2 Kings 14:7

Old Testament Historical ASV (1901)

What does 2 Kings 14:7 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “He slew of Edom in the Valley of Salt ten thousand, and took Sela by war, and called the name of it Joktheel, unto this day.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

He slew of Edom in the Valley of Salt ten thousand, and took Sela by war, and called the name of it Joktheel, unto this day.
2 Kings 14:7 — American Standard Version

Context — 2 Kings 14

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
7He slew of Edom in the Valley of Salt ten thousand, and took Sela by war, and called the name of it Joktheel, unto this day.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“He slew of Edom in the valley of Salt ten thousand, etc.] Of which valley, (see Gill on “<100813>2 Samuel 8:13”), the Edomites having revolted from Judah in the days of Joram, (<120820>2 Kings 8:20,22). Amaziah undertook to reduce them with an army of 300,000 choice men; and, besides these, hired also of Israel 100,000 valiant men, for one hundred talents of silver; but at the instance of a prophet of the Lord he dismissed the latter, and went against Edom only with his men, and slew of the Edomites 10,000, besides other 10,000 he took alive, and cast headlong from a rock, which came into his hands, (see <142505>2 Chronicles 25:5-12), and took Selah by war; which signifies a rock, the same…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“HE SMITES EDOM. (Kg2 14:7) He slew of Edom in the valley of salt ten thousand--In the reign of Joram the Edomites had revolted (see Kg2 8:20). But Amaziah, determined to reduce them to their former subjection, formed a hostile expedition against them, in which he routed their army and made himself master of their capital. the valley of salt--that part of the Ghor which comprises the salt and sandy plain to the south of the Dead Sea. Selah--literally, "the rock"; generally thought to be Petra. Joktheel--that is, "given" or "conquered by God." See the history of this conquest more fully detailed (Ch2 25:6-16).”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Amaziah’s Idumaean war is treated at length by the writer of Chronicles (marginal reference). The “Valley of Salt” is usually identified with the broad open plain called the Sabkah, at the southern end of the Dead Sea - the continuation of the Ghor or Jordan gorge. At the north-western corner of this plain stands a mountain of rock-salt, and the tract between this mountain and the sea is a salt-marsh. Salt springs also abound in the plain itself, so that the name would be fully accounted for. It is doubted, however, whether the original of the word “valley,” commonly used of clefts and ravines, can be applied to such a sunk plain as the Sabkah; and it is certainly most unlikely that 10,000…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Joktheel - Which signifies, the obedience of God, that is, given him by God as a reward of his obedience to God's message by the prophet, Ch2 25:8-9. 4 Kings (2 Kings) 14:8”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“14:7 10,000 Edomites: Amaziah’s victory, mentioned only briefly here, is discussed in detail in 2 Chr 25:5-15. Despite granting Amaziah this victory, God chastised him both for hiring Israelite mercenaries and for carrying home Edomite gods and worshiping them. • The Valley of Salt was about three miles south of the Dead Sea. • Sela is traditionally identified as a site in the rocks and cliffs near Petra in modern Jordan. The capture of this highly defensible location demonstrated that Amaziah’s victory was God-given.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“am 3177, bc 827 slew: Kg2 8:20-22; Ch2 25:11, Ch2 25:12 the valley of salt: Some suppose that the Valley of Salt was south of the Dead, or Salt Sea, towards the land of Edom; and others suppose it to be the Valley of Salt, about three or four miles south-east of Palmyra, which now supplies, in a great measure, the surrounding country with salt. Sa2 8:13; Ch1 18:12; Psa 60:1 \*title Selah: or, the rock, Selah is generally supposed to be the same as Petra, which in Greek signifies a rock, the celebrated capital of Arabia Petrea. Strabo places it three or four days' journey from Jericho, and five days' journey from the forest of palm trees on the Red Sea. Pliny places it 600 miles from Gaza,…”
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Sources and verification