Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Kings 13:8

Now the rest of the acts of Jehoahaz, and all that he did, and his might, [are] they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?

2Ki 13:8

The rest of the acts of Jehoahaz.

Records of life

How very little we know even of the men whose lives are written: The rest of the acts of Jehoahaz and all that he did, and his might, are they not Written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel No! Another hand there indeed endeavours to sketch the life, but how much is left out! No human chronicler can put down all things concerning the subject which he has undertaken to depict. But the rest of our lives is written. A diary is kept in heaven; the journal is not published for the perusal of others; but the whole life, day by day, is put down in the book of remembrance; and we shall be able to recognise the writing, and to confirm the accuracy of the minute. We cannot get away from it, there is the writing, and it abides–a perpetual witness for us or against us. What is the Divine scribe now writing? The pen is going. We are obliged to use such figures to represent the spiritual reality. The writing is now proceeding: every thought registered, every deed chronicled, every days work added up and carried over to the next page. It is a solemn thing to live! We are stewards, trustees, servants sent on messages, and entrusted with specified duties, and we are expected back with a definite answer and a complete report of our lives. (J. Parker.)

Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell

His might; for though his success was not good, he showed much personal valour and courage; which is noted to intimate that the Israelites were not conquered, because of the baseness and cowardice of their king, but merely from the righteous and dreadful judgment of God, who was now resolved to reckon with them for their filthy apostacy.

Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole

8. his mightThis isparticularly noticed in order to show that the grievous oppressionfrom foreign enemies, by which the Israelites were ground down, wasnot owing to the cowardice or imbecility of their king, but solely tothe righteous and terrible judgment of God for their foul apostasy.

Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

Now the rest of the acts of Jehoahaz, and all that he did, and his might,…. Which he exerted against the Syrians, being a man of courage, though not successful, because the Lord was not with him, but against him:

are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel? where their acts, and the events of their reigns, were recorded.

Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

Joash’s Reign – Verses 8-13

The only thing worthy of inspiration in the reign of Jehoahaz seems to have been his seeking relief from Syria through the Lord. Like a lot of people in every generation, when he got what he wanted he did not feel any further need of God. The account of his reign passes over his seventeen years quite briefly, recording his death, mentioning his record in the chronicles of the kings of Israel, and stating that he was buried in Samaria.

Jehoahaz was succeeded by his son, Joash, not to be confused at all with the Joash, studied earlier, who was king of Judah. He was considerably younger than Judah’s Joash. In fact, he began his reign when the Joash of Judah had been king in Jerusalem for thirty-seven years, three years before his assassination, studied above.

Joash reigned in Samaria for sixteen years, and continued in the path of Jeroboam’s religion. He seems to have gone his predecessors even one better by naming his own son Jeroboam, after the wicked first king of Israel, “which made Israel to sin.” The inspired chronicler seems to desire to pass over this evil king as quickly as possible, proceeding at once to summarize his reign and record his death. Mention is made of his war with Amaziah king of Judah, but this is passed over here, reserving the details of that conflict for treatment along with the reign of the king of Judah, Amaziah. There was one incident involving Joash in the northern kingdom which the writer will now relate. (Pro 2:22)

Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary

(8) And his might.Or, prowess. The reference is to his wars with the Syrians.

Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)

2Ki 13:8 Now the rest of the acts of Jehoahaz, and all that he did, and his might, [are] they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?

Ver. 8. And his might. ] He did what he could, a but to no purpose, because God was against him.

a Defendit se quoad potuit. – A Lapide.

Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)