2 Kings 14:13 kjv
And Jehoash king of Israel took Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Jehoash the son of Ahaziah, at Bethshemesh, and came to Jerusalem, and brake down the wall of Jerusalem from the gate of Ephraim unto the corner gate, four hundred cubits.
2 Kings 14:13 nkjv
Then Jehoash king of Israel captured Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Jehoash, the son of Ahaziah, at Beth Shemesh; and he went to Jerusalem, and broke down the wall of Jerusalem from the Gate of Ephraim to the Corner Gate?four hundred cubits.
2 Kings 14:13 niv
Jehoash king of Israel captured Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Joash, the son of Ahaziah, at Beth Shemesh. Then Jehoash went to Jerusalem and broke down the wall of Jerusalem from the Ephraim Gate to the Corner Gate?a section about four hundred cubits long.
2 Kings 14:13 esv
And Jehoash king of Israel captured Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Jehoash, son of Ahaziah, at Beth-shemesh, and came to Jerusalem and broke down the wall of Jerusalem for four hundred cubits, from the Ephraim Gate to the Corner Gate.
2 Kings 14:13 nlt
King Jehoash of Israel captured Judah's king, Amaziah son of Joash and grandson of Ahaziah, at Beth-shemesh. Then he marched to Jerusalem, where he demolished 600 feet of Jerusalem's wall, from the Ephraim Gate to the Corner Gate.
2 Kings 14 13 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference Note |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Kgs 14:8-12 | Then Jehoash king of Israel sent word to Amaziah king of Judah... and said, "A thistle in Lebanon sent to a cedar..." | Immediate context: Joash's allegorical warning to Amaziah. |
| 2 Chr 25:17-24 | Now when Amaziah returned from striking down the Edomites, he sent messengers...Then Joash king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah, saying... | Parallel account detailing Amaziah's challenge and defeat. |
| Prov 16:18 | Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. | Amaziah's pride after defeating Edom led to this downfall. |
| Prov 18:12 | Before destruction a man's heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor. | Reinforces the theme of pride preceding defeat. |
| Jer 13:17 | But if you will not listen, my soul will weep in secret for your pride...because the Lord's flock has been taken captive. | The captivity resulting from pride and lack of listening to God. |
| Isa 2:12 | For the Lord of hosts has a day against all that is proud and lofty, against all that is lifted up—and it shall be brought low. | Divine judgment against arrogance, mirrored in Amaziah's fate. |
| Deut 28:52 | "They shall besiege you in all your towns...until your high and fortified walls, in which you trusted, come down..." | Prophetic warning of walls falling due to disobedience. |
| 2 Kgs 25:10 | And all the army of the Chaldeans...broke down the walls of Jerusalem all around. | Later, more complete destruction of Jerusalem's walls by Babylon. |
| Lam 2:2 | The Lord has swallowed up...he has broken down the strongholds of the daughter of Judah. | Lament over the broken walls and strongholds of Judah. |
| Lam 2:9 | Her gates have sunk into the ground; he has broken her bars... | Lamentation on the destruction of Jerusalem's gates and defenses. |
| Neh 1:3 | "The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates are destroyed by fire." | A later lamentation emphasizing the shame and vulnerability of broken walls. |
| Neh 2:17 | "You see the trouble we are in, how Jerusalem lies in ruins with its gates burned. Come, let us build the wall..." | Nehemiah's call to rebuild, highlighting the city's dire state without walls. |
| Ps 51:18 | Do good to Zion in your good pleasure; build up the walls of Jerusalem. | Prayer for the rebuilding and restoration of Jerusalem's defenses. |
| Zech 2:5 | "For I declare, 'I myself will be a wall of fire around it,' declares the Lord, 'and I will be the glory in its midst.'" | God's ultimate spiritual protection, surpassing physical walls. |
| Psa 33:16-17 | The king is not saved by his great army...The war horse is a false hope for salvation... | Underscores the futility of trusting in military might, contrasting with Amaziah. |
| Psa 20:7 | Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God. | Further emphasizes reliance on God over military strength. |
| 1 Kgs 12:16 | ...the people answered the king, "What portion have we in David? We have no inheritance in the son of Jesse!"... | Historical account of the division of the united kingdom, leading to conflicts like this. |
| 1 Kgs 14:30 | And there was war continually between Rehoboam and Jeroboam. | Description of ongoing conflict between the two kingdoms from their division. |
| 2 Chr 28:5-6 | ...given into the hand of the king of Israel, who struck him with a great blow... | Another instance of Judah suffering a severe defeat by Israel. |
| Josh 15:10 | ...it continued to the side of Mount Jearim...and went down to Beth-shemesh, and passed along by Timnah. | Locates Beth-shemesh as a historical border town in Judah. |
| 1 Sam 6:9-20 | ...if it goes up by the way of its own territory to Beth-shemesh, then know that it is he who has done us this great harm... | Beth-shemesh as a location associated with divine action and judgment (return of the Ark). |
| Jer 9:23-24 | Thus says the Lord: "Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom...but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me..." | A direct message against boasting and misplaced pride, relevant to Amaziah's character. |
2 Kings 14 verses
2 Kings 14 13 Meaning
Joash, the king of Israel, decisively defeated Amaziah, the king of Judah, at Beth-shemesh. Following this victory, Joash brought Amaziah as a captive to Jerusalem. As an act of humiliation and to cripple Jerusalem's defenses, Joash then breached and destroyed a significant portion of the city's wall, spanning 400 cubits from the Gate of Ephraim to the Corner Gate. This event marked a major defeat for Judah and demonstrated Israel's military dominance at that time.
