1V druhém roce vlády izraelského krále Jóaše, syna Jóachazova, se stal králem Amasjáš, syn judského krále Jóaše. 2Bylo mu dvacet pět let, když se stal králem, a kraloval v Jeruzalémě dvacet devět let. Jeho matka se jmenovala Jóadan z Jeruzaléma. 3Činil to, co je správné v Hospodinových očích, ovšem ne jako jeho otec David. Jednal stejně jako jednal jeho otec Jóaš. 4Ovšem návrší nebyla odstraněna, lid na návrších dál obětoval a pálil kadidlo. 5I stalo se, když bylo království pevně v jeho ruce, že pobil své otroky, kteří zabili krále, jeho otce. 6Ale syny těch, kdo ho zabili, neusmrtil, jak je napsáno v knize Mojžíšova zákona, že přikázal Hospodin: ať nejsou usmrceni otcové kvůli synům a synové ať nejsou usmrceni kvůli otcům, ale každý ať je usmrcen za svůj hřích. 7Pobil deset tisíc Edómců v Solném údolí a zmocnil se v boji též Sély a pojmenoval ji Jokteel, jak je tomu dodnes. 8Tehdy poslal Amasjáš posly k izraelskému králi Jóašovi, synu Jóachaza, synu Jehúa, se slovy: Pojď, střetneme se tváří v tvář. 9Izraelský král Jóaš vzkázal judskému králi Amasjášovi: Libanonské trní vzkázalo libanonskému cedru: Dej svou dceru mému synovi za ženu. Polní zvěř libanonská prošla a pošlapala to trní. 10Protože jsi pobil Edómce, pozvedlo se tvé srdce. Oslavuj a zůstaň doma. Proč by ses měl zaplétat se zlem a padnout ty a Juda s tebou? 11Ale Amasjáš neposlechl. Izraelský král Jóaš vytáhl a střetli se tváří v tvář s judským králem Amasjášem v Bét-šemeši v Judsku. 12Juda byl od Izraele poražen a všichni utíkali ke svým stanům. 13Judského krále Amasjáše, syna Jóaše, syna Achazjášova, chytil izraelský král Jóaš v Bét-šemeši. Pak přitáhl do Jeruzaléma a protrhl jeruzalémské hradby od Efrajimské brány až k bráně Rohové, na čtyři sta loket. 14Pobral všechno zlato a stříbro a všechny předměty, které se nacházely v Hospodinově domě a v pokladnicích královského paláce, i rukojmí a vrátil se do Samaří. 15Ostatní Jóašovy činy, které činil a jeho udatné skutky, jak bojoval s judským králem Amasjášem, jsou zapsány v knize Letopisů izraelských králů. 16Jóaš ulehl se svými otci a byl pohřben v Samaří s izraelskými králi. Po něm se stal králem jeho syn Jarobeám. 17Judský král Amasjáš, syn Jóašův, žil po smrti izraelského krále Jóaše, syna Jóachazova, patnáct let. 18Ostatní Amasjášovy činy jsou zapsány v knize Letopisů judských králů. 19Zosnovali však proti němu v Jeruzalémě spiknutí, a tak utekl do Lakíše. Poslali však za ním do Lakíše a usmrtili ho tam. 20Naložili ho pak na koně a byl pohřben se svými otci v Jeruzalémě, Městě Davidově. 21Všechen judský lid vzal Azarjáše, kterému bylo šestnáct let, a ustanovili ho králem místo jeho otce Amasjáše. 22On vystavěl Élat a vrátil ho Judsku potom, co král Amasjáš ulehl se svými otci. 23V patnáctém roce vlády judského krále Amasjáše, syna Jóašova, se stal králem v Samaří Jarobeám, syn izraelského krále Jóaše. Kraloval čtyřicet jedna let. 24Páchal to, co je zlé v Hospodinových očích, neodvrátil se od všech hříchů Jarobeáma, syna Nebatova, který svedl Izrael k hříchu. 25On získal zpět izraelské území od Lebo-Chamátu až k moři Araby, podle slova Hospodina, Boha Izraele, které promluvil prostřednictvím svého otroka Jonáše, syna Amítajova, proroka z Gat-chéferu. 26Neboť Hospodin viděl soužení Izraele, jež bylo velmi trpké — nebylo zadržovaného ani propuštěného, Izrael neměl pomocníka. 27Hospodin nevyhlásil, že vymaže jméno Izrael zpod nebes, a proto je zachránil prostřednictvím Jarobeáma, syna Jóašova. 28Ostatní Jarobeámovy činy, všechny věci, které činil, i jeho udatné skutky, jak bojoval a získal zpět Damašek a Chamát pro Judu v Izraeli, jsou zapsány v knize Letopisů izraelských králů. 29Jarobeám ulehl se svými otci, s izraelskými králi. Po něm se stal králem jeho syn Zekarjáš.
Jamieson Fausset Brown Bible Commentary 3 AMAZIAH'S GOOD REIGN OVER JUDAH. (
2Kgs 14:1-6)
He did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, yet not like David his father--The beginning of his reign was excellent, for he acted the part of a constitutional king, according to the law of God, yet not with perfect sincerity of heart (compare
2Chr 25:2). As in the case of his father Joash, the early promise was belied by the devious course he personally followed in later life (see
2Chr 20:14), as well as by the public irregularities he tolerated in the kingdom.
