2 Kings, Chapter 14
Synopsis: Jehoash (Israel) = Evil. Amaziah (Judah) = Good. They were contemporaries. In chapter 13 I learned that Jehoash is complicated. He is evil, but is distraught at Elisha’s illness and speaks of him with fondness. However, Elisha gets mad at Jehoash because of his half hearted obedience.
Now, although Amaziah is good he wants to go to war with Jehoash. Maybe to unite the kingdoms like his forefather David? But Jehoash doesn’t want to war. There is a story, advising Amaziah against war, about thistles, cedars, and wild beasts which I don’t understand yet. They do war and Jehoash wins easily. Jehoash goes on to ruin part of the temple in Jerusalem and takes treasure and hostages back to Samaria.
Jehoash is then succeeded by Jeroboam as King of Israel. Jeroboam II (the second I think) is evil. Jonah gets a shout out! Although Jeroboam II is evil, because of God’s promises/covenant, God is good to Israel. “And since the Lord had not said he would blot out the name of Israel from under heaven, he saved them by the hand of Jeroboam son of Jehoash.”
Zechariah succeeds Jeroboam II as king of Israel.