2 Kings 14 14

2 Kings 14:14 kjv

And he took all the gold and silver, and all the vessels that were found in the house of the LORD, and in the treasures of the king's house, and hostages, and returned to Samaria.

2 Kings 14:14 nkjv

And he took all the gold and silver, all the articles that were found in the house of the LORD and in the treasuries of the king's house, and hostages, and returned to Samaria.

2 Kings 14:14 niv

He took all the gold and silver and all the articles found in the temple of the LORD and in the treasuries of the royal palace. He also took hostages and returned to Samaria.

2 Kings 14:14 esv

And he seized all the gold and silver, and all the vessels that were found in the house of the LORD and in the treasuries of the king's house, also hostages, and he returned to Samaria.

2 Kings 14:14 nlt

He carried off all the gold and silver and all the articles from the Temple of the LORD. He also seized the treasures from the royal palace, along with hostages, and then returned to Samaria.

2 Kings 14 verses

2 Kings 14 14 Meaning

2 Kings 14:14 describes the plunder and humiliation of Jerusalem by King Jehoash of Israel, following his victory over Amaziah, King of Judah. It details Jehoash's forceful taking of all gold, silver, and the sacred vessels from the Temple of the LORD, along with the contents of the royal palace treasury. Additionally, he seized noble individuals as hostages. After achieving these objectives, Jehoash returned to Samaria, the capital of Israel, in triumph. This event highlights Judah's severe defeat and its resulting national shame and weakened state.

2 Kings 14 14 Context

The immediate context of 2 Kings 14:14 is the aftermath of the battle between King Amaziah of Judah and King Jehoash of Israel. Amaziah, buoyed by a significant victory over Edom, grew arrogant and sent a challenging message to Jehoash, essentially provoking a conflict between the two long-estranged sister kingdoms. Jehoash responded with a parable mocking Amaziah's pride and recklessness. Despite the warning, Amaziah persisted, leading to a decisive battle at Beth-shemesh where Judah was thoroughly defeated. Amaziah himself was captured by Jehoash. This verse describes the direct consequence of that military defeat, portraying the ultimate humiliation of Jerusalem, the capital and religious heart of Judah. Historically, this event falls within the period of the divided monarchy, marked by political instability, spiritual apostasy, and inter-kingdom conflicts. Amaziah's initial acts of justice after his father's assassination quickly devolved into idolatry after his success against Edom (2 Chr 25:14), inviting divine judgment, which materialized through the hand of Jehoash.

2 Kings 14 14 Word analysis

• And he took (וַיִּקַּח - Vayiqqaḥ): From the root laqaḥ, meaning "to take, seize, fetch." This specific form emphasizes a swift, decisive, and forceful action, not a mere transaction. It indicates a conqueror's right to spoils.
• all (כָּל - kol): This quantifier stresses totality and comprehensiveness. It indicates a thorough plundering, leaving nothing of significant value behind, emphasizing the completeness of the victory and the resulting loss.
• the gold (הַזָּהָב - hazzahav) and silver (וְהַכֶּסֶף - vehakkeseph): These terms represent the primary forms of wealth and stored capital in the ancient world. They are universally recognized as highly valuable commodities, making their loss particularly devastating for a kingdom.
• and all the vessels (וְכֹל הַכֵּלִים - vekhol hakkelim): "Vessels" (keli) here specifically refers to utensils, implements, or containers, often crafted from precious metals. In the context of "the house of the LORD," these would include the sacred instruments used for temple service and ritual. Their removal was not just material loss but an act of profound desecration, defiling the holy place and disrupting worship.
• that were found (אֲשֶׁר נִמְצְאוּ - asher nimtse'u): This phrase suggests that Jehoash's forces systematically searched for and uncovered all hidden or stored treasures. It implies thoroughness in their plundering.
• in the house of the LORD (בְּבֵית יְהוָה - beveit Yahweh): This is the Temple in Jerusalem, the focal point of Israelite worship and perceived as God's dwelling place on earth. The plunder of the Temple was a grievous sacrilege, not merely robbing a building, but symbolically striking at the heart of Judah's spiritual and national identity. It challenges the common belief of its inviolability.
• and in the treasures (וּבְאוֹצְרוֹת - u've'otsrot): Refers to designated storehouses or treasuries where valuable goods, money, and state reserves were kept. These would include revenue, tributes, and royal possessions.
• of the king's house (בֵּית הַמֶּלֶךְ - beit hammelekh): This is the royal palace, the administrative and residential center for the king. Its plundering signifies the complete political and economic subjugation of the monarchy.
• and the hostages (וְאֶת בְּנֵי הַתַּעֲרֻבֹת - ve'et b'nei hatta'aruvot): Literally "sons of pledges/securities." These were typically high-ranking individuals, often royal family members or children of nobles, taken as security to ensure the defeated kingdom's future loyalty, tribute payments, or compliance. This act was deeply humiliating for the conquered and a strategic move by the victor to maintain control.
• and returned (וַיָּשָׁב - Vayyashav): From the root shuv, "to turn, return." This verb signals the completion of the military operation and Jehoash's triumphant departure from the subdued territory.
• to Samaria (שֹׁמְרוֹנָה - Shomronah): The capital city of the Northern Kingdom (Israel). Jehoash's destination, signifying his successful and lucrative expedition against Judah, consolidating his power and glory in his own kingdom.

