Amaziah’s War with Israel’s King Jehoash

¹⁷ King Amaziah of Judah took counsel^(A) and sent word to Jehoash^[a] son of Jehoahaz, son of Jehu, king of Israel, and challenged him: “Come, let’s meet face to face.”

¹⁸ King Jehoash of Israel sent word to King Amaziah of Judah, saying, “The thistle in Lebanon sent a message to the cedar in Lebanon, saying, ‘Give your daughter to my son as a wife.’ Then a wild animal in Lebanon passed by and trampled the thistle.^{(B) 19} You have said, ‘Look, I^[b] have defeated Edom,’ and you have become overconfident^[c](C) that you will get glory. Now stay at home. Why stir up such trouble so that you fall and Judah with you?”

²⁰ But Amaziah would not listen, for this turn of events was from God in order to hand them over to their enemies because they went after the gods of Edom. ²¹ So King Jehoash of Israel advanced. He and King Amaziah of Judah met face to face at Beth-shemesh that belonged to Judah. ²² Judah was routed before Israel, and each man fled to his own tent. ²³ King Jehoash of Israel captured Judah’s King Amaziah son of Joash, son of Jehoahaz,^[d](D) at Beth-shemesh. Then Jehoash took him to Jerusalem and broke down two hundred yards^[e] of Jerusalem’s wall from the Ephraim Gate to the Corner Gate.^{[f](E) 24} He took all the gold, silver, all the utensils that were found with Obed-edom^(F) in God’s temple, the treasures of the king’s palace, and the hostages. Then he returned to Samaria.