2 Kings 14:28 kjv
Now the rest of the acts of Jeroboam, and all that he did, and his might, how he warred, and how he recovered Damascus, and Hamath, which belonged to Judah, for Israel, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?
2 Kings 14:28 nkjv
Now the rest of the acts of Jeroboam, and all that he did?his might, how he made war, and how he recaptured for Israel, from Damascus and Hamath, what had belonged to Judah?are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?
2 Kings 14:28 niv
As for the other events of Jeroboam's reign, all he did, and his military achievements, including how he recovered for Israel both Damascus and Hamath, which had belonged to Judah, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Israel?
2 Kings 14:28 esv
Now the rest of the acts of Jeroboam and all that he did, and his might, how he fought, and how he restored Damascus and Hamath to Judah in Israel, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel?
2 Kings 14:28 nlt
The rest of the events in the reign of Jeroboam II and everything he did ? including the extent of his power, his wars, and how he recovered for Israel both Damascus and Hamath, which had belonged to Judah ? are recorded in The Book of the History of the Kings of Israel.
2 Kings 14 28 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Kgs 14:27 | For the Lord had not said that he would blot out the name of Israel... saved them by the hand of Jeroboam... | God's preserving hand despite Israel's sin. |
| 2 Kgs 14:29 | And Jeroboam slept with his fathers, even with the kings of Israel... | Standard annalistic closing for kings. |
| Num 34:7-9 | This shall be your north border... from the Great Sea you shall mark out... Hamath. | Defining the northern borders of the promised land. |
| 2 Sam 8:3-6 | David also struck Hadadezer the son of Rehob, king of Zobah, as he went... then David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus. | David's conquests extending to Hamath and Damascus, setting precedent. |
| 1 Kgs 8:65 | Solomon held a feast, and all Israel with him, a great assembly... from the entrance of Hamath unto the brook of Egypt. | Solomon's kingdom at its maximum extent, including Hamath's borders. |
| 2 Chr 8:3-4 | And Solomon went to Hamath-zobah and prevailed against it. And he built Tadmor in the wilderness and all the store cities in Hamath. | Solomon's control over Hamath further establishing historical claim. |
| Jonah 1:1 | Now the word of the Lord came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying... | Introduction to Jonah, Jeroboam II's contemporary prophet. |
| Jonah 4:10-11 | You had pity on the gourd, for which you did not labor... And should I not pity Nineveh...? | Jonah's ministry, contrasting God's mercy with human expectations. |
| Amos 6:13-14 | You who rejoice in a thing of naught, who say, "Have we not taken Carnaim by our own strength?" ... for I will raise up against you, O house of Israel, a nation, and they shall afflict you from the entrance of Hamath unto the brook of the Arabah. | Prophetic condemnation of Israel's pride during Jeroboam's reign, mentioning Hamath. |
| Hos 1:1 | The word of the Lord that came unto Hosea, the son of Beeri, in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash, king of Israel. | Hosea's contemporary prophecy during Jeroboam II's reign. |
| 1 Kgs 14:19 | The rest of the acts of Jeroboam, how he warred, and how he reigned, behold, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel. | Standard formula for recording royal histories in Israel. |
| 1 Kgs 15:7 | Now the rest of the acts of Abijam, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? | Standard formula for recording royal histories in Judah. |
| Gen 15:18 | In the same day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto your seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates. | The expansive, promised land boundaries to Abraham, implying greater dominion. |
| Josh 1:4 | From the wilderness and this Lebanon even unto the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and unto the great sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your coast. | Renewed promise of territorial extent under Joshua. |
| Ezek 47:16-17 | Hamath, Berothah, Sibraim, which is between the border of Damascus and the border of Hamath... | Ezekiel's future territorial vision, mentioning Hamath and Damascus. |
| Zech 9:1-2 | The burden of the word of the Lord in the land of Hadrach, and Damascus shall be the rest thereof: for the eye of man, and of all the tribes of Israel, is toward the Lord. And Hamath also shall border thereby; Tyrus, and Zidon, though it be very wise. | Prophetic burden including Damascus and Hamath's future. |
| Isa 10:9 | Is not Calno as Carchemish? is not Hamath as Arpad? is not Samaria as Damascus? | Prophetic comparison of conquered cities, Hamath and Damascus mentioned together. |
| Ps 72:8 | He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth. | Messianic reign's extensive dominion, echoing biblical land claims. |
| Isa 9:7 | Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end... upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom... | Future Messiah's eternal kingdom, alluding to restoration of Davidic sphere. |
| 1 Kgs 4:21 | And Solomon reigned over all kingdoms from the river unto the land of the Philistines, and unto the border of Egypt. | Solomon's vast dominion as an ideal, pre-division Davidic kingdom. |
2 Kings 14 verses
2 Kings 14 28 Meaning
This verse serves as an annalistic summary, pointing to further records of King Jeroboam II of Israel. It highlights his accomplishments, particularly his military prowess and success in warfare. Specifically, it notes his recovery of the cities of Damascus and Hamath, thereby expanding the territory of the Northern Kingdom of Israel. The phrasing "which belonged to Judah" signifies these lands were historically part of the extended Davidic dominion or ideal kingdom, implying a restoration of a past boundary for Israel's benefit, before concluding by referencing the definitive source for more detailed information.
2 Kings 14 28 Context
2 Kings chapter 14 describes the reigns of Amaziah of Judah and Jeroboam II of Israel. Jeroboam II’s reign, spanning forty-one years (2 Kings 14:23), was one of the longest and most prosperous in the Northern Kingdom's history, second only to Jeroboam I. Despite the general prosperity and military success, which included reclaiming lost territories as mentioned in this verse, the spiritual state of Israel under Jeroboam II was marked by continued idolatry and social injustice (as heavily critiqued by contemporary prophets Amos and Hosea).
