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Public-domain commentary
Matthew Henry
From his Commentary on the Whole Bible. Henry comments on passages, not single verses — this entry covers 2 Kings 14:1–7. His two-level outline is real structure in the source text, so it is rendered as structure.
Amaziah, the son and successor of Joash, is the king whom here we have an account of. Let us take a view of him,
I.In the temple; and there he acted, in some measure, well, like Joash, but not like David, Kg2 14:3.
He began well, but did not persevere: He did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, kept up his attendance on God's altars and his attention to God's word, yet not like David. It is not enough to do that which our pious predecessors did, merely to keep up the usage, but we must do it as they did it, from the same principle of faith and devotion and with the same sincerity and resolution. It is here taken notice of, as before, that the high places were not taken away, Kg2 14:4. It is hard to get clear of those corruptions which, by long usage, have gained both prescription and a favourable opinion.
II.On the bench; and there we have him doing justice on the traitors that murdered his father, not as soon as ever he came to the crown, lest it should occasion some disturbance, but he prudently deferred it till the kingdom was confirmed in his hand, Kg2 14:5. To weaken a factious party gradually, when it is not safe to provoke, often proves the way to ruin it effectually. Justice strikes surely by striking slowly, and is often executed most prudently when it is not executed presently. Wisdom here is profitable to direct. Amaziah did thus,
1.According to the rule of the law, that ancient rule, that he that sheds man's blood by man shall his blood be shed. Never let traitors or murderers expect to come to their graves like other men. Let them flee to the pit, and let no man stay them.
2.Under the limitation of the law: The children of the murderers he slew not, because the law of Moses had expressly provided that the children should not be put to death for the fathers, Kg2 14:6. It is probable that this is taken notice of because there were those about him that advised him to that rigour, both in revenge (because the crime was extraordinary - the murder of a king) and in policy, that the children might not plot against him, in revenge of their father's death. But against these insinuations he opposed the express law of God (Deu 24:16), which he was to judge by, and which he resolved to adhere to and trust God with the issue. God visits the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, because every man is guilty before him and owes him a death; so that, if he require the life for the father's sin, he does not wrong, the sinner having forfeited it already by his own. But he does not allow earthly princes to do thus: the children, before them, are innocent, and therefore must not suffer as guilty.
III.In the field; and there we find him triumphing over the Edomites, Kg2 14:7.
Edom had revolted from under the hand of Judah in Joram's time, Kg2 8:22. Now he makes war upon them to bring them back to their allegiance, kills 10,000 and takes the chief city of Arabia the stony (called Selah - a rock), and gave it a new name. We shall find a larger account of this expedition, Ch2 25:5, etc.
Historical interpretation
Historical Reception
One surviving comment on this verse from the historical church.
“In the second year of King Joash son of Ahaziah of Israel, King Amaziah son of Joash of Judah began to reign,” who avenged the death of his father, but with moderation, so that he spared the life of the relatives of the conspirators according to the prescriptions of the Law and was careful that the punishment might not be too excessive for the authors of the crime. Therefore Amaziah was pious, as long as he had before his eyes his father’s unhappy end, whose cause he could not ignore: offense against the true religion [of God]. However, when his reign began to be very prosperous, [Amaziah] rejected his fear of God which he had conceived after witnessing his father’s punishment, and embraced foreign cults. In the second book of the Annals, the Scripture relating his victory against the Edomites confirms that this was the reason of his apostasy: “But Amaziah took courage, and led out his people, and went to the Valley of Salt and smote ten thousand men of Seir. The men of Judah captured another ten thousand alive and took them to the top of a rock, and all were enchained.” And the text adds, “After Amaziah came from the slaughter of the Edomites, he brought the gods of the men of Seir, and set them up as his gods and worshiped them, making offerings to them.”
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Summary
Second Kings 14:3 offers a precise and nuanced assessment of King Amaziah of Judah, immediately establishing the spiritual trajectory of his reign. While initially credited with actions deemed "right in the sight of the LORD," this commendation is significantly qualified by two crucial comparisons: his reign lacked the wholehearted devotion characteristic of "David his father," and his conduct mirrored the compromised and ultimately flawed rule of "Joash his father." This verse thus introduces Amaziah as a monarch whose obedience was partial and conditional, setting the stage for the spiritual challenges and ultimate failures that would define his time on the throne of Judah.
Context
Literary Context
This verse serves as the immediate introduction to King Amaziah's reign, following the account of his father Joash's assassination at the end of 2 Kings 12. The books of Kings frequently employ a standardized evaluative formula at the introduction of each monarch, assessing their reign against the divine standard. In Amaziah's case, the initial positive assessment ("he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD") is swiftly undercut by the subsequent qualifications, creating a sense of tension and foreshadowing the complexities and spiritual compromises that will define his rule. The verse immediately precedes 2 Kings 14:4, which highlights the persistent issue of the high places, a key indicator of incomplete obedience and syncretism in Judah. This immediate follow-up demonstrates that Amaziah's "right" actions were not comprehensive, particularly concerning the purity of worship and the eradication of illicit cultic sites.
