1Amaziah, son of Joash, became king of Judah in the second year of Jehoash (Joash), son of Jehoahaz, king of Israel. 2Amaziah was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Jehoaddin, from Jerusalem. 3And Amaziah did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, but not quite like David; but he followed the example of Joash, his father. 4However, the high places were not removed; the people still sacrificed and burned incense on those high places. 5And as soon as the kingdom was firmly in hand, Amaziah executed the servants (2Ki 12:20) who had murdered his father, the king. 6But he did not kill the children of the murderers, in accordance with what is written in the book of the law of Moses, where the LORD said, “The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, nor the children be put to death for the fathers, but every man shall die for his own sin.” 7Amaziah also killed ten thousand Edomites, in the Valley of Salt, and captured Sela (Selah), and renamed it Joktheel, as it is called to this day. 8Then Amaziah sent messengers to Jehoash, son of Jehoahaz, and grandson of Jehu, king of Israel, to say, “Come, let us face each other in battle.” 9And Jehoash, king of Israel, sent this reply to Amaziah, king of Judah, “The thistle in Lebanon said to the cedar in Lebanon, ‘Give your daughter to my son in marriage’; and then a wild animal passed by in Lebanon, and trampled down that thistle. 10You have indeed defeated Edom, but you have become arrogant. Enjoy your victory, and stay at home; why meddle to your own harm, and bring disaster upon Judah?” 11But Amaziah would not listen. And so, Jehoash, king of Israel, went up; and he and Amaziah, king of Judah, met face to face at Beth-shemesh, which belongs to Judah. 12And Israel defeated Judah, and captured Amaziah; and each man fled to his tent. 13And Jehoash, king of Israel, brought Amaziah, king of Judah, back to Jerusalem, where he tore down four hundred cubits (600 feet) of the wall of Jerusalem, from the gate of Ephraim to the corner gate. 14And he took all the gold, silver, and the articles that were found in the Temple of the LORD, and in the treasuries of the king's house, and some hostages, and returned to Samaria. 15Now the rest of the acts that Jehoash did, and his might, and how he fought with Amaziah, king of Judah, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel? 16And Jehoash died, and was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel; and Jeroboam II, his son, reigned in his stead. 17And Amaziah, king of Judah, lived fifteen years after the death of Jehoash, king of Israel. 18And the rest of the acts of Amaziah, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? 19Then there was a conspiracy against the life of Amaziah in Jerusalem, and he fled to Lachish; but the conspirators sent assassins to Lachish, who killed him there. 20And they brought his body back on horses; and he was buried at Jerusalem with his fathers in the city of David. 21And all the people of Judah took Azariah (Uzziah), who was sixteen years old, and made him king instead of his father, Amaziah. 22He built Elath, and restored it to Judah, after the death of King Amaziah. 23In the fifteenth year of Amaziah, son of Joash, king of Judah, Jeroboam II, son of Joash, king of Israel, began to reign in Samaria, and reigned forty-one years. 24And Jeroboam II did what was evil in the eyes of the LORD; he did not turn from all the sins of Jeroboam I (1 Kings 11:26), son of Nebat, who caused Israel to sin. 25He was the one who restored the boundaries of Israel from Lebo Hamath to the sea of Arabah, according to the word of the LORD God of Israel, which He spoke through His servant, Jonah, son of Amittai, the prophet, who was of Gath-hepher (Deut.2:17). 26For the LORD saw the affliction of Israel, that it was very bitter for all, slave or free, nor was there anyone to help Israel. 27The LORD had not said that He would blot out the name of Israel from under heaven; so He saved them by the hand of Jeroboam II, son of Joash. 28Now the rest of the acts of Jeroboam II, all that he did, and his might, how he warred, and how he recovered Damascus, and Hamath, which had belonged to Judah, for Israel, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel? 29And Jeroboam II died, and rested with the kings of Israel; and Zechariah, his son, reigned in his stead. Reader-Friendly Bible: Purple Letter Edition © 2024 by Jim Musser. Used by Permission. All rights Reserved. Bible Hub |