Historically, the period of Jeroboam II was a brief resurgence for Israel. Assyria, the dominant regional power, was temporarily weakened and occupied with its own internal conflicts and other external wars. This geopolitical vacuum allowed both Israel (under Jeroboam II) and Judah (under Uzziah/Azariah) to flourish and expand their territories. Jeroboam II exploited this opportunity, reasserting Israelite control over areas that had been lost, especially to the Arameans (Syrians) of Damascus during previous reigns. The reference to "Damascus and Hamath, which belonged to Judah" implicitly links these Northern conquests to the historical claims of the united Davidic kingdom, subtly acknowledging the wider "Israel" territory as rooted in the Davidic legacy.
2 Kings 14 28 Word analysis
- Now the rest of the acts:
- Now: Standard transitional marker in historical narratives, linking the current detail to the broader record.
- rest of the acts (Hebrew: וְיֶתֶר דִּבְרֵי - v'yeter divrei): This phrase signifies that the preceding narrative in 2 Kings provided only a summary. Divrei (דִּבְרֵי), literally "words," frequently means "deeds" or "affairs" in this context (e.g., "words of the chronicles" means "deeds recorded in the chronicles"). It points to additional historical material not included here.
- of Jeroboam: Refers to Jeroboam II, son of Joash, king of Israel (Northern Kingdom), who reigned for 41 years (2 Kgs 14:23).
- and all that he did: Broad, inclusive language, indicating the totality of his royal endeavors, beyond just military achievements.
- and his might (Hebrew: וּגְבוּרָתוֹ - u'g'vuratoh): Implies strength, prowess, valor, and effectiveness, particularly in warfare or administration. It speaks of his ability and capacity as a king.
- how he warred: Specifically emphasizes his military campaigns and successes. His reign was noted for strategic recovery.
- and how he recovered: (Hebrew: אֲשֶׁר הֵשִׁיב - asher heshiv): "Recovered" means "brought back" or "restored." This implies a reversal of previous losses, likely territories seized by the Arameans (e.g., Hazael of Aram, 2 Kgs 13:3, 7). This restoration fulfilled a prophetic word.
- Damascus and Hamath:
- Damascus (דַּמֶּשֶׂק - Dammesek): Capital city of Aram (Syria), long a formidable enemy of both Israel and Judah. Its recovery was a major military triumph, indicating a significant shift in regional power.
- Hamath (חֲמָת - Ḥamath): An important city-state further north, on the Orontes River. Its control extended Israel's influence towards the Euphrates, indicating a powerful re-establishment of territorial claims.
- which belonged to Judah: (Hebrew: לִיהוּדָה - liYehudah - "to Judah"): This is a crucial phrase. It does not imply that Judah physically possessed these cities during Jeroboam II's reign. Instead, it likely refers to the ideal or historical extent of the united kingdom under David and Solomon, which had incorporated or held sway over these northern regions (2 Sam 8:3-12, 1 Kgs 8:65). This phrase acknowledges that even the achievements of the Northern Kingdom, particularly territorial restoration, were implicitly tied to the legacy and claims of the broader Davidic kingdom, of which Judah was the legitimate continuation from the perspective of the Southern Kingdom’s historiography.
- for Israel: Indicates that Jeroboam II's recovery of these lands was specifically for the benefit and expansion of the Northern Kingdom. It underscores the pragmatic outcome of his campaigns.
- are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel?: A standard colophon formula, recurring throughout the books of Kings (e.g., 1 Kgs 14:19; 15:7), referring to the official annals from which the biblical narrative is drawn. This signals the historical grounding and documentation of the described events.
2 Kings 14 28 Bonus section
The "Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel" was likely an official state archive, a repository of court records and royal documents, distinct from the canonical books of Chronicles found in the Hebrew Bible. The writers of Kings frequently referred to these external records, indicating that their own narrative was a condensed, theologically informed history rather than an exhaustive account. Jeroboam II's restoration of territory, particularly the region from Lebo-Hamath to the Sea of the Arabah (Dead Sea), as described in 2 Kings 14:25, explicitly fulfilled the prophecy of Jonah son of Amittai (mentioned as the prophet from Gath Hepher, who likely wrote the book of Jonah). This fulfillment of prophecy, even through a king whose reign was spiritually flawed, highlights God's sovereignty and His continued working through human agents despite their imperfections, in keeping with His overarching covenantal purposes and a specific promise not to abandon Israel entirely (2 Kgs 14:27). This prosperity was ultimately fleeting, as Israel would fall to Assyria within a few decades.
2 Kings 14 28 Commentary
This verse concisely summarizes the successful reign of Jeroboam II, focusing on his significant military achievements. His recovery of Damascus and Hamath marked a zenith of territorial expansion for the Northern Kingdom of Israel, arguably restoring it to an extent reminiscent of the united monarchy under Solomon. The mention of these cities "belonging to Judah" serves as a theological and historical reference, connecting Jeroboam's present success to the ancient, divinely sanctioned boundaries of the Davidic kingdom, implicitly affirming that these territories were part of the ideal promised land or a legacy of David. This restoration, though impressive and prophesied by Jonah, did not, however, lead to spiritual renewal in Israel, as prophets like Amos and Hosea powerfully attested to the moral decay and idolatry rampant during his time. The verse underscores that despite Israel's disobedience, God's promise to not blot out the name of Israel (2 Kgs 14:27) still allowed for such periods of national strength, even through kings who continued in the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat.