Commentary - 2 Kings 14:17-22

Bird's-eye view

This brief section of 2 Kings concludes the reign of Amaziah, king of Judah, and introduces the reign of his son, Azariah, also known as Uzziah. The passage is a stark reminder of the principle that pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. Amaziah, fresh off a victory against Edom, foolishly challenged Jehoash of Israel and was soundly defeated and humiliated, as we saw in the preceding verses. Now we see the long-term consequences of his folly. His life ends not in honor, but in conspiracy and assassination. God raises up kings and He removes them. This is the constant testimony of Scripture. The passage also shows the resilience of the Davidic line, which, despite the faithlessness of individual kings, is preserved by a faithful covenant God. The people of Judah anoint the next king, and the kingdom continues, albeit with the lingering stain of sin and compromise.

The narrative is straightforward, but it is packed with theological weight. It demonstrates the outworking of God's patient judgment against a king who "did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, yet not like David his father." He was a half-way man, and half-way obedience is still disobedience. His end is a warning against spiritual pride and the danger of starting well but finishing poorly. The transition to Azariah's reign, marked by a building project, points to the ongoing story of God's purposes for Judah, which continue regardless of the successes or failures of her human rulers.

Outline

Context In 2 Kings

This passage is the final word on the reign of Amaziah, which began with a promising start but devolved into pride and disaster. In the larger narrative of 2 Kings, the historian is meticulously tracing the parallel declines of the northern and southern kingdoms. The historian consistently evaluates each king based on his faithfulness to the covenant with Yahweh. The recurring refrain is whether a king did right "in the eyes of the LORD" and whether he dealt with the high places. Amaziah is a classic example of a compromised king. He followed God, but with reservations. His story is sandwiched between the reign of his father Joash, who also started well and ended poorly, and his son Azariah (Uzziah), who will have a long and prosperous reign, yet also one marred by pride.

The preceding verses (2 Kings 14:8-14) detailed the disastrous war between Amaziah and Jehoash of Israel. Amaziah, puffed up by his victory over Edom, picked a fight he could not win. The result was a humiliating defeat for Judah, the plundering of the temple, and Amaziah's own capture. Our text picks up after this, showing that even though Amaziah was released and outlived Jehoash, his authority was permanently damaged, ultimately leading to his death at the hands of his own people.

Key Issues

Verse by Verse Commentary

17 And Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah lived fifteen years after the death of Jehoash son of Joahaz king of Israel.

The historian begins with a simple chronological note, but it is a loaded one. Amaziah outlives his rival. On the surface, this might seem like a small victory, a consolation prize. He got the last laugh, in a manner of speaking. But the fifteen years are not years of glory and restoration. They are years lived under a cloud of shame. He was the king who got the temple looted and the walls of Jerusalem torn down. He survived, but his reign was crippled. This is a picture of God's patience, but also of the slow grinding of His judgment. God did not strike him down on the battlefield, but allowed him to live with the consequences of his foolish pride. These were fifteen years for him to repent, but there is no indication that he did so. He simply lived.

18 Now the rest of the acts of Amaziah, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah?

This is a standard formula used by the author of Kings to conclude a king's reign. It points the reader to the official court records for more details. But it also serves a theological purpose. God is the ultimate historian. He sees and records everything. While the inspired text gives us the theologically significant summary, God has the full account. Nothing is hidden from Him. This formula reminds us that these men were real historical figures, and their lives are a matter of public record, both earthly and heavenly. Their deeds, good and bad, are written down.

19 And they conspired against him in Jerusalem, and he fled to Lachish; but they sent after him to Lachish and put him to death there.

Here is the pathetic end. The man who proudly challenged the king of Israel to "look one another in the face" now flees from his own subjects. The conspiracy arises in Jerusalem, the holy city, the center of his kingdom. His authority has completely eroded. His flight to Lachish, a fortified city to the southwest, shows his desperation. But there is no escape. The conspirators are determined, and they hunt him down. This is the final harvest of his pride. He who lived by foolish bravado dies by the sword of assassins. It is a sordid and dishonorable end for a king of the line of David. When a leader rebels against his heavenly commission, he invites rebellion from those under him. He had executed the men who killed his own father, but now he meets the same fate. The chickens of rebellion have come home to roost.

20 Then they carried him on horses, and he was buried at Jerusalem with his fathers in the city of David.

Despite the ignominy of his death, he is given a royal burial. They bring his body back to Jerusalem and lay him in the royal tombs. This is significant. The conspiracy was against the man, Amaziah, not against the institution of the Davidic monarchy. The conspirators were not seeking to overthrow the dynasty. They wanted a new king, but a king from the proper line. This act of burial shows a respect for the office, even if they had none for the man who held it. It also shows God's faithfulness to His covenant with David. Even when a king is unfaithful and must be removed, the line itself is preserved.

21 And all the people of Judah took Azariah, who was sixteen years old, and made him king in the place of his father Amaziah.

The succession is immediate and decisive. "All the people of Judah" act in concert. This phrase suggests a popular movement, a consensus that it was time for new leadership. They don't wait for a power vacuum to create chaos. They anoint the rightful heir, Azariah (also known as Uzziah in the book of Isaiah and Chronicles). He is young, only sixteen, but the people put their trust in him and, more importantly, in the promise of God to David's house. This is a moment of political renewal. The nation, having dealt with a corrupt and foolish king, now looks to the next generation for faithfulness. God's purpose is not thwarted by the sin of one man. He raises up the next king to carry on the story.

22 He built Elath and restored it to Judah after the king slept with his fathers.

The new reign begins with a positive act of building and restoration. Azariah secures Elath, a key port on the Red Sea. This was an important economic and strategic location. This act signals a return to stability and strength after the humiliation under his father. The phrase "after the king slept with his fathers" is a gentle euphemism for Amaziah's death, linking this new act of restoration to the closing of the previous, failed chapter. Azariah's first recorded act is one of constructive governance, a hopeful sign for the beginning of his long reign. It is a reminder that God's plan is always to build and restore His people, even when they require the painful surgery of judgment.

Application

The story of Amaziah is a cautionary tale written in bold letters. It teaches us, first, about the poison of a divided heart. Amaziah did what was right, but not like David. He was a 90 percenter. He obeyed, but kept the high places. This kind of compromised obedience is a breeding ground for pride. When God gave him a victory over Edom, he did not give God the glory but took it for himself, and that pride became his undoing. We must serve God with a whole heart, because a divided heart will inevitably worship at the altar of self.

Second, we see that God's judgment is often carried out through ordinary means. There was no lightning from heaven. God used a foolish war and a political conspiracy to bring Amaziah low. God is sovereign over the political machinations of men. He removes kings and raises up others. We should not be surprised when we see proud and corrupt leaders fall. It is the hand of God in history, reminding us that He opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.

Finally, the story ends with hope. A king is dead, but the kingdom continues. A sixteen-year-old boy takes the throne, and the line of David, the line that leads to the Messiah, is secure. Our hope is never in the man on the throne, whether his name is Amaziah or Azariah. Our hope is in the God who establishes the throne. Though individual kings and leaders fail, God's covenant promises hold fast. He is always working to build and restore, and His ultimate restoration project is the kingdom of His Son, Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the king who never fails.