◄ 2 Kings 14:20 ►
They carried him back on horses and buried him in Jerusalem with his fathers in the City of David.
Study Bible
They carried him back on horses
This phrase indicates the transportation of the deceased king, likely Amaziah, back to Jerusalem. The use of horses suggests a royal or honorable procession, as horses were often associated with nobility and military strength in ancient Israel. This reflects the respect given to a king, even in death, and aligns with the practices of other ancient Near Eastern cultures where royalty was transported with dignity. Horses were a symbol of power and prestige, often used in royal processions and military contexts (1 Kings 10:26).

and buried him in Jerusalem
Jerusalem, the capital city of Judah, held significant religious and political importance. It was the site of the Temple, the center of Jewish worship, and the city of David, the revered king. Burial in Jerusalem was a mark of honor and continuity with the Davidic line. This practice underscores the importance of Jerusalem as a sacred and royal city, where the kings of Judah were laid to rest, maintaining the legacy of their forefathers (2 Chronicles 21:20).

with his fathers
This phrase indicates that Amaziah was buried in the royal tombs, alongside previous kings of Judah. It signifies continuity and respect for the Davidic dynasty, emphasizing the importance of family lineage and heritage in Israelite culture. The phrase "with his fathers" is a common biblical expression denoting burial in the family tomb, reflecting the belief in maintaining familial bonds even in death (Genesis 49:29-31).

in the City of David
The City of David refers to the ancient core of Jerusalem, established by King David as his capital. It is a historically and archaeologically significant area, often associated with the Davidic covenant and the promise of an everlasting dynasty (2 Samuel 7:12-16). The burial of kings in this location highlights the connection to David, the ideal king, and the hope for a future messianic ruler from his line. This site is a testament to the enduring legacy of David's reign and God's covenant with him.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Amaziah
The king of Judah who reigned after his father Joash. His reign was marked by both faithfulness and failure, leading to his eventual downfall and assassination.

2. Jerusalem
The capital city of Judah, significant as the spiritual and political center of the Jewish people. It is where Amaziah was buried, highlighting its importance as a burial place for the kings of Judah.

3. City of David
A specific area within Jerusalem, often associated with the burial of the Judean kings, emphasizing the continuity of the Davidic line.

4. Horses
The mode of transport used to carry Amaziah's body back to Jerusalem, indicating the respect and honor given to him despite his failures.

5. Burial with his fathers
This phrase signifies the tradition of burying kings with their ancestors, reflecting the importance of family lineage and heritage in Israelite culture.
Teaching Points
The Legacy of Leadership
Amaziah's life reminds us that leadership is a sacred trust. Leaders are remembered not only for their successes but also for their failures. We should strive to lead with integrity and faithfulness.

The Importance of Heritage
Being buried in the City of David signifies the importance of heritage and legacy. As Christians, we are called to honor our spiritual heritage and pass it on to future generations.

Respect in Death
Despite Amaziah's failures, he was given a respectful burial. This teaches us the importance of honoring individuals, recognizing their humanity and the image of God in them, even in death.

The Consequences of Disobedience
Amaziah's life serves as a cautionary tale about the consequences of turning away from God. We are reminded to remain faithful and obedient to God's commands.

The Hope of Restoration
Even in the midst of failure, there is hope for restoration. Amaziah's burial in the City of David points to the enduring promise of God's covenant with David, ultimately fulfilled in Christ.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the burial of Amaziah in the City of David reflect the importance of heritage and legacy in our own lives?

2. In what ways can we ensure that our leadership, whether in the home, church, or community, leaves a positive legacy?

3. How does the account of Amaziah's life and death challenge us to remain faithful to God in all circumstances?

4. What can we learn from the respect shown to Amaziah in death, and how can we apply this principle in our interactions with others?

5. How does the promise of God's covenant with David, as seen in the burial of Amaziah, point us to the hope we have in Christ?
Connections to Other Scriptures
2 Chronicles 25
Provides a parallel account of Amaziah's reign, offering additional details about his life, his military campaigns, and his eventual downfall.

1 Kings 2:10
Describes the burial of King David, establishing a precedent for the burial of kings in the City of David, which is continued with Amaziah.

