2 Kings 14:1–22

Amaziah King of Judah

14:1–7pp—2Ch 25:1–4,11–12 14:8–22pp—2Ch 25:17–26:2

14In the second year of Jehoash^a son of Jehoahaz king of Israel, Amaziah son of Joash king of Judah began to reign. ²He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-nine years. His mother’s name was Jehoaddan; she was from Jerusalem. ³He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, but not as his father David had done. In everything he followed the example of his father Joash. ⁴The high places,^l however, were not removed; the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense there.

⁵After the kingdom was firmly in his grasp, he executed^m the officialsⁿ who had murdered his father the king. ⁶Yet he did not put the children of the assassins to death, in accordance with what is written in the Book of the Law^o of Moses where the Lord commanded: “Parents are not to be put to death for their children, nor children put to death for their parents; each will die for their own sin.”^bp

⁷He was the one who defeated ten thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt^q and captured Sela^r in battle, calling it Joktheel, the name it has to this day.

⁸Then 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.”

⁹But Jehoash king of Israel replied to Amaziah king of Judah: “A thistle^s 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. ¹⁰You have indeed defeated Edom and now you are arrogant.^t Glory in your victory, but stay at home! Why ask for trouble and cause your own downfall and that of Judah also?”

¹¹Amaziah, however, would not listen, so Jehoash king of Israel attacked. He and Amaziah king of Judah faced each other at Beth Shemesh^u in Judah. ¹²Judah was routed by Israel, and every man fled to his home.^{v 13}Jehoash king of Israel captured Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Joash, the son of Ahaziah, at Beth Shemesh. Then Jehoash went to Jerusalem and broke down the wall^w of Jerusalem from the Ephraim Gate^x to the Corner Gate^y—a section about four hundred cubits long.^{c 14}He took all the gold and silver and all the articles found in the temple of the Lord and in the treasuries of the royal palace. He also took hostages and returned to Samaria.

¹⁵As for the other events of the reign of Jehoash, what he did and his achievements, including his war^z against Amaziah king of Judah, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Israel? ¹⁶Jehoash rested with his ancestors and was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel. And Jeroboam his son succeeded him as king.

¹⁷Amaziah son of Joash king of Judah lived for fifteen years after the death of Jehoash son of Jehoahaz king of Israel. ¹⁸As for the other events of Amaziah’s reign, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Judah?

¹⁹They conspired^a against him in Jerusalem, and he fled to Lachish,^b but they sent men after him to Lachish and killed him there. ²⁰He was brought back by horse^c and was buried in Jerusalem with his ancestors, in the City of David.

²¹Then all the people of Judah took Azariah,^dd who was sixteen years old, and made him king in place of his father Amaziah. ²²He was the one who rebuilt Elath^e and restored it to Judah after Amaziah rested with his ancestors.