2 Kings 14 11

2 Kings 14:11 kjv

But Amaziah would not hear. Therefore Jehoash king of Israel went up; and he and Amaziah king of Judah looked one another in the face at Bethshemesh, which belongeth to Judah.

2 Kings 14:11 nkjv

But Amaziah would not heed. Therefore Jehoash king of Israel went out; so he and Amaziah king of Judah faced one another at Beth Shemesh, which belongs to Judah.

2 Kings 14:11 niv

Amaziah, however, would not listen, so Jehoash king of Israel attacked. He and Amaziah king of Judah faced each other at Beth Shemesh in Judah.

2 Kings 14:11 esv

But Amaziah would not listen. So Jehoash king of Israel went up, and he and Amaziah king of Judah faced one another in battle at Beth-shemesh, which belongs to Judah.

2 Kings 14:11 nlt

But Amaziah refused to listen, so King Jehoash of Israel mobilized his army against King Amaziah of Judah. The two armies drew up their battle lines at Beth-shemesh in Judah.

2 Kings 14 verses

2 Kings 14 11 Meaning

This verse states that King Amaziah of Judah disregarded King Jehoash of Israel's warning against war. Consequently, King Jehoash mobilized his army, and the two kings and their forces confronted each other directly in battle at Beth-shemesh, a city located in Judahite territory. The verse marks the initiation of a significant conflict due to Amaziah's stubborn refusal to heed wise counsel.

2 Kings 14 11 Context

This verse is situated within the narrative of Amaziah, King of Judah, following his successful military campaign against Edom. His initial victory, though attributed to the LORD in 2 Chronicles, apparently inflated his pride and led him to challenge Jehoash, King of Israel, to a confrontation. Jehoash responded with a wise parable, illustrating Judah's precarious position and urging Amaziah to withdraw, lest he invite disaster. However, Amaziah's pride and stubbornness, possibly fueled by his recent victory and perhaps divine judgment for his earlier idolatry (as revealed in 2 Chr 25), blinded him to Jehoash's sensible counsel. This verse marks the point of no return, describing the moment Amaziah's refusal led directly to the inevitable clash, foreshadowing Judah's subsequent defeat and his own ultimate downfall. Historically, this incident reflects the persistent tension and sporadic warfare between the divided kingdoms of Judah and Israel.

2 Kings 14 11 Word analysis

• But Amaziah would not listen (וְלֹא שָׁמַע אֲמַצְיָהוּ - v'lo shama' Amaziahu):
  • וְלֹא (v'lo): "and not," "but not." Introduces a contrast, highlighting Amaziah's deliberate opposition.
  • שָׁמַע (shama'): "to hear, to listen, to obey, to heed." Here, it signifies not merely the physical act of hearing, but a refusal to give careful consideration, obey, or yield to sound advice. This emphasizes Amaziah's willfulness and stubbornness in rejecting Jehoash's wise warning.
  • אֲמַצְיָהוּ (Amatzyahu): Amaziah, "strength of the Lord." The irony is palpable: the king whose name suggests divine strength chooses to ignore divine-inspired counsel (as seen in 2 Chr 25:20 where it states, "it was from God so that he might give them into the hand of Israel, because they sought the gods of Edom."). His name clashes with his actions.
• So Jehoash king of Israel went up (וַיַּעַל יְהוֹאָשׁ מֶלֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵל - vayya'al Yeho'ash Melek Yisra'el):
  • וַיַּעַל (vayya'al): "and he went up, ascended, marched." This indicates the military advance and aggressive posture of Jehoash. It suggests he took the initiative to move his forces into position after Amaziah's defiance.
  • יְהוֹאָשׁ (Yeho'ash): Jehoash, "the Lord has given" or "the Lord has sustained." Unlike Amaziah, Jehoash is shown acting prudently in 2 Ki 14:9-10 before this verse, though he too was not without flaws.
• and he and Amaziah king of Judah met each other in battle (וַיִּפָּגְעוּ הוּא וַאֲמַצְיָהוּ מֶלֶךְ יְהוּדָה - vayyippage'u hu' va'Amatzyahu melekh Yehudah):
  • וַיִּפָּגְעוּ (vayyippage'u): Niphal imperfect consecutive from the root פָּגַע (paga'), meaning "to encounter, meet, strike, confront." Here, in the Niphal stem, it signifies "they met together" or "they clashed," specifically in a hostile, battle-oriented confrontation. This highlights the direct military engagement.
  • This phrase explicitly states that the battle was a direct outcome of the defiance described previously.
• at Beth-shemesh (בֵּית שֶׁמֶשׁ - Bet Shemesh):
  • בֵּית (Bet): "house of."
  • שֶׁמֶשׁ (Shemesh): "sun." So, "House of the Sun." This was a significant border city between Judah and Philistia, southwest of Jerusalem. Its name implies ancient associations with sun worship, which is ironically relevant given Israel's (and Amaziah's in 2 Chr 25) struggles with idolatry. The battle occurred on Judahite soil, amplifying Amaziah's subsequent humiliation.
• which belongs to Judah (אֲשֶׁר לִיהוּדָה - asher liYhudah):
  • This clause emphasizes the territorial allegiance of Beth-shemesh, underscoring that Judah's defeat occurred within its own borders, not in neutral territory or the aggressor's land. This detail heightens the sense of humiliation and the severity of Amaziah's loss.

2 Kings 14 11 Bonus section

Amaziah's fatal decision to reject Jehoash's advice (a parable likening Judah to a mere thistle and Israel to a cedar) showcases the perils of hubris. His victory over Edom likely swelled his heart, making him vulnerable to pride, which blinds one to sound judgment and divine warnings. The Hebrew phrase "lo shama'" (would not listen) is frequently used in the Bible to describe Israel's refusal to obey God's voice and commandments, consistently leading to negative consequences. Thus, Amaziah's action reflects a broader pattern of national disobedience that resulted in judgment and exile. The fact that Beth-shemesh ("House of the Sun") was the battleground might hold subtle theological weight. Sun worship was a prominent idolatry in the ancient Near East, a sin that Israel and Judah frequently succumbed to. For a battle of divine judgment against a prideful, idol-worshipping king (Amaziah had adopted Edomite gods), to occur in a place named "House of the Sun" could subtly highlight the spiritual backdrop against which this historical event unfolded.

2 Kings 14 11 Commentary

2 Kings 14:11 marks the pivotal moment when Amaziah's proud refusal to accept wise counsel transformed a rhetorical challenge into a bloody reality. His unyielding stance, succinctly captured by "would not listen," directly led to the inevitable clash at Beth-shemesh. This refusal wasn't just human stubborness but, as noted in 2 Chronicles, part of a divine plan of judgment upon Amaziah for his idolatry following his Edomite victory. The location, Beth-shemesh, a city belonging to Judah, intensifies the humiliation of the coming defeat. The verse underscores a recurring biblical theme: ignoring wisdom, particularly divinely sanctioned counsel, often leads to destruction and demonstrates God's sovereignty even over the folly of kings. It highlights the destructive power of human pride when it stands in opposition to discerning judgment and the implicit will of God.