Hebrews 9:27
While not directly related, this verse speaks to the inevitability of death and judgment, which can be connected to the mortality of kings like Amaziah.
Sermons
Significant Facts in God's GovernmentD. Thomas 2 Kings 14:1-29
Changes in Two ThronesJ. Orr 2 Kings 14:15-22
People
Ahaziah, Amaziah, Amittai, Azariah, David, Edomites, Hepher, Jehoaddan, Jehoahaz, Jehoash, Jehu, Jeroboam, Joahaz, Joash, Jonah, Nebat, Zachariah, Zechariah
Places
Beth-shemesh, Corner Gate, Damascus, Edom, Elath, Ephraim Gate, Gath-hepher, Hamath, Israel, Jerusalem, Joktheel, Lachish, Lebanon, Lebo-hamath, Samaria, Sea of the Arabah, Sela, Syria, Valley of Salt
Topics
Body, Buried, David, Fathers, Horseback, Horses, Jerusalem, Lift, Town
Dictionary of Bible Themes
2 Kings 14:20

     4657   horse

2 Kings 14:1-22

     5366   king

Library
The Prophet Amos.
GENERAL PRELIMINARY REMARKS. It will not be necessary to extend our preliminary remarks on the prophet Amos, since on the main point--viz., the circumstances under which he appeared as a prophet--the introduction to the prophecies of Hosea may be regarded as having been written for those of Amos also. For, according to the inscription, they belong to the same period at which Hosea's prophetic ministry began, viz., the latter part of the reign of Jeroboam II., and after Uzziah had ascended the …
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament

The Prophet Jonah.
It has been asserted without any sufficient reason, that Jonah is older than Hosea, Joel, Amos, and Obadiah,--that he is the oldest among the prophets whose written monuments have been preserved to us. The passage in 2 Kings xiv. 25, where it is said, that Jonah, the son of Amittai the prophet, prophesied to Jeroboam the happy success of his arms, and the restoration of the ancient boundaries of Israel, and that this prophecy was confirmed by the event, cannot decide in favour of this assertion, …
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament

The Twelve Minor Prophets.
1. By the Jewish arrangement, which places together the twelve minor prophets in a single volume, the chronological order of the prophets as a whole is broken up. The three greater prophets, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel, stand in the true order of time. Daniel began to prophesy before Ezekiel, but continued, many years after him. The Jewish arrangement of the twelve minor prophets is in a sense chronological; that is, they put the earlier prophets at the beginning, and the later at the end of the …
E. P. Barrows—Companion to the Bible

The Prophet Hosea.
GENERAL PRELIMINARY REMARKS. That the kingdom of Israel was the object of the prophet's ministry is so evident, that upon this point all are, and cannot but be, agreed. But there is a difference of opinion as to whether the prophet was a fellow-countryman of those to whom he preached, or was called by God out of the kingdom of Judah. The latter has been asserted with great confidence by Maurer, among others, in his Observ. in Hos., in the Commentat. Theol. ii. i. p. 293. But the arguments …
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament

Tiglath-Pileser iii. And the Organisation of the Assyrian Empire from 745 to 722 B. C.
TIGLATH-PILESER III. AND THE ORGANISATION OF THE ASSYRIAN EMPIRE FROM 745 to 722 B.C. FAILURE OF URARTU AND RE-CONQUEST Of SYRIA--EGYPT AGAIN UNITED UNDER ETHIOPIAN AUSPICES--PIONKHI--THE DOWNFALL OF DAMASCUS, OF BABYLON, AND OF ISRAEL. Assyria and its neighbours at the accession of Tiglath-pileser III.: progress of the Aramaeans in the basin of the Middle Tigris--Urartu and its expansion into the north of Syria--Damascus and Israel--Vengeance of Israel on Damascus--Jeroboam II.--Civilisation …
G. Maspero—History Of Egypt, Chaldaea, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, V 7

The Girdle of the City. Nehemiah 3
The beginning of the circumference was from 'the sheep-gate.' That, we suppose, was seated on the south part, yet but little removed from that corner, which looks south-east. Within was the pool of Bethesda, famous for healings. Going forward, on the south part, was the tower Meah: and beyond that, "the tower of Hananeel": in the Chaldee paraphrast it is, 'The tower Piccus,' Zechariah 14:10; Piccus, Jeremiah 31:38.--I should suspect that to be, the Hippic tower, were not that placed on the north …
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica

The Figurative Language of Scripture.
1. When the psalmist says: "The Lord God is a sun and shield" (Psa. 84:11), he means that God is to all his creatures the source of life and blessedness, and their almighty protector; but this meaning he conveys under the figure of a sun and a shield. When, again, the apostle James says that Moses is read in the synagogues every Sabbath-day (Acts 15:21), he signifies the writings of Moses under the figure of his name. In these examples the figure lies in particular words. But it may be embodied …
E. P. Barrows—Companion to the Bible

Kings
The book[1] of Kings is strikingly unlike any modern historical narrative. Its comparative brevity, its curious perspective, and-with some brilliant exceptions--its relative monotony, are obvious to the most cursory perusal, and to understand these things is, in large measure, to understand the book. It covers a period of no less than four centuries. Beginning with the death of David and the accession of Solomon (1 Kings i., ii.) it traverses his reign with considerable fulness (1 Kings iii.-xi.), …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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