Matthew Henry's Complete Bible Commentary

Verses 15—22

Here are three kings brought to their graves in these few verses:—1. Joash king of Israel, 2 Kings 14:15, 14:16. We attended his funeral once before, 2 Kings 13:12, 13:13. But, because the historian had occasion to give a further account of his life and actions, he again mentions his death and burial. 2. Amaziah king of Judah. Fifteen years he survived his conqueror the king of Israel, 2 Kings 14:17. A man may live a great while after he has been shamed, may be thoroughly mortified (as Amaziah no doubt was) and yet not dead. His acts are said to be found written in his annals (2 Kings 14:18), but not his might; for his cruelty when he was a conqueror over the Edomites, and his insolence when he challenged the king of Israel, showed him void of true courage. He was slain by his own subjects, who hated him for his maladministration (2 Kings 14:19) and made Jerusalem too hot for him, the ignominious breach made in their walls being occasioned by his folly and presumption. He fled to Lachish. How long he continued concealed or sheltered there we are not told, but, at last, he was there murdered, 2 Kings 14:19. No further did the rage of the rebels extend, for they brought him in a chariot to Jerusalem, and buried him there among his ancestors. 3. Azariah succeeded Amaziah, but not till twelve years after his father’s death, for Amaziah died in the fifteenth year of Jeroboam (as appears by comparing 2 Kings 14:23, 13:2), but Azariah did not begin his reign till the twenty-seventh of Jeroboam (2 Kings 15:1), for he was but four years old at the death of his father, so that, for twelve years, till he came to be sixteen, the government was in the hands of protectors. He reigned very long (2 Kings 15:2) and yet the account of his reign is here industriously huddled up, and broken off abruptly (2 Kings 14:22): He built Elath (which had belonged to the Edomites, but, it is probable, was recovered by his father, 2 Kings 14:7), after that the king slept with his fathers, as if that had been all he did that was worth mentioning, or rather it is meant of king Amaziah: he built it soon after Amaziah died. MHBCC 328.10