2 Kings 14:22 kjv
He built Elath, and restored it to Judah, after that the king slept with his fathers.
2 Kings 14:22 nkjv
He built Elath and restored it to Judah, after the king rested with his fathers.
2 Kings 14:22 niv
He was the one who rebuilt Elath and restored it to Judah after Amaziah rested with his ancestors.
2 Kings 14:22 esv
He built Elath and restored it to Judah, after the king slept with his fathers.
2 Kings 14:22 nlt
After his father's death, Uzziah rebuilt the town of Elath and restored it to Judah.
2 Kings 14 22 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Ki 14:7 | He [Amaziah] struck down ten thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt... | Amaziah's victory enabled Elath's recovery. |
| 2 Ki 14:21 | All the people of Judah took Azariah, who was sixteen years old, and made him king instead of his father Amaziah. | Identifies "He" of 2 Ki 14:22 as Azariah/Uzziah. |
| 2 Chr 26:1-2 | All the people of Judah took Uzziah, who was sixteen years old, and made him king instead of his father Amaziah. He it was who built Eloth and restored it to Judah, after the king slept with his fathers. | Explicitly attributes the building to Uzziah, confirms timing. |
| Dt 2:8 | ...passed by the way of the Arabah, from Elath and from Ezion-geber... | Elath's ancient location and historical presence. |
| Num 33:35-36 | They set out from Ezion-geber and camped at Kadesh, in the Wilderness of Zin. And they set out from Kadesh... | Elath (Ezion-geber nearby) as an Israelite encampment. |
| 1 Ki 9:26-28 | King Solomon built a fleet of ships at Ezion-geber, which is near Eloth on the shore of the Red Sea, in the land of Edom. And Hiram sent with the fleet his servants... who were familiar with the sea, together with the servants of Solomon. And they went to Ophir and brought from there gold... | Highlights Elath's strategic port significance for trade under Solomon. |
| 1 Ki 22:47-49 | There was no king in Edom; a deputy was king. Jehoshaphat made ships of Tarshish to go to Ophir for gold, but they did not go, for the ships were wrecked at Ezion-geber. Then Ahaziah the son of Ahab said to Jehoshaphat, “Let my servants go with your servants in the ships,” but Jehoshaphat would not. | Shows Ezion-geber/Elath as critical for maritime trade; Loss of access or failure impacts economy. |
| Gen 36:40-43 | ...chiefs descended from Esau... Timna, Alvah, Jetheth... | Elath located in ancient Edomite territory, demonstrating shifting control. |
| Isa 11:11-12 | In that day the Lord will extend his hand yet a second time to recover the remnant that remains... | Prophetic promise of future restoration and return to ancestral lands. |
| Isa 2:2-4 | It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established as the highest of the mountains... and all the nations shall flow to it... | Wider prophecy of future prosperity and Jerusalem's eminence, implying secure borders and trade. |
| Ez 47:10 | And fishers will stand beside it from En-gedi to En-eglaim; it will be a place for the spreading of nets. Its fish will be of many kinds, like the fish of the Great Sea. | Prophetic vision of restored natural abundance linked to new life/borders. |
| Amos 9:11-15 | “In that day I will raise up the booth of David that is fallen... and I will build it as in the days of old... I will restore the fortunes of my people Israel... They shall rebuild the ruined cities and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards... and make gardens, and eat their fruit. I will plant them upon their land...” | Prophetic promise of complete national restoration, including rebuilding and territorial control. |
| Psa 72:8-10 | May he have dominion from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth! May the kings of Tarshish and of the coastlands render him tribute; may the kings of Sheba and Seba bring gifts! | Psalm portraying a king with vast dominion, including sea access and trade. |
| Zec 9:9-10 | Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!... his dominion shall be from sea to sea... | Prophetic image of the Messiah's dominion, hinting at restored breadth of territory. |
| Jos 15:1-4, 21-32 | The lot for the tribe of the people of Judah according to their clans reached southward... | Delimits Judah's historical tribal boundaries. |
| Gen 12:2-3 | I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great... | God's promise of land to Abraham's descendants. |
| Josh 1:3 | Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given to you... | Continuation of the promise of territory to Israel. |
| 1 Chr 29:28 | He died in a good old age, full of days, riches, and honor. And Solomon his son reigned in his place. | Parallel idiom "slept with his fathers" (implicitly applied to David here, indicating a successful succession). |
| 2 Sam 7:12-16 | When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body... | God's promise of dynastic succession, linking a king's death to the rise of his heir. |
| Prov 29:4 | By justice a king builds up the land... | Connects good governance (like restoration efforts) with the prosperity of the land. |
2 Kings 14 verses
2 Kings 14 22 Meaning
2 Kings 14:22 notes that it was Azariah (also known as Uzziah), son of Amaziah, who built (or rebuilt/fortified) Elath and restored it to the kingdom of Judah. This significant act of regaining control over a strategic Red Sea port occurred after his father Amaziah passed away, underscoring Azariah's early reign contribution to Judah's economic and political standing following Amaziah's earlier victory over Edom.
