2 Kings 14:6

2Ki 14:6 But the children of the murderers he slew not: according unto that which is written in the book of the law of Moses, wherein the LORD commanded, saying, The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, nor the children be put to death for the fathers; but every man shall be put to death for his own sin.

Ver. 6. But the children of the murderers he slew not.] Which yet carnal policy would have prompted him to do. See on 2Ki 10:6.

Nor the children be put to death, &c.] This was a law for man to follow; but God, the supreme Lord of life and death, is above law. {Jer 3:1}

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 14:6. But the children of the murderers he slew not — In this he acted like a good man, and showed both faith and courage, in that he would obey the command of God, though it might be attended with great hazard to himself, and was not moved to cut off the children, through fear lest they should raise a faction against him, and take revenge for their fathers’ death. Very different is the custom pursued in many kingdoms, in which, if any one be guilty of high treason, not only he, but his children likewise, who neither partake nor are conscious of his traitorous practices, are equally devoted to destruction.

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

Because they neither consented nor were partakers with their fathers in that act.

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

But the children of the murderers he slew not--This moderation, inspired by the Mosaic law (Deu 24:16), displays the good character of this prince; for the course thus pursued toward the families of the regicides was directly contrary to the prevailing customs of antiquity, according to which all connected with the criminals were doomed to unsparing destruction.

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

Verse 6. But the children of the murderers he slew not] Here he showed his conscientious regard for the law of Moses; for God had positively said, The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, neither shall the children be put to death for the fathers: every man shall be put to death for his own sin, De 24:16.

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

(6) The murderers.—Literally, the smiters.

According unto that which is written . . . law of Moses.—A quotation of Deu_24:16. This reference is from the pen of the Judæan editor.

Shall be put to death.—So the original passage and the Hebrew margin. Hebrew text, “shall die.”

This humane provision of the Jewish law contrasts favourably with the practice of other nations, ancient and modern. Readers of the classics will recollect the hideous story of the treatment of the young daughter of Sejanus (Tac. Ann. v. 9).

(6) Even with the kings of Israel.—Probably some words have fallen out, and the original text was. “and was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel.” (Comp, 2Ki_14:16.) The Syriac and Arabic have, “and was buried.”

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

6. the children of the murderers he slew not] R.V. he put not to death. The Hebrew has a different verb here from that which is twice over used for ‘to slay’ in the previous verse.

according unto that which is written in the book of the law of Moses] The compiler of Kings either took this statement from his original record, or he inserted it in his narrative because he felt that it was an act which accorded with the legal command. In either case he looked upon the law as existing and observed in the days of Amaziah, and therefore that Deu_24:16, where this command is recorded, was existent before Amaziah’s days, and therefore long before the days of Josiah, to which date some propose to refer the composition of the fifth book of Moses.

wherein [R.V. as] the Lord commanded] The change is in accordance with the Hebrew, cf. Exo_34:18. The relative is not here in its most usual form for the sense of ‘as’, but it could hardly be explained as=wherein. Another example of this less common use is in Jer_33:22.

every man shall be put to death [R.V. shall die] for his own sin] The Kethib gives a different form of the verb in the last clause and the R.V. has followed this. The text in Deu_24:16 agrees with the translation of A.V. and no doubt this was the reason why that form was preferred here also, being given by the Keri.

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.

Then Amaziah sent messengers to Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz the son of Jehu king of Israel,.... The occasion of it was this, when Amaziah dismissed the hired soldiers of Israel they were displeased, and fell upon the cities of Judea from Samaria to Bethhoron, slew 3000 men, and took much spoil, Ch2 25:13, wherefore, when Amaziah returned from the slaughter of the Edomites, being elated with his victories, he sent the following message to the king of Israel, in order to revenge the injuries his soldiers had done; and perhaps retaining an old grudge for what Jehu, the grandfather of the king of Israel, had done to his ancestors, and it may be in hope of reducing the ten tribes to obedience to the house of David:

saying, come, let us look one another in the face; that is, in battle, as the Targum adds; it was a challenge to meet him in the field of battle, and fight with him, and try each other's courage, and see who was the best man.

