Amaziah Reigns in Judah
(2 Kings 14:1–7)

1Amaziah (YHWH is mighty) was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem (city of peace) twenty-nine years. His mother’s name was Jehoaddan (YHWH delights); she was from Jerusalem. 2And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD {YHWH}, but not wholeheartedly.

3As soon as the kingdom was firmly in his grasp, Amaziah executed the servants who had murdered his father the king. 4Yet he did not put their sons to death, but acted according to what is written in the Law, in the Book of Moses (drawn out), where the LORD {YHWH} commanded: “Fathers must not be put to death for their children, and children must not be put to death for their fathers; each is to die for his own sin <Deu 24:16>.”a

Amaziah’s Victories

5Then Amaziah (YHWH is mighty) gathered the people of Judah (praised) and assigned them according to their families to commanders of thousands and of hundreds. And he numbered those twenty years of age or older throughout Judah and Benjamin (son of the right hand) and found 300,000 chosen men able to serve in the army, bearing the spear and shield.

6He also hired 100,000 mighty men of valor from Israel (he wrestles with God) for a hundred talents of silver <3.77 t / 3.42 mt>.b 7But a man of God {Elohim} came to him and said, “O king, do not let the army of Israel (he wrestles with God) go with you, for the LORD {YHWH} is not with Israel—not with any of the Ephraimites (doubly fruitful). 8Even if you go and fight bravely in battle, God {Elohim} will overthrow you before the enemy, for God has power to help and power to overthrow.”

9Amaziah (YHWH is mighty) asked the man of God {Elohim}, “What should I do about the hundred talents I have given to the troops of Israel (he wrestles with God)?”

And the man of God replied, “The LORD {YHWH} is able to give you much more than this.”

10So Amaziah (YHWH is mighty) dismissed the troops who had come to him from Ephraim (doubly fruitful) and sent them home. And they were furious with Judah (praised) and returned home in great anger.

11Amaziah, however (YHWH is mighty), summoned his strength and led his troops to the Valley of Salt, where he struck down 10,000 men of Seir (shaggy), 12and the army of Judah (praised) also captured 10,000 men alive. They took them to the top of a cliff and threw them down so that all were dashed to pieces.

13Meanwhile the troops that Amaziah (YHWH is mighty) had dismissed from battle raided the cities of Judah (praised), from Samaria (watch mountain) to Beth-horon (house of hollowness). They struck down 3,000 people and carried off a great deal of plunder.

Amaziah Rebuked for Idolatry

14When Amaziah (YHWH is mighty) returned from the slaughter of the Edomites, he brought back the gods of the Seirites (shaggy), set them up as his own gods, bowed before them, and burned sacrifices to them. 15Therefore the anger of the LORD {YHWH} burned against Amaziah (YHWH is mighty), and He sent him a prophet, who said, “Why have you sought this people’s gods, which could not deliver them from your hand?”

16While he was still speaking, the king asked, “Have we made you the counselor to the king? Stop! Why be struck down?”

So the prophet stopped, but he said, “I know that God {Elohim} has determined to destroy you, because you have done this and have not heeded my advice.”

Jehoash Defeats Amaziah
(2 Kings 14:8–14)

17Then Amaziah (YHWH is mighty) king of Judah (praised) took counsel and sent word to the king of Israel (he wrestles with God) Jehoash (Joash)c son of Jehoahaz (YHWH has seized), the son of Jehu (YHWH is He). “Come, let us meet face to face,” he said.

18But Jehoash (given by the Lord) king of Israel (he wrestles with God) replied to Amaziah (YHWH is mighty) king of Judah (praised): “A thistle in Lebanon (whiteness) sent a message to a cedar in Lebanon, saying, ‘Give your daughter to my son in marriage.’ Then a wild beast in Lebanon came along and trampled the thistle. 19You have said, ‘Look, I have defeated Edom (red),’ and your heart has become proud and boastful. Now stay at home. Why should you stir up trouble so that you fall—you and Judah (praised) with you?”

20But Amaziah (YHWH is mighty) would not listen, for this had come from God {Elohim} in order to deliver them into the hand of Jehoash, because they had sought the gods of Edom (red). 21So Jehoash (given by the Lord) king of Israel (he wrestles with God) advanced, and he and Amaziah (YHWH is mighty) king of Judah (praised) faced each other at Beth-shemesh (house of the sun) in Judah. 22And Judah (praised) was routed before Israel (he wrestles with God), and every man fled to his own home.

23There at Beth-shemesh (house of the sun), Jehoash (given by the Lord) king of Israel (he wrestles with God) captured Amaziah (YHWH is mighty) king of Judah (praised), the son of Joash, the son of Jehoahaz (Ahaziah).d

Then Jehoash brought him to Jerusalem (city of peace) and broke down the wall of Jerusalem from the Ephraim (doubly fruitful) Gate to the Corner Gate—a section of four hundred cubits <600 ft / 182.9 m>.e 24He took all the gold and silver and all the articles found in the house of God {Elohim} with Obed-edom (servant of Edom) and in the treasuries of the royal palace, as well as some hostages. Then he returned to Samaria (watch mountain).

The Death of Amaziah
(2 Kings 14:17–20)

25Amaziah (YHWH is mighty) son of Joash (given by the Lord) king of Judah (praised) lived for fifteen years after the death of Jehoash son of Jehoahaz (YHWH has seized) king of Israel (he wrestles with God). 26As for the rest of the acts of Amaziah (YHWH is mighty), from beginning to end, are they not written in the Book of the Kings of Judah (praised) and Israel (he wrestles with God)?

27From the time that Amaziah (YHWH is mighty) turned from following the LORD {YHWH}, a conspiracy was formed against him in Jerusalem (city of peace), and he fled to Lachish (invincible). But men were sent after him to Lachish, and they killed him there. 28They carried him back on horses and buried him with his fathers in the City of Judah [City of David].f