A Complete History and Mystery of the Old and New Testament, Volume 3 · Commentary on 1 and 2 Kings · Chapter 14
2 Kings CHAP. XIV. and 2 Chron. CHAP. XXV.
THESE two Chapters, 2 Kings 14. and 2 Chron. 25. give us the Hiſtory of Amaziah King of Judah, from ver. 1, to ver. 23. of 2 Kings 14. and the whole Chapter of 2 Chron. 25. throughout.
Remarks upon Amaziah, the Firſt is, His Age, and the Name of his Mother: 1. He was twenty five Years old when he began to Reign, and Reigned twenty nine Years over Judah, ver. 1, 2. and 2 Chron. 25.1. namely, fourteen Years with Jehoaſh King of Iſrael, and fifteen Years after his Death with Jeroboam the Second, ver. 17. and 2 Chron. 25.25. above half of his twenty nine Years he lived in baſe contempt among his People, as will appear afterwards. His Mothers Name, 2. is recorded, becauſe (ſaith Lavater) he was one of the Kings of Judah, whereof mention is always made of their Mothers, but never ſo of the Kings of Iſrael, that Kingdom being nothing ſo famous as this of Judah: N.B. The Throne of Judah had ſome interchanges of good Kings, but Iſrael had none at all: And mention uſeth to be made of the Mothers of thoſe Kings, becauſe in their younger Years, they were inſtructed by them, Prov. 31.1. and becauſe Kings uſed to have many Wives, therefore their proper Mother is mentioned by Name.
Remark the Second, His general Character [he did right in God's ſight, but not as David, &c.] ver. 3. to wit, in the matter of his external Acts, but not with an upright Heart, 2 Chron. 25.2. for he proved a notorious Hypocrite, like Saul, ſo was unlike David, who ſerved God with a perfect Heart, 1 Kings 11.4. but rather like Joaſh his Father; who for a time (during Jehoiada's days) ſerved God aright, but afterwards fell foully to Idolatry, as above: And here is an Exception added to his right doing, for he did not right, in not removing the High Places, ver. 4. no more than his Father Joaſh had done before him, Chap. 12.3. ſo that he did truly Patrizare, like Father, like Son: Though their Works were materially good, yet not formally and eventually.
Remark the Third, Amaziah did well (ſaith Sir Walter Rawleigh) in making an outward Profeſſion of the Law of Moſes, when he began to Reign, and in forbearing to puniſh the Murderers of his Father Joaſh, and in conniving at the mean Interrment of his Father's dead Body, which was not buried among the Kings, 2 Chron. 24.25. (as had been diſgracefully done to Ahaziah, Joaſh's wicked Grandfather, 2 Chron. 21.24.) probably becauſe Joaſh's murder'd Body was much putrified with his wounds. All thoſe Affronts Amaziah prudently puts up until he could be confirmed in his Kingdom, ver. 5. where Menochius Notes well, that the Murderers of King Joaſh, were not any ſordid Mercenary fugitive ſcoundrel-cut Throats, though deſcribed to deſcend of Moab and Ammon, Chap. 12.21. 2 Chron. 24.26. but men of great Note and Figure in Jeruſalem; however, they had powerful Abettors among Peers and People, to whom Joaſh had render'd himſelf odious by his Apoſtaſy into Idolatry, and by his groſs Ingratitude to his Foſter-Father Jehoiada: but afterward (ſaith Sir Walter) when the heat of thoſe) Affections were allayed, he ſlew the Murderers.
