Ver. 1. In the second year, &c.,] viz., When he reigned alone, after his father’s death. Reigned Amaziah.] A notorious hypocrite, and one that filled up the measure of his fathers. (Matthew 23:32) Yet Salianus and some others say that he died a penitent and a reformed man.
Ver. 2. And his mother’s name was Jehoaddan.] The mothers of the kings of Judah are expressed by name; not so of Israel. See on 1 Kings 15:10.
Ver. 3. Yet not like David his father.] Who did all the wills of God (Acts 13:22) with a perfect heart. (1 Samuel 13:14) Not so Amaziah, who had a good name, but answered it not; as the Emperor Probus did, witness Flav. Vopiscus.
Ver. 4. Howbeit the high places were not taken away.] So that he did not that which was right, &c. (2 Kings 14:3) -that which was, for the substance of it, approved of God—but with an exception: and was accepted accordingly. See 1 Kings 15:14.
Ver. 5. As soon as the kingdom was confirmed in his hand] He politically dissembled his displeasure till he found his time. Qui nescit dissimulate, nescit regnare, saith Louis XI of France to his son. It is a weakness in a prince always to carry his love and hatred in his forehead.
Ver. 6. But the children of the murderers he slew not.] Which yet carnal policy would have prompted him to do. See on 2 Kings 10:6. Nor the children be put to death, &c.] This was a law for man to follow; but God, the supreme Lord of life and death, is above law. (Jeremiah 3:1)
Ver. 7. In the valley of Salt.] Near to the Lake Asphaltites, which yielded much salt. See 2 Samuel 8:13. Ten thousand.] Besides ten thousand more whom he cast down from a rock; (2 Chronicles 25:11,12) not to make himself and the soldiers sport with, as the cruel Spaniards have dealt by the poor Indians, -but because they still stood out, as it is likely. And took Selah.] Or, Petra, [see Isaiah 16:1] the chief city of Arabia Petraea, called afterwards Philadelphia by Ptolemy Philadelph, who repaired it. Amaziah calleth it Jockteel, i.e., obedience to God, or the congregation of God, as Pagnine expoundeth it. Justin. Jun. Lap.
Ver. 8. Then Amaziah sent.] Being puffed up with his recent victory over the Edomites, he had a proud conceit that he should prosper in whatsoever he undertook; albeit he had now forsaken the Lord, and served the gods of those Edomites, whom he had erst subdued. By a like folly, the old Romans, after that they had subdued any nation, were wont to set up their gods to themselves, to win their favour. Come, let us look one another in the face,] i.e., Let us fight it out in the open field. He had been wronged in his absence by those one hundred thousand mercenaries of Israel, whom he had dismissed at the command of the prophet, (2 Chronicles 25:10,13) who had told him that God was not with the Israelites. He was apt enough also to believe that his own forces were invincible, and that victory was now pinned to his sleeve; but he was soon confuted.
Ver. 9. The thistle that was in Lebanon.] Not the shrub, but the thistle, which is prickly indeed, and can say Nemo me impune lacessit, but a low, vile, weak weed, and not to be named in the same day with the cedar, that tallest and firmest of trees. Thus Joash setteth Amaziah at nought, and looketh upon him as a petty king in comparison of himself. Give thy daughter to my son,] q.d., I would scorn to have any affinity with thee, though we were never so good friends. And there passed by a wild beast.] Whereby he meaneth his own forces. Bellum quasi belluinum: soldiers are brutish and barbarous, skilful to destroy; and the time of war is fitly called “a time of trouble, and of treading down.” (Isaiah 22:5)
Ver. 10. And thine heart hath lifted thee up.] Here vice correcteth sin, as we say. Calcat Amaziae fastum, at maiori cum fastu: for by this scornful answer it appeareth that Jehoash was every whit as proud and bold as Amaziah.
