Chapter 25

Amaziah [was] twenty and five years old [when] he began to reign,¹ and he reigned¹ twenty and nine years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name [was] Jehoaddan of Jerusalem.

And he did⁴ [that which was] right in the sight of the LORD, but not with a perfect heart.

Now it came to pass, when the kingdom was established¹ to him, that he slew⁴ his servants that had killed⁵⁶ the king his father.

But he slew⁵² not their children, but [did] as [it is] written⁷ in the law in the book of Moses, where the LORD commanded,¹⁴ saying,² The fathers shall not die⁴ for the children, neither shall the children die⁴ for the fathers, but every man shall die⁴ for his own sin.

Moreover Amaziah gathered Judah together,⁴ and made⁵⁵ them captains over thousands, and captains over hundreds, according to the houses of [their] fathers, throughout all Judah and Benjamin: and he numbered⁴ them from twenty years old and above, and found⁴ them three hundred thousand choice⁷ [men, able] to go forth⁶ to war, that could handle⁶ spear and shield.

He hired⁴ also an hundred thousand mighty men of valour out of Israel for an hundred talents of silver.

But there came¹ a man of God to him, saying,² O king, let not the army of Israel go⁴ with thee; for the LORD [is] not with Israel, [to wit, with] all the children of Ephraim.

But if thou wilt go,³ do³ [it], be strong³ for the battle: God shall make thee fall⁵⁵ before the enemy:⁶ for God hath power to help,² and to cast down.⁵³

And Amaziah said⁴ to the man of God, But what shall we do² for the hundred talents which I have given¹ to the army of Israel? And the man of God answered,⁴ The LORD is able to give² thee much more⁵³ than this.

Then Amaziah separated⁵⁵ them, [to wit], the army that was come¹ to him out of Ephraim, to go² home again: wherefore their anger was greatly kindled⁴ against Judah, and they returned⁴ home in great anger.

And Amaziah strengthened⁹⁸ himself, and led forth⁴ his people, and went⁴ to the valley of salt, and smote⁵⁵ of the children of Seir ten thousand.

And [other] ten thousand [left] alive did the children of Judah carry away captive,¹ and brought⁵⁵ them unto the top of the rock, and cast them down⁵⁵ from the top of the rock, that they all were broken in pieces.⁸

But the soldiers of the army which Amaziah sent back,⁵² that they should not go² with him to battle, fell⁴ upon the cities of Judah, from Samaria even unto Bethhoron, and smote⁵⁵ three thousand of them, and took⁴ much spoil.

Now it came to pass, after that Amaziah was come² from the slaughter⁵³ of the Edomites, that he brought⁵⁵ the gods of the children of Seir, and set them up⁵⁵ [to be] his gods, and bowed down¹⁰¹ himself before them, and burned incense¹⁷ unto them.

Wherefore the anger of the LORD was kindled⁴ against Amaziah, and he sent⁴ unto him a prophet, which said⁴ unto him, Why hast thou sought¹ after the gods of the people, which could not deliver⁵² their own people out of thine hand?

And it came to pass, as he talked¹⁵ with him, that [the king] said⁴ unto him, Art thou made¹ of the king's counsel?⁶ forbear;³ why shouldest thou be smitten?⁵⁵ Then the prophet forbare,⁴ and said,⁴ I know¹ that God hath determined¹ to destroy⁵³ thee, because thou hast done¹ this, and hast not hearkened¹ unto my counsel.

Then Amaziah king of Judah took advice,¹¹ and sent⁴ to Joash, the son of Jehoahaz, the son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying,² Come,³ let us see¹⁰¹ one another in the face.

And Joash king of Israel sent⁴ to Amaziah king of Judah, saying,² The thistle that [was] in Lebanon sent¹ to the cedar that [was] in Lebanon, saying,² Give³ thy daughter to my son to wife: and there passed by⁴ a wild beast that [was] in Lebanon, and trode down⁴ the thistle.

Thou sayest,¹ Lo, thou hast smitten⁵² the Edomites; and thine heart lifteth thee up¹ to boast:⁵³ abide³ now at home; why shouldest thou meddle¹⁰¹ to [thine] hurt, that thou shouldest fall,¹ [even] thou, and Judah with thee?

But Amaziah would not hear;¹ for it [came] of God, that he might deliver² them into the hand [of their enemies], because they sought¹ after the gods of Edom.

So Joash the king of Israel went up;⁴ and they saw¹⁰¹ one another in the face, [both] he and Amaziah king of Judah, at Bethshemesh, which [belongeth] to Judah.

And Judah was put to the worse¹¹ before Israel, and they fled⁴ every man to his tent.

And Joash the king of Israel took¹ Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Joash, the son of Jehoahaz, at Bethshemesh, and brought⁵⁵ him to Jerusalem, and brake down⁴ the wall of Jerusalem from the gate of Ephraim to the corner⁶ gate, four hundred cubits.

And [he took] all the gold and the silver, and all the vessels that were found¹² in the house of God with Obededom, and the treasures of the king's house, the hostages ⁸⁵⁹⁴ also, and returned⁴ to Samaria.

And Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah lived⁴ after the death of Joash son of Jehoahaz king of Israel fifteen ⁶²⁴⁰ years.

Now the rest of the acts of Amaziah, first and last, behold, [are] they not written⁷ in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel?

Now after the time that Amaziah did turn away¹ from following the LORD they made⁴ a conspiracy against him in Jerusalem; and he fled⁴ to Lachish: but they sent⁴ to Lachish after him, and slew⁵⁵ him there.

And they brought⁴ him upon horses, and buried⁴ him with his fathers in the city of Judah.