Remark the Fourth, Beſide the General Character of Amaziah's doing right; Theſe particular Acts were done right in ſpecial, as 1ſt. His Prudent Patience in forbearing revenge, until he ſaw himſelf faſt ſeated in the Saddle, and ſettled on the Throne, which he could not ſee in the beginning of his Reign, becauſe his Father's Murderers were either great Men and had great command, or were of high Account among the People who patroniz'd them. 2ly. When Troubles about that Treaſon were well blown over, he finding a fit ſeaſon of his own Strength, &c. executeth Juſtice juſtly upon them, which Act had a threefold Equity in it. 1. The Blood of any Man, if unjuſtly flain, defiles the Land, Numb. 35.33. and cries for Vengeance, Gen. 4.10. 2. How much more the Blood of a King? And 3. To Evidence the Equity of his Act of Juſtice, 'tis ſaid, this King was his Father. 3ly. Another right Act of Amaziah's was, his not ſlaying the Children of the Murderers, ver. 6. wherein he acted like a Pious, as well as a Juſt Prince, in obeying the expreſs command of God, Deut. 24.16. though carnal Policy could not but prompt him to cut them off: Here the fear of God ſeems to preponderate the fear of Man, for he could not but naturally fear this Danger, that if the Murderers Children were left alive, they might ſeek revenge for their Fathers Death, as the King did for his, &c.
Remark the Fifth, Amaziah hearing of Jehoaſh's ſucceſs againſt the Syrians in his three Victories over them that Eliſha had foretold him of, reſolveth hereupon to recover Edom, who in the time of his great Grandfather Joram, had caſt off the Yoak that David had laid upon them, Chap. 8.20. and though Joram had overthrown them, yet continued they to Rebel unto Amaziah's Time, therefore gathers he a prodigious Army, ver. 7. and 2 Chron. 25.5. even three hundred thouſand choice Men of Judah. N.B. Though this was a vaſt number, yet his great great-Grandfather Jehoſaphat had this number above three times told, even Eleven hundred thouſand, 2 Chron. 17.14, 15, 16, 17, &c. it ſeems Judah was now waſted and weakned by their Idolatry and other evil Practices, and though his three hundred thouſand ſeem'd an Hoſt able enough to overcome and overrum Edom, yet that he might make ſure work, and out do his great Grandfather Joram, he hires an hundred thouſand of Iſrael to help him in this enterprize, for an hundred Talents of Silver, ver. 6.
Remark the Sixth, But there came a Man of God to forbid the Banes of this League from God, the Lord of Hoſts, ver. 7. ſaying to him [God hath forſaken Iſrael for their Idolatry, 2 Chron. 24.20. and for their ſakes will forſake thee, and will Curſe thy Forces, if thou joyneſt thy ſelf with ſuch a revolting Crew, &c. But if thou wilt be ſo foolhardy, as to wreſtle a fall with the Almighty, then go, but at thy Peril.] The like Ironical Conceſſion Micaiah uſed to Ahab, 2 Chron. 18.14. and here ver. 8. N.B. No marvel then, that our Confederate Armies prevail ſo little either againſt the Oriental, or the Occidental Turk of theſe times, conſidering what Soldiers they make uſe of.
Remark the Seventh, Amaziah's diſmiſſing of the Army of Iſrael, which he had hired to aſſiſt him againſt Edom, ver. 9, 10. Wherein.
Mark 1. The King was ſomewhat wrought upon by this Meſſage of the Man of God; he is willing to obey God, but unwilling to be too great a loſer by his Obedience to God; hence he Objects [I am like to loſe my hundred Talents of Silver, which amounts to ſeven thouſand five hundred Pound Sterling, and which the Captains have got into their Hands for raiſing thoſe Soldiers to my Aſſiſtance, and aſſuredly they will not fairly refund it.]
Mark 2. The Man of God anſwers, ſaith Oſiander [God will make up this loſs ſome other way] as indeed he did by giving him the ſpoil of Edom, ver. 11, 12, Grotius hath a good Note here, ſaying [He is rich enough that becomes Poor for God's Cauſe.] God's Bleſſing makes Rich, Prov. 10.22. and nothing proſpers without it, Pſal. 127.1, 2
Mark 3. Theſe two golden Sentences, 1. God hath Power to help, ver. 8. And 2. He is able to recompence, ver. 9. ſhould be great props to our weak Faith. N.B. The three grand Doubts of our Unbelief, are 1. If thou canſt? Mark 9.22. 2. If thou wilt, thou canſt. Matth. 8.2. And 3. Maſter careſt thou not, that we periſh? Mark 4.38. now we never doubt either of God's will to do us good, or of his Providence to preſerve us, but we at the ſame time, doubt of God's Alſufficient Power, therefore is it twice laid down here, for our Comfort, &c.