5 as soon as the kingdom was confirmed in his hand--It was an act of justice no less than of filial piety to avenge the murder of his father. But it is evident that the two assassins must have possessed considerable weight and influence, as the king was obliged to retain them in his service, and durst not, for fear of their friends and supporters, institute proceedings against them until his power had been fully consolidated.
6 But the children of the murderers he slew not--This moderation, inspired by the Mosaic law (
Deut 24:16), displays the good character of this prince; for the course thus pursued toward the families of the regicides was directly contrary to the prevailing customs of antiquity, according to which all connected with the criminals were doomed to unsparing destruction.
7 HE SMITES EDOM. (
2Kgs 14:7)
He slew of Edom in the valley of salt ten thousand--In the reign of Joram the Edomites had revolted (see
2Kgs 8:20). But Amaziah, determined to reduce them to their former subjection, formed a hostile expedition against them, in which he routed their army and made himself master of their capital.
the valley of salt--that part of the Ghor which comprises the salt and sandy plain to the south of the Dead Sea.
Selah--literally, "the rock"; generally thought to be Petra.
Joktheel--that is, "given" or "conquered by God." See the history of this conquest more fully detailed (
2Chr 25:6-16).
8 JOASH DEFEATS HIM. (
2Kgs 14:8-16)
Amaziah sent messengers to Jehoash, the son of Jehoahaz, son of Jehu, king of Israel--This bold and haughty challenge, which was most probably stimulated by a desire of satisfaction for the outrages perpetrated by the discharged auxiliaries of Israel (
2Chr 25:13) on the towns that lay in their way home, as well as by revenge for the massacre of his ancestors by Jehu (2Ki. 9:1-37) sprang, there is little doubt, from pride and self-confidence, inspired by his victory over the Edomites.
9 Jehoash the king of Israel sent to Amaziah--People in the East very often express their sentiments in a parabolic form, especially when they intend to convey unwelcome truths or a contemptuous sneer. This was the design of the admonitory fable related by Joash in his reply. The thistle, a low shrub, might be chosen to represent Amaziah, a petty prince; the cedar, the powerful sovereign of Israel, and the wild beast that trampled down the thistle the overwhelming army with which Israel could desolate Judah. But, perhaps, without making so minute an application, the parable may be explained generally, as describing in a striking manner the effects of pride and ambition, towering far beyond their natural sphere, and sure to fall with a sudden and ruinous crash. The moral of the fable is contained in
2Kgs 14:10.
11 But Amaziah would not hear--The sarcastic tenor of this reply incited the king of Judah the more; for, being in a state of judicial blindness and infatuation (
2Chr 25:20), he was immovably determined on war. But the superior energy of Joash surprised him ere he had completed his military preparations. Pouring a large army into the territory of Judah, he encountered Amaziah in a pitched battle, routed his army, and took him prisoner. Then having marched to Jerusalem [
2Kgs 14:13], he not only demolished part of the city walls, but plundered the treasures of the palace and temple. Taking hostages to prevent any further molestation from Judah, he terminated the war. Without leaving a garrison in Jerusalem, he returned to his capital with all convenient speed, his presence and all his forces being required to repel the troublesome incursions of the Syrians.
19 HE IS SLAIN BY A CONSPIRACY. (
2Kgs 14:17-20)
they made a conspiracy against him in Jerusalem--Amaziah's apostasy (
2Chr 25:27) was followed by a general maladministration, especially the disastrous issue of the war with Israel. The ruinous condition of Jerusalem, the plunder of the temple, and the loss of their children who were taken as hostages [
2Kgs 14:13-14], lost him the respect and attachment not of the grandees only, but of his subjects generally, who were in rebellion. The king fled in terror to Lachish, a frontier town of the Philistines, where, however, he was traced and murdered. His friends had his corpse brought without any pomp or ceremony, in a chariot to Jerusalem, where he was interred among his royal ancestors.
21 AZARIAH SUCCEEDS HIM. (
2Kgs 14:21-22)
all the people of Judah took Azariah--or Uzziah (
2Kgs 15:30;
2Chr 26:1). The popular opposition had been personally directed against Amaziah as the author of their calamities, but it was not extended to his family or heir.
22 He built Elath--fortified that seaport. It had revolted with the rest of Edom, but was now recovered by Uzziah. His father, who did not complete the conquest of Edom, had left him that work to do.
23 JEROBOAM'S WICKED REIGN OVER ISRAEL. (
2Kgs 14:23-29)
Jeroboam, the son of Joash king of Israel--This was Jeroboam II who, on regaining the lost territory, raised the kingdom to great political power (
2Kgs 14:25), but adhered to the favorite religious policy of the Israelitish sovereigns (
2Kgs 14:24). While God granted him so great a measure of national prosperity and eminence, the reason is expressly stated (
2Kgs 14:26-27) to be that the purposes of the divine covenant forbade as yet the overthrow of the kingdom of the ten tribes (see
2Kgs 13:23).