13:12 fought against Amaziah. See notes on 14:8–14.
13:14 Elisha. The last previous reference to Elisha the prophet was in 9:1 when Jehu was anointed king of Israel. Since Jehu and Jehoahaz reigned from 841–798 B.C. (see notes on 10:36; 13:1), nothing was recorded for over 40 years of Elisha’s life. Elisha began ministering with Elijah during the kingship of Ahab ca. 874–853 B.C. (1 Kin. 19:19–21) and so must have been over 70 years of age when these final events of his life took place. my father. Jehoash humbly voiced his great respect for Elisha and his dependence upon his counsel (see note on 2:12). the chariots of Israel and their horsemen. Jehoash acknowledged through this metaphor that the Lord, through Elisha, was the real strength and power of Israel against all her adversaries (see note on 2:11).
13:16 Elisha put his hands on the king’s hands. This symbolic act indicated that Jehoash would exert power against the Syrians that came from the Lord through His prophet.
13:17 east window. This window opened toward the E to the Transjordan region controlled by Syria (10:32, 33). The arrow of the LORD’s deliverance. When Jehoash obeyed Elisha by shooting an arrow out the window, the prophet interpreted the meaning of the action. The shot symbolized the Lord’s deliverance for Israel through the defeat of the Syrian army by Jehoash (cf. v. 5). Aphek. See note on 1 Kin. 20:26.
13:19 three times. Further, Elisha commanded Jehoash to shoot the remaining arrows into the ground (v. 18). Jehoash shot only 3 arrows into the ground instead of emptying the entire quiver. Because of his lack of faith, Jehoash would win only 3 victories over the Syrians instead of completely destroying them. The account of these victories is given in v. 25.
13:20 spring. The prophet, who was Israel’s defense (v. 14), was dead and it was the season for war campaigns to begin after the rains of winter.
13:21 he revived. A dead man returned to life after touching Elisha’s bones. This miracle was a sign that God’s power continued to work in relationship to Elisha even after his death. What God had promised to Jehoash through Elisha when he was alive would surely come to pass after the prophet’s death (cf. vv. 19, 25) in the defeat of the enemy, the recovery of the cities that had been taken, and their restoration to the kingdom of Israel (vv. 22–25).
13:22 See note on 8:12.
13:23 His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. During the wicked reign of Jehoahaz (vv. 2–7), the Lord was very patient and did not bring the ultimate military defeat that would lead to exile for Israel. This was because of His agreement with the patriarchs to give their descendants the land (Gen. 15:18–21; 26:2–5; 28:13–15). It was God’s promise, not the Israelites’ goodness, that motivated God to be merciful and compassionate toward Israel.
2 Kings 14
14:1—15:38 This section quickly surveys the kings and selected events of the northern and southern kingdoms from 796 to 735 B.C. In contrast to the previous 19 chapters (1 Kin. 17:1–2 Kin. 13:25), which narrated 90 years of history (885–796 B.C.) with a concentration on the ministries of Elijah and Elisha during the final 65 years of that period (860–796 B.C.), 62 years are covered in these two chapters. The previous section concluded with a shadow of hope: officially sanctioned Baal worship had been eradicated in both Israel (10:18–28) and Judah (11:17, 18); the temple of the Lord in Jerusalem had been repaired (12:9–15); and the Syrian threat to Israel had been overcome (13:25). However, this section emphasizes that the fundamental problems still remained: the false religion established by Jeroboam I continued in Israel even with the change of royal families (14:24—15:9, 18, 24, 28), and the high places were not removed in Judah even though there were only good kings there during those years (14:4; 15:4, 35).
14:1 second year. 796 B.C. Amaziah. See notes on 2 Chr. 25:1–28.
14:2 twenty-nine years. 796–767 B.C.
14:3 not like…David. David set a high standard of unswerving devotion to the Lord for the kings of Judah who were his descendants to follow (cf. 1 Kin. 11:4, 6; 15:3). Amaziah did not follow the Lord completely, as David had, because he, like his father Joash, did not remove the high places (v. 4) where, in disregard for Mosaic law, the people worshiped the Lord (Deut. 12:2–7, 13, 14). Further, according to 2 Chr. 25:14–16, Amaziah embraced the false gods of the Edomites.
14:5, 6 When firmly in control of the kingdom, Amaziah took revenge on Jozachar and Jehozabad, the officials who assassinated his father Joash (12:20, 21). However, he spared the lives of their sons, in obedience to the Mosaic law that children were not to die for their fathers’ sins (Deut. 24:16; cf. Ezek. 18:1–20).
