1 Amaziah was twenty and five years old when he
began to reign, and he reigned twenty and nine years in Jerusalem. And his
mother's name was Jehoaddan of Jerusalem.
2 And
he did that which was right
in the sight of the LORD, but not with a perfect heart.
3 Now
it came to pass, when the kingdom was established to him, that he slew his
servants that had killed the king his father.
4 But
he slew not their children, but did as it is written in the law in the book of
Moses, where the LORD 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 made them captains over thousands, and
captains over hundreds, according to the houses of their fathers,
throughout all Judah and Benjamin: and he numbered them from twenty years old
and above, and found them three hundred thousand choice men, able to
go forth to war, that could handle spear and shield.
6 He
hired also an hundred thousand mighty men of valour out of Israel for an
hundred talents of silver.
7 But
there came a man of God to him, saying, O king, let not the army of Israel go
with thee; for the LORD is not with Israel, to wit, with all
the children of Ephraim.
8 But
if thou wilt go, do it, be strong for the battle: God
shall make thee fall before the enemy: for God hath power to help, and to cast
down.
9 And
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? And the man of God answered, The LORD
is able to give thee much more than this.
10 Then
Amaziah separated them, to wit, the army that was come to
him out of Ephraim, to go home again: wherefore their anger was greatly kindled
against Judah, and they returned home in great anger.
11 And
Amaziah strengthened himself, and led forth his people, and went to the valley
of salt, and smote of the children of Seir ten thousand.
12 And other ten
thousand left alive
did the children of Judah carry away captive, and brought them unto the top of
the rock, and cast them down from the top of the rock, that they all were
broken in pieces.
13 But
the soldiers of the army which Amaziah sent back, that they should not go with
him to battle, fell upon the cities of Judah, from Samaria even unto Bethhoron,
and smote three thousand of them, and took much spoil.
14 Now
it came to pass, 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 unto them.
15 Wherefore
the anger of the LORD was kindled against Amaziah, and he sent unto him a
prophet, which said unto him, Why hast thou sought after the gods of the
people, which could not deliver their own people out of thine hand?
16 And
it came to pass, as he talked with him, that the king said unto him, Art thou made of the
king's counsel? forbear; why shouldest thou be smitten? Then the prophet
forbare, and said, I know that God hath determined to destroy thee, because
thou hast done this, and hast not hearkened unto 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 see one another in the face.
18 And
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 thy daughter
to my son to wife: and there passed by a wild beast that was in
Lebanon, and trode down the thistle.
19 Thou
sayest, Lo, thou hast smitten the Edomites; and thine heart lifteth thee up to
boast: abide now at home; why shouldest thou meddle to thine hurt,
that thou shouldest fall, even thou, and Judah with thee?
20 But
Amaziah would not hear; for it came of God, that he might deliver them
into the hand of their enemies, because they
sought after the gods of Edom.
21 So
Joash the king of Israel went up; and they saw one another in the face, both he
and Amaziah king of Judah, at Bethshemesh, which belongeth to
Judah.
22 And
Judah was put to the worse before Israel, and they fled every man to his tent.
23 And
Joash the king of Israel took Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Joash, the son
of Jehoahaz, at Bethshemesh, and brought him to Jerusalem, and brake down the
wall of Jerusalem from the gate of Ephraim to the corner gate, four hundred
cubits.
24 And he took all
the gold and the silver, and all the vessels that were found in the house of
God with Obededom, and the treasures of the king's house, the hostages also,
and returned to Samaria.
25 And
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, are they
not written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel?
27 Now
after the time that Amaziah did turn away from following the LORD they made a
conspiracy against him in Jerusalem; and he fled to Lachish: but they sent to
Lachish after him, and slew him there.
28 And
they brought him upon horses, and buried him with his fathers in the city of
Judah.
