[1] Amaziah was twenty-five years old when he began to reign; and he
reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem: and his mother`s name was
Jehoaddan, of Jerusalem. [2] He did that which was right in the eyes of
Yahweh, but not with a perfect heart. [3] Now it happened, when the kingdom
was established to him, that he killed his servants who had killed the king
his father. [4] But he didn`t put their children to death, but did
according to that which is written in the law in the book of Moses, as
Yahweh commanded, saying, The fathers shall not die for the children,
neither shall the children die for the fathers; but every man shall die for
his own sin. [5] Moreover Amaziah gathered Judah together, and ordered them
according to their fathers` houses, under captains of thousands and
captains of hundreds, even all Judah and Benjamin: and he numbered them
from twenty years old and upward, and found them three hundred thousand
chosen men, able to go forth to war, who could handle spear and shield. [6]
He hired also one hundred thousand mighty men of valor out of Israel for
one hundred talents of silver. [7] But there came a man of God to him,
saying, O king, don`t let the army of Israel go with you; for Yahweh is not
with Israel, [to wit], with all the children of Ephraim. [8] But if you
will go, do [valiantly], be strong for the battle: God will cast you down
before the enemy; for God has power to help, and to cast down. [9] Amaziah
said to the man of God, But what shall we do for the hundred talents which
I have given to the army of Israel? The man of God answered, Yahweh is able
to give you much more than this. [10] Then Amaziah separated them, [to
wit], the army that had come to him out of Ephraim, to go home again: why
their anger was greatly kindled against Judah, and they returned home in
fierce anger. [11] Amaziah took courage, and led forth his people, and went
to the Valley of Salt, and struck of the children of Seir ten thousand.
[12] [other] ten thousand did the children of Judah carry away alive, and
brought them to the top of the rock, and cast them down from the top of the
rock, so that they all were broken in pieces. [13] But the men of the army
whom Amaziah sent back, that they should not go with him to battle, fell on
the cities of Judah, from Samaria even to Beth-horon, and struck of them
three thousand, and took much spoil. [14] Now it happened, after that
Amaziah was come from the slaughter of the Edomites, that he brought the
gods of the children of Seir, and set them up to be his gods, and bowed
down himself before them, and burned incense to them. [15] Therefore the
anger of Yahweh was kindled against Amaziah, and he sent to him a prophet,
who said to him, Why have you sought after the gods of the people, which
have not delivered their own people out of your hand? [16] It happened, as
he talked with him, that [the king] said to him, Have we made you of the
king`s counsel? Stop! Why should you be struck down? Then the prophet
stopped, and said, I know that God has determined to destroy you, because
you have done this, and have not listened to my counsel. [17] Then Amaziah
king of Judah took advice, and sent to Joash, the son of Jehoahaz the son
of Jehu, king of Israel, saying, Come, let us look one another in the face.
[18] Joash king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, The
thistle that was in Lebanon sent to the cedar that was in Lebanon, saying,
Give your daughter to my son as wife: and there passed by a wild animal
that was in Lebanon, and trod down the thistle. [19] You say, Behold, you
have struck Edom; and your heart lifts you up to boast: abide now at home;
why should you meddle to [your] hurt, that you should fall, even you, and
Judah with you? [20] But Amaziah would not hear; for it was of God, that he
might deliver them into the hand [of their enemies], because they had
sought after the gods of Edom. [21] So Joash king of Israel went up; and he
and Amaziah king of Judah looked one another in the face at Beth-shemesh,
which belongs to Judah. [22] Judah was put to the worse before Israel; and
they fled every man to his tent. [23] Joash king of Israel took Amaziah
king of Judah, the son of Joash the son of Jehoahaz, at Beth-shemesh, and
brought him to Jerusalem, and broke down the wall of Jerusalem from the
gate of Ephraim to the corner gate, four hundred cubits. [24] [He took] all
the gold and silver, and all the vessels that were found in the house of
God with Obed-edom, and the treasures of the king`s house, the hostages
also, and returned to Samaria. [25] Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah
lived after the death of Joash son of Jehoahaz king of Israel fifteen
years. [26] Now the rest of the acts of Amaziah, first and last, behold,
aren`t they written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel? [27] Now
from the time that Amaziah did turn away from following Yahweh they made a
conspiracy against him in Jerusalem; and he fled to Lachish: but they sent
after him to Lachish, and killed him there. [28] They brought him on
horses, and buried him with his fathers in the city of Judah.
