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JUNE 13
wall of Jerusalem from the Gate of Ephraim to
the Corner Gate—four hundred cubits. And
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he took all the gold and silver, all the articles
14:1–15:38 This section quickly surveys the that were found in the house of the LORD and
kings and selected events of the northern and in the treasuries of the king’s house, and
southern kingdoms from 796 to 735 B.C. In con- hostages, and returned to Samaria.
trast to the previous 19 chapters (1 Kin. 15 Now the rest of the acts of Jehoash which
17:1–2 Kin. 13:25), which narrated 90 years of he did—his might, and how he fought with
history (885–796 B.C.) with a concentration on Amaziah king of Judah—are they not written
the ministries of Elijah and Elisha during the in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Is-
final 65 years of that period (860–796 B.C.), 62 rael? So Jehoash rested with his fathers, and
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years are covered in these two chapters. The was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel.
previous section concluded with a shadow of Then Jeroboam his son reigned in his place.
hope: officially sanctioned Baal worship had 17 Amaziah the son of Joash, king of Judah,
been eradicated in both Israel (10:18–28) and
Judah (11:17,18); the temple of the Lord in lived fifteen years after the death of Jehoash
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Jerusalem had been repaired (12:9–15); and the son of Jehoahaz, king of Israel. Now the
the Syrian threat to Israel had been overcome rest of the acts of Amaziah, are they not writ-
(13:25). However, this section emphasizes that ten in the book of the chronicles of the kings of
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the fundamental problems still remained: the Judah? And they formed a conspiracy against
false religion established by Jeroboam I con- him in Jerusalem, and he fled to Lachish; but
tinued in Israel even with the change of royal they sent after him to Lachish and killed him
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families (14:24–15:9,18,24,28), and the high there. Then they brought him on horses, and
places were not removed in Judah even he was buried at Jerusalem with his fathers in
though there were only good kings there dur- the City of David.
ing those years (14:4; 15:4,35). 21 And all the people of Judah took Azariah,
who was sixteen years old, and made him king
instead of his father Amaziah. He built Elath
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did not execute, according to what is written in and restored it to Judah, after the king rested
the Book of the Law of Moses, in which the with his fathers.
LORD commanded, saying, “Fathers shall not
be put to death for their children, nor shall
children be put to death for their fathers; but a
person shall be put to death for his own sin.” 14:25 restored the territory of Israel.Jerobo-
7 He killed ten thousand Edomites in the am II’s greatest accomplishment was the
Valley of Salt, and took Sela by war, and called restoration of Israel’s boundaries to approxi-
its name Joktheel to this day. mately their extent in Solomon’s time, exclud-
8 Then Amaziah sent messengers to Jehoash ing the territory belonging to Judah.The north-
the son of Jehoahaz, the son of Jehu, king of ern boundary was the entrance of Hamath,the
Israel, saying, “Come, let us face one another same as Solomon’s (1 Kin. 8:65) and the south-
in battle.” And Jehoash king of Israel sent to ern boundary was the Sea of the Arabah, the
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Amaziah king of Judah, saying, “The thistle Dead Sea (Josh. 3:16; 12:3). Jeroboam II took
that was in Lebanon sent to the cedar that was Hamath, a major city located on the Orontes
in Lebanon, saying, ‘Give your daughter to my River, about 160 miles north of the Sea of Gali-
son as wife’; and a wild beast that was in Leba- lee. He also controlled Damascus, indicating
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non passed by and trampled the thistle. You that the Transjordan territory south to Moab
have indeed defeated Edom, and your heart was also under his authority.These victories of
has lifted you up. Glory in that, and stay at Jeroboam II were accomplished because the
Syrians had been weakened by attacks from
home; for why should you meddle with trou- the Assyrians,while Assyria herself was weak at
ble so that you fall—you and Judah with you?” this time,suffering from threats on her northern
11 But Amaziah would not heed. Therefore
Jehoash king of Israel went out; so he and border, internal dissension, and a series of weak
kings. Jonah. The territorial extension of Jero-
Amaziah king of Judah faced one another at boam II was in accordance with the will of the
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Beth Shemesh, which belongs to Judah. And Lord as revealed through the prophet Jonah.
Judah was defeated by Israel, and every man This was the same Jonah who traveled to
fled to his tent. Then Jehoash king of Israel Nineveh with God’s message of repentance for
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captured Amaziah king of Judah, the son of the Assyrians.
Jehoash, the son of Ahaziah, at Beth Shemesh;
and he went to Jerusalem, and broke down the
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