And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord ,..... At least externally, and at the beginning of his reign: yet not like David his father ; not with a perfect heart, with that sincerity and uprightness as he did, see 2 Chronicles 25:2 , he did according to all things as Joash his father did ; who at first reigned well, and then fell into idolatry, as this his son did. read more
Amaziah doing right. The murder of Joash King of Judah, and the accession of his son Amaziah, took place a little after the accession of Joash the son of Jehoahaz in Israel, therefore just before the turn of the tide in the fortunes of the latter kingdom. I. EARLY RIGHT - DOING . 1. A promising beginning . Amaziah was not, any more than his father, a man of strong character. He proved to be vain, boastful, and foolish But he began well, giving heed to the counsels of God's... read more
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
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
And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, yet not like David his father. Only one King of Judah hitherto, viz. Asa, had obtained the praise that he "did that which was right in the eyes of the Lord, as did David his father " ( 1 Kings 15:11 ). All the others had fallen short more or less; and Amaziah fell short in many respects. He was wanting in "a perfect heart" ( 2 Chronicles 25:2 ), i.e. a fixed intention to do God's will; he was proud and boastful ( 2 Kings... read more
A father's evil example no justification for a son's misconduct. Amaziah "did according to all things as Joash his father did." Like his father, he was half-hearted. In his earlier years he kept to the worship of Jehovah, and "did that which was right in the sight of the Lord," yet not with any zeal or energy. Afterwards he fell away, introduced idolatry ( 2 Chronicles 25:14 ), and when a prophet rebuked him for his evil courses , answered him with scoffs and threatenings ( 2... read more
He did ... as Joash - There is a curious parity between the lives of Joash and Amaziah. Both were zealous for Yahweh in the earlier portion of their reigns, but in the latter part fell away; both disregarded the rebukes of prophets; and both, having forsaken God, were in the end conspired against and slain (compare 2 Chronicles 24:25; 2 Chronicles 25:27). read more
2 Kings 14:3-4. He did right in the sight of the Lord In many respects, attending on God’s altars, and attending to his word: yet not like David his father Or progenitor: not obeying in the same spirit of faith and devotion, and with the same sincerity, resolution, and perseverance. As Joash his father did Who , for a time, served God aright; but afterward fell away to idolatry. Thus did Amaziah, 2 Chronicles 25:14. Howbeit, the high places, &c. Though he did what was right, yet... read more
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Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Kings 14:1-7
Amaziah, the son and successor of Joash, is the king whom here we have an account of. Let us take a view of him, I. In the temple; and there he acted, in some measure, well, like Joash, but not like David, 2 Kgs. 14:3. He began well, but did not persevere: He did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, kept up his attendance on God's altars and his attention to God's word, yet not like David. It is not enough to do that which our pious predecessors did, merely to keep up the usage, but... read more