Amaziah
1 Amaziah was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned for
twenty-nine years in Jeru sa lem. His mother was Hehoassan of Jeru salem.
2 He did what is pleasing to Yahweh, though not steadily.
3 As soon as he was firmly in power, he killed those of his officers who had
murdered the king his father.
4 But he did not put their sons to death, in obedience to what is written in
the Law, in the book of Moses, where Yahweh has ordered, ¡°Fathers must not
be put to death for sons, nor sons for fathers; but everyone will pay for
his own crime.¡±
5 Amaziah called the people of Judah together and organized them in families
with commanders of thousands and of hundreds for all Judah and Benjamin. He
counted those who were twenty years old or older, and found there were three
hundred thousand of selected warriors fit for military service, and for
handling spear and shield.
6 Next, he enrolled one hundred thousand from Israel as mercenaries, for
about four tons of silver.
7 A man of God then came to him and said, ¡°O king, don¡¯t take these
Israelite soldiers with you, for Yahweh is not with Israel or with any of
the Ephraimites.
8 If they come, whatever be the number of your men, God will still bring you
down before your enemies, for God¡¯s is the power to uphold or to throw
down.¡±
9 Amaziah answered the man of God, ¡°And what about the four tons of silver I
have given the Israelite soldiers?¡± The man of God replied, ¡°Yahweh can give
you far more than that.¡±
10 At this, Amaziah dismissed from his army the troops that had come to him
from Ephraim and sent them home; these men were furious with Judah and went
home in great anger.
11 Amaziah led his army to Salt Valley and defeated ten thousand Edomite
soldiers.
12 The men of Judah took ten thousand captives alive and, taking them to the
top of the cliff, threw them off the top; they were all dashed to pieces.
13 Then the Israelite troops which Amaziah had dismissed and not allowed to
fight with him raided the towns of Judah, from Sa maria as far as Bethhoron,
but they were defeated by a troop of three thousand men who recovered great
quantities of plunder.
14 On returning from his defeat of the Edomites, Amaziah brought the gods of
the Edomites with him and set these up as gods for himself, bowing down
before them and burning incense to them.
15 Then Yahweh became angry with Amaziah and he sent him a prophet, who
said, ¡°Why have you looked to this people¡¯s gods, who could not save their
own people from your power?¡±
16 He was still speaking when Amaziah interrupted him, ¡°Have we appointed
you a royal counselor? If you do not want to be hurt, be quiet!¡± The prophet
paused; then he said, ¡°Now I know that God has decided to destroy you, since
after having acted like this, you refuse to listen to me.¡±
17 After consulting his advisers, Ama ziah king of Judah sent a message to
Joash son of Jehoahaz, son of Jehu, king of Israel, challenging him to
fight.
18 Joash king of Israel sent back word to Amaziah king of Judah, ¡°The
thornbush of Lebanon sent a message to the cedar of Lebanon, saying, ¡®Give
my son your daughter in marriage¡¯; but the wild animals of Lebanon trampled
the thornbush down as they passed. You are very proud because you have
defeated the Edomites ¨C Boast on but stay at home.
19 Why stir up trouble that will only bring disaster on you and your
people?¡±
20 But Amaziah would not listen. It was God¡¯s will for him to be defeated,
because he had worshiped the Edomite idols.
21 And at Bethshemesh Judah, they made their trial of strength, Joash and
Amaziah king of Judah.
22 Judah was defeated by Israel, and everyone fled to his tent.
23 The king of Judah, Amaziah son of Joash, son of Ahaziah, was taken
prisoner at Beth shemesh by Joash, king of Israel who led him off to
Jerusalem, where Joash tore down the city wall from the Gate of Ephra im to
the Gate of the Corner, a distance of two hundred yards.
24 He took all the gold and silver, all the furnishings to be found with
Obed-edom in the House of God, the treasures of the royal palace, and
hostages besides, and then returned to Samaria.
25 Amaziah son of Joash, king of Judah, lived for fifteen years after the
death of Joash son of Jehoahaz, king of Israel.
26 The rest of the history of Amaziah, from first to last, is all recorded
in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel.
27 After the time when Amaziah rebelled against Yahweh, there had been a
plot against him in Jerusalem; he fled to Lachish; but he was followed to
Lachish and put to death there.
28 He was brought back by horse, and buried with his ancestors in the City
of David.