1Amaziah 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 . 2And he did that which was right in the eyes of Jehovah , but not with a perfect heart . 3Now it came to pass , when the kingdom was established unto him , that he slew his servants that had killed the king his father.
Military Ambitions and Foreign Troops
4But he put not their children to death , but did according to that which is written in the law in the book of Moses , as Jehovah 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 . 5Moreover Amaziah gathered Judah together , and ordered them according to their fathers’ houses , under captains of thousands and captains of hundreds , even all Judah and Benjamin : and he numbered them from twenty years old and upward , and found them three hundred thousand chosen men , able to go forth to war , that could handle spear and shield . 6He hired also a hundred thousand mighty men of valor out of Israel for a hundred talents of silver . 7But there came a man of God to him , saying, O king , let not the army of Israel go with thee; for Jehovah is not with Israel , to wit , with all the children of Ephraim. 8But if thou wilt go, do valiantly , be strong for the battle : God will cast thee down before the enemy; for God hath power to help , and to cast down . 9And 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, Jehovah is able to give thee much more than this . 10Then 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 fierce anger.
The Prophet's Warning
11And Amaziah took courage , and led forth his people , and went to the Valley of Salt , and smote of the children of Seir ten thousand. 12And other ten thousand did the children of Judah carry away alive , and brought them unto the top of the rock , and cast them down from the top of the rock , so that they were all broken in pieces . 13But the men of the army whom Amaziah sent back , that they should not go with him to battle , fell upon the cities of Judah , from Samaria even unto Beth-horon , and smote of them three thousand, and took much spoil . 14Now 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 . 15Wherefore the anger of Jehovah was kindled against Amaziah, and he sent unto him a prophet , who said unto him , Why hast thou sought after the gods of the people , which have not delivered their own people out of thy hand ? 16And it came to pass , as he talked with him , that the king said unto him , Have we made thee 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 .
Victory over Edom
17Then 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 look one another in the face . 18And 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 trod down the thistle . 19Thou sayest, Lo , thou hast smitten Edom; and thy heart lifteth thee up to boast : abide now at home ; why shouldest thou meddle to thy hurt , that thou shouldest fall , even thou , and Judah with thee? 20But Amaziah would not hear ; for it was of God , that he might deliver them into the hand of their enemies , because they had sought after the gods of Edom. 21So Joash king of Israel went up ; and he and Amaziah king of Judah looked one another in the face at Beth-shemesh , which belongeth to Judah . 22And Judah was put to the worse before Israel ; and they fled every man to his tent. 23And Joash king of Israel took Amaziah king of Judah , the son of Joash the son of Jehoahaz , at Beth-shemesh , and brought him to Jerusalem , and brake down the wall of Jerusalem from the gate of Ephraim unto the corner gate , four hundred cubits. 24And he took all the gold and silver , and all the vessels that were found in the house of God with Obed-edom , and the treasures of the king ’s house , the hostages also , and returned to Samaria .
Idolatry and Consequences
25And Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah lived after the death of Joash son of Jehoahaz king of Israel fifteen years . 26Now 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 ? 27Now from the time that Amaziah did turn away from following Jehovah they made a conspiracy against him in Jerusalem ; and he fled to Lachish : but they sent after him to Lachish , and slew him there . 28And they brought him upon horses , and buried him with his fathers in the city of Judah .