2 KINGS 14:9 — KING JAMES VERSION 0 0
“And Jehoash the king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, The thistle that was in Lebanon sent to the cedar that was in Lebanon, saying, Give thy daughter to my son to wife: and there passed by a wild beast that was in Lebanon, and trode down the thistle.”
King Joash of Israel sent word to King Amaziah of Judah, 'A thornbush on Lebanon sent a message to a cedar of Lebanon, saying, "Give your daughter to my son for a wife." A wild animal of Lebanon passed by and trampled down the thornbush' — Joash's parable is devastating in its mockery. The cedar (אֶרֶז, *erez*) of Lebanon, symbol of majesty and strength, contrasts with the thornbush (קוֹץ, *kotz*), symbol of insignificance. Judah's pride in its Davidic heritage (the cedar) blinds it to its actual military inferiority. The wild animal represents Joash's military power, which will crush Judah's presumption. This proverb encapsulates the OT theology of pride preceding destruction (Proverbs 16:18).
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