Then Amaziah king of Judah took advice ,.... Not of God, nor of his prophets, but of some of his nobles like himself: and sent to Joash--king of Israel ; of his message to him here, and his answer in the two following verses, see the following notes: See Gill on 2 Kings 14:8 . See Gill on 2 Kings 14:9 . See Gill on 2 Kings 14:10 . read more
The thistle that was in Lebanon - See the explanation of this 2 Kings 14:9 ; (note). After reciting this fable, the Targum adds, "Thus hast thou done in the time thou didst send unto me, and didst lead up from the house of Israel a hundred thousand strong warriors for a hundred talents of silver: and after they were sent, thou didst not permit them to go with thee to war, but didst send them back, greatly enraged, so that they spread themselves over the country; and having cut... read more
Another type of uncertain character. We are at once advised, in refer-once to Amaziah, that he "did right in the sight of the Lord, but not with a perfect heart." The expression might be supposed to cover the description of a man whose life was in the main right, but who was betrayed by temptation into some serious sins, of which, like David, he bitterly repented, but genuinely repented, and was restored to peace -rod favour. No such interpretation, however, is here possible. And as... read more
Human presumption. In the correspondence between these two kings and the action which ensued we have a very striking illustration of the evil of human presumption. I. IT MAY BE BEGOTTEN OF A SLIGHT SUCCESS . "Thou hast smitten the Edomites and thy heart lifteth thee up to boast" ( 2 Chronicles 25:19 ). Some men are soon inflated; even a little "knowledge puffeth up." And a very slight achievement, in art, or in song, or in speech, or in manufacture, is enough to fill... read more
The battle of Beth-shemesh; or, the downfall of a boaster. I. THE OBJECT OF THE BATTLE . 1 . The object of its promoter, Amaziah. 2 . The object of its Director, God. If Amaziah had an aim in seeking a pitched battle with Joash King of Israel, so had Jehovah an aim in allowing him and Joash to try conclusions on the field of war. If Amaziah meant to punish Joash, Jehovah meant to punish Amaziah: which of the two, the King of Judah or the King of kings, was the more... read more
The thistle … sent to the cedar . While other history shows frequently the abounding Eastern delight in this exact kind of composition, it will be remembered that it is not absent from Scripture, and that this is not the first recorded instance of it by three hundred and fifty years, for see 9:7-15 . The thistle; Hebrew, הַחוֹחַ . The word occurs, beside the four times here and in the parallel, eight other times: 1 Samuel 13:6 ; 2 Chronicles 33:11 ; Job 31:40 ; Job 41:2 ; ... read more
If the contents of this verse do not fail to impress with a persuasion of the keen mental gift of Joash, they do not fall far short of warranting some persuasion of a certain moral sense and goodness about him also. He knows human nature well, and Amaziah's particular variety therein perfectly well. And many would have snapped at the opportunity of humbling such a man. But not so Joash; he enjoys, indeed, the opportunity of satisfying his own sarcasm and patronizingness, but would still spare... read more
Prosperity followed by disaster (25:1-28:27)Succeeding kings of Israel are passed over in silence (2 Kings 13:1-25). Judah was to have nothing to do with the northern kingdom, not even to the hiring of Israelite soldiers. Amaziah took the advice, and was rewarded with victory in a battle against Edom. But the victory, instead of increasing his dependence on God, gave him a feeling of independence. He turned from God and worshipped idols. The ungodly northern kingdom then became God’s instrument... read more
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Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Chronicles 25:17-28
We have here this degenerate prince mortified by his neighbour and murdered by his own subjects. I. Never was proud prince more thoroughly mortified than Amaziah was by Joash king of Israel. 1. This part of the story (which was as fully related 2 Kgs. 14:8-22, as it is here)--embracing the foolish challenge which Amaziah sent to Joash (2 Chron. 25:17), his haughty scornful answer to it (2 Chron. 25:18), with the friendly advice he gave him to sit still and know when he was well off, (2 Chron.... read more