Historical & Cultural Context
King Amaziah reigned over the Southern Kingdom of Judah from approximately 800 to 783 BC. This period was marked by ongoing tensions with the Northern Kingdom of Israel and neighboring nations like Edom. The role of the king in ancient Israel and Judah was not merely political but also deeply spiritual; the monarch was expected to uphold the Mosaic covenant and lead the people in exclusive worship of Yahweh. The "high places" (local shrines where people worshipped God, often with pagan elements or in ways not prescribed by the Law) represented a persistent challenge to the centralized, pure worship at the Jerusalem Temple, a problem that plagued many kings. The comparison to David and Joash reflects the Deuteronomistic historian's consistent theological framework, where a king's adherence to God's law and covenant fidelity were paramount, and David served as the unparalleled benchmark for righteous leadership.
Key Themes
The primary theme is the evaluation of kingship according to a divine standard, a hallmark of the Deuteronomistic history found throughout 1 Kings and 2 Kings. This verse particularly highlights the theme of partial obedience versus wholehearted devotion. While Amaziah avoids the overt wickedness of some kings, his righteousness is noted as incomplete, lacking the profound internal commitment exemplified by David. This leads to the theme of the Davidic standard, where King David's reign, despite his personal failings, served as the ideal benchmark for covenant fidelity and devotion to Yahweh, as seen in passages like 1 Kings 15:5. Furthermore, the comparison to Joash introduces the theme of parental legacy and influence, suggesting that Amaziah's spiritual walk might have been conditioned by external factors, much like his father's initial piety under Jehoiada, which later faltered after the priest's death, as recorded in 2 Chronicles 24:17-19.
Exposition and Analysis
Key Word Analysis
This word signifies moral uprightness, rectitude, or straightness. When applied to a king's actions "in the sight of the LORD," it denotes alignment with God's revealed will and covenant commands, particularly in matters of justice, administration, and avoidance of overt idolatry. However, as the subsequent qualifications in this verse indicate, yashar' here describes a general adherence to external religious and moral norms, rather than a deep, internal, and comprehensive devotion.
King David serves as the enduring and ultimate standard for righteous kingship in Judah throughout the books of Kings and Chronicles. Despite his personal sins, David's defining characteristic was his "whole heart" (as in 1 Kings 11:4 contrasting with Solomon) and his unwavering commitment to Yahweh as the one true God, establishing the foundational covenant relationship between the monarchy and God. The phrase "not like David his father" is a severe qualification, indicating Amaziah's failure to meet this benchmark of genuine, internal devotion and complete covenant loyalty.
Amaziah's father, King Joash, had a reign that began well under the guidance of the priest Jehoiada (2 Kings 12:2). However, after Jehoiada's death, Joash succumbed to idolatry and apostasy (2 Chronicles 24:17-19), leading to his eventual assassination. The comparison "as Joash his father did" is therefore not entirely positive; it suggests a reign characterized by initial promise but ultimately marred by spiritual compromise and a lack of steadfast commitment to God, foreshadowing similar patterns in Amaziah's own rule.
Verse Breakdown
"And he did [that which was] right in the sight of the LORD"
This opening clause presents an initial positive assessment of Amaziah's reign. It indicates that his actions, at least outwardly, conformed to God's standards for a king, likely avoiding the gross idolatry or wickedness that characterized some of the more egregious kings of both Judah and Israel. He likely upheld justice and maintained the Temple worship, at least superficially, fulfilling the basic requirements of a covenant king.
"yet not like David his father"
This is the crucial qualification that immediately undercuts the initial positive assessment. It signifies that Amaziah's "rightness" was incomplete, lacking the depth, consistency, and wholehearted devotion that characterized King David, who, despite his personal failures, possessed a heart fully committed to Yahweh. Amaziah's obedience was external and partial, not springing from a deep, internal relationship with God that permeated every aspect of his rule and personal life.
"he did according to all things as Joash his father did"
This further clarifies the nature of Amaziah's qualified righteousness. His father Joash began well but later apostatized, demonstrating a faith that was conditional and dependent on external influences rather than an unwavering internal conviction. This comparison suggests that Amaziah's spiritual integrity would similarly prove to be inconsistent and susceptible to compromise, a characteristic that would become evident in his later actions, such as his failure to remove the high places and his eventual pride and idolatry.