14:7 For an elaboration of Amaziah’s war with Edom, see the notes on 2 Chr. 25:5–16. Edom had revolted in Joram’s reign (see 8:20) so the king wanted them subjugated again. the Valley of Salt. Probably a marshy plain at the S end of the Dead Sea (see note on 2 Sam. 8:13). Sela…Joktheel. Sela (meaning “rock” in Heb.) is best identified as Petra (meaning “rock” in Gr.), a city carved out of sheer mountain walls located about 50 mi. S of the Dead Sea, though some prefer to place it in northern Edom near Bozra on the King’s Highway (Judg. 1:36). Renaming a captured city, as Amaziah did with the name Joktheel, implied his control over it.
14:8 Jehoash…of Israel. See notes on 13:10–23. face one another. Amaziah’s challenge to Jehoash constituted a declaration of war. Amaziah, emboldened by his victory over Edom (v. 10), thought he could defeat the stronger army of Israel (cf. 13:25). He was probably also upset by the refusal of Jehoash to establish a marriage alliance with him (v. 9).
14:9 thistle…cedar. In this parable (cf. Judg. 9:8–15) the thistle (Amaziah), an irritating and worthless plant, sought to become the equal of the majestic cedar (Jehoash), but a wild animal crushed the thistle. Jehoash counseled Amaziah that he was overestimating his power and prominence and should not go to war with Israel lest he be crushed (v. 10).
14:11 Beth Shemesh. A town about 15 mi. W of Jerusalem, where the armies of Israel and Judah faced each other in battle.
14:13 Jehoash…captured Amaziah. Winning the battle, Jehoash also captured Amaziah. Jehoash probably took Amaziah back to Samaria as a hostage (v. 14). The king of Judah was forced to stay in Samaria until the death of Jehoash in 782 B.C. (v. 17). Gate of Ephraim…Corner Gate. The Corner Gate (cf. Jer. 31:38; Zech. 14:10) was at the NW corner of the wall around Jerusalem. The Ephraim Gate was in Jerusalem’s northern wall facing Ephraim, 600 ft. E of the Corner Gate. This northwestern section of the wall of Jerusalem, torn down by Jehoash, was the point where Jerusalem was most vulnerable.
14:14 he took. Jehoash plundered both the temple at Jerusalem and the palace of Amaziah. The value of the plundered articles was probably not great, because Jehoash of Judah had previously sent the temple and palace treasures to pay tribute to Hazael of Damascus (12:17, 18). Jehoash probably took hostages from Jerusalem to Samaria to secure additional payments of tribute in view of the small war booty.
14:17 fifteen years. 782–767 B.C.
14:18 the acts of Amaziah. His apostasy (2 Chr. 25:27), his disastrous war with Israel, the ruinous condition of Jerusalem, the plunder of the temple, and the loss of hostages lost him the respect of his people who rebelled and killed him.
14:19 Lachish. A town about 25 mi. SW of Jerusalem to which Amaziah fled seeking to escape death.
14:21 sixteen years old. Azariah, a.k.a. Uzziah (see note on 15:1) had actually begun to reign at the age of 16 in 790 B.C. when his father Amaziah was taken prisoner to Samaria (v. 13). When Amaziah returned to Judah, Azariah ruled with him as co-regent from 782–767 B.C. (v. 17). In 767 B.C. when Amaziah was killed (v. 19), Azariah began his sole rule (15:1). See notes on 2 Chr. 26:1–23.
14:22 Elath. Elath was located on the northern coast of the Gulf of Aqabah and was closely associated with Ezion Geber, a seaport of Solomon (1 Kin. 9:26). Azariah’s restoration of Elath to Judah marked the first significant act of his sole rule; his further successes are summarized in 2 Chr. 26:6–15.
14:23 fifteenth year. Ca. 782 B.C. This marked the beginning of the
sole reign of Jeroboam II. Since his son Zechariah succeeded him in 753 B.C. (see 15:8), Jeroboam II must have had a co-regency with his father Jehoash for 11 years, making a total reign of 41 years (793–753 B.C.), longer than any other king in the northern kingdom. Jeroboam. This was Jeroboam II, who like the other kings of Israel, followed the false religion of Jeroboam I. During the reign of Jeroboam II, the prophets Hosea (Hos. 1:1) and Amos (Amos 1:1) ministered to the northern kingdom. These prophets showed that Jeroboam II’s reign was a time of great prosperity and greater spiritual apostasy in Israel.
14:25 restored the territory of Israel. Jeroboam II’s greatest accomplishment was the restoration of Israel’s boundaries to approximately their extent in Solomon’s time, excluding the territory belonging to Judah. The northern boundary was the entrance of Hamath, the same as Solomon’s (cf. 1 Kin. 8:65) and the southern boundary was the Sea of the Arabah, the Dead Sea (Josh. 3:16; 12:3). Jeroboam II took Hamath, a major city located on the Orontes River, about 160 mi. N of the Sea of Galilee. He also controlled Damascus, indicating that the Transjordan territory S to Moab was also under his authority. These victories of Jeroboam II were accomplished because the Syrians had been weakened by attacks from the Assyrians, while Assyria herself was weak at this time, suffering from threats on her northern border, internal dissension, and a series of weak kings. Jonah. The territorial extension of Jeroboam II was in accordance with the will of the Lord as revealed through the prophet Jonah. This was the same Jonah who traveled to Nineveh with God’s message of repentance for the Assyrians (see Introduction to Jonah). Gath Hepher. A town located in the tribal area of Zebulun, about 14 mi. W of the Sea of Galilee (Josh. 19:13).
