1. Amaziah son of Joash became king of Judah during the second year Jehoash son of Jehoahaz was king of Israel.
2. Amaziah was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he ruled twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother was named Jehoaddin, and she was from Jerusalem.
3. Amaziah did what the Lord said was right. He did everything his father Joash had done, but he did not do as his ancestor David had done.
4. The places where gods were worshiped were not removed, so the people still sacrificed and burned incense there.
5. As soon as Amaziah took control of the kingdom, he executed the officers who had murdered his father the king.
6. But he did not put to death the children of the murderers because of the rule written in the Book of the Teachings of Moses. The Lord had commanded: “Parents must not be put to death when their children do wrong, and children must not be put to death when their parents do wrong. Each must die for his own sins.”
7. In battle Amaziah killed ten thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt. He also took the city of Sela. He called it Joktheel, as it is still called today.
8. Amaziah sent messengers to Jehoash son of Jehoahaz, the son of Jehu, king of Israel. They said, “Come, let’s meet face to face.”
9. Then Jehoash king of Israel answered Amaziah king of Judah, “A thornbush in Lebanon sent a message to a cedar tree in Lebanon. It said, ‘Let your daughter marry my son.’ But then a wild animal from Lebanon came by, walking on and crushing the thornbush.
10. You have defeated Edom, but you have become proud. Stay at home and brag. Don’t ask for trouble, or you and Judah will be defeated.”
11. But Amaziah would not listen, so Jehoash king of Israel went to attack. He and Amaziah king of Judah faced each other in battle at Beth Shemesh in Judah.
12. Israel defeated Judah, and every man of Judah ran away to his home.