Mark 4. Amaziah is now ſatisfied in his Doubts, and hereupon he gives the Idolatrous Army of Iſrael (contain'd under the Name of Ephraim the chief of the Ten Tribes) a Diſmiſſion at God's command, and this was another Act which Amaziah did right in the ſight of God.
Mark 5. The Army of Iſrael is angry at this Diſmiſſion, though (as Piſcator fancieth) Amaziah gave them the hundred thouſand Talents of Silver to hire, and haſten their peaceable departure, but they look'd upon it as an high Affront, as if Judah had ſcorn'd the aid of Iſrael: They in their return home, fall upon the Frontier Towns of Judah, take the Spoils, &c, becauſe prevented of Edom's ſpoil, ver. 13.
Remark the Eighth, Amaziah doth ſtill that which was right, &c. in diſmiſſing thoſe wicked Soldiers though greatly offended, rather than to have any unlawful dealings with them, ſeeing he might aſſure himſelf after ſuch a Divine warning, that had he continued them, he muſt carry out of their Company, either Guilt or Grief, he muſt either Countenance Sin, or contract Sin, or both; therefore goes he without them to wage War againſt Edom with his own Men only, and ſlew them with a great ſlaughter, 2 Kings 14.7. where this Hiſtory of Amaziah is but briefly touch'd upon, yet much more amplified in 2 Chron. 25.11, 12. and throughout: Which Book was writ by Ezra as a Supplement to the ſhort Account in that of Kings. This great Victory God gave Amaziah for his Obedience to him, as appears from his naming the place of it [Jockteel] that is, Hebr. Obedience to God, when God bade him by his Prophet to diſmiſs Iſrael's Army.
Now come we to the ſecond Part, wherein Amaziah did that which was not right in the ſight of the Lord.
Remark the Firſt, In Hebrew this Amaziah is call'd Amaziahu; the former ſignifies, the Strength of the Lord; and the latter, the Strength of his Lord: Now began he to depart from the Strength of the Lord, and the Lord, who was his Strength, began to depart from him; he now diſcovers himſelf a notorious Hypocrite, as his Father Joaſh before him had done, both of them proved groſs Idolaters, 2 Chron. 24.17, 18. and Chap. 25.14. when Amaziah had conquered the Edomites (having ſlain ten thouſand by the Sword, and broke the Bones of other ten thouſand that obſtinately ſtood out, and would not own him their King) the very Idols of the conquered do conquer him, for he brought them home, and inſtead of burning them (as David had done, 1 Chron. 14▪ 12. according to God's command, Deut. 7.5.) He burns incenſe to them, &c. N.B. This was the more monſtrous Idolatry in an Hypocrite, who had done right in the ſight of the Lord, ver. 3. who had obeyed the Voice of the Lord, ver. 7, 10. and who had juſt now received ſo glorious a Victory from the Lord, ver. 11, 12.
Remark the Second, Amaziah, being puff'd up with this late Victory over Edom, proudly conceited he ſhould proſper in all his undertakings: So ſends a challenge to Jehoaſh King of Iſrael, 2 Kings 14.8. fondly believing his Army was invincible: Indeed he had been wrong'd in his abſenſe, by thoſe hundred thouſand Mercenaries of Iſrael, whom he had diſmiſſed at the Command of the Prophet, who had made ſad havock in Judah, therefore Junius and Piſcator think, this challenge was for revenge, but Sanctius out of Joſephus ſaith, it was his Ambition of advancing his Glory by his Arms, and to conquer Iſrael alſo.
Remark the Third, Jehoaſh, as Ambitious and Arrogant, as was Amaziah, returns him a ſcornful anſwer to his haughty Challenge, in a moſt elegant Apologue, a well Adapted Fable of the Thiſtle and of the Cedar, &c. ver. 9. Wherein
Mark 1. By the Thiſtle, which is a low, contemptible, yet pricky and troubleſome ſhrub, he means Amaziah, and by the Cedar, which is the talleſt of Trees, 1 Kings 4.33. Himſelf, whereby he intimates, that himſelf was the loftieſt of Kings, out of the reach of ſuch a low weak weed as Amaziah was, who was but a petty King in Compariſon of himſelf, ſays Vatablus; they both grew in Lebanon within Canaan, but the Thiſtle grew under the Cedar.