14:25, 26 The explanation for Jonah’s prophecy is given here. The Lord Himself had personally witnessed the heavy, bitter affliction borne by all in Israel with no human help available (v. 26). Further, the Lord had not decreed Israel’s final doom (v. 27). To “blot out the name of Israel from under heaven” meant to annihilate Israel totally, leaving no trace or memory of her (Deut. 9:14; 29:20). Thus, moved with compassion, the Lord Himself used Jeroboam II’s reign to rescue His suffering people. However, as the books of Hosea and Amos show, Israel did not respond to God’s grace with repentance.
14:28 Without devotion to the Lord, Jeroboam, by might and clever leadership, brought Israel more prosperity than the country had known since Solomon. The people rested in their prosperity rather than God’s power. Material blessing was no sign of God’s blessing, since they had no commitment to Him.
2 Kings 15
15:1 twenty-seventh year. 767 B.C. This included the 11 years of Jeroboam II’s co-regency with Jehoash (see note on 14:23). Azariah. The name means “The LORD has helped” (14:21; 15:6, 7, 8, 17, 23, 27; 1 Chr. 3:12). He was also called Uzziah, meaning “The LORD is my strength” (15:13, 30, 32, 34; 2 Chr. 26:1–23; Is. 1:1; 6:1; Hos. 1:1; Amos 1:1; Zech. 14:5). Isaiah the prophet began his public ministry during Azariah’s reign (Is. 1:1).
15:2 fifty-two years. 790–739 B.C. Azariah was 16 when he began his co-regency with his father Amaziah. Azariah’s sole rule began in 767 B.C. (see note on v. 8).
15:4 Cf. 12:3; 14:4.
15:5 leper. Azariah suffered from leprosy as punishment for usurping the priestly function of burning incense on the altar in the temple (see notes on 2 Chr. 26:16–18, 19, 20). The disease eventually killed him (see note on Is. 6:1). isolated house. Lit. “in a house of freedom.” Azariah was relieved of all royal responsibilities. His son Jotham served as co-regent until Azariah’s death (750–739 B.C.; see notes on 15:2, 32). As co-regent, Jotham specifically supervised the palace and governed the nation.
15:8 thirty-eighth year. 753 B.C., making Azariah’s co-reign with his father Amaziah (see notes on 14:21; 15:2) begin in 792–791 B.C. (accession year) or 790 B.C. (non-accession year). Zechariah. Zechariah was the fourth and final generation of the dynasty of Jehu (ca. 753/752 B.C.). His death fulfilled the prophecy given by the Lord (cf. 15:12; 10:30).
15:10 Shallum. Shallum killed Zechariah and replaced him as king of Israel. Assyrian records call Shallum “the son of nobody,” indicating that he was not from the royal family.
15:13 thirty-ninth year. 752 B.C. Zechariah’s reign spanned the last months of Azariah’s 38th year (v. 8) and the first months of the following year.
15:14 Menahem. Menahem had probably been a military commander under Zechariah. Tirzah. The former capital of the northern kingdom (1 Kin. 14:17; 15:21, 33), located about 9 mi. E of Samaria. Menahem was probably stationed with his troops at Tirzah.
15:16 Tiphsah. Since Tiphsah was located on the Euphrates River about 325 mi. N of Samaria (1 Kin. 4:24), a majority of interpreters translate this term “Tappuah,” a town 14 mi. SW of Tirzah (Josh. 17:8). ripped open. The ripping open of pregnant women was a barbarous practice and elsewhere associated only with foreign armies (8:12; Hos. 13:16; Amos 1:13). Menahem probably did this as a visible reminder of the city’s failure to “open up” to his demands.
15:17 thirty-ninth year. 752 B.C. ten years. 752–742 B.C. With Menahem, the northern kingdom changed from the non-accession to the accession-year system of computing reigns.
15:19 Pul. Assyrian kings frequently had two names, a throne name for Assyria and another for Babylon. Pul was the Babylonian throne name of the Assyrian king Tiglath-Pileser III (cf. 1 Chr. 5:26) who reigned ca. 745–727 B.C.
15:19, 20 Tiglath-Pileser III invaded Israel in 743 B.C. Menahem paid tribute of 1,000 talents of silver (ca. 37 tons) raised from the wealthy men of Israel. Each of 60,000 men paid 20 oz. of silver to raise the required 37 tons of silver. For his tribute, Tiglath-Pileser III supported Menahem’s claim to the throne of Israel and withdrew his army. By this action, Menahem became a vassal of the Assyrian king.
