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There are some confusing twists in 2 Kings 14:1-16. The chapter begins by announcing the beginning of the reign of Amaziah son of Joash of Judah. He is described as an upright king, walking in the ways of his father Joash, though he is not a king of Davidic caliber. He proves to be much like his father, doing right and following Torah, but ending his reign (at least, the account of his reign) with a disastrous challenge to Israel, one that ends with Israel anticipating the work of Nebuchadnezzar in breaking down the walls of Jerusalem, plundering the temple and palace, and taking some of the people of Judah into exile. Like his father, he is the object of conspiracy near the end of his reign (14:19; cf. 12:20).
But the surprising twist comes in verses 15-16, which ostensibly conclude the reign of Amaziah. Instead of closing out the reign of Amaziah, the writer closes out the reign of his northern rival Jehoash, whose reign began in 13:10. Jehoash's reign has in fact already been ended in 13:12-13. Only after closing out Jehoash's reign (for a second time!) does the author give the formulaic closing for Amaziah. Thus, the two "files" are opened simultaneously:
Beginning of Jehoash of Israel, 13:10
End of Jehoash of Israel, 13:12-13
Beginning of Amaziah of Judah, 14:1
End of Jehoash of Israel, 14:15-16
End of Amaziah of Judah, 14:17-22
This interlacing of the narratives matches the historical record, in which the reigns of the two kings are interlocked. Further, the fact that Amaziah's reign is largely set within the frame of Jehoash's reign is a literary sign that Amaziah is subordinate to Israel. His reign has no real independent standing, but is enclosed within the reign of the king of Israel. This is a sign of Judah's future, for by the time 2 Kings ends, Judah's time will be wholly absorbed into the times of the Gentiles, the reigns of Babylonian kings.
posted by Peter J. Leithart on Wednesday, July 06, 2005 at 02:26 PM
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