2 Kings 14:17-22

2 Kings 14:17-22

[17] And Amaziah  the son  of Joash  king  of Judah  lived  after  the death  of Jehoash  son  of Jehoahaz  king  of Israel  fifteen  years.  [18] And the rest  of the acts  of Amaziah,  are they not written  in the book  of the chronicles  of the kings  of Judah?  [19] Now they made  a conspiracy  against him in Jerusalem:  and he fled  to Lachish;  but they sent  after  him to Lachish,  and slew  [20] And they brought  him on horses:  and he was buried  at Jerusalem  with his fathers  in the city  of David.  [21] And all the people  of Judah  took  Azariah,  which was sixteen  years  old,  and made him king  instead of his father  Amaziah.  [22] He built  Elath,  and restored  it to Judah,  after  that the king  slept  with his fathers. 

What does 2 Kings 14:17-22 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

The text does not identify Amaziah"s conspirators, but they were evidently Judahites who wanted to restore pure worship to their nation ( 2 Chronicles 25:27). Lachish was a former royal city on Judah"s western border. The king received an honorable burial. Elath was an Edomite port-city on the Gulf of Aqabah that Azariah restored after his father"s death. Perhaps Amaziah"s defeat of the Edomites made this event possible.
Amaziah"s life is an example of how one who follows God"s Word and consequently experiences His blessing can become proud when he or she forgets that his or her blessings come from God"s grace.