14. When Amaziah returned from his conquest of the Edomites he brought back with him the gods of the people of Seir. He set these up as his own gods; he bowed down before them and offered sacrifice to them.
15. Then the anger of the Lord blazed out against Amaziah, and he sent a prophet to him who said: “Why have you sought this people’s gods that could not deliver their own people from your power?”
16. While he was still speaking, however, the king said to him: “Have you been appointed the king’s counselor? Stop! Why should you have to be killed?” Therefore the prophet stopped. But he said, “I know that God’s counsel is your destruction, for by doing this you have refused to listen to my counsel.”
17. Having taken counsel, Amaziah, king of Judah, sent word to Joash, son of Jehoahaz, son of Jehu, the king of Israel, saying, “Come, let us meet face to face.”
18. Joash, king of Israel, sent this reply to Amaziah, king of Judah: “A thistle of Lebanon sent word to a cedar of Lebanon, ‘Give your daughter to my son in marriage,’ but an animal of Lebanon passed by and trampled the thistle underfoot.
19. You are thinking,‘See, I have struck down Edom!’Your heart is lifted up,And glories in it. Stay home!Why bring misfortune and failureon yourself and on Judah with you?”
20. But Amaziah did not listen; for it was God’s doing that they be handed over because they sought the gods of Edom.
21. So Joash, king of Israel, advanced, and he and Amaziah, king of Judah, met face to face at Beth-shemesh of Judah,
22. and Judah was defeated by Israel, and all fled to their tents.
23. But Amaziah, king of Judah, son of Joash, son of Jehoahaz, was captured by Joash, king of Israel, at Beth-shemesh. Joash brought him to Jerusalem and tore 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 found in the house of God with Obed-edom, and in the treasuries of the king’s house, and hostages as well. Then he returned to Samaria.
25. Amaziah, son of Joash, king of Judah, survived Joash, son of Jehoahaz, king of Israel, by fifteen years.
26. The rest of the acts of Amaziah, first and last, are recorded in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.
27. Now from the time that Amaziah turned away from the Lord, a conspiracy was formed against him in Jerusalem, and he fled to Lachish. But he was pursued to Lachish and killed there.
28. He was brought back on horses and was buried with his ancestors in the City of Judah.