The Reign of Amaziah

141 In the second year of Joash son of Joahaz king of Israel began Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah to reign. 2 He was twenty-five years old when he began to reign; and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem: and his mother’s name was Jehoaddin of Jerusalem. 3 He did that which was right in the eyes of Yahweh, yet not like David his father: he did according to all that Joash his father had done. 4 However the high places were not taken away: the people still sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places. 5 It happened, as soon as the kingdom was established in his hand, that he killed his servants who had slain the king his father: 6 but the children of the murderers he didn’t put to death; according to that which is written in the book of the law of Moses, as Yahweh commanded, saying, “The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, nor the children be put to death for the fathers; but every man shall die for his own sin.”

Matthew Henry's Commentary on 2 Kings 14:1-6

Commentary on 2 Kings 14:1-7

(Read 2 Kings 14:1-7)

Amaziah began well, but did not go on so. It is not enough to do that which our pious predecessors did, merely to keep up the common usage, but we must do it as they did, from the same principle of faith and devotion, and with the same sincerity and resolution.