Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Kings 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 Beth-shemesh, which [belongeth] to Judah.
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).
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
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.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
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 enemys 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.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
11-14. But Amaziah would nothearThe sarcastic tenor of this reply incited the king ofJudah the more; for, being in a state of judicial blindness andinfatuation (2Ch 25:20), hewas immovably determined on war. But the superior energy of Joashsurprised him ere he had completed his military preparations. Pouringa large army into the territory of Judah, he encountered Amaziah in apitched battle, routed his army, and took him prisoner. Then havingmarched to Jerusalem [2Ki 14:13],he not only demolished part of the city walls, but plundered thetreasures of the palace and temple. Taking hostages to prevent anyfurther molestation from Judah, he terminated the war. Withoutleaving a garrison in Jerusalem, he returned to his capital with allconvenient speed, his presence and all his forces being required torepel the troublesome incursions of the Syrians.
2Ki14:17-20. HE ISSLAIN BY A CONSPIRACY.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
But Amaziah would not hear,…. Being given up to a judicial hardness of heart through pride; for this was of God, and by his overruling providence, that he might be punished for his idolatry, in setting up the gods of Edom to be his gods, and offering to them, 2Ch 25:14
therefore Jehoash king Israel went up; from Samaria to the land of Judah, which was higher ground:
and he and Amaziah looked one another in the face; in the field of battle:
at Bethshemesh, which belongeth to Judah; which is observed, not merely to distinguish it from another Bethshemesh in Naphtali, but to observe, that the king of Israel waited not for him to give him the challenge, but met his adversary in his own country, whither he carried the war, not suffering him to come into his.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(11) Looked one another in the facei.e., encountered one another; joined battle.
Beth–shemesh.The modern Ain-shems, north of which is a great plain now called Wdy-es-Surr, in which the encounter probably happened. Jehoash proposed to attack Jerusalem from the west, as Hazael also had intended (2Ki. 12:17).
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
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.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
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
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Beth-shernesh = house of the sun, on frontier of Judah and Dan, fifteen miles west of Jerusalem (Jos 15:10). Now Ain Shems. A city of the priests (Jos 21:9, Jos 21:13, Jos 21:16). Afterward associated with idolatry, and now with defeat.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Amaziah: 2Ch 25:16, 2Ch 25:20
Bethshemesh: Jos 19:38, Jos 21:16, 1Sa 6:9-19
Reciprocal: Jos 19:22 – Bethshemesh Jdg 11:28 – General 2Ki 14:8 – Come 2Ki 23:29 – he had seen him
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
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 kings idolatry, and smitten by God with a spirit of fear.