2 Kings 14:22 - Exposition

He built Elath, and restored it to Judah. On the position of Elath, or Eloth, and its importance, see the comment on 1 Kings 9:26 . It had been the headquarters of Solomon's fleet ( 1 Kings 9:26 ), and again of Jehoshaphat's ( 1 Kings 22:48 ; 2 Chronicles 20:36 ); but had been, of course, recovered by the Edomites when they revolted ( 2 Kings 8:22 ). Azariah's re-occupation seems to imply an intention on his part of, renewing the old Red Sea trade. By "built ' in this passage we must understand "rebuilt" or (as in 2 Chronicles 11:6 ) "fortified." After that the king slept with his fathers. Keil is probably right in understanding this to mean "immediately after he had ascended the throne," or "as soon as ever his father was dead" (see the comment on verse 19). His further military successes will be considered in the comment on his reign, as sketched in the next chapter.