2 Kings 14:3

2Ki 14:3 And he did [that which was] right in the sight of the LORD, yet not like David his father: he did according to all things as Joash his father did.

Ver. 3. Yet not like David his father.] Who did all the wills of God {Act 13:22} with a perfect heart. {1Sa 13:14} Not so Amaziah, who had a good name, but answered it not; as the Emperor Probus did, witness Flav. Vopiscus.

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 14:3-4. He did right in the sight of the Lord — In many respects, attending on God’s altars, and attending to his word: yet not like David his father — Or progenitor: not obeying in the same spirit of faith and devotion, and with the same sincerity, resolution, and perseverance. As Joash his father did — Who, for a time, served God aright; but afterward fell away to idolatry. Thus did Amaziah, 2Ch 25:14. Howbeit, the high places, &c. — Though he did what was right, yet the high places were not taken away — For it is difficult to get clear of those corruptions which by long usage have gained prescription.

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

14:3-4 While Amaziah’s basic spiritual evaluation was satisfactory, he did not serve the Lord wholeheartedly as his ancestor David had (2 Chr 25:2). David continued to be the spiritual standard for evaluating the kings of Judah (2 Kgs 16:2; 18:3; 1 Kgs 15:5, 11). Tolerance for long-established pagan shrines remained a stumbling block for Judah (2 Kgs 12:3; 1 Kgs 14:23; 15:14; 22:43).

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

In the beginning of his reign he seemed to have an outward show of godliness, but afterward he became an idolater and worshipped the idols of the Idumeans.

Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain. Text via Bolls.life.

(3) Yet not like David his father.—The chronicler paraphrases this reference to the ideal king of Israel: “yet not with a perfect heart.”

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

3. yet not like David his father] The Chronicler merely gives ‘but not with a perfect heart’, making no mention of Amaziah’s resemblance to Joash, nor of his falling short of David.

according to all things as Joash his father did] R.V. had done. Of course this can only refer to the general resemblance not to the various parts of Amaziah’s conduct. The next verse, which is almost word for word the same as is said in 2Ki_12:3 concerning Joash, shews how Amaziah walked in his father’s footsteps.

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.

Howbeit the high places were not taken away,.... Though he first did that which was right before God; nor did his father take them away; see Kg2 12:3.

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2 Kings 14:5

kg2 14:5

kg2 14:5

kg2 14:5And it came to pass, as soon as the kingdom was strengthened in his hand,.... That he was well settled on the throne, and had a share in the affection of the people, and the idolatry and murder his father had committed were worn off of the minds of the people, and the friends of the conspirators against him were become few or none:

that he slew his servants that had slain the king his father; charged them with the murder in a court of judicature, obtained a sentence against them, and had them executed.

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

He did ... as Joash - There is a curious parity between the lives of Joash and Amaziah. Both were zealous for Yahweh in the earlier portion of their reigns, but in the latter part fell away; both disregarded the rebukes of prophets; and both, having forsaken God, were in the end conspired against and slain (compare 2Ch 24:25; 2Ch 25:27).

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

David. Yet not with a perfect heart, 2 Paralipomenon xxv. 2. --- Father. He imitated his early piety, as well as his miserable end. (Calmet)

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).

Right in the sight of the Lord; that which was in some sort agreeable to God’s will.

Not like David his father; not sincerely, 2Ch 25:2.

He did according to all things as Joash his father did, i.e. for a time served God aright, but afterwards fell to idolatry, 2Ch 25:14, as Joash had done, 2Ki 12:3.

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

3. He did according to all things as Joash — That is, says Wordsworth, “he began well, and ended ill.” He had the true theocratic spirit, but not a perfect heart. Not only did he fail to remove the high places, but, according to 2Ch_25:14, he worshipped and burned incense to the gods of Edom.

