1. Amaziah son of Joash became king of Judah. This was during the second year Jehoash son of Jehoahaz was king of Israel.
2. Amaziah was 25 years old when he became king. He ruled 29 years in Jerusalem. His mother was Jehoaddin. She was from Jerusalem.
3. Amaziah did what the Lord said was right. Amaziah did everything his father Joash had done. But he did not do as David his ancestor had done.
4. The places where false gods were worshiped were not removed. The people still sacrificed and burned incense there.
5. Amaziah took strong control of the kingdom. Then he put the officers to death who had killed his father the king.
6. But he did not put to death the children of the murderers. This is because of the rule written in the Book of the Teachings of Moses. The Lord had commanded: “Fathers must not be put to death when their children do wrong. And children must not be put to death when their fathers do wrong. Each person must die for his own sins.”
7. Amaziah killed 10,000 Edomites in the Valley of Salt. In a battle Amaziah took the city of Sela. He called it Joktheel, and it is still called that today.