This verse points to Jehoash’s recorded achievements, including his conflict with Amaziah, and directs the reader to additional historical records for more details.
“Now the rest of the acts of Jehoash which he did and his might, and how he fought with Amaziah king of Judah, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel?” (2 Kings 14:15). Jehoash (sometimes spelled Joash) was king of the northern kingdom of Israel during the ninth century BC, reigning under the shadow of powerful neighboring nations and continuing the lineage of Jehu. This verse highlights that his accomplishments, military strength, and notable conflicts (specifically against Amaziah, the king of Judah) were documented in Israel’s royal annals. These would have been official records designed to preserve a king’s legacy for future readers and to detail significant national events beyond what Scripture itself records.
The conflict referenced between Jehoash and Amaziah shows the intensity of the north-south division in God’s chosen people. Amaziah had become overly confident after subduing the Edomites and provoked Jehoash (2 Kings 14:8-11), leading to a confrontation at Beth-shemesh. This encounter demonstrated that although both leaders were heirs to the covenant promises of the Lord given to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, they often allowed political and military ambitions to overshadow their shared spiritual heritage. The narrator points readers to “the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel,” suggesting these additional records would contain further details on the policies, battles, and developments in Jehoash’s reign.
Jehoash’s lineage also connects him to a broader pattern among Israel’s and Judah’s monarchs that sets the stage for the eventual decline and exile of both kingdoms—an outcome that points humankind to the need for a perfect King. In the New Testament, Jesus is presented as the promised Messiah, fulfilling the royal line of David and demonstrating a righteousness and faithfulness that King Jehoash and others in his lineage lacked (Luke 1:31-33). Where earthly records highlight human frailty, Jesus’ reign offers salvation and hope for all who trust in Him (Romans 8:3-4).
Jehoash’s military exploits and strained relations with Amaziah of Judah emphasize the complicated history of Israel’s monarchy and remind us that the final resolution of Israel’s story lies in the everlasting kingdom of God.
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2 Kings 14:15 meaning
“Now the rest of the acts of Jehoash which he did and his might, and how he fought with Amaziah king of Judah, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel?” (2 Kings 14:15). Jehoash (sometimes spelled Joash) was king of the northern kingdom of Israel during the ninth century BC, reigning under the shadow of powerful neighboring nations and continuing the lineage of Jehu. This verse highlights that his accomplishments, military strength, and notable conflicts (specifically against Amaziah, the king of Judah) were documented in Israel’s royal annals. These would have been official records designed to preserve a king’s legacy for future readers and to detail significant national events beyond what Scripture itself records.
The conflict referenced between Jehoash and Amaziah shows the intensity of the north-south division in God’s chosen people. Amaziah had become overly confident after subduing the Edomites and provoked Jehoash (2 Kings 14:8-11), leading to a confrontation at Beth-shemesh. This encounter demonstrated that although both leaders were heirs to the covenant promises of the Lord given to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, they often allowed political and military ambitions to overshadow their shared spiritual heritage. The narrator points readers to “the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel,” suggesting these additional records would contain further details on the policies, battles, and developments in Jehoash’s reign.
Jehoash’s lineage also connects him to a broader pattern among Israel’s and Judah’s monarchs that sets the stage for the eventual decline and exile of both kingdoms—an outcome that points humankind to the need for a perfect King. In the New Testament, Jesus is presented as the promised Messiah, fulfilling the royal line of David and demonstrating a righteousness and faithfulness that King Jehoash and others in his lineage lacked (Luke 1:31-33). Where earthly records highlight human frailty, Jesus’ reign offers salvation and hope for all who trust in Him (Romans 8:3-4).
Jehoash’s military exploits and strained relations with Amaziah of Judah emphasize the complicated history of Israel’s monarchy and remind us that the final resolution of Israel’s story lies in the everlasting kingdom of God.