2 Kings 14 17

2 Kings 14:17 kjv

And Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah lived after the death of Jehoash son of Jehoahaz king of Israel fifteen years.

2 Kings 14:17 nkjv

Amaziah the son of Joash, king of Judah, lived fifteen years after the death of Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz, king of Israel.

2 Kings 14:17 niv

Amaziah son of Joash king of Judah lived for fifteen years after the death of Jehoash son of Jehoahaz king of Israel.

2 Kings 14:17 esv

Amaziah the son of Joash, king of Judah, lived fifteen years after the death of Jehoash son of Jehoahaz, king of Israel.

2 Kings 14:17 nlt

King Amaziah of Judah lived for fifteen years after the death of King Jehoash of Israel.

2 Kings 14 verses

2 Kings 14 17 Meaning

2 Kings 14:17 states a specific chronological fact: King Amaziah of Judah continued to reign for fifteen years after the death of Joash, the king of Israel. This detail emphasizes Amaziah's extended lifespan and rule subsequent to his humiliating defeat at the hands of Joash in the war described earlier in the chapter. It highlights the passage of time and sets the stage for Amaziah's eventual assassination, revealing divine patience amidst his persistent spiritual compromise.

2 Kings 14 17 Context

2 Kings 14:17 serves as a key chronological marker in the narrative of the divided monarchy. It follows directly after the detailed account of the war between Judah and Israel (2 Kgs 14:8-16), in which Amaziah of Judah provoked Joash of Israel, leading to Judah's devastating defeat. Jerusalem's wall was broken, temple treasures looted, and Amaziah was taken captive, then released. This verse quietly but significantly indicates that despite this profound national and personal humiliation, Amaziah was permitted by divine providence to live and reign for a further fifteen years after his triumphant enemy, Joash, had died. This historical detail underscores the meticulous record-keeping of the biblical writers and emphasizes that Amaziah's life did not end immediately with his military defeat but rather continued for a considerable period, setting the stage for his eventual downfall years later, as chronicled in the verses that follow (2 Kgs 14:19-20). It implicitly touches upon the enduring sovereignty of God over kings and their lifespans, regardless of their actions.

2 Kings 14 17 Word analysis

• And (וַ, va-): A conjunction that links this chronological statement to the preceding narrative of the war and its consequences. It implies continuity of the historical account.
• Amaziah (אֲמַצְיָהּ, Amatsyah): The King of Judah. His name means "Yahweh has strengthened" or "strength of Yahweh." This name carries a subtle irony, as his reliance on human strength and pride ultimately led to his profound humiliation, yet Yahweh did allow his life to be prolonged.
• king of Judah: Identifies him as the sovereign of the Southern Kingdom, the direct lineage from David. His continued reign affirms the Davidic covenant's resilience, even amidst his personal failings.
• lived (וַיְחִי, va-yech-hi): Emphasizes his continued existence and, by extension, his continued reign. He survived the war and maintained his kingship for a significant period. The verb underscores survival against expectations perhaps, or simply notes a factual duration.
• fifteen years (חֲמֵשׁ עֶשְׂרֵה שָׁנָה, chamesh esreh shanah): A precise numerical detail specifying the duration of his continued life after the significant event. This considerable period suggests time for reflection, repentance, or simply continued exercise of his rule. The Bible often includes specific timeframes, highlighting factual accuracy.
• after the death (אַחַר מוֹת, akhar mot): A clear chronological marker. It establishes a point of reference (Joash's demise) from which Amaziah's remaining life is measured. This implies that Joash, the victor, died before the defeated Amaziah, an interesting twist of fate often observed in life.
• of Joash (יוֹאָשׁ, Yo'ash): The King of Israel (Northern Kingdom), Amaziah's victor in the earlier war. His name means "Yahweh has given" or "Yahweh is strong." He was an instruments of God's chastisement for Amaziah's pride.
• son of Jehoahaz (בֶּן־יְהוֹאָחָז, ben-Yeho'akhaz): A standard genealogical identifier, essential for distinguishing this Joash from other individuals with the same common name, particularly King Joash of Judah (Amaziah's father). Jehoahaz means "Yahweh has grasped/possessed."
• king of Israel: Identifies Joash as the ruler of the Northern Kingdom, the primary rival kingdom to Judah during this period.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "And Amaziah king of Judah lived fifteen years": This phrase highlights the longevity and continuity of Amaziah's rule despite the previous calamitous defeat. It underscores divine patience or sovereign allowance, as he was not immediately overthrown or killed. His survival emphasizes the providential nature of God's dealings with the kings.
• "after the death of Joash son of Jehoahaz king of Israel": This phrase provides a precise temporal benchmark for Amaziah's continued reign. By explicitly stating that Amaziah outlived his powerful northern counterpart, the narrative perhaps subtly reinforces the idea of God's inscrutable plan and differing judgment, or simply a straightforward historical record that the vanquished outlasted the vanquisher. It confirms the meticulous chronological style often found in the books of Kings.

2 Kings 14 17 Bonus section

• The detail of Amaziah outliving Joash by fifteen years is important for aligning the often-complex chronologies of the divided kingdoms of Israel and Judah. It reflects the meticulous attention to detail within the historical books of the Bible, which were constructed with careful reference to court records and royal annals (mentioned explicitly elsewhere in Kings).
• This verse indirectly hints at a period of continued political stability in Judah following the severe national humiliation. Although defeated, Amaziah retained his throne for a substantial period, perhaps due to internal strength or simply lack of another immediate external threat, until a domestic conspiracy led to his end.
• The continued life of Amaziah despite his initial flawed beginning (2 Chr 25:2), pride leading to his challenge to Joash, and turning to idolatry after a victory (2 Chr 25:14-15), serves as a silent witness to God's patience with even flawed leadership before final judgment is rendered. His ultimate assassination at the end of this extended reign (2 Kgs 14:19) suggests that this extended life was not a sign of divine approval, but possibly a space for repentance that was not fully utilized.

2 Kings 14 17 Commentary

2 Kings 14:17, while brief, is highly significant. Following Amaziah's catastrophic defeat by Joash, it is a statement of unexpected continuity, noting that Amaziah, the humbled king of Judah, outlived his conquering Israelite rival by fifteen years. This chronological detail functions beyond mere record-keeping. It showcases divine long-suffering and God's sovereign control over the lives and reigns of kings. Even after a major judgment against him for his pride and idolatry, Amaziah was granted more time—time which, regrettably, he did not use to wholeheartedly turn back to the Lord (as clarified in 2 Chr 25:27, explaining his later assassination). The verse silently yet powerfully reminds the reader that God's ways are higher than man's, extending the span of life and rule even to those who have deeply erred, before their ultimate accountability.