2 Kings 14 13 Context
This verse is found within the narrative of King Amaziah of Judah's reign, specifically after his victorious campaign against Edom in the Valley of Salt (2 Kgs 14:7). Inflated by his success, Amaziah rashly challenged Joash, king of Israel, to a military confrontation (2 Kgs 14:8). Joash initially responded with a parable about a thistle (Judah) and a cedar (Israel), warning Amaziah against pride that leads to ruin (2 Kgs 14:9-10). However, Amaziah disregarded this warning and persisted in seeking battle, leading to the conflict at Beth-shemesh described in this verse. This historical event underscores the ongoing rivalry and often hostile relations between the divided kingdoms of Israel and Judah, despite their shared ancestry. The destruction of Jerusalem's wall highlights the profound military and symbolic humiliation inflicted upon Judah, reflecting the consequences of its king's hubris and perhaps God's judgment.
2 Kings 14 13 Word analysis
- And Joash king of Israel: Yeho'ash (יהואש) - "Yahweh has supported" or "given." This Joash is from the Northern Kingdom, grandson of Jehu. His military action here showcases the might of the Northern Kingdom, particularly under this relatively stable reign.
- captured Amaziah king of Judah: Amasyah (אמציה) - "Yahweh is strong." Irony in his name, as he is captured despite it. tafas (תָּפַשׂ) - to lay hold of, seize, grasp. A definitive act of military victory, taking the enemy king alive. This was a deep humiliation, a display of total subjugation, preventing immediate reprisal and dictating terms.
- the son of Joash: Clarifies that Amaziah is the son of another Joash, who was King of Judah, not the Joash of Israel. This detail prevents confusion between the two kings of similar names reigning contemporaneously or near-contemporaneously.
- at Beth-shemesh: Bet Shemesh (בֵּית שֶׁמֶשׁ) - "House of the Sun." A city in Judah (Joshua 15:10), situated strategically at the border with Philistine territory, about 15 miles west of Jerusalem. Its name may reflect ancient pagan worship of the sun god, a subtle contrast to the God of Israel. Its strategic location implies it was a significant battleground where Judah's forces were utterly defeated.
- and brought him to Jerusalem: Joash asserting his complete dominance by parading the defeated king to his own capital, making Jerusalem directly witness its king's defeat and its own imminent violation. This also gave him direct leverage for imposing his terms.
- and broke down: parats (פָּרַץ) - to break forth, burst, tear down violently. Conveys the force and destructive nature of Joash's act. This wasn't a minor breach but a deliberate, extensive demolition.
- the wall of Jerusalem: chomah (חוֹמָה) - protective enclosure. A wall was critical for city defense and symbolic of its security, strength, and sovereign independence. Breaking it down made Jerusalem vulnerable and directly challenged Judah's sovereignty and stability.
- from the Gate of Ephraim: A significant northern gate of Jerusalem (also mentioned in Neh 8:16, 12:39), leading towards the tribal territory of Ephraim (which was part of Israel). Its location allowed Joash to emphasize his access and dominance from the direction of his own kingdom.
- to the Corner Gate: Another key gate, possibly on the northwest corner (2 Chr 26:9, Jer 31:38). These specific landmarks denote the strategic and vulnerable section of the city's defenses that was destroyed. This area likely offered entry from the northern approach to Jerusalem, significant for an invading force from Israel.
- four hundred cubits: A cubit is a measurement unit, roughly 18-21 inches (approx. 45-53 cm). 400 cubits thus represents a considerable length (approx. 600-700 feet or 180-210 meters). This was a major, calculated act of structural devastation, leaving Jerusalem severely exposed.
Word-group analysis
- "captured Amaziah...at Beth-shemesh, and brought him to Jerusalem": This sequence underscores the immediate aftermath of battle – not just victory, but the subjugation and humiliation of the defeated king in his own capital. It served as a potent display of power and control.
- "broke down the wall of Jerusalem...four hundred cubits": This detailed account of destruction goes beyond mere defeat. It is a punitive act designed to dismantle Judah's primary defense, symbolically crush its spirit, and demonstrate Israel's unchallenged supremacy. It highlights a deliberate, extensive weakening of the capital, ensuring future submission or vulnerability.
- "from the Gate of Ephraim to the Corner Gate": The precise measurement and gate names give a concrete sense of the scale of destruction. This specific section of the wall suggests a tactical decision to weaken the most crucial part of Jerusalem's northern defenses, making the city easily accessible from the direction of the northern kingdom.
2 Kings 14 13 Bonus section
The breaking of Jerusalem's wall by an Israelite king foreshadows the later, more complete destructions by foreign powers, notably Babylon (2 Kgs 25:10), emphasizing the vulnerability of trusting in physical defenses rather than divine protection. The severity of the punishment inflicted by Joash indicates the depth of animosity between the two kingdoms and Israel's determination to maintain dominance. This narrative subtly challenges the common ancient Near Eastern belief in the invincibility of a city with strong walls, especially a city seen as God's chosen dwelling, by showing how internal sin (like Amaziah's pride) could lead to its very defenses being compromised even by a fellow Israelite king.
2 Kings 14 13 Commentary
2 Kings 14:13 vividly portrays the painful consequences of King Amaziah's pride. After his success against Edom, Amaziah's hubris led him to provoke war with Israel, resulting in his own capture and the severe damage to Jerusalem. This act by Joash of Israel was not merely a military tactic but a deliberate political and symbolic blow. Breaching Jerusalem's wall, a vital symbol of Judah's identity and security, was the ultimate humiliation, rendering the city vulnerable and asserting Israel's superior power. This event serves as a scriptural warning against misplaced confidence and a reminder that true security does not come from military might or self-exaltation, but from God. It also underscores the bitter reality of internal strife within God's people.