Ver. 11. But Amaziah would not hear.] See the reason in 2 Chronicles 25:20. He was ripe for ruin, and therefore, like a sea monster, with a deaf ear, he slighteth good counsel. “A deceived heart had now turned him aside, that he could not deliver his soul, nor say, Is there not a lie in my right hand?” (Isaiah 44:20)
Ver. 12. And Judah was put to the worse; and they fled.] Josephus saith that before the fight they began to flee away; and so the king was taken by the enemy, who threatened presently to put him to a cruel death, unless he would cause the citizens of Jerusalem to open their gates and leave all to his mercy. Others think that he battered down the wall four hundred cubits, and took the city by force.
Ver. 13. And Jehoash king of Israel took Amaziah.] Whom he used nothing so courteously as Alexander, Prince of the Bulgarians, did Andronicus II, Emperor of Constantinople, who had sent him a challenge, as here Amaziah did Jehoash. But when Alexander had beaten him out of the field, he nevertheless offered him a peace, and suffered him to return home with his shattered army, advising him to be better advised for the future, and to consider that in each year there are four different seasons; and that in a short moment there may be great changes in human affairs. Val. Max., Christ, 59.
Ver. 14. And he took all the gold and silver, &c.] He took not the crown, as he might have done, as fearing he could hardly hold it, but, by reaching after it, might hazard all; for he well knew how fast affected the people generally were to the house of David.
Ver. 15. And his might.] Showed against the Syrians chiefly.
Ver. 16. And Jehoash slept.] He died the same year wherein he had vanquished Amaziah, as may easily be gathered; so little enjoyment had he of his victory.
Ver. 17. Lived…fifteen years.] But it was a kind of a lifeless life. Mortis habet vices quae trahitur vita gemitibus. He lay all the while under the hatred and contempt of his subjects; being forced also by conspirators to flee to Lachish, and there to live as an exile, till they thought good to take away his life. Our Edward II, called Carnatron, his case was not unlike. Edvardum occidere nolite timere bonum est.
Ver. 18. And the rest, &c.] See 1 Kings 14:10,29.
Ver. 19. Now they made a conspiracy.] The people generally did, because he had, by challenging Jehoash, subjected them to so much misery, and did, after that overthrow, spend his time idly and basely, serving false gods, &c. That he repented, is very uncertain, and upon weak grounds concluded.
Ver. 20. And they brought him on horses.] In a chariot drawn with horses. He had brought the idols of Edom to Jerusalem on horses, say the Rabbis, and is therefore so brought himself, and not on men’s shoulders.
Ver. 21. And all the people of Judah took Azariah.] Called also Uzziah. (2 Chronicles 26:1) Itaque hic duo nomina habuit confinia, Consilium Domini et Auxilium Dei, saith Vatablus: His two names were suitable, God’s counsel, and God’s help.
Ver. 22. He built Elath.] A place of great importance, as being a port town, say some, near the Red Sea.
Ver. 23. And reigned forty and one years.] This Jeroboam II was a long lived and a victorious prince: so was our Edward III.
Ver. 24. He departed not.] See 1 Kings 16:19. For this cause Amos prophesied against him, and was banished from Bethel. (Amos 7:10-12)
Ver. 25. To the sea of the plain.] Called the salt sea. (Deuteronomy 3:17) Jonah, the son of Amittai.] See on Jonah 1:1.
Ver. 26. For the Lord saw, &c.,] sc., In the days of Jehoahaz, when, likely, Jonah was sent with the above said prophecy.
Ver. 27. And the Lord said not.] Yet afterwards he both said it, (Hosea 1:6,9) and did it. (2 Kings 17:18)
Ver. 28. And Hamath.] Which lay near to Damascus, and fared the worse for its neighbourhood. (Zechariah 9:2)
Ver. 29. And Jeroboam slept.] (Amos 7:11) “Jeroboam shall die by the sword”: but who said so? Not Amos, but Amaziah, the priest of Bethel, who belied him to Jeroboam.