the second year of Jehoash Amaziah reigned in Judah alone from about 796–792 bc. He shared the throne with his son, Uzziah, for the final 25 years of his reign (see note on 2 Chr 26:3).

14:2 Jerusalem The capital of the kingdom of Judah.

14:3 not as David his ancestor David was the standard for good, kingly behavior because of his desire to live a worshipful, Yahweh honoring life (1 Kgs 3:6; 9:4; 11:4).

as all that Jehoash his father had done, he did Although Joash, king of Judah, is described as doing right in the eyes of Yahweh, the text also notes that he failed to take down the high places where people made unsanctioned offerings (2 Kings 12:2–3).

14:4 the high places Unsanctioned places of worship.

14:5 who had killed his father the king Jozacar, son of Shimeath, and Jehozabad, son of Shomer, killed King Joash of Judah in the house of Millo. See 12:20–21.

14:6 the scroll of the law of Moses See note on 1 Kgs 2:3.

The Historical Books

because of his own sin See Deut 24:16 and note. In the ancient Near East, the practice of killing a person’s entire household in revenge was common, particularly if a royal throne was at stake (Judg 9:3–6; compare 2 Kgs 10; note on 9:1–13).

14:7 He also killed ten thousand Edomites This battle is covered in greater detail in 2 Chr 25:5–12.

the Valley of Salt The site of earlier battles with the Edomites in the time of David (2 Sam 8:13; Psa 60:title).

Sela The precise location of Sela is uncertain, but the book of Judges locates it on the border of Amorite territory (Judg 1:36). Balaam mentions this site in his prophecy against the Kenites (Num 24:21).

14:8 Jehoash To distinguish the king of Israel from Amaziah’s father who shared the same name, the Hebrew text here refers to the king of Israel as yeho’ash (Jehoash). The last time he was mentioned, he was referred to in the Hebrew text as yo’ash (Joash; 2 Kings 14:1). Yeho’ash (Jehoash) is an alternate spelling of yo’ash (Joash). The king of Israel is referred to as yeho’ash (Jehoash) until v. 23.

let us meet face-to-face From the wording of the Hebrew text, it is unclear whether Amaziah’s invitation is meant to be a threat, but Jehoash’s response seems to indicate that he understood it as one (vv. 9–10).

cedar which is in Lebanon Cedar wood from Lebanon was famous from as early as the third millennium bc.

14:11 would not listen This seems to imply that Amaziah, king of Judah, continued to threaten Jehoash, king of Israel, and perhaps even brought armed forces against Israel.

Beth-Shemesh which belongs to Judah This clarification is given because there were several places called Beth-shemesh (Josh 19:22, 38; Judg 1:33; 1 Kgs 4:9).

14:13 the son of Jehoash The Hebrew text here refers to Amaziah’s father using the alternate spelling of his name yeho’ash (Jehoash). Compare note on 2 Kings 13:9–13.

the Gate of Ephraim up to the Corner Gate The Ephraim Gate is on the north side of Jerusalem; the Corner Gate is most likely on the western side of Jerusalem.

14:14 to Samaria The capital of the northern kingdom of Israel. See note on 1:3.

14:15 the events of the days of the kings of Israel See note on 1:18.

14:16 slept with his ancestors See note on 8:24.

14:18 the events of the days of the kings of See note on 1:18.

14:19 They conspired The text does not note who murdered Amaziah, but presumably it was people from within his own government.

to Lachish A city in the Judaean hill country (Josh 15:39).

14:21 Azariah The narrative about this king of Judah, who is also called Uzziah (2 Chr 26:1) continues at 2 Kgs 15:1.

14:22 Elath A site on the northern coast of the Gulf of Aqaba; associated with Ezion-geber, one of Solomon’s sea ports (1 Kgs 9:26). Rebuilding Elath would have required defeating the Edomites.

slept with his ancestors See note on 2 Kings 8:24.

14:24 the sins of Jeroboam Refers to the idolatrous and syncretistic worship of the much earlier king of Israel, Jeroboam I (who reigned ca. 930–909 bc). See note on 3:3.

14:25 the sea of the Arabah The Hebrew text refers here to the Arabah, the arid valley that runs from the Sea of Galilee to the Gulf of Aqaba and includes the Dead Sea.

Jonah the son of Amittai the prophet See Jonah 1:1 and note. Apart from the book of Jonah, this is the only ot reference to the prophet Jonah.

Gath-Hepher A town on the border of the tribe of Zebulun’s territory (Josh 19:13).

14:27 blot out the name of Israel This Hebrew phrase occurs only here and in Deut 9:14; 29:20. It denotes “blotting out” or “erasing” and calls to mind the image of washing a scroll in order to reuse it. This particular reference could refer to Yahweh’s promise to Jehu in 2 Kgs 10:30, since the point of the narrative seems to be that Yahweh is getting tired of Israel’s sin. A similar phrase—“blot me out of your book”—occurs in Exodus (see Exod 32:32 and note).

Jehoash The Hebrew text here, when referring to this king of Israel, uses the alternate spelling of yeho’ash (Jehoash), which is yo’ash (Joash). See note on 2 Kings 13:9–13

14:28 Damascus and Hamath This would have required a defeat of the nation of Aram (Syria), as Damascus was their capital and Hamath was in their territory at this time (compare 8:7).

the events of the days of the kings of Israel See note on 1:18.

14:29 slept with his ancestors See note on 8:24.