2 Kings 14:28 Meaning: God Uses a Flawed King to Deliver Israel
Now the rest of the acts of Jeroboam, and all that he did, and his might, how he fought, and how he recovered Damascus, and Hamath, which had belonged to Judah, for Israel, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?
Now the rest of the acts of Jeroboam, and all that he did, and his might, how he warred, and how he recovered Damascus, and Hamath, which belonged to Judah, for Israel, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?
Now the rest of the acts of Jeroboam, and all that he did, and his might, how he warred, and how he recovered Damascus, and Hamath, which had belonged to Judah, for Israel, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?
And the rest of the matters of Jeroboam, and all that he did, and his might with which he fought, and with which he brought back Damascus, and Hamath of Judah, into Israel, are they not written on the book of the Chronicles of the kings of Israel?
And the rest of the acts of Jeroboam, and all that he did, and his might, how he warred, and how he recovered for Israel that [which had belonged] to Judah in Damascus and in Hamath, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?
Meaning in one sentence
Jeroboam II did evil, yet God used him to restore Israel's borders. This verse shows God's mercy despite using an imperfect instrument.
Context
This verse closes the account of Jeroboam II, king of Israel. The earlier verses tell us he did what was evil in God's sight, clinging to the golden calves that had led Israel into sin. Yet the surrounding passage reveals something surprising. Verses 26 and 27 say God saw how bitter Israel's affliction had become, with no one to help, so He did not blot out their name. Instead He saved them through this very king, fulfilling a promise spoken by the prophet Jonah. Here, the writer sums up Jeroboam's reign by noting his strength in battle and his recovery of Damascus and Hamath, cities that had once belonged to David's kingdom. The verse points to a deeper truth: God can work through leaders who are far from perfect, for the sake of His people.
Key Words
The Hebrew word for might here is gevurah, the same word used elsewhere for God's own strength. It suggests more than brute force; it carries the sense of valour and decisive power. In this verse, it is applied to a king who did evil, reminding us that human ability is still a gift, even when the one wielding it is morally compromised.
The verb recovered comes from shuv, meaning to turn back or restore. It implies that something had been lost. Damascus and Hamath were territories that earlier rulers had held and then lost. Jeroboam brought them back. The word does not claim he was righteous, only that he returned what belonged to God's people historically.
The closing rhetorical question, aren’t they written, points to a royal chronicle now lost. The formula nudges the reader to look past the bare facts and ask what they mean. For the original audience, it said: these acts were real, but the real story is what God was doing through them.
How Christians Read This Verse
Commentators across traditions notice the paradox. Matthew Henry, writing from a Reformed perspective, observes that God used Jeroboam despite his evil, because the Lord had compassion on Israel’s bitter suffering. The Baptist scholar John Gill notes that the recovered cities had been under Syrian control since the days of David and Solomon, but now Jeroboam annexed them to Israel, or possibly restored them to Judah. Keil and Delitzsch, representing a Protestant critical tradition, argue that these were the kingdoms of Damascus and Hamath, not just the cities, and that Jeroboam brought them under Israel’s rule. The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (Anglican) highlights that David had placed garrisons in Damascus and that Solomon held Hamath, so Jeroboam was reclaiming ancestral territory. Each reading agrees on one point: God’s mercy, not the king’s merit, drove the victory.
A common misunderstanding
A common misreading is to take this verse as a commendation of Jeroboam II, as if his military success proves he was a good king. In fact, verse 24 explicitly states he did evil by following the sins of the first Jeroboam. The writer records his might without endorsing his character. The recovery of territory was God’s gift to Israel, not a reward for the king’s faithfulness.
Living This Out
Maybe you find yourself led by someone who seems spiritually unqualified, or you feel disqualified yourself by your own past. This verse invites you to look beyond the instrument to the Hand that wields it. Jeroboam was not a good man, but God still used him to bring relief to a suffering people. This week, before you dismiss a person or yourself as unusable, remember that God’s purposes are not limited by human imperfection. The same mercy that saved Israel can work through anyone He chooses.
Main takeaway: God can accomplish His saving purposes through deeply flawed human instruments because His mercy, not our merit, is the driving force.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
King Jeroboam did not obey God, but God still used him to help His people and give them back some cities they had lost. God can use anyone He wants, even people who make mistakes.
For ages 9, 12
Jeroboam II was a king who chose to do wrong things, yet God saw how much the people of Israel were suffering and decided to help them through this same king. God did not approve of Jeroboam’s sin, but He still used his military strength to recover lands that had been stolen. It shows us that God’s mercy is bigger than any one person’s failure, and He can bring good even when the people He uses are far from perfect.
Questions People Ask
Why does the verse mention 'which had belonged to Judah' if Jeroboam was king of Israel?
Damascus and Hamath were originally conquered by David, who was king of Judah, and they remained under Israelite control during Solomon's reign. Later they were lost to the Syrians. When Jeroboam II recovered them, they were added to the northern kingdom of Israel. The phrase highlights that these territories were part of the promised land that God had given to His people long before.
What is 'the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel'?
It was an official record of the reigns of Israel's kings, likely kept by royal scribes. That book has not survived. The writer of Kings refers to it as a source, telling readers they could find more details there. The mention also serves as a closing formula, signaling the end of Jeroboam II's account.
Was Jeroboam II a good king?
No. Verse 24 says he did evil in the Lord's sight because he continued the worship of the golden calves started by the first Jeroboam. The Bible is honest about his spiritual failure even while recording his military success.
Why would God use an evil king to rescue Israel?
The surrounding context gives the answer. Verses 26, 27 say God saw Israel's bitter affliction and had mercy. He chose not to destroy them, so He raised up a deliverer. God's compassion for His people is greater than the character of the instrument He uses. This teaches us that God's grace can work through deeply flawed people.
How does this verse connect to the prophet Jonah?
Verse 25 mentions that Jeroboam's restoration of borders happened according to God's word spoken by Jonah the son of Amittai. So this same Jonah prophesied the very success that Jeroboam later achieved. It shows that God had planned this deliverance long before, and He used a prophet to announce it.
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