Mark 2. By [Give thy Daughter to my Son, &c.] He underſtands, that he ſcorn'd it as a matter infinitely below him to make any ſuch Match with my ſo much Inferiour: The meaning is (ſaith Lavater) [Let thy Kingdom and Mine be united under one King, as formerly they were, and let us decide it by a pitched Battel, whether thou or I ſhall be that King] this Challenge Jehoaſh ſcorn'd in his Heart: Seeing ſuch Marriages ſought after, preſuppoſes an Equality of Parties.
Mark 3. By the Wild Beaſt treading down the Thiſtle, is meant (ſaith Sanctius) his own Souldiers, which are moſtly Brutiſh and Barbarous, hence Bellum, War, is truly call'd Belluinum, a beaſtly thing; and thus Souldiers are call'd▪ Brutiſh Men, skilful to deſtroy, Ezek. 21.31. My Army (ſaith he) ſhall as eaſily tread thee down, as the Beaſt doth the ſcorn'd Thiſtle.
Mark 4. From the Parable Jehoaſh proceeds to ſpeak plainly, ver. 10. uſing a diſſuaſive Exprobration, rather reviling his Folly, than giving him Advice, wherein Vice (as we ſay) corrected Sin, for he ſhews himſelf full as proud and inſolent as Amaziah, and had it pleas'd the Lord, he might have failed of his Confidence for his Pride alſo.
Remark the Fourth, This Parabolical Speech prevail'd not with proud Amaziah to tarry at home, and to ceaſe Boaſting of his ſucceſs over Edom in his own Countrey, but God ſo blinded him for his ridiculous Idolatry, 2 Chron. 25.20. that he reſolves to go fetch his own Ruine, for which he was now fully ripe: Jehoaſh (perceiving his precipitancy) proved too quick for him, prudently and politickly meets him at Bethſhemeſh in Judah, ver. 11. forcing him to fight in his own Land, rather than in the Land belonging to the ten Tribes, carrying the War craftily into his Enemies Countrey. The two Armies (ſaith Sir Walter Rawleigh) no ſooner came in ſight one of another, but that of Judah fled: Joſephus ſaith, that before any fight they began to flee, God ſtriking them with a Panick fear, they fled every Man to his Tent, ver. 12. being both diſcourag'd with their King's fooliſh Idolatry, and unſatisfied with the grounds of the Quarrel: So the King forſaken by his Men, was taken by the Enemy, ver. 13.
Remark the Fifth, Jehoaſh takes Amaziah (left to ſhift for himſelf, ſaith Sir Walter Rawleigh) Priſoner at Bethſhemeſh, carries him to Jeruſalem, and in the way threatens him with Death, if he did not cauſe the Citizens to ſet ope the Gates, and leave all to his Mercy. He commands entrance in Amaziah's Name, which they durſt not deny, the Gates were preſently opened to Jehoaſh, which held out two Years againſt Nebuchadnezzar: Then he ranſack'd the Temple and Palace of their Treaſury, breaks down four hundred Cubits of the Wall, that the City might rebel no more, took Hoſtages that the War might not be renew'd, and returns to Samaria, ver. 14.
Remark the Sixth, Jehoaſh took not the Crown, nor united the Kingdom of Judah (thus ſubdued, and their King his Captive) to his Kingdom of Iſrael, as he might have done, had not God over-ruled him, that his promiſe to David of a Lamp in Jeruſalem might ſtill be performed, and he knew all Judah had great Love to David's Houſe; therefore returns he home to Samaria, when he had diſmiſs'd the King Amaziah upon Conditions impoſed by Covenant, &c. N.B. In the ſame Year of this Victory over Judah, God ſmote Jehoaſh with Sickneſs and Death for his Sacrilege (ſaith Sir Walter Rawleigh) in Robbing God's Temple; however, it was ſurely for his forementioned Pride: God puniſhing the King of Judah with the loſs of his Treaſure and Honour, and this King of Iſrael with the loſs of his Life, ver. 16. both of them for Pride.
