Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Kings 14:22
He built Elath, and restored it to Judah, after that the king slept with his fathers.
22. He built Elath ] Elath (also written Eloth) was at the northern extremity of the Gulf of Akabah. It is said in 1Ki 9:26 to have belonged to Edom, but at this time Judah was powerful enough to secure a road through Edom for trade purposes, and so extend the sway of their kingdom to the same point southward which they had occupied in the days of Solomon. Between that time and this, Elath had most likely fallen into decay. Hence the mention of ‘building’, which of course means restoration. (See on 2Ki 15:35.)
and restored it to Judah ] As it had been in the days of Solomon. We need not suppose that more was done than to secure a passage through Edom between Elath and Jerusalem. Edom was of small use to Judah, but a port on the Red Sea was a great acquisition.
after that the king slept with his fathers ] This is another of those vague notices which indicate an unusual state of things in Judah at this period. It would almost seem as though Azariah had been put in authority, if not on the throne, before the death of his father, and that he had been making his plans beforehand, only waiting for his father’s death to carry them out. He was without doubt a popular monarch, for it is said (verse 21) that all Judah agreed on him for king.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Elath, or Eloth (marginal reference 1Ki 9:26), was near Ezion-Geber, in the Gulf of Akabah. It had been lost to the Jews on the revolt of Edom from Joram 2Ki 8:22. Uzziahs re-establishment of the place, rendered possible by his fathers successes 2Ki 14:7, was one of his first acts, and seems to imply a desire to renew the commercial projects which Solomon had successfully carried out, and which Jehoshaphat had vainly attempted 1Ki 22:48.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 22. He built Elath] This city belonged to the Edomites; and was situated on the eastern branch of the Red Sea, thence called the Elanitic Gulf. It had probably suffered much in the late war; and was now rebuilt by Uzziah, and brought entirely under the dominion of Judah.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
He built Elath, i.e. repaired and fortified it; for it was built before, Deu 2:8.
Restored it to Judah; from whom it had revolted with the rest of Edom, in which land this place was upon the Red Sea.
The king, i.e. his father Amaziah; who did not perfect his conquest of Edom, but left some work for his son.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
22. He built Elathfortifiedthat seaport. It had revolted with the rest of Edom, but was nowrecovered by Uzziah. His father, who did not complete the conquest ofEdom, had left him that work to do.
2Ki14:23-29. JEROBOAM’SWICKED REIGNOVER ISRAEL.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
He built Elath,…. A port which belonged to Edom, De 2:8 which very probably David took from them when he made them tributary, and which they retook when they revolted, and Amaziah got again when he defeated them; and this his son rebuilt and fortified:
and restored it to Judah; annexed it to the kingdom of Judah, as in the days of David and Solomon:
after that the king slept with his fathers; after the death of his father Amaziah.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(22) He built Elath.The pronoun is emphatic; he, in contrast with his father. Built, either rebuilt or fortified. The verse is in close connection with the preceding narrative. Amaziah perhaps had not vigorously prosecuted the conquest of Edom, having been greatly weakened by his defeat in the struggle with Jehoash. He may even have suffered some further losses at the hands of the Edomites; and this, as Thenius supposes may have led to the conspiracy which brought about his death and the accession of his son. The warlike youth Uzziah took the field at once, and pushed his victorious arms to the southern extremity of Edom, the port of Elath (2Ki. 9:26), and thus restored the state of things which had existed under Solomon and Jehoshaphat.
After that the king slepti.e., immediately after the murder of Amaziah. Thenius explains the verse with most success, but this clause is still somewhat surprising.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
22. Built Elath, and restored it to Judah This fragmentary notice of the chief triumph of Judah during Azariah’s reign seems to have been thrown in here to show that the son of Amaziah was chiefly distinguished, like his father, for his work in the territories of Edom. Elath, which Azariah is here said to have built that is, repaired and fortified is first mentioned in connexion with the journey of Israel through the desert, (Deu 2:8,) and again at 1Ki 9:26, where see note. It was situated at the head of the eastern arm of the Red Sea, and the ancient site is now marked by extensive mounds of rubbish.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
2Ki 14:22 He built Elath, and restored it to Judah, after that the king slept with his fathers.
Ver. 22. He built Elath. ] A place of great importance, as being a port town, say some, near the Red Sea.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
built = rebuilt or fortified. This implies the subjugation of Edom.
Elath. On the Red Sea. Compare 1Ki 9:26, and, for its eventual loss, 2Ki 16:6.
slept with his fathers. See note on Deu 31:16.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Elath: Elath, the Ala or Elana of the Greek and Roman writers, was a celebrated port situated at the extremity of the eastern branch of the Red Sea, hence called the Elanitic Gulf, ten miles east from Petra, according to Eusebius, and 150; Roman miles from Gaza, according to Pliny, but 1,260 stadia, or 157 miles, according to Strabo and Marcianus Herecleota. It is now called Akaba, and is nothing but a tower or castle, surrounded by a large grove of date trees, the residence of a governor, dependent on him of Grand Cairo. 2Ki 16:6, Deu 2:8, 1Ki 9:26, 2Ch 26:2, Eloth
Reciprocal: 2Ch 8:17 – Eloth
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
2Ki 14:22. He built Elath Repaired and fortified it; for it was built before, Deu 2:8. And restored it to Judah From whom it had revolted with the rest of Edom, in which land it lay, upon the Red sea. After that the king Namely, his father Amaziah; slept with his fathers The meaning is, that Amaziah did not perfect his conquest of Edom, but left some work there for his son to do.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
14:22 He built {k} Elath, and restored it to Judah, after that the king slept with his fathers.
(k) Which is also called Elanon or Eloth.