2 Kings 14 22 Context
2 Kings chapter 14 largely focuses on the reigns of two kings: Amaziah of Judah and Jehoash (Joash) of Israel. It details Amaziah's initial righteous reign, his significant military victory over Edom in the Valley of Salt, his subsequent challenge and defeat by Jehoash of Israel, and his eventual assassination. The immediate verses (14:21) shift focus to Amaziah's successor, Azariah (also known as Uzziah), his son. Verse 22 then functions as an important postscript to Amaziah's reign, or an introduction to Uzziah's, confirming a key strategic and economic gain for Judah during the period after Amaziah's death, secured by Uzziah. The broader historical context is a period of relative instability between the Northern and Southern Kingdoms, punctuated by periods of resurgence and decline for both. The re-acquisition of Elath highlights Judah's re-emergence as a regional power and its ambition for trade access.
2 Kings 14 22 Word analysis
- He (וְהוּא - vehu')
- Significance: This pronoun refers back to Azariah (Uzziah) mentioned in 2 Kings 14:21, who succeeded his father Amaziah as king of Judah. This is clarified by 2 Chronicles 26:2, which explicitly states "He (Uzziah) it was who built Eloth."
- Original Context: Denotes the immediate subject of the action in this specific historical note.
- built (בָּנָה - banah)
- Meaning: Hebrew for "to build," "to construct," "to restore," or "to fortify." It implies an act of physical creation, re-establishment, or strengthening of an existing structure or city. In the context of a city like Elath, it strongly suggests rebuilding and fortifying it after previous destruction or decline.
- Significance: Not merely an original construction but likely a strategic restoration and fortification of a vital city that had been lost. It indicates a deliberate act to make it habitable and defensible, fit for re-occupation and use.
- Elath (אֵילַת - 'Eilat), often spelled Eloth
- Meaning: An ancient port city on the Red Sea (Gulf of Aqaba), near Ezion-geber.
- Significance: A critically important strategic location for trade and naval power, providing access to the Red Sea routes leading to Africa (e.g., Egypt, Punt) and potentially further to regions like Ophir for gold and other precious goods. Control of Elath meant economic prosperity and regional influence. Its loss indicated decline, and its re-acquisition marked a resurgence. Historically part of Edom, its return to Judah signified the restoration of territory and economic opportunity previously enjoyed under Solomon (1 Ki 9:26-28).
- and restored it (וַיְשִׁיבֶהָ - vay'shiveha)
- Meaning: "and he returned it," "and he brought it back." The suffix emphasizes "it" (feminine singular, referring to Elath).
- Significance: This verb strongly emphasizes re-possession and restoration. Elath was not simply built; it was returned to Judah, indicating that it had previously been lost, likely to Edom or other groups. Amaziah's prior military victory over Edom (2 Ki 14:7) paved the way for this reclamation. This shows Judah reasserting its territorial and economic claims.
