2 Chronicles 25:1-22 ▼

1 Amaziah was a son of twenty-five years when he became king, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. And the name of his mother was Jehoaddan of Jerusalem.

2 And he did right in the eyes of YHWH, but not with a perfect heart.

3 And it came to pass, when the kingdom was strong for him, that he killed his servants who had struck his father the king.

4 And their sons he did not kill, but did as it is written in the Law, in the Book of Moses, where YHWH commanded, saying: “Fathers shall not be put to death for their sons, and sons shall not be put to death for their fathers, but each man shall die for his own sin.”

5 And Amaziah gathered together Judah, and he appointed them according to the house of the fathers captains of the thousands and captains of the hundreds throughout all Judah and Benjamin. And he numbered them from twenty years and above, and he found them three hundred thousand chosen ones going forth to the host, holding spear and shield.

6 And He hired from Israel a hundred thousand mighty men of valor for a hundred talents of silver.

7 And a man of God came to him, saying, “O king, do not let the host of Israel go with you, for YHWH is not with Israel or any of the sons of Ephraim.

8 But if you are going, do it—be strong in the battle; God shall make you fall before the enemy, for unto God is power to help and to cause to stumble.”

9 And Amaziah said to the man of God, “And what to do about the hundred talents that I have given to the troops of Israel?” And the man of God answered, “YHWH is able to give more to you than this.”

10 And Amaziah separated the troops that had come to him from Ephraim to go back to their own place. And their anger was kindled greatly against Judah, and they returned to their place in the heat of anger.

11 And Amaziah strengthened himself and led forth his people, and he went to the Valley of Salt and he struck down ten thousand of the sons of Seir.

12 And the sons of Judah took captive alive ten thousand, and they brought them to the top of the rock, and they cast them down from the top of the rock, and all of them were dashed to pieces.

13 And the sons of the troop that Amaziah had sent back so that they would not go with him to the battle—they raided the cities of Judah from Samaria to Beth-horon, and they struck down in them three thousand, and they plundered much spoil.

14 And it came to pass, after Amaziah came from the striking of the Edomites, that he brought the gods of the sons of Seir and set them up as his gods, and he bowed down before them and he burned incense to them.

15 And the anger of YHWH burned against Amaziah, and He sent to him a prophet, and he said to him, “Why have you sought the gods of the people, which could not deliver their own people from your hand?”

16 And it came to pass, in his speaking to him, that he said to him, “Have we appointed you to counsel the king? Cease you! Why should they strike you down?” And the prophet ceased and said, “I know that God has counseled to destroy you, because you have done this and have not heeded my counsel.”

17 And Amaziah king of Judah took counsel and sent to Joash son of Jehoahaz, son of Jehu king of Israel, saying, “Come, let us look 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 your daughter to my son as wife.’ And passed by a wild beast that was in Lebanon, and trampled the thistle.

19 You say, ‘Behold, you have struck down Edom!’ And your heart has lifted you to boast. Now dwell in your house; why should you stir up trouble, that you should fall—you and Judah with you?”

20 And Amaziah would not listen, for it was from God, that He might give them into the hand because they sought the gods of Edom.

21 And Joash king of Israel went out, and they looked one another in the faces—he and Amaziah king of Judah—at Beth-shemesh, which is unto Judah.

22 And Judah was defeated by Israel, and each man fled to his tent.