9. But King Jehoash of Israel replied to King Amaziah of Judah with this story: “Out in the Lebanon mountains, a thistle sent a message to a mighty cedar tree: ‘Give your daughter in marriage to my son.’ But just then a wild animal of Lebanon came by and stepped on the thistle, crushing it!
10. “You have indeed defeated Edom, and you are proud of it. But be content with your victory and stay at home! Why stir up trouble that will only bring disaster on you and the people of Judah?”
11. But Amaziah refused to listen, so King Jehoash of Israel mobilized his army against King Amaziah of Judah. The two armies drew up their battle lines at Beth-shemesh in Judah.
12. Judah was routed by the army of Israel, and its army scattered and fled for home.
13. King Jehoash of Israel captured Judah’s king, Amaziah son of Joash and grandson of Ahaziah, at Beth-shemesh. Then he marched to Jerusalem, where he demolished 600 feet of Jerusalem’s wall, from the Ephraim Gate to the Corner Gate.
14. He carried off all the gold and silver and all the articles from the Temple of the lord. He also seized the treasures from the royal palace, along with hostages, and then returned to Samaria.
15. The rest of the events in Jehoash’s reign and everything he did, including the extent of his power and his war with King Amaziah of Judah, are recorded in The Book of the History of the Kings of Israel.
16. When Jehoash died, he was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel. And his son Jeroboam II became the next king.
17. King Amaziah of Judah lived for fifteen years after the death of King Jehoash of Israel.
18. The rest of the events in Amaziah’s reign are recorded in The Book of the History of the Kings of Judah.
19. There was a conspiracy against Amaziah’s life in Jerusalem, and he fled to Lachish. But his enemies sent assassins after him, and they killed him there.
20. They brought his body back to Jerusalem on a horse, and he was buried with his ancestors in the City of David.