2 Kings 14:11

2Ki 14:11 But Amaziah would not hear. Therefore Jehoash king of Israel went up; and he and Amaziah king of Judah looked one another in the face at Bethshemesh, which [belongeth] to Judah.

Ver. 11. But Amaziah would not hear.] See the reason in 2Ch 25:20. He was ripe for ruin, and therefore, like a sea monster, with a deaf ear, he slighteth good counsel. "A deceived heart had now turned him aside, that he could not deliver his soul, nor say, Is there not a lie in my right hand?" {Isa 44:20}

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

2Ki 14:11-12. Amaziah would not hear — Being blinded and hardened by God to his destruction, as a punishment of his abominable and ridiculous idolatry, 2Ch 25:10. Therefore Jehoash went up — Namely, into the kingdom of Judah, carrying the war into his enemies’ country. At Beth-shemesh, which belongeth to Judah — Which is added to distinguish it from Beth-shemesh in Issachar, and another in Naphtali. And Judah was put to the worse — Their army being routed and dispersed. Josephus says that, when they were to engage, they were struck with such a terror that they did not strike a stroke, but every one made the best of his way home. Probably they were not satisfied as to the ground and manner of the quarrel, were discouraged by the king’s idolatry, and smitten by God with a spirit of fear.

Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

14:11-12 Beth-shemesh, a fortress town fifteen miles west of Jerusalem, was a natural place for the battle between Israel and Judah. The city history stretched back to when Judah occupied it after the Danites migrated northward (Josh 21:16; see also 1 Sam 6:1-14; 2 Chr 28:18).

Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

But Amaziah would not hear--The sarcastic tenor of this reply incited the king of Judah the more; for, being in a state of judicial blindness and infatuation (Ch2 25:20), he was immovably determined on war. But the superior energy of Joash surprised him ere he had completed his military preparations. Pouring a large army into the territory of Judah, he encountered Amaziah in a pitched battle, routed his army, and took him prisoner. Then having marched to Jerusalem [Kg2 14:13], he not only demolished part of the city walls, but plundered the treasures of the palace and temple. Taking hostages to prevent any further molestation from Judah, he terminated the war. Without leaving a garrison in Jerusalem, he returned to his capital with all convenient speed, his presence and all his forces being required to repel the troublesome incursions of the Syrians.

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

(11) Looked one another in the face—i.e., encountered one another; joined battle.

Beth-shemesh.—The modern Ain-shems, north of which is a great plain now called Wâdy-es-Surâr, in which the encounter probably happened. Jehoash proposed to attack Jerusalem from the west, as Hazael also had intended (2Ki_12:17).

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

11. But Amaziah would not hear] Bearing out the proverb ‘Quem Deus vult perdere prius dementat’.

Jehoash king of Israel went up] When the king of Israel saw that Amaziah would persist, he apparently made the first movement. For Beth-shemesh, where the engagement took place was in Amaziah’s territory, on the northern boundary of Judah. Jehoash therefore never allowed the army of Judah to enter the land of the Israelites.

Beth-shemesh] The name signifies ‘house of the sun’ and may contain some allusion to ancient idolatrous worship which prevailed there. (Cf. Jer_43:13.) The place is mentioned before this time as that to which the ark was brought when it was sent home by the Philistines (1Sa_6:9; 1Sa_6:12). It was one of the cities allotted to the priests, and in 1Ki_4:9 it is among the places selected for commissariat cities by Solomon. In the later history we find that the Philistines obtained possession of it (2Ch_28:18).

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

And Jehoash king of Israel took Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Jehoash the son of Ahaziah, at Bethshemesh,.... And then they looked one another in the face indeed, but Amaziah must look very silly:

and came to Jerusalem; the metropolis of Judah, with his royal prisoner:

and broke down the wall of Jerusalem; in at the breach of which he went with his chariot, as Josephus says (e), in triumph:

from the gate of Ephraim unto the corner gate, four hundred cubits; the gate of Ephraim was to the north of the city, towards the tribe of Ephraim, from whence it had its name; and the corner gate was that which joined the northern and western walls together, or rather the northern and eastern walls; for Rauwolff says (f), there is still the corner gate in its old place, where the north and east walls meet on large and high rocks, and is still called by some the gate of Naphtali.

(e) Antiqu. l. 9. c. 9. sect. 3. (f) Travels, par. 3. ch. 3. p. 228. by Ray.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Jehoash did not wait to be attacked. Invading Judaea from the west, and so ascending out of the low coast tract, he met the army of Amaziah at Beth-shemesh (see Jos 19:21 note), about 15 miles from Jerusalem.

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

Saw, or fought, ver. 8., and chap. xxiii. 29. Bethsames was in the tribe of Dan, (Calmet) but belonging to the king of Juda.

George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).

Amaziah would not hear, because God blinded and hardened him to his destruction, for his abominable and ridiculous idolatry, 2Ch 25:20.

Jehoash went up, to wit, into the kingdom of Judah, carrying the war into his enemy’s country.

Which belongeth to Judah; which is added to distinguish it from that Beth-shemesh in Issachar, and another in Naphtali, Jos 19:22,38.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

11. Amaziah would not hear — He listened neither to the counsel of Jehoash nor to the prophet whom the Lord sent to advise him, but, according to Chronicles, he took the advice of evil-minded persons, who counselled war.

Beth-shemesh — The modern Ain Shems, fifteen miles southwest of Jerusalem. See notes on Jos_15:10 and 1Sa_6:9.

Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

But Amaziah would not hear. The message of Joash was not conciliatory, but provocative. On hearing it, Amaziah (as Josephus says, "Ant. Jud:," 9:9. was the more spurred on to make his expedition. Therefore Jehoash King of Israel went up. "Joash," as Bahr says, "did not wait for the attack of Amaziah, but anticipated his movements, and carried the war into the enemy"s country." Defensive warfare often requires such an Offensive movement. And he and Amaziah King of Judah looked one another in the face e.g., came to an engagement (ver. 8)at Beth-shemesh, which belongeth to Judah. Bethshemesh was assigned to Judah by Joshua (19:38), and lay on its western frontier line. Its position is marked by the modern Ain-Shems, which lies nearly due west of Jerusalem, on the road from Hebron to Jaffa. Ain-Shems itself is an Arab village, but "just to the west of it are the manifest traces of an ancient site" (Robinson, "Researches," vol. 3. p. 17). The position commands the approach from the Philistine plain; and we may suspect that Joash, avoiding the direct line of approach, led his troops to the attack through Philistia, as was so often done by the Syrians in their attacks on the Maccabees. (see RAPC 1Ma 3:40 13:12, 13 15:40 16:4-8, etc.)

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

But Amaziah would not listen

Here "listen" refers to obeying the warning. AT: "However, Amaziah would not obey Jehoash's warning" (See: Metonymy)

So Jehoash king of Israel attacked ... Amaziah king of Judah met each other

The armies of these kings went to battle with them. AT: "So Jehoash and his army went to fight Amaziah and his army and they met each other" (See: Synecdoche)

Beth Shemesh

This is a town in Judah near the border of Israel. (See: How to Translate Names)

Judah was defeated by Israel

This can be stated in active form. AT: "Israel defeated Judah" (See: Active or Passive)

every man fled home

"all the men in the army of Judah ran home"

translationWords

king

kingdom of Israel

kingdom of Judah

Beth Shemesh

unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.