Words-Group Analysis:

• "all the gold and silver, and all the vessels that were found in the house of the LORD, and in the treasures of the king's house": This lengthy phrase collectively describes the full extent of the financial and symbolic losses. It encompasses both the sacred (Temple treasures) and the secular (royal treasury), demonstrating that no significant source of wealth or sacred article was spared. The inclusion of "all the vessels" from the Temple underscores the specific nature of the plundering, targeting items essential for religious worship and highlighting the profound sacrilege involved. This act stripped Jerusalem of its material splendor and severely impaired its religious functioning, demonstrating God's permissive judgment.
• "and the hostages, and returned to Samaria": This concluding part emphasizes the complete political and personal humiliation inflicted upon Judah. The taking of hostages was a deeply strategic and psychologically damaging act, guaranteeing future subservience and reminding the vanquished of their vulnerable state. Jehoash's triumphant return to Samaria with his spoils signifies his undisputed victory and Judah's complete submission, reaffirming Israel's temporary dominance over its southern counterpart.

2 Kings 14 14 Bonus section

• The practice of taking temple treasures and high-ranking hostages was common among powerful empires of the ancient Near East, such as the Assyrians and Babylonians. This verse highlights Israel (the Northern Kingdom) acting in a manner similar to these larger regional powers, demonstrating its own momentary ascendancy over Judah. Taking royal articles was a public declaration of superiority, a clear signal of one nation's power over another, signifying conquest and subjugation.
• The recurrent theme of the Temple's plunder throughout Israelite history (e.g., Shishak, Jehoash, Ahaz, Nebuchadnezzar) serves as a potent theological motif. It demonstrates that the Temple, while a holy site, was not an unbreakable charm guaranteeing God's protection irrespective of the people's fidelity. Instead, it showed that God's presence, though rooted there, was contingent on the covenant obedience of His people. Its plundering or destruction was often a severe consequence of Judah's spiritual waywardness and idol worship.
• This specific event also highlights the often tumultuous and hostile relationship between the two divided kingdoms, Judah and Israel, despite their shared heritage and covenant with God. Their internal strife often left both kingdoms weakened and vulnerable to external threats, ultimately contributing to their eventual downfall.

2 Kings 14 14 Commentary

2 Kings 14:14 captures the grim consequences of human pride and divine judgment during the period of the divided monarchy. King Amaziah of Judah, having achieved success against Edom, became puffed up and arrogantly provoked King Jehoash of Israel, ignoring the clear warning and parable from his opponent. The subsequent defeat at Beth-shemesh was not merely a military mishap but a direct manifestation of divine displeasure, particularly given Amaziah's descent into idolatry after his initial faithfulness.

The plundering of Jerusalem, encompassing both the sacred Temple and the king's private treasures, symbolizes the vulnerability of Judah when its leaders departed from God's commands. The removal of the Temple vessels was not just an economic loss but a deep sacrilege, exposing the false security placed in physical structures rather than in the Living God. It teaches that even the presence of a holy sanctuary does not shield a people from judgment if they persist in disobedience. The seizure of hostages further cemented Judah's humiliation and forced subjugation, illustrating the brutal realities of ancient warfare and the strategic use of such actions to control defeated nations. This episode stands as a stark reminder that prosperity born of God's favor can quickly turn to adversity if humility and obedience are abandoned, revealing that true national strength lies not in military prowess or material wealth, but in a right relationship with God.