2 Kings 14:7-14

Amaziah’s wars 14:7-14

God 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 Kings 14:9-10) hurt Amaziah’s pride (cf. Jotham’s fable, Judges 9:8-15). Instead of backing down he insisted on a confrontation. God permitted this situation to punish Amaziah, because after subduing the Edomites, he had brought some of their idols into Jerusalem and worshipped them (2 Chronicles 25:14; 2 Chronicles 25:20). The army of Israel took Amaziah prisoner (2 Kings 14:13-14). It was probably then that Amaziah’s son Azariah began to reign in Jerusalem as his father’s coregent (790 B.C.). McFall believed Azariah’s coregency began in 792 or 791. [Note: Leslie McFall, "A Translation Guide to the Chronological Data in Kings and Chronicles," Bibliotheca Sacra 148:589 (January-March 1991):3-45.] Azariah continued as coregent until his father Amaziah died (in 767 B.C.).