Commentary - 2 Kings 14:15-16

Bird's-eye view

In these concluding verses of the account of Jehoash, king of Israel, the sacred historian employs a familiar and formulaic pattern that we see repeatedly throughout the books of Kings. This is not lazy writing; it is purposeful theology. The summary of a king's reign, his might, his death, and his successor serves to place each individual monarch within the grand, sweeping narrative of God's covenant dealings with His people. The reign of Jehoash was marked by a mixture of fidelity and failure, a brief resurgence of military strength for Israel, yet without a fundamental return to true worship. His story, like that of all the kings, is a case study in the unfolding consequences of the foundational sin of Jeroboam son of Nebat.

The passage points us to an external, secular source, "the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel," for the remainder of the king's deeds. This tells us that the Holy Spirit's purpose in Scripture is not to be an exhaustive political history, but a redemptive history. The Bible is not interested in might for might's sake, but in how a king's actions either align with or rebel against the covenant God made with their fathers. The finality of the statement, "So Jehoash slept with his fathers," is a solemn reminder that every ruler, no matter how powerful, must ultimately give an account to the King of kings. His burial with the kings of Israel and the seamless transition to his son Jeroboam II underscore the continuity of the covenant, even in its broken state, and sets the stage for the final act in the tragedy of the northern kingdom.

Outline

Context In 2 Kings

This passage comes immediately after the account of the war between Jehoash of Israel and Amaziah of Judah. Amaziah, puffed up with a recent victory over Edom, foolishly provoked a conflict with the northern kingdom. Jehoash warned him with a memorable parable of the thistle and the cedar, but Amaziah persisted and was soundly defeated. Jehoash plundered the temple in Jerusalem and took hostages back to Samaria. This context is crucial because verse 15 explicitly mentions this conflict as a key part of Jehoash's "might." His reign, therefore, represents a temporary high point for Israel's military power, even as the nation remained spiritually bankrupt. This section serves as the formal conclusion to his reign, a literary signpost indicating that this chapter of Israel's history is closed, and the narrative is preparing to move on to the next generation of kings, who will lead their respective nations further down the path toward exile.

Key Issues

More Written There

One of the striking features of the historical books of the Old Testament is how they casually refer to other books. The author of Kings is not insecure. He is not worried that you might go read "the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel" and find some discrepancy that would undermine his credibility. He assumes its existence and even directs you to it for more information. This displays a profound confidence, but it also teaches us something vital about the nature of Scripture.

The Bible is not pretending to be the only book ever written. It is not a comprehensive history of everything that ever happened. It is a highly selective, theologically driven interpretation of history. The Spirit of God guided the biblical author to select from the available historical records, like the one mentioned here, precisely those events that were necessary for telling the story of redemption. The secular chronicle might have had more details about tax policy, trade agreements, and military logistics. But the Bible is concerned with one central question: How did this king's reign advance or hinder God's covenant purposes for His people? The Bible is history, and it is true history, but it is history with a point. And the point is always Jesus Christ.

Verse by Verse Commentary

15 Now the rest of the acts of Jehoash which he did, and his might and how he fought with Amaziah king of Judah, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel?

The historian begins the wrap-up of Jehoash's reign with this rhetorical question. He acknowledges that there is more to the story. There are other "acts," other displays of "might." He specifically points to the war with Amaziah as a prime example of that might, a story he has just finished telling. But for the rest of it, the day-to-day business of being king, he refers the reader to another source. This source, now lost to us, was likely the official court record of the northern kingdom. The inspired author has given us everything we need for the purposes of salvation and edification. He has extracted from the raw data of history the story that God wants told. This is a lesson in sufficiency. We have what we need in the canonical Scriptures. We don't need to go hunting for lost gospels or hidden chronicles. The Spirit has given us the authoritative and final word on what this history means.

16 So Jehoash slept with his fathers and was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel; and Jeroboam his son became king in his place.

This verse contains three distinct, and weighty, statements. First, Jehoash "slept with his fathers." This is a common biblical euphemism for death, but it is a gentle and dignified one. It speaks of death not as an annihilation, but as a rest, a transition. For the believer, it is a rest in the sure and certain hope of the resurrection. For a king like Jehoash, whose record was mixed at best, it is a solemn reminder that his earthly reign has ended and he has gone to face the ultimate Judge. Second, he was "buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel." This signifies the end of an era. He receives a royal burial, an honor befitting his station. His body is laid in the ground alongside his predecessors, the men who, like him, perpetuated the idolatrous calf-worship established by the first Jeroboam. There is a finality and a corporate identity even in death. He was one in a long line of unfaithful shepherds. Third, "Jeroboam his son became king in his place." The transfer of power is seamless. The dynasty continues. This highlights the long-suffering of God, who allows the covenant nation to persist even in its rebellion. But it also shows the insidious nature of generational sin. The son takes up the throne, and as we will see, he will also take up the sins of his father. The cycle of apostasy is set to continue, and the nation takes another step toward its eventual destruction.

Application

This brief, formulaic conclusion to a king's life is packed with application for us. First, it reminds us that our lives are being recorded. God's inspired book has been written and is closed, but there is another book, the book of life, and our deeds are known to God. We should live in such a way that the story of our lives is one of faithfulness to the covenant. We are not all kings, but we are all called to exercise dominion in our respective spheres for the glory of Christ the King.

Second, we are reminded that our time is short. Every king in Israel "slept with his fathers." Power, wealth, and military might are fleeting. We will all face death, and after that the judgment. This should cultivate in us a sober-minded humility and an eternal perspective. Are we building for this life, or for the next? Are we seeking the honor that comes from men, or the "well done, good and faithful servant" that comes from God?

Finally, this passage is a stark warning about the legacy we leave for our children. Jeroboam II followed in the footsteps of his father Jehoash, just as Jehoash had followed his. The most significant inheritance we can leave our children is not money or status, but a legacy of faith and repentance. We are called to be covenant-keepers in our homes, to teach our children the statutes of the Lord, and to break the cycles of sin that have entangled our own fathers. By God's grace in Christ, we are not doomed to repeat the failures of the past. The same Spirit who wrote this history is able to write a new story of faithfulness in our own families, a story that will be remembered not in the lost chronicles of earthly kings, but in the eternal kingdom of our God.