2 Kings 14:14

And he took all the gold and silver, and all the vessels that were found in the house of the LORD, and in the treasures of the king's house, and hostages, and returned to Samaria.

And he took {H3947} all the gold {H2091} and silver {H3701}, and all the vessels {H3627} that were found {H4672} in the house {H1004} of the LORD {H3068}, and in the treasures {H214} of the king's {H4428} house {H1004}, and hostages {H1121}{H8594}, and returned {H7725} to Samaria {H8111}.

He took all the gold and silver, all the articles he could find in the house of ADONAI and in the treasuries of the royal palace, and hostages; then he returned to Shomron.

He took all the gold and silver and all the articles found in the house of the LORD and in the treasuries of the royal palace, as well as some hostages. Then he returned to Samaria.

And he took all the gold and silver, and all the vessels that were found in the house of Jehovah, and in the treasures of the king’s house, the hostages also, and returned to Samaria.

Commentary

2 Kings 14:14 details the extensive plunder taken by King Jehoash (Joash) of Israel from Jerusalem after his decisive victory over King Amaziah of Judah. This verse encapsulates the significant cost of Judah's defeat, marking a moment of severe humiliation for the southern kingdom.

Context

The events leading to 2 Kings 14:14 stem from King Amaziah of Judah's challenge to King Jehoash of Israel. After a successful campaign against Edom, Amaziah, perhaps emboldened by his victory, provoked Jehoash to war (2 Kings 14:8). Jehoash responded with a dismissive parable, warning Amaziah against his pride and advising him to remain peaceful (2 Kings 14:9-10). However, Amaziah refused to listen, leading to a battle at Beth-shemesh where Judah was utterly routed and Amaziah himself was captured (2 Kings 14:12). Following this victory, Jehoash marched on Jerusalem, broke down a considerable section of its walls, and then proceeded to seize the treasures described in this verse before returning to his capital, Samaria.

Key Themes

  • Consequences of Pride and Disobedience: Amaziah's overconfidence and refusal to heed wise counsel directly led to Judah's defeat and the subsequent plundering of Jerusalem. This serves as a powerful biblical example of the dangers of hubris.
  • Spoils of War: The verse vividly illustrates the ancient Near Eastern practice of victors seizing valuable assets from the defeated. Jehoash took "all the gold and silver" from both the royal palace and, significantly, from the sacred Temple itself.
  • Desecration of Sacred Space: The plundering of the "house of the LORD" (the Jerusalem Temple) was a profound act of sacrilege and a deep blow to Judah's religious and national identity. While the Temple had been plundered before by foreign powers like Shishak of Egypt, this instance involved a king from the northern kingdom of Israel, highlighting the bitter animosity and spiritual decline within the divided monarchy. Such acts foreshadowed later, more devastating destructions, such as by Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon.
  • Political Subjugation and Control: The taking of "hostages" back to Samaria was a common ancient tactic to ensure the conquered kingdom's future compliance and to secure tribute. It underscored Israel's temporary dominance over Judah.

Linguistic Insights

The term "vessels that were found in the house of the LORD" refers to the various sacred implements, utensils, and ornaments used in the Temple's worship, rituals, and daily service. Their removal by Jehoash was not merely economic plunder but a symbolic assertion of power over Judah's religious and national core.

Practical Application

This historical account offers several enduring lessons for believers today:

  • Humility is Key: The story of Amaziah's fall serves as a timeless reminder that pride can lead to ruin. Cultivating humility and seeking wise counsel are vital, especially in positions of influence or leadership.
  • Consequences of Conflict: The repeated conflicts between the sister kingdoms of Israel and Judah underscore the destructive nature of internal strife and division, even among those with a shared heritage.
  • Vulnerability of Earthly Treasures: Even the most sacred physical objects and valuable treasures are subject to the ravages of conflict and time. Our ultimate security and hope should rest in God, not in material possessions or earthly institutions.
Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 1 Kings 14:26

    And he took away the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king's house; he even took away all: and he took away all the shields of gold which Solomon had made.

  • 1 Kings 7:51

    So was ended all the work that king Solomon made for the house of the LORD. And Solomon brought in the things which David his father had dedicated; [even] the silver, and the gold, and the vessels, did he put among the treasures of the house of the LORD.

  • 1 Kings 15:18

    Then Asa took all the silver and the gold [that were] left in the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king's house, and delivered them into the hand of his servants: and king Asa sent them to Benhadad, the son of Tabrimon, the son of Hezion, king of Syria, that dwelt at Damascus, saying,

  • 2 Kings 18:23

    Now therefore, I pray thee, give pledges to my lord the king of Assyria, and I will deliver thee two thousand horses, if thou be able on thy part to set riders upon them.

  • 2 Kings 25:15

    And the firepans, and the bowls, [and] such things as [were] of gold, [in] gold, and of silver, [in] silver, the captain of the guard took away.

  • 2 Kings 12:18

    And Jehoash king of Judah took all the hallowed things that Jehoshaphat, and Jehoram, and Ahaziah, his fathers, kings of Judah, had dedicated, and his own hallowed things, and all the gold [that was] found in the treasures of the house of the LORD, and in the king's house, and sent [it] to Hazael king of Syria: and he went away from Jerusalem.

  • 2 Kings 24:13

    And he carried out thence all the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king's house, and cut in pieces all the vessels of gold which Solomon king of Israel had made in the temple of the LORD, as the LORD had said.
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