He was twenty and five years old when he began to reign, and reigned twenty and nine years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Jehoaddan of Jerusalem.
2 KINGS 14:2KJVWhat does 2 Kings 14:2 mean?
2 Kings 14:2 states that Amaziah became king of Judah at the age of twenty-five and ruled in Jerusalem for twenty-nine years. The verse also names his mother as Jehoaddan of Jerusalem, giving a family detail that was common in royal records.
This verse is part of a historical account, written by the author of Kings, describing the reign of Amaziah, a king in the southern kingdom of Judah. Listing his age, length of reign, and his mother’s name helps establish his identity and legitimacy as king, and connects him to Jerusalem, the central city for Judah’s kings.
The Hebrew behind 2 Kings 14:2
- "Reign" (מָלַךְ, malakh): This word is used twice in the verse, once for when Amaziah began to reign and again for how long he reigned. The repetition underlines his official status as king and the duration of his rule.
- "Jehoaddan" (יְהוֹעַדָּן, Yehoaddan): The mother’s name is given, which was a common way in ancient Judah to trace royal lineage and sometimes to hint at the influence of the queen mother in the king’s life or reign.
- "Jerusalem" (יְרוּשָׁלַ͏ִם, Yerushalayim): Mentioned twice, this emphasizes the importance of Jerusalem as the political and spiritual center of Judah’s monarchy.
Why 2 Kings 14:2 matters
- The verse clears up any confusion about Amaziah’s age and the length of his reign, which helps readers track the timeline of Judah’s kings.
- Naming Jehoaddan of Jerusalem highlights the significance of maternal lineage in royal records, which sometimes played a role in a king’s legitimacy or alliances.
- By specifying Jerusalem, the verse connects Amaziah’s rule to the city that was central to Judah’s identity and religious life, setting the stage for events in his reign.