Justin Houtz

2 Kings 14, Luke 23

DateVersionReading Plan
November 23, 2025ESV (2016)OT/NT Plan 2025 – 2027

2 Kings 14

Observation & Interpretation

2 Kings 14:6 – Amaziah, son of Joash and king of Judah, was obedient to the Law of Moses in not putting to death the children of the murderers.

  • One of Amaziah’s first acts was to kill the conspirators who had murdered his father (12:20, 21). However, he spared the children of these men, in obedience to Deuteronomy 24:16. (BBC)

2 Kings 14:9 – Jehoash sent word to Amaziah that a thistle on Lebanon sent to a cedar on Lebanon, saying, “Give your daughter to my son for a wife.”

  • Amaziah’s statement in 14:8 appears to be calling Jehoash to meet in battle (compare 23:29). To answer, Jehoash uses a nature parable. In the parable, Jehoash is the cedar; Amaziah is the thistle…The symbolism is meant to warn Amaziah against arrogance. (FSB)

2 Kings 14:22 – Azariah built and restored Elath to Judah.

  • Elath was an Edomite city. It was captured by David when he captured Edom (2 Sam. 8:14), restored to the Edomites during the reighn of Joram, Jehoshaphat’s son (2 Kings 8:20-22) and recaptured/rebuilt by Judah’s king Uzziah (2 Kings 14:22).

Luke 23

Observation & Interpretation

Luke 23:11 – Herod with his soldiers treated Jesus with contempt, mocked Him and sent Him back to Pilate arrayed in splendid clothing.

  • [Herod] dressed Jesus in bright clothing in order to ridicule him as a false king and irritate the Sahhedrin since they charged him with claiming to be king. (CSB Notes)

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