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

And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, yet not like David his father. Only one King of Judah hitherto, viz. Asa, had obtained the praise that he "did that which was right in the eyes of the Lord, as did David his father". (1Ki_15:11) All the others had fallen short more or less; and Amaziah fell short in many respects. He was wanting in "a perfect heart", (2Ch_25:2) i.e. a fixed intention to do God"s will; he was proud and boastful (ver. 10); he gave way to idolatry in his later years, (2Ch_25:14) and he despised the reproof of the prophet who was sent to rebuke his sin. (2Ch_25:16) Though placed among the "good kings" by the authors of both Kings and Chronicles, it is, as it were, under protest, with a distinct intimation that, although better than most of his predecessors, he did not reach a high standard. He did according to all things as Joash his father did. There is something of Oriental hyperbole in this statement, which must be understood in the spirit, not in the letter. The two kings were differently circumstanced, and history did not "repeat itself" in their reigns. The position of Joash with respect to Jehoiada finds no parallel in the circumstances of the life of Amaziah. Still, the lives are parallel to some extent. Both kings began better than they ended. Both were zealous for Jehovah at first, but turned to idolatry at last. Both opposed themselves to prophets, and treated their rebukes with scorn. Both reused conspiracy against them by their misconduct, and were murdered by the malcontents. Further, both were unsuccessful in war, had to withstand a siege of their capital, and bought off their enemy by the surrender of the greater part of its wealth, including the treasures of the temple. (comp. 2Ki_12:18 2Ki_14:14)

HOMILETICS.

Vers. 3, 4. A father"s evil example no justification for a son"s misconduct.

Amaziah "did according to all things as Joash his father did." Like his father, he was half-hearted. In his earlier years he kept to the worship of Jehovah, and "did that which was right in the sight of the Lord," yet not with any zeal or energy. Afterwards he fell away, introduced idolatry, (2Ch_25:14) and when a prophet rebuked him for his evil courses, answered him with scoffs and threatenings. (2Ch_25:15, 2Ch_25:16) His father Joash had done even worse after the death of Jehoiada. He had not only sanctioned idolatries, (2Ch_24:17, 2Ch_24:18) but had had the servant of God who rebuked them put to death. (2Ch_24:21) This, however, is not held by the sacred writer to be any justification or excuse for Amaziah. The reasons are manifest.

I NO MAN IS TO BE CALLED MASTER, NOT EVEN A FATHER. God gives men in his Law and in their conscience a standard of right, which they are to follow. He nowhere bids them take any man but the "God-Man" for pattern. He warns them that men are, all of them, more or less imperfect. He requires that parents shall be "honored," not imitated.

II THE EVIL EXAMPLE OF A FATHER IS A WARNING TO SONS, WHICH SHOULD LEAD TO AVOIDANCE, NOT IMITATION. The sight of a drunken father should disgust sons with drunkenness. Blasphemous and violent words should so shock them as to suggest an exactly opposite behavior. Looseness of morals should breed in them a determination never to offend in a way so absolutely revolting. Given that simplicity which is natural to youth, and every fault of a father should so keenly wound and vex their souls as to bend them in the exactly contrary direction. Sin is so ugly, so offensive, so coarse, that in another it naturally disgusts us; and the more plainly it is revealed, the closer it is brought to us, the more are we naturally provoked and angered by it.

III THE PUNISHMENT WHICH SIN DRAWS AFTER IT SHOULD COME ESPECIALLY HOME TO THOSE WHOSE HOMES ARE CURSED WITH IT, AND ACT AS A DETERRENT. Disease, decay, the loss of others" respect, the severing of friendships, general dislike and aversion, in some cases contempt, dog the footsteps of sin, and mark it as a thing to be avoided. Sons are naturally sensitive with regard to their fathers" honor, and keen to mark whether they are held in respect or no. There can be no natural deterrent from evil courses stronger than the perception that one with whom we are bound up is deteriorating from day to day, not merely in character, but in reputation, falling in men"s esteem, becoming a mark for their scorn. The father"s fall should thus not produce the son"s, but rather stimulate the son to rise to greater and greater heights of virtue.

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