Remark the Seventh, Though Amaziah lived after this Jehoaſh fifteen Years, ver. 17. and 2 Chron. 25.25. yet was it but a lifeleſs Life, being expoſed to the hatred of his Subjects both for his Idolatry and Miſgovernment, which had brought ſo many Miſchiefs upon them: At laſt they made a Conſpiracy againſt him, ver. 17, 18. and 2 Chron. 25.27. (for his turning from the true God to the Idols of Edom) thoſe Conſpirators forced him to flee from Jeruſalem to Lachiſh, where he could find no Security, for though he might live ſome time there as an Exile (ſo contemptible was he become to his own People) yet when they ſaw good, they ſent their Executioners thither and there flew him, and brought him in a Chariot with Horſes to Jeruſalem, ver. 18, 19, 20. and 2 Chron. 25.28. N.B. The Rabbins ſay, becauſe he had brought the Idols of Edom to Jeruſalem upon Horſes, therefore was his Corps brought thither upon Horſes likewiſe, and not upon Mens Shoulders.
Remark the Eighth, All this befel Amaziah, according to the Prophecy of the Man of God ſent to bring him to Repentance. This Hiſtory is Recorded in 2 Chron. 25.15, 16. but not in 2 Kings 14. The Story in ſhort is this, Amaziah ſerves the Idols of Edom as before, God is angry at it, yet in Wrath remembers Mercy, ſo as to ſend him a Prophet to reclaim him, when he might juſtly have at the ſame Time hurl'd him into Hell for diſowning his Deliverer, and for worſhipping Idols, that could not deliver either themſelves or their Worſhippers. N.B. The King Threatens the Prophet to ſlay him for his Sawcineſs. When the Prophet found him indocible, he forbare to caſt Pearls before an Hog, but reads him his Doom [God hath determined to deſtroy thee.] Ʋncounſellable Wretches are in the Way of Deſtruction, Prov. 29.1. and this Judgment aforeſaid befel Amaziah, as was foretold him.
The Second Part of this fourteenth Chapter of the ſecond of Kings, relates to Jeroboam the ſecond, Succeſſor to Jehoaſh, ver. 23, to ver. 29. as to Ʋzziah and Azariah the Succeſſor of Amaziah, ver. 21, 22. that ſtory belongs to the next Chapter.
Remarks upon Jeroboam the ſecond, Firſt, He was a Valiant and Victorious Prince, who ſomewhat refreſhed the low State of Iſrael reigning forty and one Years, ver. 23. which was the longeſt Reign of any King of Iſrael after the Diviſion, and before the Captivity, though he walked in the Idolatrous way of Jeroboam the firſt, ver. 24. yet the Lord (having Compaſſion upon his afflicted Iſrael) made uſe of him to reſtore their loſt Lands upon both ſides of Jordan, their Northern and Southern Borders, ver. 25, 26, 27.
Remark the Second, As Divine Goodneſs appear'd here, in not determining as yet to write Lo-Ammi upon Iſrael, which afterward he both ſaid it, Hoſ. 1.6, 9. and did it, Chap. 17.18. So Divine Truth ſhines forth in fulfilling the Prophecie of Jonah, ver. 25. by which (ſaith Grotius) we learn when that Prophet lived, ſuppoſed to be ſent to Comfort Jehoahaz, when humbled, Chap. 13.3, 4.
Remark the Third, After this Jeroboam's proſperous Reign forty one Years, for reviving the almoſt decay'd Condition of Iſrael, he dies, and his Son Zachariah ſucceeds him, ver. 28, 29. who was the fourth by lineal Deſcent from Jehu in whom God's Promiſe made to Jehu, Chap. 10.30. was faithfully accompliſhed. Here ver. 25. Jonah the Son of Amittai is named, as Jonah 1.1. whence ſome ſay, that this Jonah was the firſt of all the Prophets (next Eliſha) whoſe Prophecies are extant upon Record, &c. but more of this after the ſixth Remark upon 2 Kings 15. where others Learned, make Jonah the fourth Prophet of Iſrael, and of all Jonah's Prophecies.