Judah’s King Amaziah

14 In^(A) the second year of Israel’s King Jehoash^[a](B) son of Jehoahaz,^[b] Amaziah^(C) son of Joash became king of Judah. ² He was 25 years old when he became king and reigned 29 years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jehoaddan^[c] and was from Jerusalem. ³ He did what was right in the Lord’s sight, but not like his ancestor David. He did everything his father Joash had done.^{(D) 4} Yet the high places were not taken away, and the people continued sacrificing and burning incense on the high places.^(E)

⁵ As soon as the kingdom was firmly in his grasp, Amaziah killed his servants who had murdered his father the king.^{(F) 6} However, he did not put the children of the murderers to death, as it is written in the book of the law of Moses where the Lord commanded, “Fathers must not be put to death because of children, and children must not be put to death because of fathers; instead, each one will be put to death for his own sin.”^(G)

Amaziah’s Campaign against Edom

⁵ Then Amaziah gathered Judah and assembled them according to ancestral house, according to commanders of thousands, and according to commanders of hundreds. He numbered those 20 years old or more^(A) for all Judah and Benjamin. He found there to be 300,000 choice men who could serve in the army, bearing spear and shield.^{(B) 6} Then for 7,500 pounds^[a] of silver he hired 100,000 brave warriors from Israel.

⁷ However, a man of God^(C) came to him and said, “King, do not let Israel’s army go with you, for the Lord is not with Israel—all the Ephraimites. ⁸ But if you go with them, do it! Be strong for battle! But God will make you stumble before the enemy,^(D) for God has the power to help^(E) or to make one stumble.”

⁹ Then Amaziah said to the man of God, “What should I do about the 7,500 pounds^[b] of silver I gave to Israel’s division?”

The man of God replied, “The Lord is able to give you much more than this.”

¹⁰ So Amaziah released the division that came to him from Ephraim to go home. But they got very angry with Judah and returned home in a fierce rage.

¹¹ Amaziah strengthened his position and led his people to the Valley of Salt. He struck down 10,000 Seirites,^{[c] 12} and the Judahites captured 10,000 alive. They took them to the top of a cliff where they threw them off, and all of them were dashed to pieces.

¹³ As for the men of the division that Amaziah sent back so they would not go with him into battle, they raided the cities of Judah from Samaria to Beth-horon, struck down 3,000 of their people, and took a great deal of plunder.

¹⁴ After Amaziah came from the attack on the Edomites, he brought the gods of the Seirites^[d] and set them up as his gods. He worshiped before them and burned incense to them.^{(F) 15} So the Lord’s anger was against Amaziah, and He sent a prophet to him, who said, “Why have you sought a people’s gods that could not deliver their own people from your hand?”^(G)

¹⁶ While he was still speaking to him, the king asked, “Have we made you the king’s counselor? Stop, why should you lose your life?”

So the prophet stopped, but he said, “I know that God intends to destroy you, because you have done this and have not listened to my advice.”

⁷ Amaziah killed 10,000 Edomites in the Valley of Salt.^(A) He took Sela^(B) in battle and called it Joktheel,^(C) which is its name to this very day. ⁸ Amaziah then sent messengers to Jehoash son of Jehoahaz, son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying, “Come, let us meet face to face.”^(D)

⁹ King Jehoash of Israel sent word to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, “The thistle that was in Lebanon once sent a message to the cedar^(E) that was in Lebanon,^(F) saying, ‘Give your daughter to my son as a wife.’ Then a wild animal that was in Lebanon passed by and trampled the thistle. ¹⁰ You have indeed defeated Edom, and you have become overconfident.^(G) Enjoy your glory and stay at home. Why should you stir up such trouble that you fall—you and Judah with you?”

¹¹ But Amaziah would not listen, so King Jehoash of Israel advanced. He and King Amaziah of Judah faced off at Beth-shemesh^(H) that belongs to Judah. ¹² Judah was routed before Israel, and everyone fled to his own tent.^{(I) 13} King Jehoash of Israel captured Judah’s King Amaziah son of Joash,^[a] son of Ahaziah, at Beth-shemesh. Then Jehoash went to Jerusalem and broke down 200 yards^[b] of Jerusalem’s wall from the Ephraim Gate^(J) to the Corner Gate.^{(K) 14} He took all the gold and silver, all the articles found in the Lord’s temple and in the treasuries of the king’s palace, and some hostages.^(L) Then he returned to Samaria.

Jehoash’s Death

¹⁵ The rest of the events of Jehoash’s reign, along with his accomplishments, his might, and how he waged war against Amaziah king of Judah, are written in the Historical Record of Israel’s Kings.^{(M) 16} Jehoash rested with his fathers, and he was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel. His son Jeroboam became king in his place.

Amaziah’s Death

¹⁷ Judah’s King Amaziah son of Joash lived 15 years after the death of Israel’s King Jehoash son of Jehoahaz.^{(N) 18} The rest of the events of Amaziah’s reign are written in the Historical Record of Judah’s Kings.^{(O) 19} A conspiracy was formed against him in Jerusalem,^(P) and he fled to Lachish.^(Q) However, men were sent after him to Lachish, and they put him to death there. ²⁰ They carried him back^(R) on horses, and he was buried in Jerusalem with his fathers in the city of David.^(S)

²¹ Then all the people of Judah took Azariah,^[c](T) who was 16 years old, and made him king in place of his father Amaziah. ²² He rebuilt Elath^[d](U) and restored it to Judah after Amaziah the king rested with his fathers.

Israel’s King Jeroboam

²³ In the fifteenth year of Judah’s King Amaziah son of Joash, Jeroboam^(V) son of Jehoash^[e] became king of Israel in Samaria and reigned 41 years. ²⁴ He did what was evil in the Lord’s sight. He did not turn away from all the sins Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to commit.^(W)