2 Kings 14:15

ยถ Now the rest of the acts of Jehoash which he did, and his might, and how he fought with Amaziah king of Judah, [are] they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?

Now the rest {H3499} of the acts {H1697} of Jehoash {H3060} which he did {H6213}, and his might {H1369}, and how he fought {H3898} with Amaziah {H558} king {H4428} of Judah {H3063}, are they not written {H3789} in the book {H5612} of the chronicles {H1697}{H3117} of the kings {H4428} of Israel {H3478}?

Other activities of Y'ho'ash that he did, his power and how he fought Amatzyah king of Y'hudah are recorded in the Annals of the Kings of Isra'el.

As for the rest of the acts of Jehoash, along with his accomplishments, his might, and how he waged war against Amaziah king of Judah, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel?

Now the rest of the acts of Jehoash which he did, and his might, and how he fought with Amaziah king of Judah, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?

Commentary

2 Kings 14:15 serves as a concluding summary for the reign of King Jehoash (also known as Joash) of Israel, a common literary device found throughout the books of Kings. It directs the reader to external, non-canonical historical records for more detailed accounts of his rule.

Context

This verse marks the end of the biblical narrative concerning King Jehoash of Israel, who reigned for 16 years. It immediately follows the detailed account of his significant military victory over King Amaziah of Judah, which is described in 2 Kings 14:8-14. The phrase "Now the rest of the acts of Jehoash... are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?" is a formulaic statement. It indicates that the biblical author is summarizing and pointing to more extensive official state records, which were available to the original audience but are not part of the inspired biblical canon. This mirrors similar concluding remarks for other kings, such as Jeroboam I in 1 Kings 14:19 or Jehu in 2 Kings 10:34.

Key Themes

  • Historical Veracity and External Records: The verse highlights the biblical authors' reliance on and reference to existing historical documents, such as the "book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel." This demonstrates that the biblical account was not fabricated but compiled from real, verifiable historical sources, lending credibility to the narrative.
  • Selective Narration: While acknowledging more exhaustive records, the Bible itself is selective. It focuses on the events and details that are spiritually significant and relevant to God's dealings with His people, rather than providing a complete secular history.
  • Divine Oversight of History: The consistent reference to these external chronicles implies that God's hand was not only in the events themselves but also in their documentation and preservation, ensuring that the necessary truths would be recorded for future generations.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "are they not written" (Hebrew: ื”ึฒืœึนืึพื”ึตืžึธึผื” ื›ึฐืชื•ึผื‘ึดื™ื, halo-hemmah kฤ•tรปbรฎm) is a rhetorical question in Hebrew that functions as a strong affirmation. It effectively means, "Indeed, they are written." This rhetorical device emphasizes the certainty and public accessibility of these historical records to the contemporary reader, reinforcing the factual basis of the biblical account.

Practical Application

For modern readers, 2 Kings 14:15 offers several insights:

  • Trust in Scripture's Reliability: This verse subtly reinforces the historical grounding of the Bible. It shows that the biblical writers were not inventing stories but were drawing from and referencing known historical documents, building confidence in the authenticity of God's Word.
  • God's Grand Narrative: It reminds us that while the Bible gives us a focused, salvific history, the larger, more detailed tapestry of human history is also under God's sovereign hand. Every event, even those not fully detailed in Scripture, plays a role in His overarching plan.
  • Focus on Spiritual Truth: The verse encourages us to appreciate that the Bible, while historically accurate, prioritizes spiritual lessons and God's relationship with humanity. It provides enough detail to teach us about obedience, consequences, and God's faithfulness without overwhelming us with every historical minutia.
Note: If the commentary doesnโ€™t appear instantly, please allow 2โ€“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 โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 1 Kings 14:19

    And the rest of the acts of Jeroboam, how he warred, and how he reigned, behold, they [are] written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.

  • 1 Kings 14:20

    And the days which Jeroboam reigned [were] two and twenty years: and he slept with his fathers, and Nadab his son reigned in his stead.

  • 2 Kings 13:12

    And the rest of the acts of Joash, and all that he did, and his might wherewith he fought against Amaziah king of Judah, [are] they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?

  • 2 Kings 13:13

    And Joash slept with his fathers; and Jeroboam sat upon his throne: and Joash was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel.

  • 2 Kings 10:34

    Now the rest of the acts of Jehu, and all that he did, and all his might, [are] they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?

  • 2 Kings 10:35

    And Jehu slept with his fathers: and they buried him in Samaria. And Jehoahaz his son reigned in his stead.
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