Verse-by-Verse Bible Commentary

Adam Clarke Commentary

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.

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible

The phrase, “confirmed in his hand” 2 Kings 15:19, usually expresses the authorisation of a new reign by an imperial superior (see 2 Kings 15:19 note); but here it describes the result when the troubles consequent upon the murder of Joash had passed away. The new king‘s authority was generally recognized by his subjects.

John Gill's Exposition of 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.

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

as soon as the kingdom was confirmed in his hand — It was an act of justice no less than of filial piety to avenge the murder of his father. But it is evident that the two assassins must have possessed considerable weight and influence, as the king was obliged to retain them in his service, and durst not, for fear of their friends and supporters, institute proceedings against them until his power had been fully consolidated.

John Trapp Complete Commentary

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.

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.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible

Whereby it is implied that his father’s 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.

Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

5.Slew his servants — Jozachar and Jehozabad. See 2 Kings 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 2 Kings 10:32.

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments

2 Kings 14:5. As soon as the kingdom was confirmed, he slew his servants, &c. — It is implied in this, that his father’s 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.

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Unabridged

And it came to pass, as soon as the kingdom was confirmed in his hand, that he slew his servants which 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.

As soon as the kingdom was confirmed in his hand. This is regarded as implying that Judah had become a tributary dependency of Assyria, and that each prince, at his accession, required to be formally confirmed in his kingdom by his Assyrian suzerain. It was an act of justice, no less than of filial piety, to avenge the murder of his father; but it is evident that the two assassins must have possessed considerable weight and influence, as the king was obliged to retain them in his service, and durst not, for fear of their friends and supporters, institute proceedings against them until his power had been fully consolidated.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(5) As soon as the kingdom was confirmed—i.e., as soon as he was firmly established on the throne; as soon as he felt his power secure. (Comp. 1 Kings 2:46.)

Slew . . .—slain.—Literally, smote . . . smitten.

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

A. M. 3166. B.C. 838. that he slew

Genesis 9:6; Exodus 21:12-14; Numbers 35:33

his servants

12:20,21; 2 Chronicles 25:3,4