2 Kings 14 5

2 Kings 14:5 kjv

And it came to pass, as soon as the kingdom was confirmed in his hand, that he slew his servants which had slain the king his father.

2 Kings 14:5 nkjv

Now it happened, as soon as the kingdom was established in his hand, that he executed his servants who had murdered his father the king.

2 Kings 14:5 niv

After the kingdom was firmly in his grasp, he executed the officials who had murdered his father the king.

2 Kings 14:5 esv

And as soon as the royal power was firmly in his hand, he struck down his servants who had struck down the king his father.

2 Kings 14:5 nlt

When Amaziah was well established as king, he executed the officials who had assassinated his father.

2 Kings 14 verses

2 Kings 14 5 Meaning

Upon securely establishing his authority over the kingdom of Judah, King Amaziah swiftly enacted justice by executing the high-ranking officials who had assassinated his father, King Joash. This act secured his throne and upheld the law regarding murder and the sanctity of the royal office.

2 Kings 14 5 Context

Chapter 14 begins Amaziah's reign as king of Judah, succeeding his murdered father Joash. Joash himself had become king after the ruthless reign of Athaliah and was ultimately assassinated by his own officials. This verse marks Amaziah's immediate action to secure his authority and rectify the preceding regicide. This act not only punishes the conspirators but also stabilizes the fragile monarchy and affirms legitimate royal succession, especially in light of the prior dynastic upheavals in Judah. This act also sets him apart as a king who adhered to aspects of the Mosaic Law, notably the prohibition against punishing children for their parents' sins, in a time where power grabs often led to mass executions of families.

2 Kings 14 5 Word analysis

• As soon as the royal power was firmly in his grasp:

  • וַיְהִי (vayehi): "And it was" or "It came to pass." A common narrative marker, indicating the occurrence of an event.
  • כְּחֶזְקַת (keḥezqat): From the root חזק (ḥazaq), meaning "to be strong, firm, prevail." The prefix כְּ (ke-) indicates "when" or "as soon as." It signifies a period when his authority (power, strength, grip) was solidified and undisputed, not just initial coronation but established dominion. This implies strategic prudence and a period of consolidation.
  • הַמַּמְלָכָה (hammamlākāh): "the kingdom" or "the kingship." Refers to the royal authority and reign.
  • עַל־יָדוֹ (al-yādō): Literally "on his hand," an idiom meaning "in his control," "under his authority," or "in his possession."
  • This phrase emphasizes that Amaziah waited until his reign was secure and unchallengeable before taking action, indicating a calculated exercise of justice rather than an impulsive act of revenge or a risky purge.

• he executed:

  • וַיַּךְ (vayyakh): Hiphil imperfect of the verb נָכָה (nakah), which means "to strike," "to smite," or "to kill." In this context, it unequivocally means he put them to death. It conveys decisive and complete action.

• the officials:

  • אֶת־עֲבָדָיו (et-ʻavādāv): "his servants." The term עֶבֶד (ʻeved) can refer to a servant, slave, or official/minister, depending on the context. Here, given their role in assassinating the previous king, "officials" is appropriate, suggesting high-ranking royal administrators or trusted personnel. Their betrayal of trust made their crime more grievous.

• who had murdered:

  • הַמַּכִּים (hammakkim): Participle from the same root נָכָה (nakah) as "he executed." This emphasizes that these were the specific individuals who committed the act of slaying or striking the king, making it a targeted act of justice against the actual perpetrators.

• his father the king:

  • אֶת־אָבִיו הַמֶּלֶךְ (et-ʻāvīv hammalek): "his father, the king." Identifies the victim as King Joash, highlighting both the personal familial crime and the political crime of regicide. Regicide was considered an extremely serious offense against the divine order of the monarchy.

2 Kings 14 5 Bonus section

• The phrasing indicates a judicial process, not just a personal vendetta. It was a formal state execution after the establishment of lawful authority.
• This initial act of righteous governance by Amaziah foreshadows his later spiritual shortcomings. Despite starting well by upholding divine law, he later stumbled (2 Kings 14:7, 2 Chronicles 25:14-16), serving as a cautionary tale of consistency in faith and obedience.
• The chronicler (2 Chronicles 25:3-4) gives specific attention to Amaziah's adherence to Deuteronomy 24:16, emphasizing the divine commendation of this particular aspect of his action. This implies that the omission of punishing the children was seen as highly significant by the biblical writers.
• The fact that his own "officials" were the murderers speaks to the treacherous environment of the royal court at times, and Amaziah's action aimed to curb such internal threats.

2 Kings 14 5 Commentary

2 Kings 14:5 succinctly describes a crucial moment in Amaziah's reign, marking his decisive establishment of control. The verse highlights not just the assertion of royal authority necessary for a new monarch, but also Amaziah's adherence to the principle of biblical justice. By waiting until "royal power was firmly in his grasp," Amaziah demonstrates political astuteness, ensuring his actions would consolidate rather than destabilize his nascent rule. His subsequent act of execution was directed precisely and solely at "the officials who had murdered his father the king." This is in deliberate fulfillment of God's law regarding capital punishment for murder (e.g., Genesis 9:6, Numbers 35), and most importantly, it reflects a righteous king’s adherence to Deuteronomy 24:16, which forbids putting children to death for the sins of their parents. Unlike many ancient Near Eastern rulers who would purge entire families or political factions upon ascension, Amaziah chose specific accountability. This act set a precedent for a stable and law-abiding monarchy in Judah, contrasting with the moral decay often seen in Israel to the North.