. The thistle that was in Lebanon - Amaziah, king of Judah, sent to the cedar that was in Lebanon - Jehoash, king of Israel, saying, Give thy daughter - a part of thy kingdom, to my son to wife - to be united to, and possessed by the kings of Judah. And there passed by a wild beast - Jehoash and his enraged army, and trode down the thistle - utterly discomfited Amaziah and his troops, pillaged the temple, and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 14:1-20

THE REIGN OF AMAZIAH OVER JUDAH . This chapter takes up the history of the kingdom of Judah from the each of 2 Kings 12:1-21 ; with which it is closely connected. The writer, after a few such general remarks as those with which he commonly opens the history of each reign ( 2 Kings 12:1-4 ), proceeds to relate read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 14:1-29

REIGNS OF AMAZIAH , SON OF JOASH KING OF JUDAH , OVER JUDAH , AND OF JEROBOAM , SON OF JOASH KING OF ISRAEL , OVER ISRAEL . read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 14:1-29

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 14:8-14

Pride goes before a fall. Amaziah's challenge and its result furnish a remarkable illustration of this maxim. The following points should be dwelt upon. I. THE WEAK GROUND OF THE PRIDE . This was military success, which is just as often the result of good fortune, or one's enemies' mistakes, as of any merits of one's own. Amaziah's after-life showed that he did not possess any great military capacity, and so had nothing on which he ought to have prided himself. Men constantly... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 14:8-14

The boastful challenge, and its results. It is in the light of the facts narrated in the Book of Chronicles, but not alluded to here, that we are to read the story of Amaziah's folly in his boastful challenge to Joash of Israel (cf. 2 Chronicles 25:20 ). I. THE BOASTFUL CHALLENGE . 1. Its motives . It is not difficult to conceive the kind of influences which led Amaziah to give this challenge to Joash. 2. Its nature . The challenge took the form of a message to... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 14:9

And Jehoash the King of Israel sent to Amaziah King of Judah, saying. According to Josephus, the reply to the challenge was given in a formal letter, of which he presents us with a copy- "King Joash to King Amaziah [sends greeting]: "Once upon a time there was in Mount Lebanon a very tall cypress, and also there was a thistle. And the thistle sent to the cypress, saying,' Contract thy daughter in marriage to my son.' And while this was transacting, a wild beast passed by and trod down... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 2 Kings 14:9

The Oriental use of apologues on the most solemn and serious occasions is well known to all, and scarcely needs illustration (compare marginal reference). It is a common feature of such apologues that they are not exact parallels to the case whereto they are applied, but only general or partial resemblances. Hence, there is need of caution in applying the several points of the illustration. read more

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