Literary Devices
The verse primarily employs Juxtaposition and Contrast to convey its complex evaluation of Amaziah. By first stating that he did "right in the sight of the LORD" and immediately following with the qualification "yet not like David his father," the text sets up a stark contrast between superficial compliance and genuine, wholehearted devotion. This is further nuanced by the comparison to "Joash his father," which serves as a Foreshadowing device, hinting at the conditional and ultimately compromised nature of Amaziah's faith, mirroring Joash's own trajectory from promising beginnings to apostasy. The verse also utilizes an Evaluative Formula, a common literary technique in the books of Kings, where each king's reign is systematically assessed against a divine standard, often referencing the ideal of Davidic kingship. This formulaic approach provides a consistent theological framework for understanding the spiritual health of the monarchy and the nation.
Theological and Thematic Connections
This verse powerfully conveys a fundamental theological truth: God desires not merely outward conformity or partial obedience, but a heart fully devoted to Him. Amaziah's reign serves as a cautionary tale against superficial righteousness, demonstrating that even actions deemed "right" can be deficient if they do not spring from a deep, unwavering commitment to God's will and character. The consistent use of David as the benchmark for kingship underscores the enduring importance of wholehearted love for God, a principle central to the Mosaic covenant. True devotion involves not just avoiding sin, but actively pursuing God's heart and removing all obstacles to pure worship, a challenge Amaziah notably failed to meet with the high places. This theme resonates throughout Scripture, emphasizing that genuine faith is demonstrated by comprehensive obedience and an undivided heart, a call for integrity that transcends mere external compliance.
Reflection and Application
The assessment of King Amaziah in 2 Kings 14:3 offers a profound challenge to contemporary believers: are we pursuing a faith characterized by wholehearted devotion, or are we content with a partial, conditional, or merely outward obedience? God is not satisfied with actions that are "right" if our hearts are divided or if we cling to "high places" – those areas of our lives where we compromise our devotion, allow syncretism, or prioritize self over God's complete will. This verse calls us to examine our motives, to root out any areas where our commitment is less than absolute, and to strive for the kind of unreserved love and obedience that God desires from His people. It reminds us that true spiritual integrity is not about avoiding the worst sins, but about passionately pursuing the best and highest standard of devotion, learning from the spiritual legacies of those who have gone before us, both good and bad, to cultivate a faith that is truly transformative and honoring to God.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
What does 'right in the sight of the LORD' truly mean in this context, given the qualifications?
In this context, "right in the sight of the LORD" means that Amaziah generally adhered to the covenant requirements and avoided the egregious idolatry or wickedness of some other kings. He likely upheld justice, maintained the Temple worship, and did not promote foreign gods. However, the subsequent qualifications ("yet not like David his father: he did according to all things as Joash his father did") indicate that this "rightness" was superficial or incomplete. It lacked the deep, internal, and consistent commitment that God truly desires. It was an external conformity, not a wholehearted devotion, as evidenced by his failure to remove the high places (2 Kings 14:4) and his later spiritual failures.
Why is King David consistently presented as the ultimate standard for kingship in Judah?
King David is the ultimate standard because, despite his personal moral failures (e.g., Bathsheba, Uriah), his heart was fundamentally devoted to Yahweh. He established the Davidic covenant, centralized worship in Jerusalem, and consistently sought God's will. His reign represented the ideal of a king who, though imperfect, genuinely loved and feared the LORD. The biblical narrative often contrasts other kings' reigns with David's, not to suggest he was sinless, but to highlight his unique and unwavering commitment to God's covenant, as noted in 1 Kings 15:5.
How did Joash's reign influence Amaziah, and what does it reveal about the nature of their faith?
Joash's reign served as a direct precedent for Amaziah's. Joash began well, guided by the faithful priest Jehoiada (2 Chronicles 24:2). However, after Jehoiada's death, Joash turned away from God and allowed the people to worship idols (2 Chronicles 24:17-19), ultimately leading to his assassination. This pattern suggests that both Joash's and Amaziah's faith was conditional or externally dependent, rather than stemming from an unwavering internal conviction. Their obedience was subject to external influences or personal circumstances, highlighting a lack of steadfast, wholehearted devotion to God.
Christ-Centered Fulfillment
The qualified righteousness of King Amaziah, measured against the ideal of David and the compromised legacy of Joash, points powerfully to the perfect and ultimate King, Jesus Christ. While Amaziah's "rightness" was partial and external, Jesus perfectly fulfilled all righteousness, not merely in outward conformity but with a heart entirely devoted to the Father, even to the point of death on a cross (Philippians 2:8). He is the true Son of David, the one who embodies the wholehearted devotion that David strived for but could not perfectly maintain (Matthew 1:1). Unlike Amaziah, who failed to remove the "high places" of compromise and ultimately succumbed to pride and idolatry, Jesus utterly conquered sin and idolatry, offering Himself as the perfect sacrifice that truly takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29). In Christ, believers find a righteousness that is not partial or conditional, but complete and imputed, allowing us to stand "right in the sight of the LORD" through His perfect obedience, not our own flawed attempts (2 Corinthians 5:21). He is the King who perfectly fulfills the divine standard, providing the path to true and lasting communion with God and inviting us into His perfect, wholehearted devotion.