◄ 2 Kings 14:7 ►
Amaziah struck down 10,000 Edomites in the Valley of Salt. He took Sela in battle and called it Joktheel, which is its name to this very day.
Study Bible
Amaziah struck down 10,000 Edomites in the Valley of Salt.
Amaziah, the king of Judah, is noted for his military campaign against the Edomites, descendants of Esau, Jacob's brother. The Valley of Salt is likely located near the southern end of the Dead Sea, a region known for its salt deposits. This victory over Edom is significant as it demonstrates God's favor upon Amaziah's reign, despite his later failures. The Edomites were long-standing adversaries of Israel, and this victory echoes earlier conflicts, such as those during the reign of King David (2 Samuel 8:13). The number 10,000 may symbolize a complete or decisive victory, a common biblical motif.

He took Sela in battle
Sela, meaning "rock" in Hebrew, is identified with the city of Petra, a stronghold in Edom. This conquest indicates a strategic victory, as Sela was a fortified city, crucial for controlling trade routes. The capture of Sela underscores Amaziah's military prowess and the temporary subjugation of Edom under Judah's control. This event is a fulfillment of the prophecy given to Rebekah that the older (Esau/Edom) would serve the younger (Jacob/Israel) (Genesis 25:23).

and called it Joktheel,
Renaming Sela to Joktheel, which means "subdued by God," reflects Amaziah's acknowledgment of divine intervention in his victory. This act of renaming is a common biblical practice, signifying a change in status or ownership, as seen when Abram's name was changed to Abraham (Genesis 17:5). It also serves as a testament to God's power and the fulfillment of His promises to Israel.

which is its name to this very day.
The phrase "to this very day" suggests the enduring impact of Amaziah's conquest and the lasting memory of this event in the historical consciousness of Israel. It emphasizes the historical reliability of the biblical narrative and the continuity of God's dealings with His people. This phrase is often used in Scripture to affirm the authenticity and permanence of God's actions and their recorded history, as seen in other passages like Joshua 4:9.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Amaziah
The king of Judah who reigned after his father Joash. Known for his military campaigns and efforts to strengthen his kingdom.

2. Edomites
Descendants of Esau, often in conflict with Israel and Judah. They inhabited the region south of the Dead Sea.

3. Valley of Salt
A location near the Dead Sea, known for its salt deposits. It was a strategic and contested area in ancient times.

4. Sela
A fortified city in Edom, captured by Amaziah. Its name means "rock" in Hebrew, indicating its strong defensive position.

5. Joktheel
The new name given to Sela by Amaziah, meaning "subdued by God" or "God's subjugation," reflecting the victory attributed to divine intervention.
Teaching Points
Divine Victory
Amaziah's success in battle is a reminder that victories are ultimately granted by God. We should acknowledge God's hand in our achievements and give Him the glory.

Strategic Leadership
Amaziah's capture of Sela demonstrates the importance of strategic thinking and leadership. In our lives, we should seek wisdom and discernment in making decisions.

Renaming as a Testament
The renaming of Sela to Joktheel signifies a transformation and a testimony to God's power. We can apply this by allowing our lives to be testimonies of God's work and transformation.

Historical Context
Understanding the historical and geographical context of biblical events enriches our comprehension of Scripture. We should strive to study the Bible with an awareness of its historical background.

Legacy and Memory
The lasting name of Joktheel serves as a reminder of past victories. We should remember and celebrate God's faithfulness in our own history and share these accounts with others.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does Amaziah's victory over the Edomites reflect God's sovereignty in our own battles today?

2. In what ways can we apply strategic thinking and leadership in our personal and spiritual lives, as Amaziah did in his military campaign?

3. What are some areas in your life where you can rename or redefine experiences as testimonies of God's intervention and grace?

4. How can understanding the historical context of biblical events enhance your study and application of Scripture?

5. Reflect on a time when you experienced a "Joktheel" moment—a victory or transformation attributed to God. How can you share this testimony with others to encourage their faith?
Connections to Other Scriptures
2 Chronicles 25
Provides a parallel account of Amaziah's reign and his military exploits, offering additional details about his campaign against Edom.

Genesis 36
Discusses the genealogy of Esau and the origins of the Edomites, providing background on the longstanding enmity between Edom and Israel.

Psalm 60
A psalm attributed to David, which mentions the Valley of Salt and reflects on God's deliverance in battle, similar to Amaziah's victory.
Sermons
Amaziah Doing RightJ. Orr 2 Kings 14:1-7
Significant Facts in God's GovernmentD. Thomas 2 Kings 14:1-29
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
Battle, Calleth, Calling, Captured, Edom, Edomites, E'domites, Joktheel, Jok'the-el, Killed, Named, Naming, Salt, Seized, Sela, Selah, Slew, Smitten, Smote, Storm, Sword, Ten, Thousand, Twelve, Valley, War
Dictionary of Bible Themes
2 Kings 14:7

     4290   valleys
     4357   salt

2 Kings 14:1-22

     5366   king

2 Kings 14:7-14

     7245   Judah, kingdom of

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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