Judah’s King Amaziah

1Ina the second year of Israel’s King Jehoasha b son of Jehoahaz,B Amaziahc son of Joash became king of Judah. 2He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jehoaddan;A she was from Jerusalem. 3He did what was right in the Lord’s sight, but not like his ancestor David. He did everything his father Joash had done.a 4Yet the high places were not taken away, and the people continued sacrificing and burning incense on the high places.a

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

7Amaziah killed ten thousand Edomites in Salt Valley.a He took Selab in battle and called it Joktheel,c which is still its name today. 8Amaziah then sent messengers to Jehoash son of Jehoahaz, son of Jehu, king of Israel, and challenged him: “Come, let’s meet face to face.”a

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

11But Amaziah would not listen, so King Jehoash of Israel advanced. He and King Amaziah of Judah met face to face at Beth-shemesha that belonged to Judah. 12Judah was routed before Israel, and each man fled to his own tent.a 13King 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 two hundred yardsB of Jerusalem’s wall from the Ephraim Gatea to the Corner Gate.b 14He 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.a Then he returned to Samaria.

Jehoash’s Death

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

Amaziah’s Death

17Judah’s King Amaziah son of Joash lived fifteen years after the death of Israel’s King Jehoash son of Jehoahaz.a 18The rest of the events of Amaziah’s reign are written in the Historical Record of Judah’s Kings.a 19A conspiracy was formed against him in Jerusalem,a and he fled to Lachish.b However, men were sent after him to Lachish, and they put him to death there. 20They carried him backa on horses, and he was buried in Jerusalem with his ancestors in the city of David.b

21Then all the people of Judah took Azariah,a a who was sixteen years old, and made him king in place of his father Amaziah. 22After Amaziah the king rested with his ancestors, Azariah rebuilt Elatha a and restored it to Judah.

Israel’s King Jeroboam

23In the fifteenth year of Judah’s King Amaziah son of Joash, Jeroboama son of Jehoash became king of Israel in Samaria, and he reigned forty-one years. 24He 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.a

25He restored Israel’s bordera from Lebo-hamathb as far as the Sea of the Arabah,c according to the word the Lord, the God of Israel, had spoken through his servant, the prophet Jonahd son of Amittai from Gath-hepher.e 26For the Lord saw that the affliction of Israel was very bittera for both slaves and free people.A There was no one to help Israel. 27The Lord had not said he would blot out the name of Israel under heaven,a so he deliveredb them by the hand of Jeroboam son of Jehoash.

28The rest of the events of Jeroboam’s reign — along with all his accomplishments, the power he had to wage war, and how he recovered for Israel Damascusa and Hamath,b which had belonged to JudahA — are written in the Historical Record of Israel’s Kings.c 29Jeroboam rested with his ancestors, the kings of Israel. His son Zechariah became king in his place.a