(A)Then Amaziah sent messengers to [a]Jehoash, the son of Jehoahaz son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying, “(B)Come, let’s face each other in combat.” But Jehoash king of Israel sent messengers to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, “(C)The thorn bush that was in Lebanon sent word to the cedar that was in Lebanon, saying, ‘Give your daughter to my son [b]in marriage.’ But a wild animal that was in Lebanon passed by and trampled the thorn bush. 10 (D)You have indeed [c]defeated Edom, and (E)your heart [d]is elated. Enjoy the glory and stay home; for why should you get involved in trouble so that you would fall, you and Judah with you?”

11 But Amaziah would not listen. So Jehoash king of Israel went up; and they faced each other, he and Amaziah king of Judah, at (F)Beth-shemesh, which belongs to Judah. 12 And Judah was defeated by Israel, and (G)they fled, every man to his tent. 13 Then Jehoash king of Israel captured Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Jehoash the son of Ahaziah, at Beth-shemesh, and came to Jerusalem and tore down the wall of Jerusalem from (H)the Gate of Ephraim to (I)the Corner Gate, [e]four hundred cubits. 14 And (J)he took all the gold and silver and all the utensils which were found in the house of the Lord, and in the treasuries of the king’s house, the hostages as well, and returned to Samaria.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Kings 14:8 In Heb Jehoash is another spelling of Joash
  2. 2 Kings 14:9 Lit as a wife
  3. 2 Kings 14:10 Lit struck
  4. 2 Kings 14:10 Lit has lifted you up
  5. 2 Kings 14:13 About 600 ft. or 183 m

Then Amaziah sent messengers to Israel’s King Joash[a] son of Jehoahaz son of Israel’s King Jehu, saying, “Come on! Let’s go head-to-head.”

But Israel’s King Joash responded to Judah’s King Amaziah, “Once upon a time, a thistle in Lebanon sent a message to a cedar, ‘Give your daughter to my son as a wife.’ But then a wild beast in Lebanon came along and trampled the thistle. 10 You have definitely defeated Edom and have now become conceited. Enjoy the honor, but stay home. Why invite disaster when both you and Judah will fall?”

11 But Amaziah wouldn’t listen, so Israel’s King Joash moved against him, and he and Judah’s King Amaziah went head-to-head in battle at Beth-shemesh in Judah. 12 Judah was defeated by Israel, and everyone ran home. 13 At Beth-shemesh, Israel’s King Joash captured Judah’s King Amaziah, Jehoash’s son and Ahaziah’s grandson. Joash then marched to Jerusalem and broke down six hundred feet of the Jerusalem wall from the Ephraim Gate to the Corner Gate. 14 Joash took all the gold and silver, and all the objects he could find in the Lord’s temple and the treasuries of the palace, along with some hostages and returned to Samaria.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Kings 14:8 Heb Jehoash (also in 14:9, 11, 13, 15, 16-17); the king’s name is variously spelled in either long Jehoash or short Joash form. The latter is the form used in 2 Chron.