2 Kings 14:1-4
Amaziah became king of Judah at the age of 25 years old and reigned for 29 years. He did right in the sight of the Lord. This is noteworthy and shouldn't be accepted as automatically happening. In contrast we can see the kings of the Northern kingdom were consistently bad all the way through. Being a leader of God's people doesn't automatically make you a godly leader. This is something that happens purposefully, humbly and with focus and diligence.
Even in doing what was right, Amaziah was still unable to clear the land of the high places. They still sacrifice on the high places and burned incense.
2 Kings 14:5-7
After he was established king, he killed the servants that killed his father. This was an act of justice and he didn't extend the punishment to the sons. It was rather commonplace to kill all the family and sometimes anyone else that was associated with a previous administration or any rival. Amaziah applied Deuteronomy 24:16 to his decision making process.
Amaziah was a military might in the region. This was a great victory over the Edomites and the conquering of Sela (in spite of the face we don't know where this is exactly). See 2 Chronicles 25:5-16 for more details on the war with Edomites.
2 Kings 14:8-10
Amaziah declared war on Jehoash, king of Israel. Jehoash answers with wisdom and diplomacy. He gives this analogy of the thistle and cear which essentially pointed out to Amaziah that he was getting too proud and that he should stay home. Why would Amaziah create trouble where there was none?
2 Kings 14:11-14
But Amaziah called him out and Jehoash obliged him by bringing the war to him. Amaziah was swiftly defeated sending every man to his tent and the king himself was captured. Jehoash went down to Jerusalem and took down part of the wall and plundered the temple.
2 Kings 14:15-22
When Jehoash died, Jeroboam, his son became king of Israel. Amaziah remained king of Judah for a little while after Jehoash. A conspiracy was formed against Amaziah. He got wind of it and tried to escape but was captured and killed. The conspirators made his son Azariah king while he was sixteen years old. Was Azariah part of the conspiracy against his father? We don't know. What we do know is that Amaziah lost the throne in the same manner it came to him.
2 Kings 14:23-29
Jereboam II beceame king at 41 years old. He did evil in the sight of the Lord but the Lord used him to restore Israel so they wouldn't be wiped out. They were greatly oppressed by Syria and God was merciful to relief to them. Even though Jereboam was an evil king, God used him to restore his people.
Zehcariah reigned after Jereboam. His is the 4th Generation of Jehu and, as prophesied in 2 Kings 10:30, the last.
©2016 Doug Ford
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