Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Kings 14:5
And it came to pass, as soon as the kingdom was confirmed in his hand, that he slew his servants which had slain the king his father.
5. as soon as the kingdom was confirmed [R.V. established ] in his hand ] The change is in conformity with 2 Chronicles. It is worth notice that the conspirators made no attempt, as it seems, to divert the succession from the house of David, though they might have expected that the son would take revenge on his father’s murderers.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
The phrase, confirmed in his hand 2Ki 15:19, usually expresses the authorisation of a new reign by an imperial superior (see 2Ki 15:19 note); but here it describes the result when the troubles consequent upon the murder of Joash had passed away. The new kings authority was generally recognized by his subjects.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 5. As soon as the kingdom was confirmed in his hand] No doubt those wicked men, Jozachar and Jehozabad, who murdered his father, had considerable power and influence; and therefore he found it dangerous to bring them to justice, till he was assured of the loyalty of his other officers: when this was clear, he called them to account, and put them to death.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Whereby it is implied that his fathers murderers had powerful friends and abettors, and that their fact was in some sort approved by the generality of the people, to whom Joash had made himself hateful by his apostacy to idolatry, and by his ingratitude to the house of Jehoiada.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
5. as soon as the kingdom wasconfirmed in his handIt was an act of justice no less than offilial piety to avenge the murder of his father. But it is evidentthat the two assassins must have possessed considerable weight andinfluence, as the king was obliged to retain them in his service, anddurst not, for fear of their friends and supporters, instituteproceedings against them until his power had been fully consolidated.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And 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.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(5) As soon as the kingdom was confirmedi.e., as soon as he was firmly established on the throne; as soon as he felt his power secure. (Comp. 1Ki. 2:46.)
Slew . . .slain.Literally, smote . . . smitten.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
5. Slew his servants Jozachar and Jehozabad. See 2Ki 12:21. Amaziah was wise to wait till the kingdom was confirmed in his hand, and he had all its forces at control. Rawlinson conjectures that the kingdoms of Israel and Judah were, after the days of Jehu, dependencies of the king of Assyria, and when one after another of the Israelitish or Jewish kings came to the throne, he formally applied to the Assyrian monarch to be confirmed in his kingdom. This he infers from an Assyrian obelisk which represents Jehu as bringing tribute to the king of Assyria. See note on 2Ki 10:32.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
2Ki 14:5-6. As soon as the kingdom was confirmedhe slew his servants, &c. It seems, that the two assassins continued to be men of weight and interest at court even after they had murdered the king; for Amaziah retained them in his service for some time, nor durst venture to execute justice upon them till he was well settled in his authority. He acted, however, in the punishment of them like a good man, and contrary to the wicked customs of many kingdoms; where, if any one be guilty of high treason, not only he, but his children likewise, who neither partake nor are conscious of any of his traitorous practices, are equally devoted to destruction, lest they should form any faction against the prince, or seek revenge for their father’s death.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
2Ki 14:5 And it came to pass, as soon as the kingdom was confirmed in his hand, that he slew his servants which had slain the king his father.
Ver. 5. As soon as the kingdom was confirmed in his hand ] He politically dissembled his displeasure till he found his time. Qui nescit dissimulate, nescit regnare, saith Louis XI of France to his son. It is a weakness in a prince always to carry his love and hatred in his forehead.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
am 3166, bc 838
that he slew: Gen 9:6, Exo 21:12-14, Num 35:33
his servants: 2Ki 12:20, 2Ki 12:21, 2Ch 25:3, 2Ch 25:4
Reciprocal: Deu 24:16 – General 2Ki 15:19 – to confirm 2Ki 21:24 – the people of the land slew
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
2Ki 14:5. As soon as the kingdom was confirmed, he slew his servants, &c. It is implied in this, that his fathers murderers continued to be men of weight and interest at court, even after they had perpetrated that crime; for Amaziah retained them in his service for some time, nor durst venture to execute justice upon them till he was well settled in his authority. Probably the act they had done was in some sort approved by the generality of the people, to whom Joash had made himself hateful by his apostacy to idolatry, and his ingratitude to the house of Jehoiada.