2 Kings 14 19

2 Kings 14:19 kjv

Now they made a conspiracy against him in Jerusalem: and he fled to Lachish; but they sent after him to Lachish, and slew him there.

2 Kings 14:19 nkjv

And they formed a conspiracy against him in Jerusalem, and he fled to Lachish; but they sent after him to Lachish and killed him there.

2 Kings 14:19 niv

They conspired against him in Jerusalem, and he fled to Lachish, but they sent men after him to Lachish and killed him there.

2 Kings 14:19 esv

And they made a conspiracy against him in Jerusalem, and he fled to Lachish. But they sent after him to Lachish and put him to death there.

2 Kings 14:19 nlt

There was a conspiracy against Amaziah's life in Jerusalem, and he fled to Lachish. But his enemies sent assassins after him, and they killed him there.

2 Kings 14 verses

2 Kings 14 19 Meaning

The verse describes the assassination of King Amaziah of Judah. A secret plot was formed against him by his own people in Jerusalem, compelling him to flee for safety. However, his pursuers caught up with him in Lachish, a fortified city, where they ultimately carried out his murder. This event marks the tragic end of his reign, signaling deep internal dissatisfaction and divine judgment.

2 Kings 14 19 Context

The death of Amaziah in 2 Kings 14:19 concludes his 29-year reign over Judah. Initially, he showed obedience to the Lord (2 Kgs 14:3), avenging his father's murderers (2 Kgs 14:5-6) and achieving a significant victory over Edom (2 Kgs 14:7). However, after this triumph, he unwisely challenged Jehoash, king of Israel (2 Kgs 14:8-12), resulting in a devastating defeat for Judah, the sacking of Jerusalem, and the partial destruction of its walls (2 Kgs 14:13-14). Crucially, the parallel account in 2 Chronicles 25 reveals that after his victory against Edom, Amaziah brought their idols to Jerusalem and began to worship them (2 Chr 25:14). This act of idolatry and his subsequent refusal to heed a prophet's warning (2 Chr 25:15-16) alienated his people and eventually led to the conspiracy against him. His pride, foolish military actions, and, most significantly, his spiritual apostasy culminated in his rejection by a significant portion of his court or populace, forcing his flight and eventual murder.

2 Kings 14 19 Word analysis

• Now they made a conspiracy (וַיִּקְשְׁרוּ עָלָיו קֶשֶׁר – vayyiqshěrû ‘ālāyw qesher):
  • Qesher (קֶשֶׁר): This Hebrew term means "conspiracy," "plot," or "treason." It denotes a secret, unlawful, and often violent agreement by a group against an authority figure, particularly the king. Its use here indicates a profound internal rupture within the Judahite political structure. The verbal repetition of the root ("made a conspiracy... a conspiracy") emphasizes the deliberateness and malicious nature of the plot.
• against him (עָלָיו – ‘ālāyw): Highlights Amaziah as the specific target of the malevolent plot.
• in Jerusalem (בִּירוּשָׁלַיִם – bîrûshālayim):
  • The capital city, the seat of the king's power and residence. The fact that the conspiracy originated in Jerusalem implies a failure of the king's authority even in his own court and among those closest to him. It points to significant dissent among his own officials or citizenry, underscoring the severity of his alienation.
• and he fled (וַיָּנָס – wayyānas):
  • From the verb nas (נָס): To flee, escape, or run away. This portrays Amaziah's desperate act of self-preservation, indicating the immediate and grave danger he faced. His flight suggests the strength and immediacy of the threat.
• to Lachish (לָכִישָׁה – lākhîshāh):
  • Lachish was a heavily fortified city in the Shephelah region, southwest of Jerusalem, making it a strategic stronghold in Judah. Its substantial defenses might have made it seem like a logical place of refuge. The choice of Lachish indicates Amaziah’s belief that he could still find safety within his kingdom's well-established network of cities, though this proved to be a fatal miscalculation. Historically, Lachish was the second most important city of Judah after Jerusalem.
• but they sent after him (וַיִּשְׁלְחוּ אַחֲרָיו – vayyishlěḥû ’aḥărāyw):
  • Shows the determination and resolve of the conspirators. They were not content with his flight; they were committed to pursuing and apprehending him, indicating the depth of their grievance or resolve to fully seize power.
• to Lachish and killed him there (לָכִישָׁה וַיְמִתֻהוּ שָׁׁם – lākhîshāh wayměmīthuhû shām):
  • Wayměmīthuhû: "And they caused him to die," or "and they put him to death." This emphasizes the conspirators' active and successful role in bringing about his demise. The phrase "there" reinforces that his attempted refuge became the very site of his execution, highlighting the inescapable nature of his fate once the conspiracy was fully set in motion.
  • The entire phrase conveys the swift and decisive execution of the plot, concluding the pursuit and the king’s life. It underscores the conspirators’ absolute power over the king, who could not escape their reach even in a well-defended city.

2 Kings 14 19 Bonus section

The anonymity of the conspirators in 2 Kings 14 (unlike some other royal conspiracies in the Books of Kings, which name perpetrators) suggests that the historical details of "who" precisely conspired might have been secondary to the theological message. The focus here is less on the specific agents of his death and more on the inescapable judgment that fell upon Amaziah due to his actions. His death is presented as an internal collapse of his kingdom, a sign that the very foundation of his rule had crumbled. This contrasts with previous accounts where assassins might be clearly identified (e.g., Jehu or Zimri), further underscoring the pervasive nature of the opposition against him rather than merely the work of a few rogue individuals. The flight to Lachish, a prominent Judean city, implies a sense of irony and doom—even within his own realm, under what should have been the protection of a royal stronghold, Amaziah could find no safety from the inevitable outcome of his departure from the Lord.

2 Kings 14 19 Commentary

The death of Amaziah, as narrated in 2 Kings 14:19, is not merely a political event but is presented as a consequence deeply rooted in his spiritual decline. While 2 Kings is succinct, the parallel account in 2 Chronicles 25 elaborates that the conspiracy against him emerged "from the time Amaziah turned away from following the Lord" (2 Chr 25:27), specifically after he adopted the gods of Edom following his victory (2 Chr 25:14-16). His earlier triumphs were nullified by his spiritual infidelity and military arrogance, culminating in a devastating defeat against Israel. The conspiracy thus signifies profound disillusionment and a loss of legitimate authority, interpreted biblically as divine judgment. His flight to Lachish, a natural place for refuge, proved futile, highlighting the relentless nature of the forces—both human and divine—arrayed against him. This tragic end serves as a stark reminder of the Deuteronomistic theology prevalent in Kings, where the well-being and longevity of a king’s reign are directly tied to their obedience to the Lord.