Hebrew-English Text
I. Summary
Amaziah becomes king of Judah and defeats the Edomites. The Judeans are crushed by Jehoash king of Israel, Jerusalem is plundered, and Amaziah is murdered. Jeroboam becomes king of Israel and conquers vast swaths of land.
II. Photo
Amaziah has mercy: “But he did not put to death the children of the assassins, in accordance with what is written in the Book of the Teaching of Moses.” (v. 6a)
III. Important Verses
5-6: Once he had the kingdom firmly in his grasp, he put to death the courtiers who had assassinated his father the king. But he did not put to death the children of the assassins, in accordance with what is written in the Book of the Teaching of Moses, where the LORD commanded, “Parents shall not be put to death for children, nor children be put to death for parents; a person shall be put to death only for his own crime.”
7-10: He defeated ten thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt, and he captured Sela in battle and renamed it Joktheel, as is still the case. Then Amaziah sent envoys to King Jehoash son of Jehoahaz son of Jehu of Israel, with this message: “Come, let us confront each other.” King Jehoash of Israel sent back this message to King Amaziah of Judah: “The thistle in Lebanon sent this message to the cedar in Lebanon, ‘Give your daughter to my son in marriage.’ But a wild beast in Lebanon went by and trampled down the thistle. Because you have defeated Edom, you have become arrogant. Stay home and enjoy your glory, rather than provoke disaster and fall, dragging Judah down with you.”
13-14: King Jehoash of Israel captured King Amaziah son of Jehoash son of Ahaziah of Judah at Beth-shemesh. He marched on Jerusalem, and he made a breach of four hundred cubits in the wall of Jerusalem, from the Ephraim Gate to the Corner Gate. He carried off all the gold and silver and all the vessels that there were in the House of the LORD and in the treasuries of the royal palace, as well as hostages; and he returned to Samaria.
19: A conspiracy was formed against him in Jerusalem and he fled to Lachish; but they sent men after him to Lachish, and they killed him there.
IV. Outline
1-20. Jehoash king of Israel; Amaziah king of Judah
1-2. Introductory statement: Amaziah king of Judah
3-4. Amaziah’s religious successes and failures
5-6. Revenge; Note about vengeance
7. Amaziah defeats Edom
8. Amaziah provokes Israel
9-10. Jehoash’s deprecating response
11-14. The Israelites prevail and raid Jerusalem
15-16. Summary statement: Jehoash king of Israel
17-20. Amaziah’s murder; Summary statement
21-22. Azariah becomes king in Judah; Military exploits
23-29. Jeroboam king of Israel
23. Introductory statement
24. Jeroboam’s sins
25-27. Jeroboam’s military victories
28-29. Summary statement
V. Comment
No comment today. Stay tuned.
VI. Works Used
(see “Commentaries” page)
Cogan, Mordechai and Hayim Tadmor. “II Kings” The Anchor Bible v. 11 (USA: Doubleday, 1988).
Collins, John J. “Introduction to the Hebrew Bible,” (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2004).
Hobbs, T.R. “2 Kings” Word Biblical Commentary vol. 13 (Waco, Texas: Wordbooks, 1985).
Photo taken from http://www.childcare-connection.org/images/kidcircle.jpg
