2 Kings 14:28

Now the rest of the acts of Jeroboam, and all that he did, and his might, how he warred, and how he recovered Damascus, and Hamath, [which belonged] to Judah, for Israel, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?

Now the rest {H3499} of the acts {H1697} of Jeroboam {H3379}, and all that he did {H6213}, and his might {H1369}, how he warred {H3898}, and how he recovered {H7725} Damascus {H1834}, and Hamath {H2574}, which belonged to Judah {H3063}, for Israel {H3478}, are they not written {H3789} in the book {H5612} of the chronicles {H1697}{H3117} of the kings {H4428} of Israel {H3478}?

Other activities of Yarov'am, all his accomplishments, all his power, how he conducted war and how he recovered Dammesek and Hamat for Y'hudah in Isra'el are recorded in the Annals of the Kings of Isra'el.

As for the rest of the acts of Jeroboam, along with all his accomplishments and might, and how he waged war and recovered both Damascus and Hamath for Israel from Judah, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel?

Now the rest of the acts of Jeroboam, and all that he did, and his might, how he warred, and how he recovered Damascus, and Hamath, which had belonged to Judah, for Israel, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?

Commentary

2 Kings 14:28 provides a concise summary of the impressive military achievements and territorial expansions of King Jeroboam II of Israel, pointing to more detailed accounts found in historical records of the time.

Context

This verse concludes the biblical account of Jeroboam II's long and prosperous reign (c. 793-753 BC) over the Northern Kingdom of Israel. He was the son of Jehoash and a significant figure in Israelite history, presiding over a period of remarkable economic and military resurgence. Despite his successes, the Bible consistently notes that he "did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD" (2 Kings 14:24), following the sins of Jeroboam I.

The cities of Damascus and Hamath, located in modern-day Syria, were strategically important. Damascus had long been a dominant Aramean kingdom and a frequent adversary of Israel. Hamath was a significant city-state to the north. Jeroboam II's recovery of these territories for Israel marked a restoration of borders reminiscent of the expansive kingdom under King Solomon, signifying a peak of Israelite power before its eventual decline.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Military Might and Territorial Expansion: Jeroboam II's reign was characterized by significant military victories, leading to the recovery of lost territories and a restoration of Israel's northern borders. This expansion brought considerable wealth and prosperity to the kingdom.
  • Fulfillment of Prophecy: Remarkably, this territorial expansion was foretold by the prophet Jonah, as mentioned in 2 Kings 14:25. This highlights God's sovereign hand at work, even through leaders who do not fully follow His commands, demonstrating His mercy on Israel despite their idolatry.
  • Reference to External Historical Records: The phrase "are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?" is a common literary device in the books of Kings. It indicates that the biblical narrative is drawing upon and summarizing more extensive national records, inviting readers to consult these (now lost) historical archives for further details.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV phrase "recovered Damascus, and Hamath" uses the Hebrew verb shuv (שׁוּב), which means to "return" or "restore." This implies that these territories, which had previously been part of Israel's sphere of influence or under its control, were now brought back under Israelite dominion. The parenthetical "[which belonged] to Judah" is a helpful clarification by the KJV translators, suggesting these areas might have been part of the broader Davidic kingdom's reach in earlier times, now reclaimed for the Northern Kingdom of Israel.

Practical Application

This verse reminds us that God's plan can unfold through various means, even through leaders who are not spiritually exemplary. Jeroboam II's military successes were part of God's compassionate action to preserve Israel for a time, despite their persistent sin, as noted in 2 Kings 14:26-27. It underscores that historical records, both biblical and secular, serve to document the unfolding of divine purposes and human actions. For us, it encourages looking beyond immediate circumstances to see the larger narrative of God's overarching sovereignty in history, and to appreciate that even seemingly secular achievements can be part of a divine plan.

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 β€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 1 Kings 11:24

    And he gathered men unto him, and became captain over a band, when David slew them [of Zobah]: and they went to Damascus, and dwelt therein, and reigned in Damascus.

  • 2 Samuel 8:6

    Then David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus: and the Syrians became servants to David, [and] brought gifts. And the LORD preserved David whithersoever he went.

  • 1 Chronicles 18:5

    And when the Syrians of Damascus came to help Hadarezer king of Zobah, David slew of the Syrians two and twenty thousand men.

  • 1 Chronicles 18:6

    Then David put [garrisons] in Syriadamascus; and the Syrians became David's servants, [and] brought gifts. Thus the LORD preserved David whithersoever he went.

  • 2 Chronicles 8:3

    And Solomon went to Hamathzobah, and prevailed against it.

  • 2 Chronicles 8:4

    And he built Tadmor in the wilderness, and all the store cities, which he built in Hamath.
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