2 Kings 14:1-29

14:5-6 | Blood revenge was an accepted Israelite custom, but Amaziah followed the Law of Moses rather than killing further generations as Jehu had done (10:11-14; Deut. 24:16).

14:7 | This stunning accomplishment was only possible through God’s empowerment, but Amaziah took the credit and became proud (2 Chron. 25:14-16).

14:8-14 | The point of Jehoash’s fable was that the weaker king Amaziah (the thistle), who had defeated lowly Edom, should not challenge mighty Jehoash (the cedar), who had defeated more powerful Syria. He threatened that if his words went unheeded, Amaziah would be trampled in battle by the army of Israel (a wild beast out of Lebanon). Jehoash made good on his threat.

14:25-28 | This Jonah is the same prophet whose story is told in the book of Jonah. This Jeroboam is Jeroboam II, a man of war who recaptured for Israel what had belonged to Judah so that Israel’s territory resembled that of King Solomon’s reign.