Useful Bible Studies > 2 Kings Commentary > chapter 14

The story of the cedar and the thistle

2 Kings 14:8-10

Until this time, it seems that Amaziah had friendly relations with Jehoash, the king of northern and central Israel. Jehoash even allowed Amaziah to pay Israel’s army to support Judah’s army in the war against Edom (2 Chronicles 25:6).

The men from Israel would have hoped to take many valuable things for themselves from Edom after the battle. However, Amaziah sent them back home before the battle. They were very angry. While Judah’s men were away in Edom, the men from Israel attacked several towns in Judah (2 Chronicles 25:7-13).

So, when Amaziah returned from his war against Edom, he wanted to punish the people in northern and central Israel. He demanded that Jehoash should gather his soldiers for a proper battle against Judah’s army.

In his reply, Jehoash tried to persuade Amaziah not to begin a war. He warned Amaziah against the dangers of proud attitudes with a simple story. The cedars were the greatest and most impressive trees in Lebanon’s forests. In the story, a weed called a thistle proudly imagines itself to be as great as a cedar. Thistles may be more impressive than other weeds – but they are still only weeds. The wild animal knows the difference between thistles and cedars – in fact, without thought it destroys the thistle under its feet.

So, it is foolish to imagine yourself more powerful than you really are. Amaziah had successfully fought against one country – he would be foolish to imagine that he would have the same success in a battle against another country, too.

Next part: War between Judah and Israel (2 Kings 14:11-12)

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