15:23 fiftieth year. 742 B.C. two years. 742–740 B.C.
15:24 sins of Jeroboam. See notes on 13:2; 1 Kin. 12:25–32.
15:25 Pekah. See note on 15:27. Pekah was one of Pekahiah’s military officers, probably commanding Gilead, since 50 Gileadites accompanied him when he assassinated Pekahiah. Argob and Arieh were either Pekahiah’s sons or loyal military officers. Pekah probably represented the anti-Assyrian faction in Israel (cf. 16:5).
15:27 fifty-second year. 740 B.C. twenty years. On the basis of Assyrian records, it can be determined that Tiglath-Pileser III deposed Pekah as king of Israel in 732 B.C., evidently using Hoshea as his instrument. Therefore, Pekah reigned ca. 752–732 B.C., using the accession-year system of dating (that is, counting the first year as one). For an explanation of this dating system see 1 Kings Introduction: Interpretive Challenges. This included the years 752–740 B.C., when Pekah ruled in Gilead while Menahem (vv. 17–22) and Pekahiah (vv. 23–26) reigned in Samaria (the Jordan River being the boundary of the split kingdom). Verse 25 seems to indicate that Pekah had an alliance with Menahem and Pekahiah, ruling Gilead for them.
15:29 Ijon…Naphtali. The areas of Galilee and Gilead are described here. When Pekah and Rezin, the king of Syria, sought to have Judah join their anti-Assyrian alliance, another invasion by Assyria was provoked (cf. 16:5–9) in 733/732 B.C. Tiglath-Pileser III took Galilee and Gilead and converted them into 3 Assyrian provinces governed by royal appointees. He also was involved in replacing Pekah with Hoshea as king over the remaining area of Israel (see note on 15:27).
15:30 twentieth year. Jotham of Judah began his reign in 750 B.C. (see note on 15:32). His 20th year was 732 B.C., according to the non-accession-year system. Assyrian records confirm that Hoshea began to rule Israel in 732 B.C. (see notes on v. 27; 2 Chr. 27:1–9).
15:32 second year. 750 B.C., the year of Pekah’s second year of rule in Gilead, according to the accession-year system (see note on 15:27).
15:33 sixteen years. 750–735 B.C. According to v. 30, Jotham reigned until 731 B.C. Jotham was probably replaced as a functioning king of Judah by a pro-Assyrian faction who established Ahaz as ruler (see notes on 15:1, 2) while leaving Jotham as a powerless co-regent. Isaiah (Is
. 1:1) and Micah (Mic. 1:1) the prophets ministered to Judah during Jotham’s reign.
15:35 the Upper Gate. Probably the Upper Benjamin Gate, which stood along the N side of the temple complex facing the territory of Benjamin (cf. Jer. 20:2; Ezek. 9:2; Zech. 14:10). Other accomplishments of Jotham are noted in 2 Chr. 27:3–6.
15:37 Rezin…Pekah. See notes on 16:5–9.
2 Kings 16
16:1—17:41 At this point the narrative turns to the defeat and exile of Israel by Assyria. In 17:7–23, the prophetic writer states the reasons why Israel was punished by the Lord. A major reason was the sinful religion established by Jeroboam I (17:21–23), which was followed by every king in Israel. Ominously, the section begins with the narrative concerning Ahaz of Judah who “walked in the way of the kings of Israel” (16:3). The kind of punishment that came upon Israel would come later upon Judah for the same reason (17:19, 20).
16:1 seventeenth year. 735 B.C., since Pekah’s reign began in 752 B.C. (see note on 15:27). Although Jotham, the father of Ahaz, was still alive (see note on 15:30), Ahaz exercised the sovereign authority in Judah from 735 B.C. to Jotham’s death in ca. 731 B.C. Isaiah (Is. 1:1—7:1) and Micah (Mic. 1:1) the prophets continued to minister to Judah during the reign of Ahaz. See notes on 2 Chr. 28:1–27.
16:2 sixteen years. 731–715 B.C. The principle of “dual dating” was followed here. See 1 Kings Introduction: Interpretive Challenges for an explanation of this principle. In 16:1 and 17:1, Ahaz was recognized as king in the year he came to the throne as a co-regent, but the year of his official accession was determined as the year when he began to reign alone. Ahaz shared royal power with Azariah (to 739 B.C.) and Jotham from 744 to 735 B.C. (see note on 17:1); he exercised total authority as co-regent with Jotham from 735–731 B.C. (see note on 16:1); he was sole king from 731 to 729 B.C. and was co-regent with his son Hezekiah from 729 to 715 B.C. (see note on 18:1).
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