2 Chronicles 25:17-24

Expanded Bible

¹⁷ Amaziah king of Judah ·talked with those who advised him [took counsel; sought advice]. Then he sent a message to Jehoash son of Jehoahaz, who was the son of Jehu king of Israel. Amaziah said to Jehoash, “Come, let’s meet face to face [^Cpossibly a call to negotiate, but more likely a challenge to battle].”

¹⁸ Then Jehoash king of Israel answered Amaziah king of Judah, “A ·thornbush [thistle] in Lebanon sent a message to a cedar tree in Lebanon. It said, ‘Let your daughter marry my son.’ But then a wild animal from Lebanon came by, ·walking on and crushing [trampling] the ·thornbush [thistle]. ¹⁹ You say to yourself that you have defeated Edom, but ·you have become proud [^Lyour heart is lifted up], and you brag. But you stay at home! Don’t ask for trouble, or you and Judah will ·be defeated [^Lfall].”

²⁰ But Amaziah would not listen. God caused this to happen so that Jehoash would defeat Judah, because Judah ·asked for help from [sought; followed] the gods of Edom. ²¹ So Jehoash king of Israel went to attack. He and Amaziah king of Judah faced each other at Beth Shemesh in Judah. ²² Israel defeated Judah, and every man of Judah ran away to his ·home [^Ltent]. ²³ At Beth Shemesh Jehoash king of Israel captured Amaziah king of Judah. (Amaziah was the son of Joash, who was the son of Ahaziah.) Then Jehoash brought him to Jerusalem. Jehoash broke down the wall of Jerusalem, from the Gate of Ephraim to the Corner Gate, ·about six hundred feet [^Lfour hundred cubits]. ²⁴ He took all the gold and silver and all the ·utensils [articles] from the ·Temple [^Lhouse] of God that Obed-Edom had taken care of. He also took the treasures from the ·palace [^Lhouse] and some hostages. Then he returned to Samaria.