The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Kings — Section 248

a good time to bring back the revolted tribes to tht, sceptre of Judah. (3) The Israel- ites bad given some provocation in attacks upon the cities of Judah (2 Chron. xxv. 13). This at least would furnish a pretext. 2. lts nature. The challenge took the form of a message to Joash, "Come, let us look one another in the face." In giving such a challenge, Amaziah did not count the cost (cf. Luke xiv. 31). He was puffed up with conceit, and did not reflect on the superior military abilities of Joash, already beginning to be displayed in his wars with the Syrians, or on his larger forces. Rather, Joash's rising reputation roused in him the ambition to measure himself against Joash. When men are left to themselves there are no limits to the extent to which their folly will lead them. 3. Its laclc of sanction from God. This time God was not with Amaziah in bis undertaking. No prophet's voice commanded, sanctioned, or promised blessings 0n the war. Amaziah was acting on his own motion, and in reliance solely on his own strength. God had left him, as he left Saul. In such condition a man but plunges on to his ruin. II. THE HAUGHTY REPLY. Joa.ah perfectly took the meMnre of his challenger, and answered him according to his folly. 1. Bis insulting parable. First, he replied by a parable. He told how the briar (or thistle) of Lebanon sent to the cedar of Lebanon, demanding that the daughter of the cedar should be given in wife to his son. But a wild beast of the forest passed by, and trode down the briar. The idea of the parable is, of course, to ridicule the presumption of Amaziah in venturing to put himself on an equality with Joash. It was meant to sting and insult the Jewish king by intimating to him that in Joash's eyes he was no more than a contemptible briar in comparison with the majestic cedars. On it we remark (1) that Joa.ah also cannot be acquitted of over- weening arrogance. It is a scornful, haughty spirit which breathes in bis parable. FroII" the lsraelitish point of view the ten tribes were the kingdom of Isrnel; Judah was the isolated tribe. But the state of Israel at this time, and in the recent past, did not warrant these boastful metaphors. The cedar, as well as the briar, bad been pretty well trodden down by the wild beast of the forest. This arrogant spirit, moreover, is apt to lead its possessor into the error of despising things simply because they are outwardly weak. In this case the King of Israel very justly took the boastful Amaziah's measure. But it does not always follow that the cedar has the right to lord it over the briar. It is no uncommon thing for the weak things of the world to overcome the mighty (1 Cor. i. 27, 28). David was a feeble stripling in Goliath's sight, but Goliath fell before him (1 Sam. xvi. 43-51). The numbers may be few, but if they have a good cause, a.re inspired by faith, and go forward at God's call, one will chase a thousand (Deut. xxxii. 30; Josh. x.xiii. 10). (2) Nevertheless, the parable was just in so far as Amaziah was matching himself against one who, as the event showed, was greatly bis superior. Joash was by far the abler soldier, and had larger forces. Amaziah wished to show himself bis equal, but lacked the power of taking a just estimate of bis own capabilities. This is one of the first conditions of a man's strength-to know himself. "Row many men may you meet in middle life whose career bas been marked by bitter disappoint- ments, and whose hearts have been soured by these I They began with vaulting hopes which have never been realized; and so they blame what they call their adverse fate. But you see the effect of one great blunder which has pursued them all their lives-you see that they have never sought to know themselves. They began in a fool's paradise, and they have never made their escape from it. A more exact and modest estimate of their own powers, a clear and honest apprehension of their own capacity, a readiness to do the work within their limits, the work they were meant to do, and they bad been spared many bitter hours." 2. Bis contempluous advice. Following up his parable, Joash gave the King of Judah a piece of advice, scornfully and contemptuously expressed, but such advice BR, on the whole, Amaziah would have done well to take. (1) He touched truly enough the motive of his foolish challenge. "Thou bast indeed smitten Edom, and thine heart is lifted up." A measure of success turns the heads of some people, inflates their ideas of themselves, and incapacitates them for sober calcula- tion of the future. (2) He bids him content himself with what be bas achieved, and tarry at home. The tone is most insulting, implying the most perfect contempt for Amaziah's threatened attack; but the advice was wise. Amaziah was a fool to pro- voke a needless war, and run himself and bis kingc1om into danger from a mere motive of vain-glory. (3) He predicts to him what will happen if he persists in his foolish  294 THE SECOND BOOK OF 'l'HE KINGS. [en. XIV. 1-20.