¹⁸ He said, “If they have come out for peace, take them alive; if they have come out for war, take them alive.”

⁸ Then Amaziah sent messengers to Jehoash son of Jehoahaz, the son of Jehu, king of Israel, with the challenge: “Come, let us face each other in battle.”

⁹ But Jehoash king of Israel replied to Amaziah king of Judah: “A thistle^(A) in Lebanon sent a message to a cedar in Lebanon, ‘Give your daughter to my son in marriage.’ Then a wild beast in Lebanon came along and trampled the thistle underfoot. ¹⁰ You have indeed defeated Edom and now you are arrogant.^(B) Glory in your victory, but stay at home! Why ask for trouble and cause your own downfall and that of Judah also?”

¹¹ Amaziah, however, would not listen, so Jehoash king of Israel attacked. He and Amaziah king of Judah faced each other at Beth Shemesh^(C) in Judah. ¹² Judah was routed by Israel, and every man fled to his home.^(D)

⁴⁴ “Come here,” he said, “and I’ll give your flesh to the birds^(A) and the wild animals!^(B)”

¹¹ So both of them showed themselves to the Philistine outpost. “Look!” said the Philistines. “The Hebrews^(A) are crawling out of the holes they were hiding^(B) in.” ¹² The men of the outpost shouted to Jonathan and his armor-bearer, “Come up to us and we’ll teach you a lesson.^(C)”

So Jonathan said to his armor-bearer, “Climb up after me; the Lord has given them into the hand^(D) of Israel.”