Israel’s 13th ruler, Jeroboam II, reigned longer (41 years) and over more land than any other king of Israel.
Evidently Amaziah’s popularity waned after ill-fatedly challenging Israel to a fight. After some years, “they formed a conspiracy against him in Jerusalem, and he fled to Lachish; but they sent after him to Lachish and killed him there” (2 Ki 14:19). But like some who back-stab you in life but send roses to your funeral, the people “brought him on horses, and he was buried at Jerusalem with his fathers in the City of David” (v 20). A funeral fit for a king! A lovely touch, don’t you think? Azariah, his sixteen-year-old son, was made king, and is only known for reclaiming Elath, the southernmost seaport on the Red Sea. Meanwhile, Jeroboam II claimed Israel’s throne. Although “he did evil in the sight of the Lord” (v 24), in spite of this the Lord used him to reclaim land lost through previous weak-willed rulers. “He restored the territory of Israel from the entrance of Hamath to the Sea of the Arabah” (v 25). Hamath (now called Hama) is a city on the Orontes River in west-central Syria, 132 miles (213 km) north of Damascus! The Sea of the Arabah is today called the Dead Sea. Thus the land controlled by Jeroboam II was the largest since the glory days of Solomon. So why was he given such sweeping victories? First, because of the unerring word of the Lord, “which He had spoken through His servant Jonah…the prophet who was from Gath Hepher” (v 25). Second, because of the unfailing grace of the Lord, “For the Lord saw that the affliction of Israel was very bitter; and… there was no helper for Israel” (v 26). And third, because of the unchanging covenant of the Lord: “And the Lord did not say that He would blot out the name of Israel from under heaven” (v 27). Our God—insistent in instruction, consistent in character, persistent in purpose.