Immerse: Kingdoms Full Volume - Flipbook - Page 259
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SAMUEL–KINGS
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Amaziah son of Joash began to rule over Judah in the second year of the
reign of King Jehoash of Israel. Amaziah was twenty-five years old when
he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-nine years. His
mother was Jehoaddin from Jerusalem. Amaziah did what was pleasing in
the Lord’s sight, but not like his ancestor David. Instead, he followed the
example of his father, Joash. Amaziah did not destroy the pagan shrines,
and the people still offered sacrifices and burned incense there.
When Amaziah was well established as king, he executed the officials who
had assassinated his father. However, he did not kill the children of the
assassins, for he obeyed the command of the Lord as written by M
oses
in the Book of the Law: “Parents must not be put to death for the sins of
their children, nor children for the sins of their parents. Those deserving
to die must be put to death for their own crimes.”
Amaziah also killed 10,000 Edomites in the Valley of Salt. He also conquered Sela and changed its name to Joktheel, as it is called to this day.
One day Amaziah sent messengers with this challenge to Israel’s king
Jehoash, the son of Jehoahaz and grandson of Jehu: “Come and meet me
in battle!”
But King Jehoash of Israel replied to King Amaziah of Judah with this
story: “Out in the Lebanon mountains, a thistle sent a message to a mighty
cedar tree: ‘Give your daughter in marriage to my son.’ But just then a wild
animal of Lebanon came by and stepped on the thistle, crushing it!
“You have indeed defeated Edom, and you are proud of it. But be content with your victory and stay at home! Why stir up trouble that will only
bring disaster on you and the people of Judah?”
But Amaziah refused to listen, so King Jehoash of Israel mobilized his
army against King Amaziah of Judah. The two armies drew up their battle
lines at Beth-shemesh in Judah. Judah was routed by the army of Israel,
and its army scattered and fled for home. King Jehoash of Israel captured
Judah’s king, Amaziah son of Joash and grandson of Ahaziah, at B
eth-
shemesh. Then he marched to Jerusalem, where he demolished 600 feet
of Jerusalem’s wall, from the Ephraim Gate to the Corner Gate. He carried
off all the gold and silver and all the articles from the Temple of the Lord.
He also seized the treasures from the royal palace, along with hostages, and
then returned to Samaria.
The rest of the events in Jehoash’s reign and everything he did, including
the extent of his power and his war with King Amaziah of Judah, are recorded in The Book of the History of the Kings of Israel. When Jehoash died,