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

The children of the murderers he slew not - This seems to be noted as a rare instance of clemency (compare 2Ki 9:26 note). It is strange at first sight, that, when the Law contained so very plain a prohibition (marginal references), the contrary practice should have established itself. But we must remember, first, that the custom was that of the East generally (see Dan 6:24); and secondly, that it had the sanction of one who might be thought to have known thoroughly the mind of the legislator, namely, Joshua (see Jos 7:24-25).

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

Sin. This is the rule of human tribunals, to which God is not restrained. (Salien) (Ezechiel xviii. 20.) (Menochius) --- The action of Amasias is commended as something unusual (Calmet) among princes, who are but too apt to exceed the bounds of moderation (Haydock) to revenge their murdered parents. (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).

The children of the murderer he slew not; wherein he showed some faith and courage, that he would obey this command of God, though it was very hazardous to himself, such persons being likely to seek revenge for their father’s death.

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

6. The children of the murderers he slew not — In this he evidenced his desire to do right in the sight of God. He allowed judgment and reason to triumph over the passion for vengeance, at the same time that he showed respect for the law of God.

Book of the law of Moses — The passage referred to is found in Deu_24:16, and this reference and quotation conclusively prove the existence and authority of the Pentateuch in the time of Amaziah.

Put to death for his own sin — Personal guilt is neither transmissive nor transferable. Compare marginal references.

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

But the children of the murderers he slew not. It was the ordinary usage in the East for the sons of traitors to share the fate of their fathers. A Greek poet went so far as to say that a man was a fool who put to death the father, and allowed the son to live. The practice had a double ground. Sons, it might be assumed, would be cognizant of their father"s intention, and would so be accessories before the fact. And the law of claim, or "blood-feud," would make it dangerous to spare them, since they would be bound to avenge their father"s death on his destroyer. That the practice prevailed among the Israelites appears from Jos_7:24, where we find the children of Achan involved in his fate, and again from wOt 2Ki_9:26, where we are told that Naboth"s sons suffered with their father. But it was contrary to an express command of the Law, as the writer goes on to show. According unto that which is written in the book of the Law of Moses. "The book of the Law of Moses" (hvmAtr rpse) may be either the Pentateuch regarded as one book, or Deuteronomy, the particular" book" of the Pentateuch in which the passage occurs. In either case the passage is fatal to the theory of the late" composition of Deuteronomy, which is here found to have ruled the conduct of a Jewish king a hundred and fifty years before Manasseh, two hundred before Josiah, and two hundred and eighty before the return from the Captivity the dates assigned to Deuteronomy by recent "advanced" critics. Wherein the Lord commanded, saying, The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, nor the children be put to death for the fathers; but every man shall be put to death for his own sin. As usual, when one sacred writer quotes another, the quotation is not exact. "But" ( WKi) is inserted at the beginning of the final clause, and the form of the verb in the same clause is modified. It seems to be intended that we should be made to feel that it is the sentiment or meaning conveyed, and not the phraseology in which it is wrapped up, that is of importance.

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

Slew not - Wherein he shewed faith and courage, that he would obey this command of God, though it was hazardous to himself, such persons being likely to seek revenge for their father's death.

John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.

General Information:

The narrator tells about what king Amaziah did after his father King Joash was murdered.

Yet he did not put the sons of the murderers to death

King Amaziah did not order his servants to kill the children of the men who killed his father. If he was going to have them executed though, he would have commanded his servants do it, he would not have done it himself. AT: "But he did not tell his servants to execute those officials' children" (See: Synecdoche)

The fathers must not be put to death for their children, neither must the children be put to death for their parents

This can be stated in active form. AT: "People must not kill the fathers for the sins of their children, and they must not kill the children for the sins of their parents" (See: Active or Passive)

every person must be put to death for his own sin

This can be stated in active form. AT: "every person must die for his own sin" (See: Active or Passive)

He killed

Here "He" refers to his army. AT: "Amaziah's army killed" or "Amaziah's soldiers killed" (See: Synecdoche)

ten thousand soldiers

"10,000 soldiers" (See: Numbers)

Valley of Salt

This is the name of a place that is located south of the Dead Sea.

he also took Sela in war

Here the word "he" refers to King amaziah and represents himself and his army. AT: "King Amaziah's army captured the city of Sela" (See: Synecdoche)

Sela ... Joktheel

They renamed the city of Sela. The new name was Joktheel. (See: How to Translate Names)

translationWords

die

written

law

Moses

command

sin

Edom

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