- to Judah (לִּיהוּדָה - liYehudah)
- Meaning: "to Judah." Refers to the Southern Kingdom of God's people.
- Significance: Reaffirms the political sovereignty and ownership. This port city was brought back under the direct control and benefit of the Kingdom of Judah. It underscores national recovery and expanded boundaries.
- after (אַחַר - 'achar)
- Meaning: "after," "behind," "subsequent to."
- Significance: A temporal marker, clearly indicating sequence. The action of building/restoring Elath by Azariah happened subsequent to a specific event.
- the king (שְׁכַב־הַמֶּלֶךְ - shekhav-hammelech, part of a phrase meaning "when the king lay down")
- Meaning: Refers specifically to Amaziah, Azariah's father.
- Significance: Distinguishes between the "He" (Azariah) who performed the action and "the king" (Amaziah) whose death is referenced as the timing marker.
- slept with his fathers (עִם־אֲבֹתָיו - im-abotav, completing the phrase meaning "lie down with his fathers")
- Meaning: A common biblical idiom for death, particularly for kings and patriarchs, implying a peaceful transition and joining ancestors in Sheol (the realm of the dead). It highlights a continuity of lineage and tradition, even in death.
- Significance: Marks the succession of power. Azariah (Uzziah) undertaking this major project after his father's death implies either a continuation of Amaziah's vision, or a strategic move early in Uzziah's own reign to solidify his position and leverage his father's previous military gains.
Words-group Analysis
- He built Elath and restored it to Judah: This phrase summarizes a major geopolitical achievement. It's an active verb "built/restored" and clearly specifies the object "Elath" and beneficiary "Judah." It speaks of expansion and successful integration of strategically valuable territory.
- after the king slept with his fathers: This phrase provides a precise chronological anchor. It clarifies that this significant national project began or was completed and secured after Amaziah's reign had concluded, initiated and established firmly during Azariah (Uzziah)'s early years. This also reflects how the biblical narrative often marks important events in relation to dynastic transitions.
2 Kings 14 22 Bonus section
The recovery and fortification of Elath by Uzziah (Azariah) underpins Judah's re-emergence as a significant regional power. Control over Elath was not merely about owning territory; it was about access to the Arabian and African trade routes, bringing immense wealth and international influence. This re-acquisition, facilitated by Amaziah's earlier military success, showcases the long-term strategic thinking and continuity across the reigns of competent kings in Judah. It illustrates a cyclical pattern in the kingdoms: periods of decline and loss, followed by resurgence and recovery, often tied to the faithfulness and effectiveness of their leadership under God's ultimate plan. This period of Uzziah's reign (beginning after Amaziah's death) marked one of Judah's most prosperous eras, partly due to securing such vital economic assets.
2 Kings 14 22 Commentary
2 Kings 14:22 provides a succinct yet vital piece of historical information at the close of Amaziah's reign summary. It functions as a direct continuation from the introduction of Amaziah's son Azariah (Uzziah) as the new king in verse 21. While Amaziah had decisively defeated Edom in the Valley of Salt (2 Ki 14:7), effectively opening the path to Elath, it was his son, Azariah (Uzziah), who capitalized on this victory. By "building" or more accurately, rebuilding and fortifying Elath, Uzziah consolidated Judah's control over this crucial port on the Gulf of Aqaba. This move was not just a territorial gain but a re-establishment of a significant trade route, mirroring the economic prosperity of Solomon's era, which relied on sea access through Ezion-geber/Elath. The timing, "after the king slept with his fathers" (referring to Amaziah), indicates that Uzziah wasted no time in securing and developing this asset following his ascent to the throne, underscoring his early vision and competence. This demonstrates God's sovereignty working through human leaders, even after periods of instability, to restore elements of national strength and provide opportunities for prosperity when leadership is obedient.